Misfortune’s Isle by Escape

Summary

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Relic Radio Thrillers: "Misfortune’s Isle" (Escape, March 21, 1948)

Podcast Date: June 19, 2026
Host: RelicRadio.com

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Episode Overview

In this week’s Relic Radio Thrillers, the classic Old Time Radio series "Escape" brings listeners a swashbuckling adventure to the South Seas in “Misfortune’s Isle.” Set in Manila and the wilds of Borneo in 1790, the episode follows Captain Arad, restless and weary of the trader's life, who becomes embroiled in a perilous expedition involving pirates, fortune-hunting, and political intrigue. With memorable characters including the philosophical Yang Po, the beautiful and mysterious Dona Delfina, and the conniving Don Narciso, the story explores themes of bravery, fate, and desire against a backdrop of jungle danger and colonial machinations.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

Introduction to Adventure (01:03 – 04:03)

• Setting and Atmosphere: The listener is plunged into Manila, 1790, through the eyes of Captain Arad, an American trader tired of the monotonous grind and politics of the South Seas.
• Character Dynamics:
  • Captain Arad is disillusioned and longing for purpose or fortune.
  • Yang Po, the philosophical Chinese captain, offers both camaraderie and sly wisdom.
  • Observation: The melancholy yet beautiful Dona Delfina makes her appearance, as Arad notes her as the "little caged bird".
  • Quote – Captain Arad observing Dona Delfina:

    "She looks very sad. Why is she called the little caged bird?" (04:15)

The Plot Emerges and Tangles (04:03 – 11:07)

• Pirate Trouble: News circulates that pirates have raided the coast and almost abducted the Captain General, Don Narciso.
• Scheme for Fortune: The stolen cutlass turns up, spurring Arad to conspire with Yang Po and Michael to make their own fortunes by challenging the infamous Bandit King, Serif, and claiming a half-million-dollar fortune in birds' nests and gold from Misfortune’s Isle.
• Political Negotiation: Arad meets with Don Narciso and manages to secure his official backing with the help of Dona Delfina’s subtle urges.
  • Quote – Dona Delfina advocating for adventure:

    "Any man who reached these islands of pirates to be made a Conde with lands and titles." (09:15)

The Storm and Stowaway (11:07 – 14:34)

• The Voyage Begins: The expedition sails from Manila but is battered by typhoon remnants. Captain Arad discovers Dona Delfina has stowed away on board.
  • Memorable Exchange:
    • Dona Delfina: "If you are going to move in here, then what am I going to do?" (13:40)
    • Captain Arad: "Oh, you'll think of something. You made all your own plans so far." (13:45)
• Underlying Tensions: Her presence creates both romantic tension and tactical complications, as she reveals her forced marriage and ambition.

Danger on Misfortune’s Isle (14:34 – 18:07)

• The Island Revealed:
  • Arrival at Misfortune’s Isle places them between a pirate fortress and a sacred Upas tree feared for its deadly poison.
• Yang Po’s News: Yang Po, after a tense parlay with Serif, reveals their Chinese allies are absent, and the interpreter Jambu has betrayed them by switching sides.
  • Quote – Yang Po’s dry humor:

    "We enjoy most friendly conversation while we both held our knives beneath our robes. All very polite." (16:17)

• Desperate Position: The junk is aground, powder is wet, and they’re forced to make last-ditch preparations for battle.

The Night Before Battle & Emotional Stakes (18:07 – 21:08)

• Dona Delfina’s Plea: Captain Arad tries to hide Delfina in the cliffside caves for her safety, prompting a heartfelt exchange where she begs him to stay with her.
  • Emotional Highlight:
    • Dona Delfina: "So much that I would not care to be alive tomorrow. In Manila, I hated my life. I prayed for earthquakes, pirates, death, anything. But now I pray only that you may live through this night." (20:20)
• Parting Kiss: Their mutual affection culminates in a moving farewell.

