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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31495-h.zip b/31495-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8654e5f --- /dev/null +++ b/31495-h.zip diff --git a/31495-h/31495-h.htm b/31495-h/31495-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..da415ac --- /dev/null +++ b/31495-h/31495-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6603 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Wailing Octopus, by John Blaine. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wailing Octopus, by Harold Leland Goodwin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wailing Octopus + +Author: Harold Leland Goodwin + +Release Date: March 3, 2010 [EBook #31495] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAILING OCTOPUS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>THE WAILING OCTOPUS</h1> + +<h3>A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY</h3> + +<h2>BY JOHN BLAINE</h2> + + + +<h3>1956<br /> +BY GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC.<br /> +NEW YORK, N. Y.</h3> + +<h3>ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</h3> + +<h3><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></h3> + +<h4>[Transcriber Note: Extensive research was unable to find a U.S. copyright renewal.]</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a> +<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>With his spear Scotty jerked off the enemy frogman's face plate</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I <span class="smcap">Destination: Clipper Cay</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II <span class="smcap">The Scuba Slip</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III <span class="smcap">The Shadow</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV <span class="smcap">Visitors by Night</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V <span class="smcap">The Warning</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI <span class="smcap">The Deadly Tank</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII <span class="smcap">The Derelict</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII <span class="smcap">The Fancy Frogmen</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX <span class="smcap">Wreck of the "Maiden Hand"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X <span class="smcap">The Wailing Octopus</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI <span class="smcap">Lights on Clipper Reef</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII <span class="smcap">Clouds Over Clipper Cay</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII <span class="smcap">Message in the Storm</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV <span class="smcap">Below the Dark Coral</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV <span class="smcap">How Sings the Gay Sardine?</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI <span class="smcap">The Deadly Spring Gun</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII <span class="smcap">Trapped in Twenty Fathoms</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII <span class="smcap">The Fight on the "Maiden Hand"</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX <span class="smcap">JANIG Takes To the Water</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX <span class="smcap">The Buried Secret</span></a><br /><br /> +<a href="#The_RICK_BRANT_SCIENCE-ADVENTURE_Stories">The RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE Stories</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> + +<p><a href="#illus1"><i>With his spear Scotty jerked off the enemy frogman's face plate</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus2"><i>Pretending to lose his balance, Rick fell squarely against the man</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus3"><i>The valve assembly, traveling with bullet speed, barely missed Scotty's +head</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus4"><i>Rick turned in time to see a six-foot shark speed past</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus5"><i>A third man lowered something that glistened like gold</i></a></p> + +<p><a href="#illus6"><i>Rick nudged Scotty to back away</i></a></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="map" id="map"></a> +<img src="images/map.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>Spindrift Island</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>THE WAILING OCTOPUS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>Destination: Clipper Cay</h3> + + +<p>The Sky Wagon droned through Caribbean skies, following a compass course +that led to Charlotte Amalie, capital city of the Virgin Islands. With +eager interest, the four people in the small plane watched the blue +water below. In a few moments they should pass over the island that was +their ultimate destination.</p> + +<p>Rick Brant, in the pilot's seat, turned to the husky, black-haired boy +next to him. "See anything yet?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Don Scott had been surveying the far horizon through binoculars. He took +them from his eyes and shook his head. "Nothing but water. You sure +there is an island called Clipper Cay?"</p> + +<p>Rick let the plane fly itself for a moment while he stretched +luxuriously. He was a lean, long-legged boy with brown hair and eyes and +a bone-deep tan. He grinned at his friend. "No faith. That's the trouble +with you."</p> + +<p>"No logic, that's the trouble with you," Scotty countered. "If there +were such an island it would be called an island, not a cay. A cay is +something that follows an O, as in okay."</p> + +<p>The two scientists in the rear seat had been listening with amusement to +the boys. Since the start of the expedition Scotty had professed doubt +and misgiving, more for the sake of conversation than anything else, +Rick was sure.</p> + +<p>Dr. Anthony Briotti, archaeologist of the Spindrift staff, leaned +forward. "At least pronounce it correctly, Scotty. 'Cay' is pronounced +'key.'"</p> + +<p>"See?" Scotty exclaimed triumphantly. "The only place where they have +islands called keys is in Florida. We're on a wild-goose chase, I tell +you!"</p> + +<p>Big Hobart Zircon, a nuclear physicist and long-time friend of the boys, +tapped Scotty on the shoulder. "Since you're so certain of that, may I +ask why you came?"</p> + +<p>Scotty tried to look martyred. "Only because of the buddy system," he +said solemnly. "The first rule of underwater safety—or above-water +safety, for that matter—is that you have to swim with a buddy. You and +Tony swim together, so I had to go along as a buddy for Rick. Somebody +has to chase the mermaids away from him, and it might as well be me."</p> + +<p>"That's nice of you," Rick said soberly. "There'll probably be a whole +horde of mermaids guarding the treasure, not to mention half a dozen sea +monsters."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti said, "There's one mermaid I wish were with us, and that's +Barby. After all, she started this whole thing. Too bad she has to miss +out."</p> + +<p>Rick's pretty sister, Barbara Brant, had unwittingly launched the flight +to the Virgin Islands by getting into an argument with Tony Briotti +about the authenticity of the legend that pirates had once used +Spindrift Island as a hangout. Tony had challenged the legend. After +that, of course, proof had to be found.</p> + +<p>Rick had recalled digging up the remains of a campfire in Pirate's Field +during the installation of equipment for the moon rocket, the first +great experiment that had put the Spindrift Island scientific group in +business as a research foundation headed by Rick's father, Hartson +Brant. It was during this experiment that Scotty had joined the staff +after rescuing Rick from an unscrupulous gang. The two boys had been on +a number of expeditions together since that time and were fast friends. +Zircon was one of the original Spindrift group. Youthful Tony Briotti +was one of the new staff members, but he had already earned the loyalty +and friendship of the boys by his fine leadership of the expedition to +the Philippines, as related in <i>The Golden Skull</i>.</p> + +<p>Starting with the campfire site, Barby and the boys had excavated +Pirate's Field under Tony's direction. They had unearthed positive +evidence that pirates had landed there. The most vital evidence was the +remains of a logbook, once the log of the bark <i>Maiden Hand</i>, sunk by +the woman pirate Anne Bonney off the island of Clipper Cay in the Virgin +Islands.</p> + +<p>Scotty turned and looked at the two scientists. "I'm just kidding, of +course. You couldn't have kept me from coming without tossing me into +irons. But seriously, do you expect to find treasure, Tony?"</p> + +<p>The archaeologist grinned. "Depends on what you mean by treasure. As I +recall, one definition is 'something rare or precious.' Well, a chance +to go skin diving in the Virgin Islands is certainly that—a rare and +precious opportunity. At least I think so."</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon grunted, "And so do I."</p> + +<p>"Amen," Rick echoed.</p> + +<p>"You're evading the issue," Scotty accused. "You know perfectly well +what I mean. Do you expect to find that golden statue mentioned in the +logbook?"</p> + +<p>"Expect? On a treasure hunt, one hopes; one doesn't expect," Zircon +stated in his booming voice.</p> + +<p>Rick smiled to himself. Probably no Spindrift expedition ever had +started with such a flimsy excuse. According to the log of the <i>Maiden +Hand</i>, the ship had gone down before the pirates could locate a golden +statue of St. Francis, hidden by the bark's captain, Thomas Campion. +According to Captain Campion, the statue had weighed "an +hundred-weight." Certainly a hundred pounds of gold was worth going +after, but there were a few considerations that made finding it rather +unlikely.</p> + +<p>In Captain Campion's words: "<i>That we did prevent the boucaniers from +fynding the blessede statue was moste fortunate, yette the bark did go +to her deathe in twentye fathomes, and so the statue is loste.</i>"</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty had become underwater enthusiasts on their return from +the Philippines, and both had aqualung equipment that would take them to +twenty fathoms without difficulty. However, working time at that depth +was sharply limited by the capacity of their tanks. This was assuming +that they were able to find the wreck of the <i>Maiden Hand</i> in the first +place.</p> + +<p>Still, there was enough of a chance to provide an excuse for a vacation +expedition. The real purpose, so far as Rick was concerned, was to get +in some superb swimming in clear water. He also intended getting plenty +of underwater movies of the colorful reefs and fish. Scotty planned to +do some underwater hunting.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti's interest grew out of his profession. The Virgin Islands +had been pretty well worked over by archaeologists, and most of the +early Indian middens and mounds explored. But on the west coast, +archaeologists equipped with aqualungs had recently found primitive +artifacts a half mile offshore, and Tony wanted to do a little +underwater artifact hunting of his own.</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon was the only one without a specific objective. He had +readily agreed to go along simply because he wanted a vacation. He had +said, "Tell you what, I'll go along and do some surface fishing. Rick +and Scotty can catch fish underwater and put them on my hook, then +signal me to pull up. If the fish aren't heavy enough to ruin my rest, +I'll haul them in."</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Brant had already made plans to take a vacation in Canada, +and Barby was registered at a summer girl's camp. Weiss, Winston, +Gordon, and Shannon, the other staff scientists, were away on various +projects. So the four "treasure hunters" had welcomed an excuse to go +off on a venture of their own.</p> + +<p>They would have a wonderful time, Rick thought, and who knew? They might +even find the treasure!</p> + +<p>Scotty had been looking through the binoculars again. He gave Rick a +grin. "I take it all back," he said. "There's an island ahead."</p> + +<p>The scientists leaned forward eagerly, and Rick strained to see. Sure +enough, in a few moments they began to make out the island on the +horizon ahead. Rick had enough confidence in his navigation to be +certain that it was Clipper Cay.</p> + +<p>The group had spent the night in Puerto Rico, then departed early in +order to fly off the direct route for an advance look at Clipper Cay. +Rick didn't intend to land. He would circle the island once or twice, +then head again for Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas.</p> + +<p>Scotty asked, "Where does the word 'cay' come from, anyway?"</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti answered. "It's from the Spanish, Scotty. It means island, +or islet. However, the Spanish got it from the Taino people, who were +the Indians of the Antilles."</p> + +<p>The island was close enough now so that they could discern its shape. +Rick saw that it formed a rough crescent, running from north to south. +It was about a mile long, perhaps a half mile wide at its greatest +width, tapering to the horns of the crescent. He saw also that the color +of the water changed gradually from the fathomless blue of the ocean to +the green of shallow water.</p> + +<p>Inwardly excited, he put the nose of the plane down and let the small +craft pick up speed. Scotty grinned his pleasure, and Rick knew that his +pal was just as excited in spite of his joking skepticism.</p> + +<p>Rick leveled off at an altitude of four thousand feet and put the plane +in a wide circle. Zircon leaned over Tony to look out the window, and +Rick had to compensate in a hurry because the big scientist's weight +threw the plane out of trim. Then Scotty, just as eager, leaned over to +Rick's side and the trim had to be corrected again.</p> + +<p>The island was a travel agent's wildest dream. The blue water gradually +shifted to green, then lighter green, and finally the white of lovely +beaches on both sides of the island. Lines of surf marked the position +of reefs off both shores.</p> + +<p>Somewhere along the western reef was the wreck of the <i>Maiden Hand</i>. +Rick wondered if they would have diver's luck and locate the ancient +bark, and at the same moment he was sure they would.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of vegetation," Briotti remarked.</p> + +<p>"Probably palms, perhaps some mangrove," Zircon agreed. "Take us down +for a closer look, Rick."</p> + +<p>Rick obliged by standing the Sky Wagon up on a wing and sliding down as +quickly as safe flying allowed. He, too, wanted a closer look. He cast a +glance at his gas gauge. There was enough fuel, with a margin of safety, +unless he got too enthusiastic about lingering around the island.</p> + +<p>He leveled off again at a thousand feet and flew up the east coast, +between the outer reef and the beach. This was the Atlantic side of the +island, and the surf on the reef was heavy.</p> + +<p>"Cottages," Scotty called. "Look!"</p> + +<p>They counted seven on the eastern side of the island, most of them near +the middle. It was hard to see details among the palms, but they seemed +small and unpainted, like fishermen's shacks. Rick reversed course and +flew down the western side and they counted five more. One fairly +pretentious beach house was near the northern tip of the island. In +general, the houses on the western side seemed better kept, and slightly +larger. A few houses had small docks. Off the southern tip of the +island, on the western side, a boat was trolling. The occupants waved as +Rick flew over.</p> + +<p>"Wonder which house is ours?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>They didn't know, of course. Arrangements for a beach house had been +made for them by a friend of Zircon's, and not until they landed at +Charlotte Amalie would they get the details. The same friend, Dr. Paul +Ernst, had also arranged for a boat, to be used as a diving tender.