The longer Roxton and Challenger were gone from the tree house the stronger John felt that something was very wrong with James Jones. It drove him to distraction as he hunted. Challenger noticed his unease.

"What's wrong, old man? That's three wild turkeys to get away this morning. At this rate we'll be vegetarians for the rest of the expedition," he teased good-naturedly.

"Have you noticed anything strange about Rev. Jones, Challenger?" Roxton turned to face him.

Challenger looked quizzically at his companion, "No, not particularly. Why do you ask?"

"There just seems to be something off about him. He is very formal with you and me, calling us 'Lord Roxton' and 'Prof. Challenger' and even with Veronica, but he insists on calling Marguerite 'Margie.' Do you remember when I called her that teasing. She nearly took my head off with her shoe, but she never said a word to him about it."

"That is strange, do you think she knows him?" Challenger asked.

"Oh, I think she more than knows him, but you know how she is about her past. She guards her privacy closer than her treasure. But there has to be more to it than that, because there is no way she tripped and did that to her face this morning. It looked too much like a hand print."

"Well, now that you mention it, he does act peculiarly. If he were a missionary, I would think he would be more enthusiastic about this plateau filled with the unsaved."

"Maybe we should go find Ned and Jones. I'd like to ask a few questions." Roxton slung his rifle over his shoulder. "Let's go."

Ned and James Jones arrived at the cave/campsite about an hour and a half after breakfast. Ned was in no hurry to get back to the tree house and find out what Veronica had left for him to do on the infamous chore list. It was his turn on maintenance duty, and he hated hammering the stakes to the electric fence into the ground. As they began cleaning up the campsite Jones went inside the cave to gather his belongings and Ned went to pick up various items strewn on the ground outside.

He picked up a bag that lay near the remnants of the campfire. A hole had been chewed in the bottom of it, probably by a rodent, and a small leather bound book fell through it. On the cover embossed in fancy gold lettering was the name 'Moargan Krux.'

"Marguerite's mother?" he said aloud. He quickly flipped through the pages of neatly written script, reading bits and pieces. Near the end he read:

December 27, 1890,

Little Marguerite will be a year old tomorrow. Her father is so excited, you would think it were his own birthday. He spoils her to no end with toys and sweets, he will rot her few teeth right out of her head. I was upset that he invited his new partner, Frances Beaumont to the party. That man makes me nervous, and he is constantly calling my baby 'Margie.' I have told him time and time again that is not her name, but he persists. And the way he looked at me the other day when Charles left the room, it makes me glad I'm married.

January 5, 1891,

Charles gave the most delightful surprise tonight. He is taking us to India to see my sister and her husband, a colonel in her majesty's army. Marguerite gets more beautiful everyday and Madeleine will just eat her up. I plan on speaking to Charles about Frances tomorrow, he said something to me completely inappropriate to me and I will not stand for it. I trust Charles to take care of it, he has always done so before.

March 15, 1891,

I found a letter hidden in Charles desk drawer this afternoon when I was searching for a quill. Charles apparently confronted Frances about is behavior. Frances is threatening to sue for defamation of character for accusing him in public of attempting to seduce a married woman, but I am confident nothing will come of it. Charles customers are loyal, and know he would not make unfounded accusations, but Frances is a dangerous man, and I fear damage he could cause.

April 12, 1891,

We set sail yesterday for India, and what a glorious day it was. It stopped raining and the sun came out from behind the clouds, creating the most beautiful view. Little Marguerite's eyes shown with its brilliance as she clapped her hands, bouncing in Charles' arms. Frances saw us off, having apparently reconciled for the sake of the business, and apologizing to me, but I must confess I was not sorry to see him fade into the distance.

            Ned stopped reading and flipped to the end of the journal, where old photograph fell out. He picked it up and was stunned. There were four people in it. The first, a woman, Ned initially thought was Marguerite holding an infant girl in a frilly, expensive baby gown, but upon further examination, spotted some subtle differences. The next was a tall, upstanding man that reminded him of Roxton, not in appearance, but in his stance and the way he carried himself with confidence. He was tall and rugged, with blonde hair, but that was all he could tell in the black and white. The fourth person, another man was a much younger Rev. Jones, which confused Malone at first. He turned the photo over and read the names. "The Krux family, Charles, Moargan, and daughter Marguerite, and business associate Frances Beaumont."

            Realization flooded over Malone as the pieces of a puzzle he didn't know existed began to fall into place. The reporter in him remembered discussing what had happened to the Krux family one night while Marguerite was asleep, after they had first arrived on the Plateau. The ever-honorable Sommerlee had come to Marguerite's defense, telling what he had read in the paper after pirates killed her family.

He also remembered in certain circles a Frances Beaumont being suspected of piracy in the South Seas around Shanghais and India. He even recalled tales of a silver-eyed piratess who appeared, and just as suddenly disappeared a few years back, which would explain a few things about Marguerite's sword and drinking abilities.

            Ned placed the picture in his pocket and stood. "I need to find Roxton and Challenger."

            "No you don't" a voice from behind stated, just before the base of his skull exploded in pain and everything went black.