The Battle for Survival (21:08 – 25:18)

• Desperate Defense: The crew scrambles to defend the junk against massed Dayak warriors.
  • Yang Po’s Humor Amid Chaos:

    "It would be so much pleasanter to die in one's sleep." (18:03)

• Climactic Rescue: As defeat seems certain, the Upas tree suddenly bursts into flame—Dona Delfina, silhouetted as a "white goddess," signals from the cliffs, terrifying the Dayaks into fleeing.
  • Quote – Captain Arad witnessing the scene:

    "The great flaming torch of the tree spread into full bloom and leaped up to the heavens, lighting the whole sea around us..." (24:34)

Aftermath & Resolution (25:18 – 27:59)

• Yang Po Credits the 'Parakeet':
  • Yang Po: "10,000 bushels of unexpected good fortune. The little parakeet has saved our worthless lives." (25:18)
• Don Narciso’s Rage: Don Narciso learns of his wife’s actions and threatens retribution, but is physically incapacitated by a Dayak ambush before he can act.
• Yang Po’s Wit:
  • Yang Po: "How can I be expected to replace man's head on his body? Especially when head seems to have rolled overboard." (26:47)

Epilogue and Light-Hearted Closure (27:59 – 29:04)

• A Playful Ending: With their fortune made, Arad requests to trade for silk stockings—a callback to earlier speculation and a wink at his infatuation with Delfina.
  • Quote – Captain Arad sheepishly:

    "Oh, all right, Michael, if you have to know everything, I want to trade with him for a dozen pair of silk stockings." (27:59)

• Yang Po resolves:
  • Yang Po: "I plan to devote remainder of my unworthy life to rescue of small birds from nets now that Bendy's time." (27:31)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fate and Fortune:

  "Some things may be worth taking chances for." – Captain Arad (04:40)

• On the Upas Tree's Terrible Power:

  "It is not hearsay. The Dayak headhunters poison their spears and arrows with its juices. I have seen men scratched by them die like that." – Don Narciso (08:49)

• On Defiance and Affection:

  "Delfina, you have a deadlier poison than the upas tree itself." – Captain Arad (20:01)

• Yang Po’s Ironic Wisdom Throughout:

  "The impetuosity of youth. I think I sleep for a while and dream of maidens on the moon." (17:51)
  "How can I be expected to replace man's head on his body? Especially when head seems to have rolled overboard." (26:47)

• On Triumph and Irony:

  “10,000 bushels of unexpected good fortune. The little parakeet has saved our worthless lives.” – Yang Po (25:18)

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Key Timestamps

• 01:03 – Atmospheric opening and philosophical banter between Arad and Yang Po
• 04:03 – 09:15 – Introduction of the plan and the conspiracy for fortune
• 11:07 – Discovery of Dona Delfina as a stowaway
• 16:10 – Yang Po’s dangerous negotiations with Serif
• 18:07 – 21:08 – Arad’s emotional farewell to Delfina before battle
• 23:07 – 25:18 – Climax: battle, Upas tree aflame, and the supernatural rescue
• 27:59 – 29:04 – Light-hearted silk stockings joke and wind-down

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Summary & Tone

"Misfortune’s Isle" blends suspenseful pirate action, wry wit, and old-fashioned romance. The dialogue sparkles with cynicism, gallows humor, and subtle longing. Yang Po’s dry observations, Captain Arad’s weary pragmatism, and Dona Delfina’s passionate rebellion drive the story’s heart. The ending strikes a satisfying balance between adventure, irony, and a sense of ongoing mischief—true to the spirit of Escape and the golden age of radio drama.

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Transcript

[Host]

Relicradio.com presents stories of mystery and intrigue, espionage and suspense. Hear tales of ticking time bombs, mysterious crime scenes and cloak and dagger action. This is Relic Radio Thrillers. Welcome back to Relic Radio Thrillers. We're going to hear from Escape this week, a series that debuted in July of 1947 as a summer replacement series for the Lux Radio Theater. It would air until September of 1954 in various time slots, creating 201 unique episodes. The one we'll hear today is from March 21, 1948. It's titled Misfortune's Isle.