</p> + +<p>Rick was tempted to land in the smooth water off the western shore. The +Sky Wagon had been equipped with pontoons for that very purpose. They +had realized that no landing place would be available on the cay for a +wheeled aircraft. But there was little to be gained by landing now when +they didn't even know which house would be theirs.</p> + +<p>Besides, there were supplies and equipment to be picked up and charts to +be obtained, and the Sky Wagon needed to have the tank topped off, since +they couldn't very well carry aviation gas to the island.</p> + +<p>Reluctantly, Rick asked, "Anyone want to see anything else?"</p> + +<p>"Not me," Hobart Zircon said flatly. "I want to get to Charlotte Amalie +so we can get started back. That water looks clear enough to drink."</p> + +<p>"See any sign of wrecks on the bottom?" Tony inquired.</p> + +<p>No one had. No one had looked. They were too interested in getting an +over-all view of Clipper Cay.</p> + +<p>Rick set his course for St. Thomas. Now that he thought about it, he was +rather pleased with himself. The flight from Spindrift was the longest +single trip he had ever taken in the Sky Wagon. The party had stopped +for fuel as needed and had stayed overnight as darkness overtook them +along the way. He had hit every destination on the nose, on time. And +now the end of the trip was in sight without a single incident to mar +its smoothness.</p> + +<p>In a short time the mountains of St. Thomas rose out of the sea, and +soon afterward Rick circled high above the colorful roofs of Charlotte +Amalie. He switched on his radio and asked for seaplane landing +instructions. The airfield directed him to the proper landing place, a +beach and pier at the edge of the city. Then Scotty took over the mike +and, while Rick started in for a landing, asked the airfield tower to +phone Dr. Paul Ernst, Zircon's friend, and notify him of their arrival.</p> + +<p>Apparently the tower operator phoned immediately, because as Rick taxied +toward the dock, Zircon saw his friend waiting. Following the +instructions of a dockman, Rick beached the Sky Wagon and cut the +engine. Two husky Virgin Islanders hauled the ship higher onto the +beach, and the Spindrifters climbed out.</p> + +<p>Dr. Ernst was a small, bespectacled man with a shock of unruly white +hair. He looked like a country doctor—which was reasonable enough, Rick +thought, because that's just about what he was. Charlotte Amalie, with a +population of about 11,500, could not be described as a big city.</p> + +<p>The doctor greeted them all cordially, then immediately got down to +business. "I'm sorry you are not remaining in Charlotte Amalie. However, +Hobart, I have done as you requested. For tonight I have reservations +for you at one of our oldest hotels, Alexander's Rest. Named for +Alexander Hamilton, of course."</p> + +<p>Rick remembered that the Revolutionary hero had been brought up in the +Virgin Islands.</p> + +<p>"The beach cottage is waiting at Clipper Cay. It is on the western side, +the third from the southern tip of the island. You shall have my own +boat. I think you will find it ideal for a diving tender. I call it the +<i>Water Witch</i>. An attractive name, is it not? I have checked on your +equipment. It is held at the warehouse in my name. The supplies you +wished to buy here have been ordered and are waiting at Andersen's +Supply House. I have told them you will be calling."</p> + +<p>The group listened, delighted at the obvious efficiency with which Dr. +Ernst had taken care of Zircon's requests.</p> + +<p>By lunchtime they had picked up their equipment and supplies, Scotty had +tested the twin diesel engines on the <i>Water Witch</i> and announced +himself more than pleased, Rick had checked over the aqualungs and +compressor that had come down with his camera and other equipment by +freight, the supplies had been stowed, the Sky Wagon refueled, and +nothing remained but to check in at the hotel. This, they had decided, +could wait until after lunch.</p> + +<p>While the scientists drove off in Dr. Ernst's car to pick up the doctor +at his office, Rick and Scotty walked into town, headed for "The Danish +Pastry" where the group was to meet for lunch.</p> + +<p>Rick spoke his amazement. "Look at us," he marveled. "Ready to go. No +trouble, no strain, no pain. Ever see an expedition get off to such a +smooth start? We can't lose, Scotty. After a beginning like this we +couldn't help finding the treasure."</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned his agreement. "I didn't ask," he said, "but I wouldn't +be surprised if the good Dr. Ernst hasn't done some advance diving and +marked the statue's location with a buoy hung around its neck, just to +make things easier for us!"</p> + +<p>"Twenty fathoms," Rick said reflectively. "That's a lot of water. +Besides, we don't know how accurate Captain Campion's guess was. We may +be getting into water that's too deep for us."</p> + +<p>Which, though unknowing, was one of the most prophetic remarks he had +ever made.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>The Scuba Slip</h3> + + +<p>Charlotte Amalie had color. It was an old community, dating back to +Danish ownership of the Virgin Islands, and there was a feeling of +antiquity underneath the color of the tropics. There was no sharp lines +to buildings; everything had a pleasant weathered look.</p> + +<p>"Friendly folks," Scotty observed, after the tenth passer-by had bidden +them a good day. "Doesn't seem to matter whether they're rich or poor. +They look happy, and they're certainly polite."</p> + +<p>"I like it," Rick agreed. "Those colored roofs get me." He stumbled on a +cobblestone and added, "But the street could stand improving. Cobbles +are fine for horses, maybe, but they're hard on cars."</p> + +<p>"What do they do here for a living?" Scotty asked. "Wish we had Chahda +along. He could reel off the straight dope from his <i>Worrold +Alm-in-ack</i>." Their Indian friend, Chahda, was at home in Bombay and +they hadn't heard from him in some time. His ability to quote from <i>The +World Almanac</i>, which he had memorized, had caused the boys considerable +amusement, even while they appreciated having a kind of walking +encyclopedia with them.</p> + +<p>They passed a fruit stand where women were shopping for mangoes, +soursops, and other delicious-looking things, including sugar cane. +"That's part of it," Rick said. "Sugar. This is also the headquarters +for bay rum."</p> + +<p>Scotty's eyebrows went up. "<i>Bay</i> rum?" He stepped out of the way to let +an ancient woman on a donkey go by. "What's the bay part of it?"</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. "Search me. Anyway, you don't drink it, you put it on +your face. I guess it was originally distilled from bayberry trees or +something. Anyway—" He stopped suddenly as Scotty's fingers sank into +his arm.</p> + +<p>"Look!" Scotty exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Rick looked, and let out a yell. "Steve! Steve Ames!" In the next moment +he could have bitten his tongue out, because it was entirely possible +that Steve wasn't traveling under his own identity.</p> + +<p>Ames was an athletic-looking young man in a white suit and Panama hat. +He stopped at Rick's hail, turned, and waited for the boys to catch up. +His face split in a pleased grin.</p> + +<p>Rick breathed his relief. Evidently Steve didn't mind being called by +name.</p> + +<p>The boys knew Steve as Spindrift's contact with JANIG, the Joint +Army-Navy Intelligence Group for which Spindrift had worked in the past, +once to solve <i>The Whispering Box Mystery</i>, and again to track down the +secret of <i>The Caves of Fear</i>.</p> + +<p>"Wonder what he's doing here?" Scotty muttered.</p> + +<p>"We'll soon find out," Rick said.</p> + +<p>Steve greeted them cordially. "What brings you two wanderers to these +shores?"</p> + +<p>"We were about to ask the same of you," Rick returned.</p> + +<p>Steve grinned at the obvious curiosity in the boys' faces. "Nothing very +exciting. I'm here on a little vacation. Swimming."</p> + +<p>"What kind of swimming?" Scotty wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Oh, skin diving, mostly."</p> + +<p>"Gosh, that's wonderful!" Rick exclaimed. "Scuba or snorkel?"</p> + +<p>There was the barest of hesitations before Steve replied. "Snorkel. +There's nothing that's more fun than snorkeling around the reefs. That's +the only way to swim in waters like these. You can get right down among +the fish."</p> + +<p>Rick saw Scotty's mouth open to point out Steve's error, but he stepped +on his friend's foot and said quickly, "We're here for the swimming, +too. Maybe we can join forces."</p> + +<p>He knew the answer would be no. Steve wasn't vacationing; he was on a +case. A vacationing skin diver would know that a snorkel is nothing but +a tube that allows a swimmer to float face down on the surface of the +water while looking for something to dive after. Once the dive starts, +the snorkel has no purpose, since its short length only allows it to +project a few inches above the surface while a diver is floating face +down. On the other hand, the Scuba—Self-Contained Underwater Breathing +Apparatus, like the boys' aqualungs, really does allow the diver to get +down among the fish.</p> + +<p>"Thanks for the invitation," Steve said. He smiled. "I don't usually try +a cover story unless I have it down cold. Just for my future guidance, +where did I slip? Your faces were quite a study."</p> + +<p>Rick told him. Steve nodded. "Thanks. I just got here on the morning +plane, and I haven't been briefed yet. By tonight I'll be an expert on +skin diving."</p> + +<p>The statement only whetted further Rick's over-sharp curiosity. If Steve +was to be briefed on skin diving, it sounded like a case that would +interest him and Scotty.</p> + +<p>Steve continued to smile. "I don't want to linger too long. Want to give +me a hand?"</p> + +<p>Rick refrained from shouting and merely nodded his head. Scotty, with +only slightly less restraint, said, "You know we do."</p> + +<p>"Fine. Don't look. In the doorway of the tailor shop is a +dark-complexioned man in a gray sharkskin suit. He's a tail. He picked +me up at the airport. I don't know the town well enough to lose him +easily in broad daylight. Never been here before today. Take him out for +me?"</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty nodded. Neither looked toward the doorway. "How will we +get in touch with you?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Steve hesitated. "There's no one I'd rather see more of, and no one I'd +rather have on my side. But this case is not for you. Just do me this +favor, then forget you saw me."</p> + +<p>"You never know when you'll need help," Rick pointed out. "We won't horn +in, but it won't do any harm to know how we can reach other. Tonight +we'll be at a hotel called Alexander's Rest. Tomorrow we take off for an +island called Clipper Cay."</p> + +<p>"All right. If you really need to reach me, call the duty officer at the +UDT base and leave a message. I'll get it."</p> + +<p>Rick turned slightly. In a plate-glass window across the street he could +see a reflection of the tailor shop Steve had mentioned, and he could +make out the form of a man in the shadowed doorway. He estimated that +the shop was about fifty feet away.</p> + +<p>Scotty was also measuring the situation. He said, "Walk away from us so +the tail will have to come by."</p> + +<p>Steve nodded. He shook hands, gave them each a grin, and was gone.</p> + +<p>Rick said loudly, "Give me your shoulder to lean on. I've got a rock in +my shoe."</p> + +<p>Scotty obliged, and Rick half turned as he did so. He saw the man in the +gray sharkskin suit saunter out of the doorway and start toward them.</p> + +<p>Rick balanced on one leg, one hand on Scotty's shoulder, the other hand +fumbling with the shoelace on his lifted foot.</p> + +<p>The tail walked toward them, unfolding a paper as he did so. He was +apparently devoting his full attention to the paper; his actions said he +didn't even know the boys existed.</p> + +<p>"You ought to get tighter shoes," Scotty observed. "Then you wouldn't +get stones in them."</p> + +<p>"Save the advice," Rick grunted. "I've got a knot in the lace."</p> + +<p>The man came abreast of them, between Rick and the building, and in that +moment, clawing wildly for balance, Rick lost his hold on Scotty's +shoulder. He fell squarely against the man in the gray suit and crushed +him into the building.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a> +<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Pretending to lose his balance, Rick fell squarely against the man</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>"Hey!" the man yelled. "What's the idea?"</p> + +<p>Scotty rushed to the rescue, took the fallen shadow by the shoulders, +and tried to pull him to his feet. This only made matters worse, since +Rick was stretched across his legs.</p> + +<p>"I'm so sorry," Scotty said. "Gosh, I'm sorry. He slipped. Here. Let me +help you up."</p> + +<p>"Get off me," the man yelled.</p> + +<p>Rick tried, lost his balance again, and fell against the man's chest, +pinning him to the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>Scotty groaned. "Rick! You clumsy ox. Get off the man!"</p> + +<p>"I'm trying to," Rick said plaintively. "My shoe came off. Here. Help me +up."</p> + +<p>"Help yourself!" Scotty returned sharply. "I'm trying to help this +gentleman."</p> + +<p>Rick rolled clear and Scotty got the man to his feet. He was something +less than spotlessly clean, thanks to the dust of the road, and there +was a rip in the arm of his coat.</p> + +<p>"Look at that!" Scotty exclaimed. He made ineffectual efforts to dust +the man off. "Rick, you ripped his coat."</p> + +<p>Rick looked embarrassed. "I'm terribly sorry. Here, sir. Let me take you +to this tailor shop. We can have it repaired in a jiffy."</p> + +<p>"Forget it!" the man snapped. "And get out of my way. I'm in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"It was all my fault, and I refuse to take no for an answer," Rick said +firmly. He took the man by the arm. "Come on. It will only take a +moment. You can't walk around town like that. I insist on having your +suit repaired. I'm sure that the tailor can mend it so no one would ever +notice."</p> + +<p>"No," the man grated. "Please stand aside." Both boys had managed to +block the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>"Please," Rick pleaded. "This is terribly upsetting. We really should +have the damage to your suit repaired."</p> + +<p>The man's dark complexion was turning a grayish pink with rage. Rick +estimated quickly. If he knew Steve Ames, the JANIG agent was long gone, +and the tail would not catch up with him again. They had delayed the +shadow for perhaps two minutes, but for Steve that would be enough.</p> + +<p>Rick stepped aside. "Very well. If you insist—"</p> + +<p>"I do." The man brushed by and hurried off.</p> + +<p>The boys looked at each other and grinned.</p> + +<p>"He won't catch Steve," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"Not a chance. Well, my clumsy friend, shall we put your shoe back on +and go meet the others for lunch?"</p> + +<p>"We shall," Rick returned. "Indeed we shall." He slipped his shoe on and +tied it quickly. "Wasn't it interesting, where Steve said we could reach +him?"</p> + +<p>Steve had said at the UDT base. That meant simply at the home of the +Navy frogmen—the Underwater Demolition Teams. No wonder Steve had said +he would be an expert on skin diving by nightfall. He was going to be +with the most expert experts of all.</p> + +<p>Rick sighed. "Just our luck he doesn't want us in the case. Wouldn't it +be great to work with the Navy frogmen? We could learn plenty."</p> + +<p>"Forgetting St. Francis?" Scotty inquired. "There he lies, twenty +fathoms down, probably covered with barnacles and waiting to be rescued. +And you want to go fogging off with the frogmen."</p> + +<p>"All right, all right! Don't rub it in. We'll go back to being +interested in the bark <i>Maiden Hand</i>. And St. Francis. And pirates. +Let's cast off, my hearty."</p> + +<p>The Danish Pastry was only a few blocks away, and Dr. Ernst and the +Spindrifters were already seated. The boys joined them, with apologies +for being late, but without mentioning their meeting with Steve Ames. +There was nothing to be gained by bringing the matter up in front of Dr. +Ernst. They could tell Zircon and Tony later. Zircon knew Steve, but +Tony didn't.</p> + +<p>Over dessert, Dr. Ernst reached into his bag and brought forth a chart. +"I thought you might need this," he said.</p> + +<p>It was a detailed chart of Clipper Cay and the surrounding waters. It +showed clearly the position of the reefs, and it gave soundings that +showed the depths.</p> + +<p>Zircon shook his massive head. "Paul, your thoroughness has never failed +to amaze me. What would we have done without you?"</p> + +<p>Ernst smiled his pleasure. "Thank you, Hobart. I try to be thorough. +Besides, I want you all to have a pleasant recollection of the Virgin +Islands. We who live here love them very much."</p> + +<p>The boys and Tony echoed Zircon's thanks, then fell to a study of the +chart.</p> + +<p>It was apparent that the water deepened rapidly beyond the western reef. +In a few places, the twenty-fathom line was only a short distance out.</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea where this ship went down?" Dr. Ernst asked.</p> + +<p>"A bare idea," Tony replied. "It was off the western shore of the +island, probably close to the reef, in twenty fathoms. The bark had been +hit and was sinking. The captain ran for the island with the hope of +beaching the ship on the reef, but he never made it. The bark went down, +and Anne Bonney's pirates picked up the survivors."</p> + +<p>"We know of Anne Bonney here," Dr. Ernst told them. "You realize that +the Virgin Islands were once a hangout for pirates? Oh, we have a dark +and bloody history, what with piracy, slave rebellions, even Indian +massacres."</p> + +<p>"You'd never know it," Rick said. "This is the most peaceful place I've +seen in years."</p> + +<p>He didn't add that the peace was only apparent. Steve Ames wasn't needed +in really peaceful places. Something was stirring under the tropical +calm of St. Thomas.</p> + +<p>"Tonight you must have a taste of St. Thomas home life," Dr. Ernst said. +"You shall be my guests at dinner. Dr. Briotti will be interested in my +collection of Indian pottery. And you young men will be interested in my +wife's hobby, which is fish. She has an amazing collection."</p> + +<p>"Alive?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed. In salt-water aquariums. Our misfortune makes it easy. You +see, we have no natural fresh-water supplies on St. Thomas. We depend on +catching rain for our drinking water. So our plumbing is operated by sea +water, of which we have plenty. As a result, Mrs. Ernst is able to have +a constant supply of salt water flowing through her aquariums. I know +you'll be interested."</p> + +<p>The boys agreed. Mrs. Ernst's hobby sounded like fun.</p> + +<p>After lunch Dr. Ernst departed for his office, leaving the Spindrift +group to their own devices. Not much remained to be done, except for +checking in at their hotel. For now, they were content to walk around +town.</p> + +<p>As they passed the post office where Alexander Hamilton had once been a +clerk, Scotty smiled meaningfully at Rick.</p> + +<p>"Steve lost a tail this morning. Remember?"</p> + +<p>Rick looked at him doubtfully. "Of course. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Somebody loses, somebody gains," Scotty replied cheerfully. "Don't look +behind you, but we've found one!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>The Shadow</h3> + + +<p>The two scientists had been walking ahead of Rick and Scotty, but +Zircon's keen ears had overheard the boys' remarks. However, he was too +wise to make his interest obvious. He waited until the group passed a +store with a large display, then stopped, as though to examine it.</p> + +<p>Rick found himself surveying a collection of tools for the +do-it-yourself addict.</p> + +<p>"What's this about Steve and a tail?" Zircon asked. He pointed at a +power-drill set, as though discussing it. His normally loud voice +couldn't have been heard five feet away.</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head, then pointed at a different drill set. Anyone +watching would have thought the tools were the subject of conversation. +Rick quickly outlined what had happened and concluded, "Scotty spotted a +tail on us a few minutes ago. Same guy?"</p> + +<p>Scotty bent down for a closer look at a series of wood power bits. His +voice was scarcely audible. "Not the same one. This one is a Virgin +Islander. Looks like a farmer. When we stopped he walked right on by. +He's out of sight now. But he'll pick us up as soon as we start."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti, to whom this kind of adventure was new, asked, "What do we +do about it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," Zircon answered. "Steve Ames wanted to get rid of his shadow +and the boys helped him out. But we have no particular reason for +wanting to get rid of ours. Let him follow. Undoubtedly whoever is +tailing Steve got interested when they saw him talking with the boys, +but they'll learn nothing by trailing us."</p> + +<p>"And it's one less for Steve to contend with," Rick added.</p> + +<p>Scotty straightened up. "I have to admit this bunch of tools is +beginning to bore me a little. Where are we going?"</p> + +<p>Zircon shrugged. "I have nothing in mind. We might check in at the +hotel."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather swim," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"Same here." Scotty made a quick survey of the street without seeming to +do so. "No sign of our friend. He's probably in another doorway."</p> + +<p>"Then Hobart and I might as well check in," Tony suggested. "I'd like a +swim, but frankly I'm a little sleepy from too much lunch."</p> + +<p>"How about checking in for us?" Rick asked. "Then we could get right +into the water. No need for all of us to go to the hotel."</p> + +<p>The scientists agreed, and at Scotty's suggestion hailed a taxi. As the +car rolled off toward the boat where their luggage was stored, Scotty +grinned. "This was the only taxi in sight. Wonder how our friend will +manage to follow us?"</p> + +<p>He had his answer at the pier. While Zircon was piling their overnight +bags into the taxi, a farmer rode past on a bicycle. He didn't look at +them. "There he goes," Scotty said. "Pretty easy after all. Guess the +town is small enough so he wasn't worried about finding us."</p> + +<p>"We'll give him a choice to make when Tony and I leave." Zircon smiled. +"Let's see whether he stays with you, or follows us."</p> + +<p>Not until the boys had changed to swimming trunks in the cabin of the +<i>Water Witch</i> did they find the answer to Zircon's question. The shadow +had decided to stay with them. This time it was Rick who spotted him. +The shadow was nearly hidden beyond a curve in the shore line. To anyone +not aware of being tailed, he would have appeared to be with any of the +other casual figures that went unhurriedly about their business in the +neighborhood. If Scotty hadn't pointed him out, Rick would not have +suspected that the shadow had the slightest interest in the Spindrift +party.</p> + +<p>"We going to rig the aqualungs?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Let's not bother. Masks, snorkels, and fins. We can swim out and take a +look at some of the coral heads."</p> + +<p>"How about a gun?"</p> + +<p>Rick considered. "I guess not. We don't want to do any hunting. But you +might take a hand spear in case something real inviting shows up. And +let's take our knives." He had also decided against taking his camera. A +leisurely, unencumbered swim was what he wanted. There would be time +enough for hunting fish or taking pictures later, when they got to +Clipper Cay.</p> + +<p>While Scotty went into the cabin to select a spear from their assortment +of fishing gear, Rick surveyed the <i>Water Witch</i> with satisfaction. It +was a thirty-five-foot craft with a small cabin forward and a spacious +cockpit aft. It had been used as a diving tender before, apparently, +because there was a ladder that could be swung outboard for a diver to +use. There was also a small boom that could be rigged quickly for +lowering or lifting gear from the water.</p> + +<p>The gas tanks were ample for their purposes. One filling would be more +than sufficient for a round trip to Clipper Cay plus any cruising they +would do while at the island. The tanks were full.</p> + +<p>Water capacity, an important consideration on waterless Clipper Cay, was +more than adequate. In addition to a built-in fifty-gallon tank in the +cabin, there was a rack of five ten-gallon jerry cans in the cockpit.</p> + +<p>Scotty emerged from the cabin with a short, low-powered spring gun. +"Thought I might as well bring a light gun," he said. "It's just as easy +to carry as a spear."</p> + +<p>"Okay." Rick led the way down the pier to the beach, carrying his mask, +snorkel, and slippers. These he placed carefully on one of the Sky +Wagon's pontoons, in order to protect the clear glass of his mask from +any possible scratching. Then, with a yell to Scotty to hurry, he +bounded through the shallows, threw himself forward, and planed along +the surface of the water. Lifting his head for a quick breath, he dove +under, feeling the wonderful coolness of the water close over him. He +judged its temperature quickly. It was close to eighty degrees, he +estimated, and cool only by comparison with the warm air.</p> + +<p>He reversed course quickly and stood up. Scotty was also in the water.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad we didn't bother with suits," Rick said. "In water like this +we'd even be too warm in midseason suits."</p> + +<p>Because of the coldness of the water off the New Jersey coast, the boys +had equipped themselves with full, waterproof rubber suits under which +long under-wear was worn, and with lighter "midseason" suits of foam +neoprene. Because of the reported warmth of water in the Virgin Islands +they hadn't added the suits to their already heavy load of supplies.</p> + +<p>They returned to the beach, picked up their equipment, and took it into +the water. Rick sat down and rinsed out his flippers, then carefully +removed the last traces of sand from his feet. He pulled the flippers +on, adjusting them for maximum comfort. His face mask was next. He spat +into it, then rubbed the saliva over the glass. This rather +unsanitary-appearing trick was essential, since saliva is an excellent +antifogging compound needed to help keep the glass clear underwater. +Then he rinsed his mask lightly and adjusted the head straps, leaving +the mask on his forehead.</p> + +<p>The snorkels used by the boys were plastic tubes curved at both ends. At +one end was a mouthpiece; at the other was a cage that held a rubber +ball. A dive or rough wave action floated the ball upward, closing the +tube and preventing water entry. Rick and Scotty adjusted the rubber +bands of their snorkels around their heads above the mask straps.</p> + +<p>Scotty was ready. He slipped his mask into place, molded the soft rubber +skirt of the mask to the contours of his face, inhaled through his nose +to make sure the seal was airtight, then called, "Let's go!" He gripped +the mouthpiece of his snorkel between his teeth, the rubber flange under +his lips, and slid into the water.</p> + +<p>Rick was right behind him. As his mask touched water he saw the white +coral sand of the bottom a few inches down. The only sign of life was a +hermit crab, perhaps a half inch in length, dragging his home of the +moment—a tiny spiral shell.</p> + +<p>In one hand, Scotty carried the spear gun by its pistol grip. He swam in +the position that suited him best, both arms hanging limply down. Rick, +on the other hand, preferred to swim with arms relaxed along his sides, +as long as his hands were empty. When carrying a spear gun or his +camera, he also swam with arms hanging downward. Neither boy used his +arms for swimming. The rhythmic, powerful leg strokes were enough, +thanks to the swim fins.</p> + +<p>The water deepened rapidly but lost none of its clarity. Even at a depth +of a dozen feet, Rick thought, he could have counted every grain of +sand. This was unlike anything he had ever experienced. At home, +visibility of five feet was considered good. Lost in the enjoyment of +really clear water, he completely forgot about the shadow.</p> + +<p>Scotty reminded him. He touched Rick's arm and signaled a stop. The boys +removed their snorkel mouthpieces and faced each other upright in the +water, holding position with easy flipper movements.</p> + +<p>"Just pretend we're talking," Scotty said. "Don't look around. I'm +trying to spot our friend over your shoulder." After a moment he shook +his head. "No sign. Wonder if he ran for a bathing suit?"</p> + +<p>"Forget him. Let's swim. See any coral heads?"</p> + +<p>"Darker water off yonder. Let's look."</p> + +<p>They readjusted their snorkels and headed in the direction Scotty had +indicated.</p> + +<p>Rick breathed easily through his tube, constantly scanning the bottom. +Now and then he saw various kinds of debris on the bottom, including +abandoned beer cans and a section of newspaper that had not yet rotted +away. Rubbish like this was to be expected in a harbor, he supposed, +still it was as unattractive to a swimmer as junk along the roadside is +to the motorist.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he noticed a fish—the first he had seen. He took a deep breath +and dove by letting his head drop and then lifting his legs to a nearly +vertical position. He slid underwater without a splash. When his fins +were below the surface he started his leg motion again, and the flippers +propelled him smoothly downward.</p> + +<p>The fish was perhaps a foot long, silvery, with a pointed nose and +yellow fins. Rick couldn't identify it. The fish was busily rooting in +the sand for morsels of food and paid no attention to the diver until +Rick reached out and almost touched it, then it sped just beyond reach +and commenced rooting again.</p> + +<p>His curiosity satisfied for the moment, Rick surfaced and rejoined +Scotty. As he took position at his friend's side, the other boy hooted +once, their signal for "attention." The hooting was done by making a +kind of "hooty" groan into the snorkel mouthpiece, about the only sound +that could be made without letting water pass the lips. Because water +conducted sound so well, the hoot could be heard clearly some distance +away.</p> + +<p>Rick lifted his face from the water and saw that Scotty was pointing to +an area a short distance to their right. He followed Scotty's lead and +saw the reason for the signal. It was a rocky, coral-covered area about +thirty feet square and perhaps fifteen feet below the surface.</p> + +<p>The boys swam directly over it, then floated motionless, watching the +activity below. At first glance, there appeared to be only a pair of +odd-shaped file-fish nibbling at the formation, but as their vision +adjusted they made out literally dozens of tiny, colorful fish in +clefts, under overhangs, or waiting motionless against a patch of color +on the rocks. Rick pointed to a school of about ten vivid little fish of +electric-blue color. The largest was less than two inches long. Scotty +hooted for attention and pointed in his turn to a section of the rock +that held over a dozen sea urchins that looked like black horse +chestnuts with exaggerated spines.</p> + +<p>Rick watched a pair of brown doctorfish about eight inches long swim by +below, then his attention was attracted by a brilliant red squirrelfish +peering out of a cleft. He pointed the red fish out to Scotty, who in +turn showed him where a little moray was peering out of a hole near the +base of the rock.</p> + +<p>Rick was fascinated. If a tiny patch of rock held this amount of life, +what must the real reefs be like off Clipper Cay? He was suddenly +impatient to get going, to put on his aqualung and explore the reef from +top to bottom. And if they should really find the wreck of the <i>Maiden +Hand</i>, there was every chance that the exploration of the wreck and the +sea life it had acquired would more than compensate for the treasure +none of them really hoped to find anyway. What a vacation!</p> + +<p>He was suddenly conscious of a throb in his ears. He listened and tried +to identify it. A motorboat of some kind, but it didn't sound like a +very powerful one. He lifted his head and searched for it.