[Captain Arad]

You are aboard a Chinese junk run aground off the coast of Borneo, and paddling toward you are the canoes of the deadly Dayak headhunters. Your powder is wet. Your throat is dry, because for you, there is no escape. Escape, produced and directed by William N. Robeson and designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure. Tonight we escaped to the Orient of a hundred and fifty years ago, to the Manila of 1790 in Richard Matthews Hallett's story of a wooden ship and an iron man, Misfortune's Isle. The water which was lying at anchor so close up against the jetty I could have leaned over and spit on the wheels of the elegant Spanish carriages clattering along the promenade. That's exactly what I felt like doing. I'd been away from Salem for three years now. Three years of sailing a trader brig through the China Seas and south into the Spice Islands. All for what? The whole thing had grown stale. Suddenly I was plainly and simply bored. Yang Po stood beside me there at the taffrail and tried to console me with philosophy. He'd anchored his sailing junk alongside earlier in the day and come aboard to renew a friendship that started two years before. A tien sen. When I hauled him out from under an executioner's ax, he was under it because he just sold me six fine fat pigs without remembering they happened to be the sacred property of the Tianxin Temple. Oh, Yang Po was a real philosopher, all right.

[Young Po]

Anyway, my friend, I reserve my sympathies for the poor. You have gained much wealth and trade

[Captain Arad]

a few measly gold pieces. But the trouble is, out here, a man can't go it on his own. He needs backing.

[Young Po]

What more backing could a rash man desire than those eight brass cannon at the rail?

[Captain Arad]

They're fair guns, all right, but it's a flag I'm speaking of.

[Young Po]

Do these unworthy eyes not see a pen up there at the masthead, the

[Captain Arad]

bunning Of Salem swings no weight. Out here in the south, it's the Dutch who call the terms. On the coast, the British. And here in Manila, it's the Spanish Manhattanpo. There she comes now in the second Kerrisler. That's the fourth time since high noon

[Young Po]

she's come past four fine horses and two footmen. She rides in style.

[Captain Arad]

Watch, watch. She'll look up at the ship she has every time today. There, you see?

[Young Po]

Ah, that one. The little caged bird.

[Captain Arad]

You know her?

[Young Po]

I know of her. She is wife of Don Narciso Crispo, the Spanish nobleman who is Captain General of the island south of Zamboanga. He is in residence here in Manila.

[Captain Arad]

She looks very sad. Why she called the little caged bird?

[Young Po]

One glimpse of Don Narciso would answer your question better than thousand words.

[Captain Arad]

She's very beautiful, too. I'll swear she looked back and smiled just then.

[Young Po]

Captain Arad. Once in pity, I set free a parakeet which I had found caught in a net. I. I still bear scar from its beak.

[Captain Arad]

Some things may be worth taking chances

[Young Po]

for me, I find it so much simpler to go to sleep and dream of maidens on the moon.

[Captain Arad]

Ah, but the moon's too far away. Hey, Rad, where are you? Huh? Oh, up here, Michael. On the quarter deck.

[Young Po]

Then the honorable red headed one is still your first mate?

[Captain Arad]

Aye, that he is. What's the matter, Michael? Matter indeed.

[Dona Delfina]

Haven't you heard?

[Young Po]

All the excitement in town.

[Captain Arad]

I've been. Look, young poor. Haven't they hung you yet?

[Young Po]

This on what they want is touched by your concern, mister.

[Captain Arad]

Okay, what do you mean by excitement? I've been on board all day.

[Young Po]

I know. Last night, with all their soldiers on

[Captain Arad]

guard and the stone ramparts and all,

[Young Po]

a band of pirates slipped ashore down coast and got through into the city.

[Captain Arad]

Pirate?

[Young Po]

10,000 bushels of a misfortune. They may possibly think it was me.

[Captain Arad]

Oh, they have no clue as to who it was.

[Young Po]

Got away scot free, they did.

[Captain Arad]

And they almost abducted the Captain General of Zamboango himself. What?

[Young Po]

Aye.

[Dona Delfina]

Aye.

[Young Po]

An important grandee by the name of Don Narcisco something or other.

[Captain Arad]

His guard finally heard them.

[Young Po]

Ah, pity. Fortune not with you, Captain Arat. But here's the part that'll stop you.

[Captain Arad]

There is no one in Manila that knows who they were.

[Young Po]

Except yours truly, Michael o'.