</p> + +<p>Scotty, too, had heard the boat. He began to tread water, lifting his +mask, then rinsing it because it had fogged a little.</p> + +<p>Rick spotted the boat. It looked like a large row-boat, powered with an +outboard motor, and it was headed in their direction.</p> + +<p>Scotty took his snorkel out of his mouth. "Better stay topside and +watch. We don't want to start our vacation by getting run over."</p> + +<p>"Too true," Rick said. "Isn't this great? I've never seen so many kinds +of small fish in one place in my life. Wait until we get out to the +reefs where the big ones are."</p> + +<p>Scotty patted his spear gun. "I'll keep us supplied with fresh sea food. +Wonder if there are any lobsters around?"</p> + +<p>But Rick had stopped listening. "Scotty, that guy is heading right for +us!"</p> + +<p>The boat was getting close, and through his face plate Rick could make +out the figure of a single occupant.</p> + +<p>Scotty suddenly gripped his arm. "Rick! It's our shadow!"</p> + +<p>Rick started. "Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I don't like this. What would he come out here for? Get ready to +dive." Scotty pulled his mask into place and molded it to his face, then +gripped his snorkel between his teeth.</p> + +<p>Rick followed suit and leveled off in the water in diving position, but +he hesitated, waiting to see what the boat would do.</p> + +<p>It didn't take long to find out. The boat stayed on a perfectly straight +course, headed directly for them. Rick waited. Perhaps the shadow +intended to sheer off when he got close. He might have come out to talk +with them.</p> + +<p>Scotty hooted four times, their signal for danger! Then he went under. +Still Rick hesitated, until it was clear that the boat did not intend to +swerve. He saw the shadow's face, set in grim lines, then his legs went +up and he slid under, using his hands as well as his legs to pull +himself down to safety. He thought incredulously, "He tried to run us +down!"</p> + +<p>A dozen feet under he turned over on his back and saw the bright circle +of the propeller and its trail of foam. The boat was past. He shot to +the surface and filled his lungs with air, waiting for the next move.</p> + +<p>The boat spun around in a tight turn and headed back.</p> + +<p>Scotty surfaced next to Rick, pulled the snorkel from his mouth, and +gritted, "Swim away. Let him use you for a target. I'm going to get that +son of a spiny sea walrus."</p> + +<p>Rick saw from the position of the spear in Scotty's gun that his friend +had charged the weapon during the dive. He nodded, then turned and swam +away, flippers flailing as though trying to hurry. He watched over his +shoulder and saw the boat head for him.</p> + +<p>He was breathing hard from the excitement now, but he took a deep breath +and got ready to dive. But still he swam, leading the rapidly overtaking +boat until it was almost on him. Only then did he shoot downward, +twisting as he went. He looked back in time to see Scotty sight the +spear gun and fire as the boat went past.</p> + +<p>At first Rick thought his pal had missed, then he realized what Scotty +had done. The spear shaft was attached to a long wire leader, and the +leader to a safety line coiled around a spool just ahead of the pistol +grip. Scotty had deliberately fired ahead of the propeller, knowing that +the wire leader would be caught and would wrap around the shaft.</p> + +<p>Rick saw the spear stop short as the wire caught, saw it hauled back +against the propeller and drop free as the prop blades cut it loose. +Scotty shot up for a breath, then dove instantly, toward the rapidly +falling spear.</p> + +<p>Rick had to breathe himself. He surfaced, caught a quick breath, then +went under again. Scotty was picking up the spear. Rick saw him place it +in the gun barrel, swing the loader over the razor-sharp harpoon head, +and shove down on the spring. In a moment the gun was loaded again. +Luckily the spear had not bent when the prop blade hit it.</p> + +<p>The boat had come to a halt, the engine dead. The propeller could no +longer turn against the wrapping of wire and heavy fishline. Scotty +hooted twice, their signal to surface, and Rick followed him up. Near +the surface they separated, Rick taking the side of the boat away from +his friend. He longed for a weapon, even a hand spear. But he was +helpless. Scotty would have to get in the first blow with the gun. But, +Rick thought, that might give him time to get over the gunwale to +grapple with the shadow.</p> + +<p>His head broke water. He pulled the snorkel from his mouth and let it +hang. As luck would have it, the shadow saw him first. He stood up, oar +in hands, poised for a swing at Rick's head.</p> + +<p>Scotty's voice stopped the swing. "Don't do it or you'll get three feet +of steel through you!"</p> + +<p>The man turned and faced the needle point of Scotty's spear. The oar +dropped from his hands.</p> + +<p>Rick gulped his relief. Apparently the shadow had no weapon.</p> + +<p>"Jump overboard!" Scotty ordered.</p> + +<p>The man hesitated. Scotty thrust the spear gun forward. "Jump, I said!"</p> + +<p>The shadow did, and sank in a flurry of bubbles. When he rose to the +surface again, the point of the spear was against his back. "Hang on to +the boat with both hands," Scotty directed.</p> + +<p>Rick got to his side with a kick of the flippers and ran his hands over +the man's clothing. He found a switch knife, which he put in his belt. +"He's clean," he said. "No other weapons."</p> + +<p>"Take a look in the boat," Scotty suggested.</p> + +<p>Rick did so, lifting himself up on the gunwale. There was nothing in the +boat but oars and a can of gasoline.</p> + +<p>"Want to tell us why you tried to run us down?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>The shadow merely stared.</p> + +<p>"Talk," Scotty ordered, "or I'll put this spear through you."</p> + +<p>The man spoke, and his accent was the soft speech of the island. "No, +you won't. I could explain running down swimmers by accident, but you +could never explain putting a spear through a man in a boat. You don't +want that kind of trouble."</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned at the truth of it. "Okay," he said. "Just one thing. +Don't push us too far. Stay in the water until we're ashore, and don't +try to overtake us."</p> + +<p>"Better heed that advice," Rick warned. "Come on, Scotty. Let's go." He +put his snorkel in place.</p> + +<p>Scotty moved to his side. "Welcome to the hospitable waters of St. +Thomas," he said. "What say we look up some friendly sharks before we go +ashore?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>Visitors by Night</h3> + + +<p>Rick and Scotty stood on the pier and watched their erstwhile shadow row +slowly toward another pier some distance away.</p> + +<p>"We probably should have tied him up and called the police," Rick +remarked.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't have gotten us anything," Scotty disagreed. "He could +always claim he didn't see us in the water. After all, it wouldn't be +the first time divers had been run over by motorboats."</p> + +<p>"It's too late now, anyway. Let's dress, then go to the hotel and tell +Zircon and Tony about this."</p> + +<p>As they dressed in the small cabin of the <i>Water Witch</i>, Rick spoke +aloud the question that had been bothering him. "What did he have to +gain by running us down? That's what puzzles me. It was a stupid thing +to try, because he didn't really have much chance of getting both of us, +or even one, once he failed to catch us by surprise."</p> + +<p>"He wasn't very well prepared for murder, either," Scotty added. "No +weapons except a switch knife."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded agreement. "He was desperate," he concluded. "Suddenly he +had to take a chance on getting us. He must have known it wasn't much of +a chance. Either he lost his head, or he wasn't very bright. What could +have made him try?"</p> + +<p>Scotty had no answer, nor could Rick even hazard a reasonable guess.</p> + +<p>They locked the cabin of the <i>Water Witch</i>, walked into town, and found +a taxi. Their shadow did not show up again, and if a new tail had +replaced him, the new one was too good to be spotted. However, the boys +doubted that they were being followed.</p> + +<p>"I just don't get it," Rick said for the twentieth time. "Our friend +must have lost his head. Otherwise he'd have waited on shore and +continued to follow us when we came out of the water."</p> + +<p>"We'll probably never know," Scotty returned. "After all, we'll be gone +in the morning."</p> + +<p>"I know. But meanwhile, we'd better have eyes in the back of our heads."</p> + +<p>The taxi discharged them in front of Alexander's Rest and they climbed +out and surveyed the hotel with interest.</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke first. "Alexander's Rest? Which Alexander? The Great, or +Hamilton? If it was Hamilton, as Dr. Ernst said, he must have built it +personally."</p> + +<p>It was a two-story frame structure that had definitely seen better days. +On closer inspection Rick decided that the second story had been added +as an afterthought. It looked like the second layer of a poorly +constructed cake.</p> + +<p>Inside, however, the hotel proved to be very comfortable. It was cool, +and the rooms were large and clean. The boys learned that they had been +registered in a twin bedroom on the second floor, while Zircon and +Briotti were on the first floor.</p> + +<p>The boys found the scientists attired only in shorts, cooling off over +long, cold drinks. They accepted glasses of iced ginger ale and told the +scientists of their adventure.</p> + +<p>"It's amazing." Tony Briotti shook his head. "Do you realize that you +two are a phenomenon? I should write you up for one of the scientific +journals."</p> + +<p>"You mean because we turned the tables on the shadow?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"No. Because you're adventure-prone. Did you ever hear of people who are +accident-prone?"</p> + +<p>Zircon chuckled. "A good observation of these two. I agree absolutely, +Tony. They are adventure-prone."</p> + +<p>Rick sighed. "All right. What's the joke?"</p> + +<p>"None. I'm quite serious." Tony found more ice for his glass. "Insurance +statistics show that certain people are accident-prone. Accidents happen +to them. They're going along minding their own business and bang! A +streetcar jumps the tracks and hits them. Or they step into open +manholes. They're the kind of people who always manage to be walking +under things when workmen drop tools."</p> + +<p>"And you," Zircon concluded, "are adventure-prone in the same way. +Consider this. Had you walked down the street either a minute earlier or +later this morning you would not have seen Steve Ames. It's quite likely +that you would never have known of his presence in town. But what +happens? You walk right into an adventure. One thing leads to another, +and suddenly a stranger is trying to run you down with a motorboat."</p> + +<p>"That's what bothers me," Rick replied. "There's no pattern. It just +makes no sense."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't have to," Tony Briotti said with a grin. "The Golden Skull +pattern makes no sense, either. But you got us into more excitement than +I knew was possible. You're just adventure-prone."</p> + +<p>"And for the sake of my gray hair, stay out of trouble," Zircon pleaded. +"Stay close to us until we get to Clipper Cay."</p> + +<p>"It will be a pleasure," Rick assured him. "Only let us out of your +sight long enough to shower, please. I'm sticky."</p> + +<p>"We'll stay in the hotel," Scotty promised.</p> + +<p>"Fine. I'll feel better about it if I know where you are. Suppose you +come by in an hour and we'll have a quiet dinner at the Ernsts'."</p> + +<p>Dinner was quiet but interesting. The Ernsts were excellent hosts, and +both Dr. and Mrs. Ernst had many tales of the islands to tell. As the +good doctor had promised, the boys enjoyed the wonderful variety of sea +life Mrs. Ernst had collected to keep in salt-water tanks. She +identified for them a number of the smaller reef fishes, including +clowns, demoiselles, and even the deadly scorpion fish.</p> + +<p>The party broke up early, since the start for Clipper Cay was to be made +at dawn by the scientists. The plan was for Zircon and Tony to make the +trip in the <i>Water Witch</i>, with the boys flying over in the Sky Wagon. +That way, both the plane and boat would be available. Zircon thought +that fast trips to St. Thomas might be necessary to replenish supplies, +and he added that he would be happier if the plane were available in +case of accident. That way, the patient could be in Charlotte Amalie in +a short time.</p> + +<p>As the boys bade good night to the scientists and started up the stairs +to their room, Rick asked, "Any sign of a shadow tonight?"</p> + +<p>"Nope. Guess Steve's friends—or enemies—must have lost interest."</p> + +<p>"I hope that you're right. As long as Steve ordered us to stay out of +the case, I'll be glad when we get to the cay and get underwater. We +have to find that precious gadget even if it takes two solid weeks of +diving. If we don't, Barby will never let us forget it."</p> + +<p>This last was uttered as Rick turned the key in the lock and pushed the +door open. He flicked on the light, then gave a sudden gasp.</p> + +<p>The shadow and a stranger—in their room!</p> + +<p>The boys looked into the muzzles of .38-caliber pistols.</p> + +<p>"Come on in quietly," the stranger said. "Put your hands on the tops of +your heads and sit down on the bed over there."</p> + +<p>The boys did so. They had no alternative. Rick's mind raced. Somehow +they had to warn the scientists, and they had to get out from under the +muzzles of the guns! What could these men want of them?</p> + +<p>The stranger sat down on the other bed. His pistol muzzle was centered +precisely on Rick's belt buckle. "We want information. Give it to us +without any trouble and we'll go away. Give us a hard time and you'll +regret it."</p> + +<p>Rick studied the stranger. He was of medium height, dressed in tan +slacks and sport shirt with a darker jacket. His face was ordinary. He +might have been a store clerk, or streetcar conductor, or nearly +anything. But Rick saw from the way his jacket fitted that he was +powerfully built for his size, and his hands were lean and +strong-looking. He had a heavy tan, as though he had spent many months +in the sun.</p> + +<p>"What do you want to know?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Let's start with what you were saying when you walked in. Who is +Barby?"</p> + +<p>"My sister," Rick said. "She's at home, in New Jersey."</p> + +<p>The stranger sighed. "I was afraid of this. Give us straight answers or +you'll buy plenty of grief. Now, who is Barby? Who does he represent?"</p> + +<p>"He told you," Scotty answered. "She's his sister."</p> + +<p>The stranger tried a different tack. "How did you know where to swim +today? Did Ames tell you?"</p> + +<p>"No," Rick replied. "We just swam straight out from the pier looking for +coral heads."</p> + +<p>"Come on! You must have had some source of information. Who gave it to +you?"</p> + +<p>"We didn't have any source of information," Scotty protested. "We just +went for a swim!"</p> + +<p>The stranger lifted the pistol menacingly. "You'd better sing, and it +better be straight. I'm warning you!"</p> + +<p>"Warn all you like," Rick said angrily. "What do you want us to say?"</p> + +<p>The shadow walked over and pulled back his fist.</p> + +<p>"Lay off!" the stranger growled. "You've pulled enough stupid stunts for +one day. You'll be lucky if the boss doesn't rip the hide off you."</p> + +<p>The former tail subsided and glared at the boys.</p> + +<p>The stranger rose. "All right. If you won't talk here, we'll take you +where you will talk. Get up."</p> + +<p>The boys looked at each other. Scotty raised his eyebrows. Rick grinned. +He asked calmly, "Suppose we don't go?"</p> + +<p>"You'll go!" the stranger snapped.</p> + +<p>"I don't think we will," Scotty answered. "Look, mister. You're in a +hotel. It's early, and there are people in the lobby. How far do you +think you'd get if you tried to march us downstairs with a gun in your +hand?"</p> + +<p>"We're not going through the lobby," the stranger told them. "We're +going the way we came—through the window. And you'll go quietly or +we'll take our chances. They might catch us, but you wouldn't care with +a couple of slugs in you. Pete, go outside and wait. They'll come down +one at a time. Keep them covered, and don't hesitate to shoot if they +try anything."</p> + +<p>The shadow slipped through the window, hung by his hands, and dropped.</p> + +<p>The stranger's gun singled out Rick. "Get going."</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. There was nothing else to do but obey—at least for the +moment. He looked at Scotty, and his pal made a small gesture to the +right. Rick's forehead wrinkled. This was no signal he recognized, +unless Scotty meant to jump to the right.</p> + +<p>He swung a leg over the sill and looked down. The shadow was waiting, +and the light from the window glinted dully off the gun in his hand. +Rick went on out, then holding by his hands he gave a swing to the right +and dropped. The gun covered him as he rose to his feet again.</p> + +<p>"Against the wall!" the shadow hissed.</p> + +<p>Rick dutifully moved back against the wall. The shadow was standing +about six feet away.</p> + +<p>Overhead, Scotty was climbing through the window now. Rick watched +carefully as his pal lowered himself to full length, and swung <i>to the +left</i>.</p> + +<p>Instantly Rick divined Scotty's tactics. If the two boys were apart, the +gun couldn't cover both of them at the same moment, and there would be +an instant while the stranger jumped when only a single gun would be on +them. And the shadow had already shown that he wasn't the smartest man +in the world. Rick slipped to the right a step or two while the shadow +was distracted by Scotty's jump. Scotty fell to his knees, and in +getting up he managed to put a few more feet between himself and Rick.</p> + +<p>"Watch 'em!" The stranger's voice floated down. Rick glanced up and saw +the stranger with one leg over the sill. He tensed.</p> + +<p>Scotty said, "Listen, you mug ..."</p> + +<p>The shadow's head turned toward Scotty, and Rick left the ground in a +wild spring. He struck the shadow, hand clawing for the gun. He found a +wrist, and twisted, falling backward as he did so. The shadow, the +entire weight of his own body on his wrist from the throw, screamed!</p> + +<p>The gun landed on the ground. Rick let go and scrambled for it, but +Scotty was there before him.</p> + +<p>In the instant of the struggle the stranger had hesitated on the window +sill, hand grabbing for the pistol he had tucked in his belt. He pulled +it free and aimed at the struggling figures below, but in the gloom +there was no way to distinguish friend from foe. And in that heartbeat, +Scotty picked up the shadow's gun and fired one snap shot.</p> + +<p>The stranger's gun dropped to the ground and he fell backward into the +room.</p> + +<p>Scotty thrust the pistol into the shadow's stomach. "Face the wall," he +ordered. "Put your hands against it. Now support your weight on your +hands."</p> + +<p>The shadow did as ordered. Rick took the man's legs and pulled them +backward so that the shadow's whole weight was against his hands, his +outstretched body forming the hypotenuse of a right triangle. The only +way he could move to regain his balance was to lower himself to the +ground and then get up.</p> + +<p>Rick picked up the stranger's fallen pistol and hefted it. "Better see +about the one upstairs," he advised. "I'll watch this one."</p> + +<p>"I fired at his hand, but I was high," Scotty told him. "He got it in +the shoulder. He won't get far."</p> + +<p>Zircon and Briotti charged around the corner of the hotel in pajamas and +slippers, followed by other guests and members of the hotel staff.</p> + +<p>"We had a little trouble," Rick explained briefly.</p> + +<p>The scientists took in the situation at a glance.</p> + +<p>"As I said," Tony Briotti muttered. "Adventure-prone. And lucky! How do +you beat a combination like that?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>The Warning</h3> + + +<p>Steve Ames walked into the hotel dining room accompanied by a young Navy +lieutenant. He spotted the boys immediately and waved.</p> + +<p>Rick breathed a sigh of relief. "There he is."</p> + +<p>"We can turn this whole business over to him and then get out of here," +Scotty returned.</p> + +<p>The events of the night before had culminated in two phone calls, one by +the hotel manager to the police, the other by Rick to Steve Ames. +However, the duty officer at the UDT base had replied that Ames was not +available. Rick had then asked for intelligence, and his query had +gotten fast results. Steve Ames didn't show up, but Navy Shore Patrol +officers did. The SP's had conferred with the local police, and the +affair had ended with the shadow and the stranger, whom Scotty had +potted in the shoulder, being carried off by both groups. First, +however, the senior Shore Patrol officer had listened to their story, +then instructed the boys, "Wait for Steve Ames. Talk to no one else. The +police won't ask any questions."</p> + +<p>After conferring, the Spindrift group decided to go ahead with their +plans. The scientists were anxious to transfer their activities to +Clipper Cay, not only to get on with their vacation, but to get the boys +away from the mysterious danger that dogged their footsteps in Charlotte +Amalie.</p> + +<p>The scientists had departed at dawn in the <i>Water Witch</i>, after +extracting a promise from Rick and Scotty that they would not stir from +the hotel until Steve Ames contacted them, and that they would then fly +at once to Clipper Cay.</p> + +<p>The wait had been a long one. It was now nearly noon, and the boys, +hungry because their breakfast had been at daybreak, were ordering +lunch.</p> + +<p>Steve Ames sat down and motioned the lieutenant to a seat. "Jimmy, this +is Rick Brant and Don Scott. Boys, Lieutenant Kelly. Have you ordered +lunch?"</p> + +<p>"We were just looking over the menu," Rick replied.</p> + +<p>"Fine. We'll join you."</p> + +<p>The four consulted menus, then ordered. Steve turned to Kelly. "Jimmy, +being the athletic type, you've probably never heard of the Spindrift +Scientific Foundation."</p> + +<p>The lieutenant, a heavily tanned young man with crisp black hair, shook +his head. "Sorry. I never have."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's a reputable, highly competent and conservative group of some +of the best scientific brains in the country. But somehow, these two got +attached to it. They're not very conservative, although they're +competent—especially at getting into trouble."</p> + +<p>Kelly gave the boys a comradely grin. "If he talks that way, he must +like you."</p> + +<p>The boys grinned back. The lieutenant was likable.</p> + +<p>"All right. Last I saw of you two, Rick was lying across the legs of the +guy who had been tailing me. The next thing I heard, two men we've been +keeping an eye on were in the hoosegow, one with a slug in his shoulder. +And I also heard some wild tales of jumping out of windows. Now fill in +the details."</p> + +<p>Rick started from the moment they first noticed that a shadow had picked +them up. He told the story in careful and accurate detail, knowing that +Steve's trained mind might find significance in things that meant +nothing to him. Now and then Scotty elaborated on a point.</p> + +<p>When Rick concluded the recital, Steve cupped his chin in one hand and +stared at them thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>Kelly complimented them. "Sounds as if you took care of things like real +professionals, both in the water and in the hotel. And I must say, I +wish my people would learn to give reports like that."</p> + +<p>The boys thanked him, and Scotty added, "I don't suppose you can tell us +anything about what you do?"</p> + +<p>"Sure I can. I'm not one of Steve's hush-hush crew. I'm a simple Navy +lieutenant."</p> + +<p>Rick chuckled. "In other words, you can't tell us."</p> + +<p>Steve said, "He's executive officer of the UDT group here. And he's +group intelligence officer. I might also add that he's brighter than he +looks."</p> + +<p>"Then what do you make of this business?" Scotty inquired.</p> + +<p>"I'm not that bright," Kelly replied. "Seriously, this one has me +stumped. First of all, it's easy to understand why a shadow picked you +up. After all, it must have been obvious that you knocked Steve's tail +off. So they simply picked you up instead, hoping that you'd lead them +back to Steve, or that you might be important in some way they couldn't +understand."</p> + +<p>"It's nice to have someone do my thinking for me," Steve said. "Carry +on, Lieutenant."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, Sir. The tail stuck with you. When your party split in two, +he decided to stay with you instead of Zircon and Briotti. There could +be two reasons: First, you were the ones who contacted Steve on the +street. Second, you stayed at the waterfront while the others went off +in a taxi. I like the second reason better because of what happened +later. How about you, Steve?"</p> + +<p>"I'm with you. Go ahead."</p> + +<p>"Well, at this point I get lost. You put on your gear and swam out, not +with any particular destination in mind, but looking for a rock or a +coral head or something of the kind where you could see fish. The shadow +watched you. Suddenly he got excited, grabbed a boat, and tried to run +you down."</p> + +<p>Steve grinned at the boys. "In fact, he got so excited that he stole a +boat right out from under the owner's nose. What do you think of that?"</p> + +<p>Rick scratched his head. "We'd about decided he was either desperate or +stupid. I guess he was both."</p> + +<p>Kelly continued. "The big point is, what made him desperate? It could +only have been one thing, as I see it. You were getting close to +something, and he was afraid you'd find it. So he lost his head. That's +borne out by the remark his pal made last night, that he'd pulled enough +stupid stunts for one day."</p> + +<p>"But what could we have been getting close to?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Whatever it was, it isn't there now."</p> + +<p>Scotty and Rick sat up straight. Scotty demanded, "How do you know?"</p> + +<p>Steve smiled. "Because a team of Navy frogmen went over the entire area +inch by inch this morning."</p> + +<p>At the boys' surprised looks, Kelly explained, "You told the Shore +Patrol enough to get us interested. We put teams in the water at +daylight. There's nothing there."</p> + +<p>"But there could have been," Scotty pointed out. "If they suspected we +knew about it, they could have removed it yesterday afternoon or last +night."</p> + +<p>"Correct," Steve agreed. "They were worried, too. Otherwise why the call +on you last night? And the questions?" Steve paused while the waiter +served them. "The conclusion is this: Something they value was in the +water near where you swam. You met me yesterday morning, and they had +already identified me. Which means that they must have agents in +Washington who warned them JANIG was moving in on the case. Since it's +no secret that I'm with the outfit, they could peg me easily. When you +swam out toward this object, whatever it was, they were convinced that +somehow JANIG had learned about it. The tail got desperate and tried to +knock you off. Then, last night, they tried to find out what you knew, +and how."</p> + +<p>"Who are 'they'?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"If I knew that, I'd wrap the case up and go home. Jimmy has been +working on it for a week, but he hasn't any answers yet. I've been here +twenty-four hours, and I know even less."</p> + +<p>"Could you identify the two men?" Scotty queried.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Both small fry, both local. And both are obviously green at this +kind of business, otherwise you'd be a pair of real cold turkeys by +now."</p> + +<p>That was true, Rick knew. Experienced agents wouldn't have given him and +Scotty the chances that they'd seized.</p> + +<p>"The men must know what was under the water," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily. They just knew it was important, and they may have +been ordered to protect it. But your former shadow was on the griddle +all night, and told all he knew. It wasn't much. He didn't even know who +had hired him. He wasn't stalling, either."</p> + +<p>"What's the next step?" Rick wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"Jimmy and I will drive you to the plane. Then you take off for Clipper +Cay. And stay there until your vacation is over. Have you a short-wave +radio, by the way?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Why?" Rick had an all-wave battery portable.</p> + +<p>"Monitor the Navy command frequency. Here, I'll write it down for you. +Listen every night at six for five minutes. If I want you, I'll send a +message. I don't think I will, but it won't do any harm to set up a +schedule."</p> + +<p>Steve lowered his voice. "Now listen to me. This thing is big. The two +you ran up against yesterday were not good samples. We're dealing with +some tough professionals. I don't know who they are, but from what I've +seen I can tell you they're dangerous. So you two are to stay out of +this case. That is an order. Stay on Clipper Cay and have fun."</p> + +<p>"I can add a small note to that," Lieutenant Kelly said. "I'm new here. +I was ordered down from Norfolk only a week ago. A first-class +intelligence officer had my job. He turned up in a hospital in the +British Virgins after being missing for two days. He had a fractured +skull. He still doesn't know what happened to him, and neither do we."</p> + +<p>"Okay," Steve said flatly. "I appreciate the way you handled things +yesterday, but that's the end so far as you are concerned. Get out, and +stay out! And that's final!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>The Deadly Tank</h3> + + +<p>The Sky Wagon droned smoothly through a series of figure eights as Rick +and Scotty inspected every inch of Clipper Cay and its surrounding +waters. While Rick flew, Scotty marked off landmarks on the chart of the +island that Dr. Ernst had provided.</p> + +<p>"I wish we could spot the wreck of the <i>Maiden Hand</i>," Scotty remarked.</p> + +<p>"Too deep," Rick said. "We can't see bottom at twenty fathoms even in +water as clear as this."</p> + +<p>"I've got everything important marked. What say we land and look over +our property?"</p> + +<p>"Okay. I'll shoot the beach while you look for coral heads. We don't +want to snag a pontoon."</p> + +<p>The boys had already identified their house. It was set at the edge of +the palms, about fifty yards inland from the beach. It looked fine. +There was a small dock to which the <i>Water Witch</i> could be tied up when +the scientists arrived.</p> + +<p>Rick estimated that Tony and Zircon would arrive about sundown, two +hours hence. The boys had flown over the <i>Water Witch</i> en route from St. +Thomas. Apparently the scientists were enjoying the trip. Zircon had +been sprawled in the cockpit while Tony trolled for fish.</p> + +<p>"I'm a little surprised there wasn't something wrong with the plane," +Rick observed. He and Scotty had gone over the Sky Wagon from propeller +hub to rudder, fearful that the unknown enemy might have sabotaged the +plane. But there was no sign of any tampering. However, the inspection +had taken so long that it was late afternoon before they got away. It +was significant and perhaps a little ominous that Steve and Jimmy Kelly +had assigned a pair of husky Shore Patrol men with .45-caliber sidearms +to stay with them until the plane actually took off.</p> + +<p>"Maybe the two men who came after us were acting without orders," Scotty +replied. "Maybe the real brains of the gang aren't even interested in +us."</p> + +<p>"I hope that you're right. See any coral heads?"</p> + +<p>Although most coral growth was limited to the reef area, outcroppings of +coral called "heads" had grown up toward the surface in some places. +There were none in the stretch of water before the beach house where +Rick planned to land.</p> + +<p>"The water's clear. Pick your direction. There's not enough wind to make +any difference."</p> + +<p>"I'll land parallel to the beach."