[Captain Arad]

Kane. Go off Here, have a look at that Manchester cutlass.

[Host]

Hi.

[Captain Arad]

And there's a mark on the handle. Right. It's one we traded to Serif. Aye.

[Young Po]

Aye.

[Captain Arad]

The Bandit King of North Bonyo and it was me found this morning on the beach where the pirate boat came ashore. You found it? No, no, no, not quite. A melee by the name of Jambu brought it to him.

[Young Po]

10,000 sampans filled with spoiled fish.

[Captain Arad]

You know the fella?

[Young Po]

I have used him as interpreter. He speak the. But in some former incarnation, he undoubtedly was ill.

[Captain Arad]

You know, I think this may be exactly what I need. Need?

[Dona Delfina]

For what?

[Captain Arad]

I read to make fortunes for the three of us.

[Young Po]

I certainly remember an unexpected appointment.

[Captain Arad]

Young Po. It's a plan that won't work without you. I'm not talking a bare prophets. This means a fortune.

[Young Po]

I am amazed. There is much talk of money and yet very little talk of Spanish lady.

[Captain Arad]

I've heard rumors on shore about these Spanish lasses. For one thing, they wear no stockings. Huh. And how's a man to know it? Michael, you can't count too much on hearsay. Well now, it was a Spaniard that told me. All right. Now listen, lads. Let me tell you the plan. And if we're all agreed, I'll go ashore and talk to this don't. Don Narcisso.

[Young Po]

After I have heard it, I think I shall go and sacrifice White rooster to Queen of Heaven. Though I doubt it will do great deal of good.

[Captain Arad]

The only thing I can't understand is why this Jamboo didn't take the cutlass to Don Narciso in the first place.

[Young Po]

It is quite possible he did take it there in first place, Captain Arad. It is point worth consideration.

[Captain Arad]

It took a bit of talking right enough. But finally the others agreed to the plan. And no more than two hours later I was talking to the Captain General of Zamboango himself. He turned out to be a little monkey of a man. Yellow as a faded sunflower and much older than I expected to find. I am quite well satisfied regarding your identification of those who perpetrated the outrage. Captain Island. But maledictions and fatalities. I have also heard the stories of this pirate serif. I think a broadside of my 32 pounders can furnish him enough fatalities, Excellency. Not that simple. They say his headquarters on the Borneo coast is nothing less than a fortress. Ah, it's only a bamboo stockade lying at the mouth of the river. And it's in range of the guns on my brig. My friend young Po has been there. But hard against the mouth of the river is the Plutalaka Misfortune's island. And on it limestone caves filled with birds nests worth $50 a pound. In Canton. That may well be Captain Erat. But there is also the Upas Tree. You must have heard of it. Ay, but I count a little on hearsay, Excellency. It is not hearsay. The Dayak headhunters poison their spears and arrows with its juices. I have seen men scratched by them die like that. Some things are worth taking chances for.

[Dona Delfina]

I must say that I quite agree with you, Darthy.

[Host]

Delfina.

[Captain Arad]

Captain Arat, may I present my wife, Dona Delfina del Crispo. Captain Arat.

[Dona Delfina]

I'm honored, Martiso. I have heard it all. You must agree to this expedition. You know the King's offer. Any man who reached these islands of pirates to be made a Conde with lands and titles.

[Captain Arad]

Have both lands and titles, my dear. What is it you expect from this Captain Aright? A fortune, Excellency. The Bird's Nest themselves should be worth a half million Yankee dollars. And there's gold and antimony in the river. And trade with the Dyaks? Precisely. What is this plan of yours? Well, 50 of Seraph's men are Chinese who once served Yang Po. They'll come in with us. If he can get word to him, that'll make things easier. How do you expect to get word to them? Yang Po and I'll sail in ahead of his junk and try to contact them. My mate will bring up the water witch 24 hours later, and then we'll attack. And exactly why have you come to me? Were I to do it without official support, I'd. I'd be judged a pirate myself, wouldn't I? I don't know. It would be a great thing if it could be done, Narciso.

[Dona Delfina]

See, why not think of it tonight and decide in the morning?

[Captain Arad]

That may be a wise suggestion.