</p> + +<p>Rick turned south down the center of the island. When he had reached the +right position he cut the throttle, and the nose of the Sky Wagon +dropped. He banked tightly, reversing course, until the plane was headed +north a hundred yards out from the beach. He let the plane feel its way +toward the water, then felt the first bump as the pontoons touched. In a +moment they were down, and Rick swung the plane to taxi in toward their +new home.</p> + +<p>Scotty was already stripping off his shoes and socks. As the pontoons +touched bottom a few yards from shore, Scotty climbed out. Rick cut the +gun while his pal pulled the plane up on the beach.</p> + +<p>Rick got out and waited until Scotty slipped his shoes on again, then +they walked to the cottage.</p> + +<p>The door was unlocked. Few people came to Clipper Cay, and locks weren't +considered necessary. The boys pushed open the front door and walked in.</p> + +<p>There was a large living room and three bedrooms, each with twin beds. +In the rear of the cottage was a kitchen with kerosene stove and +kerosene refrigerator. A fifty-gallon drum out back provided the fuel +supply, which was piped in through copper tubing. Rick checked the fuel. +The tank was full. He read the simple instructions tacked to the wall +over the refrigerator, then lighted the burner. There were frozen foods +and soft drinks as well as dairy products among their supplies, packed +in dry ice in the <i>Water Witch's</i> food locker; the refrigerator would be +cold enough for the supplies by the time the boat arrived.</p> + +<p>For bathing in fresh water there was an outdoor shower, a shower head +rigged to a five-gallon drum and supported on a frame of two-by-four +wooden members. A canvas curtain gave privacy. Other sanitary facilities +were equally primitive but effective.</p> + +<p>Scotty opened the door of a lean-to shed on the rear of the house. "We +can stow our diving gear in here. There's a bench, too. Looks as though +the owner used the place for cleaning fish and stowing his fishing +equipment."</p> + +<p>They walked around to the front of the house where there was a small +porch. A few wicker chairs were upended against the wall. The boys +righted them and sat down.</p> + +<p>"This is the life," Rick observed. "Look at that view."</p> + +<p>They looked from the porch down to the sandy beach, past the pier and +the Sky Wagon to water that was almost glassy calm. The water continued +in a smooth stretch for about five hundred yards out to the reef. Light +breakers foamed along the reef, and beyond, the water was a blue waste +to the horizon. A quarter mile south, a break in the reef marked a +passage where boats could enter.</p> + +<p>Somewhere, out beyond the reef, was the wreck of the <i>Maiden Hand</i>. In +his mind, Rick planned how they would go about finding it. The first +step was to rig some kind of underwater towing boards. Then he and +Scotty, equipped with their aqualungs, would be towed behind the <i>Water +Witch</i>, scanning the bottom as they went.</p> + +<p>He wasn't worried about finding material for the towing boards. Any kind +of planks would do, or they could even make a tow board out of a fallen +log, although that would be harder to control.</p> + +<p>"Come on," he invited. "Let's walk through the palms. We need a few +planks, and we might as well get them now."</p> + +<p>By the time the scientists approached the pier, the boys had explored +the central part of the island and had returned to the cottage lugging +planks found in the ruin of a cottage apparently blown down by some +long-past hurricane. They dropped the planks beside the house and +hurried to catch the line that Zircon threw, then they warped the <i>Water +Witch</i> in to the dock.</p> + +<p>All hands turned to, and in a short time supplies were unloaded and +stored, beds were made with linen and blankets loaned by Dr. Ernst, and +the cottage began to take on an inhabited look.</p> + +<p>While Tony Briotti began preparations for dinner, the boys carried their +aqualung equipment to the shed at the rear of the cottage and began to +check it over. Since their lives would depend on proper functioning of +the equipment, they inspected the regulators carefully, checking the +condition of the neoprene flaps. Once checked, the regulators were hung +on nails on the shed walls, out of harm's way.</p> + +<p>The next step was to inspect the tanks. Rick had already looked them +over, but for the sake of safety the boys did it again. There were six +of them, each of seventy-cubic-feet capacity. There was an advantage to +this particular capacity at the depth where they expected to dive; a +diver could work only fifteen minutes at 120 feet without requiring +decompression, and seventy cubic feet of air would last just long +enough. Double tanks would have meant the boys would be able to stay +down nearly twice as long, but would also have meant the nuisance of +waiting through the decompression period of about thirteen minutes ten +feet below the surface on the ascent. For this reason, the boys planned +to dive with single tanks, leaving the spares on the surface.</p> + +<p>Of course, to get even fifteen minutes of diving at twenty fathoms the +tanks had to be filled to capacity. When full, they were under enormous +internal pressure of over two thousand pounds per square inch. The tanks +had been filled at Spindrift, but the boys decided to check them again, +in case there had been some leakage through the valves during shipment.</p> + +<p>Scotty swung one tank upright and prepared to attach the pressure gauge. +Rick, inspecting another tank for bumps that might have weakened the +tank wall, saw him do it.</p> + +<p>For a moment Rick continued his inspection, then what he had seen +suddenly registered. He yelled, "Scotty! The valve!"</p> + +<p>In that instant, as Scotty attached the pressure gauge, the valve blew +out!</p> + +<p>The entire valve assembly and the pressure gauge, propelled by the +tremendous pressure in the tank, blew straight upward, ripping clear of +Scotty's hand and taking a patch of skin along. The ascending assembly, +traveling with bullet speed, clipped a lock of hair from his bent head.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a> +<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>The valve assembly, traveling with bullet speed, barely missed Scotty's head</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Scotty yelled, "Run!"</p> + +<p>The tank, its air free to escape, writhed and turned, then fell over on +its side. It was like an inflated balloon, turned loose to fly around a +room. Air jetted from it with terrific velocity, so that the tank was, +for the period while its air lasted, a true rocket.</p> + +<p>It struck the wall of the shed and went through it like paper, smashed +into a stud and caromed slightly, so that its trajectory was altered +enough to drive it directly at Rick. He fell flat and it went over, just +grazing him, then flew into the palm grove. It hit a palm a slanting +blow and turned upward, shooting high in the air, clipping off the top +of another palm as it went.</p> + +<p>As the boys watched, horrified, it climbed straight up. Then, its high +pressure nearly exhausted, it turned leisurely and plunged back into the +grove, almost burying itself in the sandy soil.</p> + +<p>The boys sat down and stared weakly at each other. For the first time, +Rick noted that Scotty's hand was bleeding. He said shakily, "Here, let +me look at that."</p> + +<p>The scientists rushed out of the house and demanded to know what had +happened. The tank had blown through its devastating course so fast that +they had not even had time to get outdoors.</p> + +<p>Zircon bandaged Scotty's hand with supplies from the first-aid kit while +the boys told them what had happened. Tony said, "Very careless, leaving +a valve loose like that."</p> + +<p>Rick told him positively, "It wasn't left unscrewed, Tony. We always use +a wrench on those valves because high pressure is so dangerous. And it +wasn't like that yesterday. I checked the tanks when we stowed them on +the boat."</p> + +<p>Scotty gestured toward the other tanks. "Better take a look."</p> + +<p>Rick did so, and gave a low whistle. The valves had all been loosened. +They were in place only by a turn or two of the threads.</p> + +<p>"They could have come out any time," he said grimly. "Any rough handling +could have knocked a valve out. And if it had happened on the boat, the +tank would have gone right through the bottom or side. It was just luck +Scotty and I weren't killed."</p> + +<p>Zircon wordlessly found the valve wrench and got to work screwing the +assemblies back in place. The others watched silently, until Scotty +said, "Well, at least we're out of St. Thomas. There won't be any more +sabotage!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>The Derelict</h3> + + +<p>Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning. They didn't bother +with anything so prosaic as breakfast. Instead, they collected masks, +snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip. They didn't use the lungs; +those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.</p> + +<p>For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun. Scotty chose the +same light spring gun he had used to save them from the shadow, while +Rick took his favorite gun, a four-strand rubber-powered weapon that +packed a terrific wallop. They belted on their knives and blew up their +plastic floats. These were essential for resting, if necessary, and for +bringing home their catch, if any. Once a fish was speared, it was +important to get it out of the water as soon as possible, since blood +would bring sharks or barracuda if any were in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"Come on," Rick said impatiently. "Let's go."</p> + +<p>"I'm coming." Scotty finished coiling up the light line he used to +tether the float to his belt, and they stepped into the water. The +temperature was just right. They ducked under, then put on their +equipment. Scotty pulled a rubber glove over his injured hand. Pushing +their floats ahead of them, faces down in the water, they started for +the reef.</p> + +<p>Rick watched the bottom carefully. It was clear sand, with no sign of +life other than an occasional conch or other shellfish. This was to be +expected, since marine life tended to collect around reefs, rocks, +pilings, wrecks, and similar things. As they approached the reef, coral +heads and outcroppings began to appear. And with them, fish.</p> + +<p>Rick hooted for Scotty's attention, then lifted his head and let his +mouthpiece fall free. "Let's go outside!" he called as Scotty looked up. +The other boy nodded agreement. Both were anxious to examine the reef.</p> + +<p>The surf was light. They crossed over the reef by towing their floats +and timing their movements through the breakers. Once beyond the point +where the waves broke, the water was fairly calm, with only light surges +from the passing waves.</p> + +<p>Rick looked down and saw the reef drop away under him. It shelved off +perhaps twenty feet down, then beyond the shelf it fell away into the +depths. He looked into the blueness with a stirring of excitement. To +find the <i>Maiden Hand</i>, they would have to swim into that mysterious +blue realm.</p> + +<p>Scotty hooted. Rick looked, and followed the direction of his pointing +arm. There, browsing around the shelf below, was a handsome red snapper, +perhaps fifteen inches long. They had stopped in Miami and Rick had +noticed that red-snapper prices were about the same as those for steak. +There was no doubt that the fish was very good eating. He gestured to +Scotty to go after it, then floated motionless, watching.</p> + +<p>Scotty put the loader over the tip of his spear and pushed down, cocking +the gun. Then, without a splash, he slid under the water. Rick watched +as his fins propelled him slowly toward the snapper. Scotty was moving +slowly, because this was the prime rule in underwater hunting. As he +swam, he extended the spear gun, aiming over the short barrel. The +snapper stopped browsing and his dorsal fin suddenly erected, a sign of +alarm. But he didn't move because he was not yet sure the big invader +was an enemy. Before he could make up his mind, Scotty fired.</p> + +<p>The spear took the fish right behind the gills. He gave a quick spurt +that brought the line humming from its spool. Scotty followed quickly, +caught the shaft, then sped upward to where Rick waited.</p> + +<p>"Good shot," Rick complimented him as Scotty caught his float. Together, +they took the fish off the shaft and examined him with some pride. Their +first catch off Clipper Cay was a good one. The snapper was pink and +firm-fleshed. He would make good eating.</p> + +<p>Rick put his face down in the water again while Scotty secured the catch +to his float. As he did so he saw a target and hooted for attention. +Scotty joined him and they looked down to where a barracuda hovered +motionless.</p> + +<p>The 'cuda was perhaps two and a half feet long, not big as such +predators went, but big enough. Scotty motioned to Rick to get him. +Obviously the fish had been attracted by the blood or the struggles of +the snapper. Rick hoped that his big brothers wouldn't join him. This +one was plenty big enough. While Scotty held both floats, Rick charged +his gun, pulling back the strong rubbers a pair at a time. Then he +checked his safety line, filled his lungs, and went under.</p> + +<p>The barracuda hovered, waiting. Rick knew that his apparent disinterest +could change to lightning flight. Few fish were so fast. He followed +Scotty's example, moving slowly toward the quarry. He was a dozen feet +down now, and in the lessened light the barracuda loomed large, a slim +arrow of a fish, poised for flight.</p> + +<p>The spear gun was extended, the spear point nearing firing range. Rick +planned to shoot from about six feet. He doubted that he could get +closer. Flippers propelling him gently, he closed. Now he could see the +pointed jaws that contained razor-edged teeth. The fish was watching +him, but without apparent fear.</p> + +<p>The barracuda head was squarely in his sights. Rick squeezed the +trigger.</p> + +<p>For a moment he thought he had missed, then the safety line ran out and +the jerk almost pulled the gun from his hands. He was running out of +breath, too. Quickly he planed for the surface, feeling the fury on the +end of his line. He broke water, gulped air, then dove again. He pulled +in the line until he saw the fish struggling. He had nearly missed. The +harpoon had taken the barracuda near the tail, fortunately hitting the +spine. Rick pulled him in, hand over hand, then gripped his spear by the +extreme end. He had no desire to close with those slashing, dangerous +jaws. Holding fast to the spear he shot to the surface again. Scotty was +waiting, knife in hand. As Rick extended the spear toward him the keen +knife flashed across the 'cuda's spine just behind the gills. Rick +tossed his gun onto the float, then together they heaved the fish up +beside it.</p> + +<p>"Spindrift was never like this," Scotty said, grinning.</p> + +<p>Rick gulped air and grinned back.</p> + +<p>A hail from the shore reached them. They turned and saw Tony Briotti. He +was waving a frying pan in a signal for breakfast. Suddenly Rick +realized that he was famished.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," he said. "We'll trade these for bacon and eggs."</p> + +<p>It was nearly noon before they got into the water again. The first part +of the morning was spent in fashioning sea sleds from the planks the +boys had gathered. This was simple enough, but it took a little time. +First the planks were cut to proper length, then two of them were nailed +together. A bridle was arranged so that they could be towed, and spare +weight belts and weights were used to counteract their bouyancy. They +were very much like the aqua-planes commonly towed behind motorboats, +but much cruder, and designed to go under rather than remain on the +surface.</p> + +<p>Two long ropes were arranged so that a sled could be towed on either +side of the <i>Water Witch</i>. Once this was done, the boys rechecked their +equipment, attached the regulators to the tanks, and carried them to the +beach.</p> + +<p>Zircon would pilot the boat, following the 120-foot mark on the chart. +Tony would act as tender at the stern, while Rick and Scotty would ride +the sleds. The first leg would take them through the reef channel, then +south to the tip of the island, reverse course and north again, staying +at the twenty-fathom mark. Zircon was sure that he would be able to +follow the prescribed course by judging his distance from the reef.</p> + +<p>When all was in readiness, they loaded their gear aboard the <i>Water +Witch</i>, including the spare tanks. Only the runaway tank was missing, +and Rick had determined that its wild flight had not weakened it. The +valve and pressure gauge had been recovered after a considerable search, +and the tank could be refilled with the others.</p> + +<p>Zircon took the <i>Water Witch</i> through the reef, and the boys donned +their equipment while Tony swung the ladder outboard. Rick checked his +own straps, and then those of Scotty, while Scotty returned the favor. +Then each checked the flow of air through his mouthpiece, and made sure +the reserve rod was in the "up" position. This done, they entered the +water. Tony tossed the boards over and made sure the lines were secured.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty paddled the boards to the extreme length of the lines, +then separated as much as the lines allowed. They were about thirty feet +apart and a hundred feet behind the boat.</p> + +<p>They waved their readiness to Tony, who relayed the go-ahead to Zircon. +The boat started slowly.</p> + +<p>Rick moved forward on his board, and the weighted board tilted down. It +acted as a hydrofoil, its forward motion pulling it deeper into the +water. Rick waited until he was only ten feet from the bottom, then +shifted his weight back again. Obediently the board tilted upward and +raced for the surface. Rick moved forward again just in time to keep +from breaking through the surface. By adjusting his weight, he could +keep the board level, or go up or down. It wasn't easy and he had to +fight the board level almost constantly.</p> + +<p>Bubbles rose from the regulator between his shoulder blades as he +breathed rhythmically. The lung performed effortlessly, giving him as +much air as he needed. He felt the pressure on his ears as he steered +the board toward bottom, and there was an instant of pain before his +ears adjusted.</p> + +<p>The bottom was sandy. To his right he saw the wall of the reef, and once +a startled snook shot out of his way. To his left he could see Scotty. +Before he knew it the boat had throttled down, a signal that they were +at the southern end of the reef. He tilted upward and surfaced.</p> + +<p>Tony called, "How is it?"</p> + +<p>"Great!" Rick called back. "But we'll need lots more line. It was +shallow on the way down, but if we try to go any deeper the angle of the +line will make the boards come up."</p> + +<p>"You should try it," Scotty said. "Honestly, Tony, it's wonderful!"</p> + +<p>"I'll try it a little later," Tony promised. "I'm giving you all the +line we have, about three hundred feet each. If you can't make it, +surface. We'll have to splice the two lines together and use just one +board."</p> + +<p>Zircon came to the stern and bellowed, "You forgot these!"</p> + +<p>He tossed in two fishing floats and coils of line. Those were in case +they found the wreck. Whoever spotted it was to drop off his board, +secure the line to the wreck, and let the float rise to the surface. In +that way, they would have a guide.</p> + +<p>Each boy took one of the units and fastened it to his weight belt.</p> + +<p>"We're off!" Zircon called. "Ready?"</p> + +<p>The boys yelled that they were. Rick fitted his mouthpiece and checked +the seal of his mask. Scotty did the same, then both tilted their boards +and slid under.</p> + +<p>On the northbound leg they had trouble keeping the boards down because +of the tendency of the lead rope to pull the front of the boards up, but +by crawling far forward, they managed.</p> + +<p>They were deeper than they had ever gone before, but Rick felt no +sensation of fright or strangeness. It was a green world, not dark but +yet not bright. The light was subdued, filtered by the fathoms of water. +The bottom was mostly clear sand, dotted now and then by patches of +growth. There did not seem to be many fish, or perhaps their eyes were +not adjusted to the subdued light. Scotty was close to the reef on the +northbound leg, while Rick was about twenty feet farther out.</p> + +<p>For long moments there was only the sensation of rushing through the +water, the distant throb of the engines, and the sound of their own +bubbles. Then, ahead, Rick saw a mass of growth and tilted his board +upward just in time to clear it.</p> + +<p>Scotty hooted once, then again. Rick turned in time to see his pal's +board leap ahead, free of Scotty's weight. Sudden fear gripped him. Had +Scotty been caught? Instantly he released his own board and saw it scoot +for the surface. He reversed his course and swam rapidly back.</p> + +<p>The obstruction he had cleared was dead ahead. And there were fish! So +many that they seemed like a swarm of flies around it. The biggest was +not more than five inches long. Then he saw Scotty. His friend was +fastening the float line to a projection!</p> + +<p>Rick's heart leaped. What he thought was a rock formation on the sea +floor was the wreck of a ship! Scotty had recognized it and dropped off. +The <i>Maiden Hand</i>? He hooted and Scotty looked up. The other boy shook +his head.</p> + +<p>It wasn't the <i>Maiden Hand</i>, then. But how did Scotty know? In a moment, +when he joined the other boy, he saw the curling edges of steel plate. +This was a steel ship, then, and not a very large one at that. He +estimated its length as not more than a hundred feet. Still, it was a +wreck—their first. There, at twenty fathoms, he and Scotty shook hands +solemnly while the tiny fish swam around them like curious gnats.</p> + +<p>Scotty finished tying his line and unwound it from the wooden spool. The +float rose upward and vanished far overhead. They heard the throb of the +returning boat, and Rick hooted twice, the signal to surface. Scotty +nodded, and they went up, slowly, careful to breathe naturally and not +to overtake their small bubbles, as doctrine dictated. In a moment Rick +saw the hull of the boat, propellers barely turning, and knew that +Zircon was holding position overhead.</p> + +<p>They broke water off the side of the <i>Water Witch</i>, and Rick waited +until Scotty hailed the scientists. "We found a wreck, but it's a steel +ship."</p> + +<p>"Come aboard!" Tony called, and helped them up the ladder when they +complied. The tanks were cumbersome when out of the water.</p> + +<p>"It's a fish paradise!" Rick said excitedly. "I'm going to get my camera +working and take some pictures. You've got to go down and look, both of +you."</p> + +<p>"How did you spot it?" Zircon asked.</p> + +<p>"Scotty did. I thought it was a rock formation and went over it, but +Scotty dropped off."</p> + +<p>"I saw curled plate," Scotty answered. "I knew it wasn't the <i>Maiden +Hand</i>, with steel sides, but I didn't think we'd want to pass up a +wreck."</p> + +<p>"You were so right," Rick agreed, grinning.</p> + +<p>A check of their tanks with the gauge showed that only about five +minutes diving time remained at the twenty-fathom depth, so the +regulators were transferred to spare tanks. Tony and Zircon, already in +trunks, donned diving gear and followed Scotty's line to the bottom. The +boys waited impatiently, Scotty taking the helm to hold the boat in +place.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the scientists surfaced, and Rick helped them aboard. +Tony removed his mask and grinned. "It's as wonderful as you said it +was."</p> + +<p>"What kind of ship was it?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Tony had been a destroyer skipper during the war and he knew ships.</p> + +<p>"Probably an interisland cargo carrier of some kind. At any rate, it +appears to be a small cargo ship. It's so overgrown with marine growth +that the shape is cluttered. It might have been a small tanker."</p> + +<p>"We can explore it from stem to stern," Rick suggested excitedly.</p> + +<p>Scotty joined them and commented, "But not right now. We'll have to go +ashore and charge the tanks. There may be time for one more dive this +afternoon if we hurry."</p> + +<p>"Besides," Hobart Zircon said with a smile, "I'm hungry. As you say, +Rick, diving certainly develops the appetite!"</p> + +<p>They docked, and Tony and Zircon went off to see about preparing +sandwiches. The boys decided that rather than carry the tanks back and +forth from the pier to the shed, it would be more sensible to bring +their small, portable gas-driven compressor to the pier.</p> + +<p>Scotty went after it while Rick tied the tanks to the afterrail of the +<i>Water Witch</i>, in position for filling.</p> + +<p>A yell from Scotty stopped him. He looked up and saw his friend beckon, +and ran down the pier to the house. The scientists joined him and Scotty +at the shed where the compressor had been stored.</p> + +<p>"We've been sabotaged again," Scotty told them flatly. "There's oil in +the compressor!"</p> + +<p>"Are you certain?" Zircon pressed close to examine the machine.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I stumbled over my own feet and tipped the compressor on its side. +And oil ran out through the air fitting. Look!" Scotty held up his hand, +and it was smeared with glistening oil.</p> + +<p>A cold shiver traced its way down Rick's spine. Oil in a compressor was +blown into fine particles, too small to be seen. If they got into an air +tank they would be breathed in, leaving a thin coating on a diver's +lungs. The result was a condition almost exactly like pneumonia, called +"lipoid pneumonia." Their special filter, designed by Zircon, probably +would have taken all the oil particles out of the air before it got into +the tanks, but that didn't alter the fact that faced them. Someone had +deliberately put oil in the compressor. Someone just didn't want them +around!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>The Fancy Frogmen</h3> + + +<p>"The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in? While we were +at Charlotte Amalie? Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?"</p> + +<p>"In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said. "Why do you think it might +have been done just a little while ago?"</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. He had no answer to that. The question had popped into +his mind unbidden.</p> + +<p>"We didn't take the compressor apart," Scotty reminded him.</p> + +<p>That was true. But Rick had started it in Charlotte Amalie to be sure it +was functioning. There was no oil in it then. He said as much.</p> + +<p>"You started the compressor at the same time you checked the tanks," +Zircon reminded him. "I believe the oil was put in at the same time the +valves were loosened."</p> + +<p>That seemed reasonable. Rick put aside his hunch. "Well, we found it in +time, anyway. Now Scotty and I will have to tear the compressor down and +clean it before we can recharge the tanks."</p> + +<p>"After lunch," Tony said. "Don't you remember? A diver is supposed to +rest after each dive. Relax, and I'll have some sandwiches ready in a +few minutes."</p> + +<p>All hands were hungry. Scotty stowed away four sandwiches and Rick did +nearly as well. Then they started work on the compressor. It wasn't a +hard job, but it was tedious, and nearly two hours elapsed before they +finished. Each part had to be washed in soap and water, then carefully +dried. Finally, the compressor was ready. They carried it to the boat, +started the gas engine, and connected the tanks. But before the air +started to flow, Rick carefully inspected the filter system to be sure +that hadn't been tampered with too.</p> + +<p>"You know," he observed, "these enemies Steve is hunting know a lot +about sport diving."</p> + +<p>Scotty considered. "They knew that tanks could be dangerous, and they +knew that oil in a compressor is dangerous. You're right, Rick. They +know plenty about it."</p> + +<p>"But it doesn't do us much good to know that they know," Rick concluded. +"Well, now what? It will be a few hours before all the tanks are +charged."</p> + +<p>"Where are Zircon and Tony?"</p> + +<p>"Napping. We probably should join them."</p> + +<p>"Not me. There's nothing to do after sundown but sleep. I'd like to take +a walk and look the island over."</p> + +<p>Rick sighed. "Always an eager beaver. I'll go with you, if you don't +walk fast."</p> + +<p>They turned north and walked up the beach. Somewhere off this stretch of +beach was the <i>Maiden Hand</i>. But where? They strolled along leisurely, +stopping now and then to examine some bit of beach flotsam. There were +shells, but most of them were small and water worn.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to collect a few shells on the reef," Rick said. "Barby will +be disappointed if we don't."</p> + +<p>"That's easy enough to do," Scotty replied. "I saw half a dozen +different varieties this morning."</p> + +<p>They passed a beach house, obviously empty. Rick gestured toward it. +"Funny how few people there are here. If I owned a place on this island +I'd be here all the time."</p> + +<p>"Unless you had to make a living," Scotty added practically. "This isn't +the season for vacations. I expect vacation time finds plenty of +activity here. There's one cabin occupied to the south of us. I saw +people there this morning. They're probably the same ones who waved at +us from a boat when we flew over day before yesterday."</p> + +<p>"The boat isn't there now," Rick observed. "At least, I haven't seen +it."</p> + +<p>"They may have gone to St. Thomas for supplies. Or they may have gone +home." Scotty pointed to what seemed to be the largest house on the +island, near the northern tip. "That's quite a place. Let's go have a +look."</p> + +<p>There was a long pier in front of the house, and, unlike the others on +the island, this house had a second story. There was no sign of life. +They walked around it and found a barbecue pit. Scotty examined it. +"This has been used recently, probably in the past few days."</p> + +<p>Rick bent down and peered at a scrap of meat. "You're right. They had +steak. And this piece hasn't dried out yet."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they're still here." Scotty walked to the back of the house. +"They might be out fishing or something." He looked in a window and +called urgently, "Rick! Look!"</p> + +<p>Rick hurried to his side and peered in. The room was evidently used for +storing diving equipment. Hung along one wall were three full diving +suits of expensive make. Next to them, neatly racked, was an assortment +of spear guns, all of the spring type, and all of Italian make.</p> + +<p>On another wall were three Scuba regulators, not aqualung types such as +the boys used, but the variety that carries a full face mask through +which the diver breathes. In a rack on the floor were nine spare tanks +and a compressor much larger and more expensive than theirs.</p> + +<p>Swim fins, also of Italian make, were lying on a table. They were the +shoe type, put on like a pair of slippers. Rick identified an underwater +camera, complete with steering fins and outside controls, and a number +of face masks with built-in snorkels. Boxes stacked on the floor carried +labels that identified them as midseason suits of French make.</p> + +<p>"We've found some real fancy frogmen," Scotty observed. "This place +looks like a high-priced show-room for diving gear."</p> + +<p>"Pretty plush," Rick agreed.</p> + +<p>They wandered back down to the beach and found that this area of the +island was apparently more open to the sea. There were bits of flotsam, +including coconuts that had washed in. The sea shells were larger, and +they found a few worth picking up.</p> + +<p>Scotty beckoned and pointed to a piece of wood, nearly buried in the +sand. "What do you make of this?"</p> + +<p>Rick examined it. It was curved, and a shred of green metal still clung +to the rusty remains of an ancient hand-fashioned nail. He looked up +with sudden excitement. "It's a section of a ship rib. And a pretty old +one, too." His finger indicated the shred of metal. "Copper. Or used to +be." He broke it off. "Completely oxidized. It's been in the water a +long time, perhaps even centuries."