[Dona Delfina]

You allow me to show you out, Capitan.

[Captain Arad]

By your leave, Excellency. Till tomorrow, then. Good day, Captain.

[Dona Delfina]

This way, please. He will agree? You may depend on it.

[Captain Arad]

Good. I hope also that His Excellency will accompany us personally.

[Dona Delfina]

He will. You can be certain of it.

[Captain Arad]

You seem quite sure of that.

[Dona Delfina]

Who do you think it was who had the Carla sent to you?

[Captain Arad]

You.

[Dona Delfina]

Here is the door. Capital. I will say ario siftona. In our language, it means goodbye for a little while.

[Captain Arad]

For a little while, huh? Well, in that case, adiosito. Delfino was right. The next morning he agreed to it. And two days later we sailed out of Manila harbor. Don Narciso accompanied me on Yangpo's junk and Michael o' Kane followed at the helm of the Water Witch. Our luck deserted us as we rounded the Corregidor and sailed square into the tail end of a typhoon. There was little wind, but a heavy sea was running, and it took us on the port bow for all that night. And the next day we lost sight of the water witch. And the leaky old junk pitched and rolled like a dory. Young Po stayed mostly below in his bunk and dreamed peacefully of the maidens on the moon, while I stayed on deck and skippered her through. Was late the second night before I had a chance to go down to my cabin. Delphina. What in the name of the devil are you doing aboard?

[Dona Delfina]

Being fussed about mostly. It is a very unsteady ship you have, Capitan.

[Captain Arad]

Well, she'll be a lot more unsteady when a hundred dyak headhunters start trying to board her. How did you arrive here?

[Dona Delfina]

Any sack of feathers. It's really all that saved me during the storm, you know.

[Captain Arad]

Oh, confound it. Don't you realize your husband is on board? Sleeping in the deck cabin. Suppose he should come down here for

[Dona Delfina]

something he did once. I hid in the wardrobe.

[Captain Arad]

Oh, all the fool tricks.

[Dona Delfina]

But you did say Oriocito.

[Captain Arad]

For a little while, yes, but it wasn't an invitation.

[Dona Delfina]

Who could tell? Anyway, I shall prove quite valuable to you.

[Captain Arad]

I doubt it.

[Dona Delfina]

You will see that Diesel will become frightened at the last moment. He always does.

[Captain Arad]

And what will you do?

[Dona Delfina]

Whatever is required at the time. I am not afraid of fighting my capital. I have seen it before.

[Captain Arad]

Confounded. We had a fortune in our reach, and now you come along and ruin it.

[Dona Delfina]

You underestimate me.

[Captain Arad]

Well, I won't do that again.

[Dona Delfina]

You are very rude.

[Captain Arad]

I meant to be. Why did you marry him?

[Dona Delfina]

I had no choice. My father was ambitious, was influential.

[Captain Arad]

And did your father realize his ambition?

[Dona Delfina]

See, he became a colonel and was killed at San Diego. Pacelli.

[Captain Arad]

Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. And now if you'll remove yourself from my bunk. I need some sleep.

[Dona Delfina]

If you are going to move in here, then what am I going to do?

[Captain Arad]

Oh, you'll think of something. You made all your own plans so far. Thank you.

[Dona Delfina]

But if my husband sees me, then he may think you brought me on board.

[Captain Arad]

Well, in that case, I shall be forced to kill him in the duel. Good night.

[Dona Delfina]

You. You are going to sleep?

[Captain Arad]

I hope to try the Shrine of the Queen of Heaven. It's the last cabin in the stern. No one goes there but Yang Po. And he'll have to be told about you anyway. Good night.

[Dona Delfina]

Even when you are rude to me, your Ma is so very sweet. Buenos launches.

[Captain Arad]

Well, woman or no woman aboard. It was too late to turn back now. And so two days later, we dropped anchor at the mouth of Serif's River. Off the port rail a quarter mile away lay the pirate stockade was backed up by the dark green mass of jungle. And on the opposite side of the junk, across a hundred yards or so of water, was the beach of Misfortune's Isles, sloping back to break sharply on the foot of the limestone cliffs. On the upper shoulders of those cliffs were the caves with a fortune in edible birds nests. And between the cliffs and the water stood the Upas tree. A hundred legends were told about the Upas tree. How its shadow could kill a man, and how the spirit of a white goddess was prisoned in the thick, dark foliage of its top. And how birds that lighted on its branches fell dead to the ground. But one thing at least was true enough. The Dayaks made a horrible poison from the juice of its bark, and they worshiped the tree. Yang Po took the renegade interpreter Jambu with him and went ashore to pay his respects to Serif. And at the same time was to pass the word to his Chinese friends. It was late afternoon when he came back, and I'd become nearly as uneasy as Don Narciso. Yangpo came aboard alone and motioned me to follow him below, saying nothing until we were alone in my cabin.

[Young Po]

It is my humble opinion, Captain Harad, that heaven favors us with decided lack of fortune. Why?

[Captain Arad]

What happened?

[Young Po]

Serif most polite. I most polite. We enjoy most friendly conversation while we both held our knives beneath our robes. All very polite.

[Captain Arad]

Well, did you get word to your men, Serif?

[Young Po]

Blessed with presents of 200 Dayaks and 50 Melees. My own brethren are unfortunately down the coast for two days.

[Captain Arad]

Ah, that's a bad piece of luck.

[Young Po]

Ah, but I have news of much worse. One Jambo, that son of 10,000 devils, has deserted us.

[Captain Arad]

Deserted?

[Young Po]

He has joined Sarif.

[Captain Arad]

Oh. He'll tell him exactly what we're planning.

[Dona Delfina]

Do not believe Jambu would do such a thing.

[Captain Arad]

Kulfina, I told you to stay out of this cabin.

[Dona Delfina]

Jamboo worships me. He's my slave wife. It was he who helped me sleep on board.

[Captain Arad]

So that's why he's done it.

[Dona Delfina]

He has not deserted. What could he hope to gain by it?

[Captain Arad]

You, probably.

[Young Po]

This unworthy one offers suggestion that we stand out to sea until water which come tomorrow.

[Captain Arad]

A fine idea, except for one thing. Your sleepy little sons of heaven left the cable slack. We're grounded on A mud bar with no chance of moving before the tide. Tomorrow morning we'll have to stand and fight.

[Young Po]

Ah, yes. They are so callous. I forgot to tell you. They even neglected to cover powder during storm. The water ruined it.

[Captain Arad]

Then we'll not even have the four cannon.

[Young Po]

Really? Matter of slight importance. They only ornaments. They would blow up if we fired them.

[Captain Arad]

You could hardly have picked a more suitable time to tell me. Well, we'll fight without them.

[Young Po]

The impetuosity of youth. I think I sleep for a while and dream of maidens on the moon.

[Captain Arad]

Yang Po, you'll stay on your feet and start your men boiling kettles of oil and piling rocks by the rail.

[Young Po]

It would be so much pleasanter to die in one sleep.

[Captain Arad]

If I know serif you'll not attacked until nearly midnight. Delfina, can you swim?

[Dona Delfina]

I can do anything.

[Captain Arad]

Primarily, I want to know if you can swim.

[Dona Delfina]

I can.

[Captain Arad]

Good. Yangpo, I'll be back and help you in an hour. But I have a job to do first. Come along, Conbesa. It was dark when we slipped into the water water and struck out for the island. If I had tried to lower a boat, they might have seen us from the shore. I could see no other way to keep her out of it. The rest of us had no chance. I knew how the dyaks fought. We could expect no help on board. She would have been the only one of us left alive. Aye. Jamboo would see to that. We made the beach safely crossed it and worked our way up the steep path on the face of the cliff. Finally we reached the ledge in front of the caves.

[Dona Delfina]

It is so dark here, it frightens me.

[Captain Arad]

Well, there's nothing to harm you. Bats in the caves perhaps, but nothing else.

[Dona Delfina]

I am to stay here alone then?

[Captain Arad]

Aye. Until the water. Which comes into anchor tomorrow. Light this torch then and signal them. They'll come ashore and take you off the morrow.

[Dona Delfina]

Where will you be tomorrow? Aret you are going back there to die with him, aren't you?

[Captain Arad]

Will I have a fighting chance?

[Dona Delfina]

You have no chance at all. You know it. Don't go. Stay with me. Are it?

[Captain Arad]

You know that's impossible.

[Dona Delfina]

No. This man, young Po, is no better than a pirate himself. And you cannot help him by losing your own life. Or stay with me.

[Captain Arad]

And what of your husband?

[Dona Delfina]

Will not go back. I beg you. Please. Harith.

[Captain Arad]

Delfina, you have a deadlier poison than the upas tree itself.

[Dona Delfina]

Will you force me then to stay here in safety and watch you die on those decks that are Below us.

[Captain Arad]

Will it make so very much difference to you?

[Dona Delfina]

So much that I would not care to be alive tomorrow. In Manmilla, I hated my life. I prayed for earthquakes, pirates, death, anything. But now I pray only that you may live through this night.

[Captain Arad]

Delfina. Delfina. There's nothing can be said.

[Dona Delfina]

Leave then, if you must. But before you do, kiss me.

[Captain Arad]

For a little while. Had I stayed there one moment longer, I should never have left her. Back aboard the junk, I found Yang Po rushing preparations for the hopeless fight that stood ahead of us. Don Narciso was shivering on the quarter deck, and I saw no reason to tell him his wife had made the trip with us. The Chinese crew had piled stones and smoke pots at the rail, ready to throw down on the heads of the dyaks who had tried aboard us. And kettles of oil were being heated over a brick hearth by the mast. Paper lanterns had been lighted and hung about the rigging. But outside the narrow limits of the deck, we could see nothing. Nothing but the black wall of the Borneo night. That same dark wall shut off any sight of the upas tree and of the cliff face where Delfina lay hidden. But I knew from the ledge she could see us moving about on the lighted deck. I loaded my pistols with the only dry powder aboard, and we waited. There was no light on shore, no sound, and three hours went past. Seniores, have all possible measures been taken?

[Young Po]

My venerable Captain General, I have offered incense and rice to Queen of Heaven. If our enemies prevail after that, then we have mistreated them in some former life. I go below to sleep. Sleep. And who is to give orders to your men? They give them to one another, Excellency. They are all commanders in their own right. We may perhaps meet later in Third or Fourth Heaven. With powder trader aboard in the ground. The ship.

[Captain Arad]

I might warn you before the attack starts. Your Excellency. Stay away from the rail. At least until after the smoke pots are thrown. Oh, the Dayaks use bamboo poles with iron hooks on the end, and they can reach up and drag a man over the rail. Easier than picking coconuts. Captain Arat, perhaps we could surrender and make peace somehow. They'll take no surrender. They want our heads. Look. They're on us. Young Paul. Dark healing.

[Dona Delfina]

Come.

[Captain Arad]

Watch the rails. Your Excellency. Use your cutlass if a head comes over the side. And look out for the hooks. Tariffs. Dayx warriors had run their boats in against the sides of the junk and now are pushing their murderous hooks over the rail. The Chinese crew is Fighting like madmen. Torture. Tossing over smoke pots, smashing those heavy rocks down on the heads of the pirate mob, pouring out smoking kettles of boiling oil. And the whole curtain of night was torn by the screams of agony.

[Young Po]

Captain Elliot, we find ourselves suddenly without smoke pots or soothing oil. And rocks are nearly gone.

[Captain Arad]

They'll be swarming aboard us in another two minutes. Where's the Captain General?

[Young Po]

He has retired to cabin. It would be uncharitable to say he has.

[Captain Arad]

Well, a lot of good it'll do him. What happened, Young Po? They're on the island. Look.

[Young Po]

It would appear top of sacred Upas tree has burst into flame.

[Captain Arad]

The great flaming torch of the tree spread into full bloom and leaped up to the heavens, lighting the whole sea around us and everywhere about us, screaming in hoarse terror. The Dayaks drew off in their boats and stared at the blazing death of their sacred tree. And then, in full view on the glaring face of the cliff, the beautiful and weird figure of a woman, hair streaming behind it, swung slowly out from behind the flame and up and up, and then disappeared over the ledge in front of the caves. And at the sight of their white goddess escaping from her prison in the tree, the dyaks broke in panic and turned their boats and raced for the shore. And while I thought of the signal torch I'd left with Delphine, suddenly the battle was over.

[Young Po]

10,000 bushels of unexpected good fortune. The little parakeet has saved our worthless lives.

[Captain Arad]

Aye. Then you recognize her?

[Young Po]

These venerable eyes have never looked upon sight more fair. I shall address her hereafter as Princess of Heaven. And I think perhaps another recognized her also.

[Captain Arad]

Rambo.

[Young Po]

Did you not see it?

[Captain Arad]

That was Delfina.

[Young Po]

It was my wife.

[Captain Arad]

I know. She was aboard with us. Aboard with us? By your permission, senor, no. She stowed away and asked that the knowledge of her presence be kept from you. I have no doubt she found you quite agreeable to such a plan. Take care, Excellency.

[Young Po]

Take care.

[Captain Arad]

I will see you hand, senor. And as for her, I shall whip her through the streets of Manila. We will discuss that later. I do not discuss my decisions. In fact, it may be better than I bring her boat at once. Perhaps Beaters are dead on this very deck. You'll pardon me.

[Young Po]

It is my humble opinion that elderly men should learn to control their motions.

[Captain Arad]

Wait. Wait. There's a Dayak warrior hiding there by the rail.

[Young Po]

The boss have gone and left him.

[Captain Arad]

Excellency. Excellency. Away from that rail. I take no orders from you, senor. Get back. Look out.

[Dona Delfina]

Silence.

[Captain Arad]

Doggers, wake up.

[Young Po]

They commendable shooting, Captain Arran.

[Captain Arad]

Aye, but little use to the captain general, I'm afraid. See what you can do from Yangpo. I'm going ashore to look after her.

[Young Po]

See what I can do for him.

[Captain Arad]

Now.

[Young Po]

How can I be expected to replace man's head on his body? Especially when head seems to have rolled overboard.

[Captain Arad]

There's not the least bit of use

[Young Po]

in giving me a point.

[Captain Arad]

It's blind, you old reprobate. It was nothing but pure luck that kept me from sailing in here this

[Young Po]

morning and finding nothing but your heads

[Captain Arad]

all a smoking in a row.

[Young Po]

So dreams of Queen of heaven, Mr. Okay. Not to mention, of course, those of a princess.

[Captain Arad]

Oh, that Spanish lad, eh? And quite a one she's turned out to be.

[Young Po]

I plan to devote remainder of my unworthy life to rescue of small burbs

[Captain Arad]

from neds now that Bendy's time.

[Dona Delfina]

Oh. Oh. Come in.

[Captain Arad]

A rat. I've been wondering where to find you. I was charting the course. Ah, well, we can sail in the morning. Both ships are nearly loaded. Good. We'll head for Kent. Young Po, this friend of yours there, this good quality of silk to trade.

[Young Po]

It is possible. Ah, silk, is it now? And what will you be wanting silk for a red?

[Captain Arad]

Well. Well, it's not silk. I. I mean, not exactly.

[Dona Delfina]

Come, man. It's.

[Captain Arad]

What? What if it's not silk? A rad. Then what is it? Oh, all right, Michael, if you have to know everything, I want to trade with him for a dozen pair of silk stockings. Escape is produced and directed by William N. Robeson and tonight brought to you Misfortune's isle by Richard Matthews Hallett. Adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield with Paul Freeze as Captain Arad, Virginia Greg as Dona Delfina, Bill Conrad as young Po, Barry Kroger as Don Narciso and Tony Barrett as Mike o'.

[Dona Delfina]

Kane.

[Host]

There's more from Escape, Relic radio thrillers and all of the relic radio podcasts at the website relicradio.com Thousands of episodes to listen to there and a shout cast stream with even more. And as always, if you'd like to help support this and all of the shows, help keep it all coming every week. Give that support button a click or visit donate. Relicradio.com We've got some downloadable sets for certain donation amounts. Anything is always appreciated and helpful. Thanks as always to those who have helped out. Thanks for joining me this Friday. I'll be back tomorrow with the horror and next Friday with our next episode of Relic radio Thrillers.