</p> + +<p>The boys stared out at the reef, both half afraid to put their thoughts +into words. Finally Scotty asked, "Do you remember reading about any +earthquakes or big tidal waves down here recently?"</p> + +<p>Rick tried to recall. "No. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, the <i>Maiden Hand</i> has been under the water out here for a couple +of centuries—and in pretty deep water, too. It would take some +disturbance that could reach down a hundred and twenty feet to break off +a chunk."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "You're right. But we haven't anything to lose by taking a +look, have we?"</p> + +<p>They trotted down the beach toward their own house at a half run. Rick +looked at his watch. "At least one pair of tanks should be full by now, +and there's plenty of time for a dive. Come on!"</p> + +<p>They paused at the pier, put the pressure gauge on the first two tanks +in series, and found them charged, as Rick had predicted. Then they ran +for the house.</p> + +<p>Zircon and Tony were gone and there was a note on the living-room table. +"<i>We're exploring the southern end. Be back in an hour or two.</i>"</p> + +<p>"Shall we wait?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"No need. We can take our floats. Let's get going."</p> + +<p>They changed to trunks. Then, since they would not have anyone on the +surface to keep track of time or depth, strapped on wrist watches, +compasses, and wrist depth gauges. Floats and weight belts were put on, +then the boys added small plastic slates and pencils for writing +underwater. Knives, masks, snorkels, their favorite guns, fins, and +lungs completed their equipment.</p> + +<p>"Shall we walk up the beach, or swim?"</p> + +<p>"Swim," Rick said promptly. "This stuff is too heavy to carry +comfortably."</p> + +<p>They launched floats, placed aqualung mouthpieces on top of their masks, +and swam parallel to the beach. By using snorkels they avoided the +effort of lifting their faces out of water to breathe and conserved the +air in the tanks. With effective but effortless leg strokes they moved +along rapidly.</p> + +<p>As they approached the ship rib that Scotty had found they turned and +swam straight out toward the reef, crossed it, then came to a halt.</p> + +<p>"Let's tie our floats to something," Rick suggested, and Scotty nodded.</p> + +<p>Aqualung mouthpieces replaced the snorkels, and each boy tested his flow +of air, checked to be sure his mask was connected to the lung by a +safety line, charged his gun, and set his watch. The watches, designed +especially for underwater swimming, had an outer dial that could be set +to show elapsed diving time.</p> + +<p>Rick hooted and pointed down. Scotty nodded and they submerged. Because +of their belt weights, and the weight of air in their tanks, they were +just heavy enough to sink slowly. After the dive, when the air in the +tanks was nearly exhausted, they would weigh about five pounds less and +have a slight positive buoyancy that would help them to rise.</p> + +<p>They found coral outcroppings and tied their float lines, being careful +not to cut their hands. Rick suddenly wished they had brought canvas +gloves. Scotty still wore a single rubber one.</p> + +<p>Then, with a few strong kicks to overcome their inertia, they started +down the face of the reef. It fell off sharply for about forty feet, +then more gradually until sand bottom was reached at about ninety feet.</p> + +<p>Rick felt the sensation of thrusting his face into a wedge as the +pressure increased. He swallowed a couple of times and felt his ears +equalize, but his mask was beginning to hurt. He exhaled through his +nose and equalized the pressure inside the mask.</p> + +<p>There were plenty of fish around now. A grouper saw them coming and +ducked into his hole in the coral. A fairly large moray eel, only his +head visible, watched their progress. Tiny demoiselles fluttered around +them, and a pair of red squirrelfish watched from the shelter of a +purple coral fan.</p> + +<p>The coral growth was spectacular, with fantastic shapes and colors. +Then, as they went deeper, the colors gradually faded to a uniform +green. Rick knew from underwater flash photographs that the appearance +was deceptive. The colors remained, but the quality of light changed.</p> + +<p>Scotty hooted four times, the signal for danger! Rick looked and saw a +barracuda hovering near by. He gulped. The fish was easily five feet +long. Both boys lifted their spear guns just in case the 'cuda attacked, +but the motion alarmed him and he was gone with one powerful flick of +his tail.</p> + +<p>Rick consulted his wrist depth gauge, holding it close to his face +plate. They were at bottom at ninety feet, and the clean sand dropped +away at an angle of about thirty degrees. The boys planed downward, a +few feet above the sand until Rick's gauge read 120 feet. This was the +limit of their dive. Going deeper would mean stopping for decompression +on the way up.</p> + +<p>He recalled that the waves came into the beach from a slightly northerly +direction and motioned to Scotty that they should turn north. Scotty +moved out to the limit of visibility, and they swam on a compass heading +of north, watching for any sign of a wreck. Now and then a coral shelf +extended out from the reef, but they saw nothing that could have been a +wreck. Once they swam over a patch of marine growth perhaps twenty feet +long and ten wide, and a huge eagle ray lifted from it and glided off +like a weird futuristic airplane.</p> + +<p>It was quiet, except for the regular chuckle of their exhausts, and the +light was subdued and even. It was a world without shadows. Still, Rick +thought, there was plenty of light for photography. Next time he would +bring his camera.</p> + +<p>The watch showed him that over half their allotted time was gone, and he +hooted once to Scotty, then reversed course, heading back toward their +floats.</p> + +<p>They approached the patch where they had seen the ray and Rick paused +suddenly. There was an odd shape on the sand near the patch. He +flippered over to it and examined it. Scotty joined him. It looked like +an oversized mushroom protruding from the sand at an angle.</p> + +<p>Rick unsheathed his knife and poked at it. The sharp tip penetrated for +a fraction of an inch, then stopped. It was either rock or metal, and +judging from the shape, it was unlikely that it was rock. He put his +knife under it and pried, and the thing moved in the sand.</p> + +<p>Both boys went to work on it, scooping the sand from around it. In a +moment they had it clear. It was something like a dumbbell, covered with +marine growth where it had been above the sand, but fairly smooth under +it.</p> + +<p>Rick took his belt slate and scribbled, "Metal."</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded. Then both of them turned to look at the patch of marine +life.</p> + +<p>A distant throb, as though of a boat, caught their attention. They +looked up, but the surface was invisible.</p> + +<p>It was Tony and Zircon, Rick decided. They probably had returned to the +cottage and found the diving equipment missing. They could spot the +location where the boys were diving easily enough, first by the floats, +then by the bubbles of their exhausts.</p> + +<p>Scotty hooted suddenly, four times. Rick turned quickly in time to see a +six-foot shark speed past. The tips of the pectoral fins and the second +dorsal were darker than the rest of the fish, and Rick identified it as +a black-tipped shark. Obviously, the shark was on business of its own, +not particularly interested in them. Still, it was curious. The shark +was rushing almost straight up.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a> +<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Rick turned in time to see a six-foot shark speed past</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Scotty gripped his arm and pointed. More sharks! Another black tip. And +a ten-foot leopard shark! All rushing upward.</p> + +<p>The boys watched tensely, and then out of the dimness above something +sped down at them, followed by the sharks. It landed in the clear sand +just beyond the marine growth. Rick saw a black tip go for it, then the +black tip was struck from the side by the big leopard. In spite of his +sudden apprehension, Rick couldn't help wishing for his camera.</p> + +<p>The sharks rushed again, and the falling object was lifted from the sand +by the disturbed water. This time, Rick recognized it. A chicken! It was +tied to a length of string from which dangled a lead sinker. The bird +was dead, but apparently freshly so. He knew that it was the chicken +blood that had brought the sharks—and a giant barracuda! The great +fish, a full six feet in length, slashed past the sharks and tore a +chunk out of the bird.</p> + +<p>The leopard shark made a fast pass at the barracuda, then turned and +snapped at a black tip. Rick gulped. A hole suddenly appeared in the +black's side, as smooth as though scooped out of ice cream. And then the +other sharks hit the wounded black tip.</p> + +<p>There were many sharks now, worrying the chicken and the wounded black +tip like fierce dogs over scraps of meat. Rick thought, "We'd better get +out of here!" He hooted twice at Scotty, the signal to ascend. Scotty +motioned to him to retreat. Rick picked up the dumbbell-shaped object. +It was heavy, but not too heavy to handle, and he started a slow retreat +along the sand.</p> + +<p>The sharks were paying no attention to the boys, but Rick wasn't at all +sure that they wouldn't, once the supply of chicken and wounded shark +were exhausted. His mind raced. Where had the chicken come from? Whoever +had tossed it into the water would have known that the blood would bring +sharks. It wasn't a casual toss, either. Not when the chicken had been +weighted with a fishing sinker big enough to carry it to the bottom. +Tony and Zircon would never do such a thing. Besides, they had no +chickens.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty backed far enough away so that the sharks could no +longer be seen. Then, heading toward the reef, they started for the +surface. Scotty was slightly in the lead, and Rick kept glancing back in +case one of the big fish decided to follow. But they reached the surface +without incident and broke water about two hundred feet from their +floats. There was no boat in sight.</p> + +<p>Replacing aqualung tubes with snorkels, they swam on the surface, faces +down, alert for sharks. When they reached the floats, Scotty kept watch +from the surface while Rick dove to untie the lines.</p> + +<p>As they climbed on the floats and lifted masks, Scotty and Rick pointed +and yelled "Hey!" simultaneously.</p> + +<p>But they had seen different things. Rick had seen the <i>Water Witch</i> pass +through the reef and head for them. Scotty had seen another boat, a big +cabin cruiser, tied up at the pier in front of the house occupied by the +fancy frogmen!</p> + +<p>Rick turned and looked at the cruiser, then at the house. He was in time +to see the front door close. There would have been plenty of time for +someone to drop the chicken from the cruiser and then cross the reef and +tie up at the dock.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet that's where the chicken came from," Rick said harshly.</p> + +<p>"That's a bet I won't take," Scotty returned. "But you can bet we'll +find out!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>Wreck of the "Maiden Hand"</h3> + + +<p>Tony Briotti examined the metallic object they had brought from the +bottom, then took his knife and scraped at it. Under the covering of +marine growth, red rust appeared. He looked at Hobart Zircon. "Recognize +this, Hobart?"</p> + +<p>"There's only one thing I can think of that fits the shape, Tony. Bar +shot."</p> + +<p>"My conclusion exactly." Tony weighed the thing in his hand. He grinned +at the boys. "Adventure-prone, and lucky. Describe the place where you +found it."</p> + +<p>Rick did so, concluding, "The patch didn't look anything like a ship, +though. If that's what you're thinking."</p> + +<p>"After two centuries, the ship would no longer look like a ship. But +this is unquestionably a bar shot for an ancient cannon. It was used to +cut ship's rigging, and to knock down masts, and create other damage of +that sort. It's likely that the pirates, or the <i>Maiden Hand</i>, would +have carried bar shot."</p> + +<p>"I think you have found the ship," Zircon told them, "and the question +about earthquakes was a good one. There was a heavy quake in this region +about a year ago. I had occasion to recall it a half hour ago when we +found a slight fault at the southern tip of the island that had +uncovered an Indian midden."</p> + +<p>"And a fine one," Tony added. "You boys can dive for treasure if you +want to. I've some work of my own to do."</p> + +<p>"Incidentally," Scotty reminded Rick, "in the confusion below we forgot +to send up a buoy. Hope we can find the place again."</p> + +<p>"We can."</p> + +<p>"What confusion?" Zircon asked.</p> + +<p>Rick told him. "A freshly killed chicken was dropped near us. And it +must have been bleeding when it hit the water, because we suddenly had a +shark convention around us." He pointed to the boat tied at the pier, +now far behind them because the <i>Water Witch</i> had been moving. "And we +think that was the boat that dropped it."</p> + +<p>"It was weighted," Scotty added.</p> + +<p>The scientists looked at each other. Tony grunted. "It makes no sense, +Hobart. Why would anyone weight a freshly killed chicken and throw it +over the side?"</p> + +<p>"No reason at all," the big scientist said, "unless he wanted to create +mischief below."</p> + +<p>"But just the act of dropping a chicken wouldn't ensure harm to divers +below," Tony objected.</p> + +<p>"That's why I said mischief. Inexperienced divers might panic under such +circumstances and attract the sharks to themselves."</p> + +<p>Rick hazarded a guess. "What if they just wanted to keep people from +diving in the area?"</p> + +<p>"That might be one way of doing it." Zircon said thoughtfully. "Are you +suggesting that there are others after the <i>Maiden Hand</i> treasure?"</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke up. "How could anyone else find out about the treasure?"</p> + +<p>"It's possible that there are other references besides the logbook we +found," Tony replied. "But it would be too farfetched to speculate that +other treasure hunters had found the location and were diving right at +this time."</p> + +<p>"This might be related to what happened on St. Thomas," Rick ventured.</p> + +<p>Zircon shook his massive head. "Extremely unlikely. Consider." He ticked +off the points on his fingers. "Who knew we were coming to Clipper Cay? +Ernst, Steve, and his Navy friend. We did not mention it to the people +from whom we bought supplies, nor did we discuss it in the presence of +others. We were not followed here. No, Rick, I think that we cannot +blame this incident on the ones in St. Thomas."</p> + +<p>"Then it was a dangerous practical joke," Tony concluded. "Unless there +was some legitimate reason for throwing the chicken over that we don't +know about."</p> + +<p>Zircon steered the <i>Water Witch</i> through the reef entrance, and the +Spindrifters tied up at the dock. Rick and Scotty inspected the +compressor and then measured the amount of air in the tanks. They hooked +the tanks up, refilled the gas tank of the compressor engine, and left +the tanks to fill while they went to the cottage.</p> + +<p>Rick and Zircon prepared dinner while Tony and Scotty refilled the +gasoline lanterns that provided light, and generally straightened up the +cottage.</p> + +<p>Rick called, "Tony, tell us more about this Indian stuff you found."</p> + +<p>Scotty added, "And what's a midden, anyway?"</p> + +<p>Tony leaned on his broom. "A midden is a polite name for a refuse heap. +Before the days of rubbish collection, people used to dump their trash +in the yard. The Indians did, and thereby provided archaeologists with +an important source of information. Apparently a tribe lived on this +island, close to the southern tip. It's likely that they simply dumped +their rubbish into the water. Well, the earthquake Hobart spoke of +shifted the old coral formations at the southern tip slightly and lifted +a few square yards out of the water."</p> + +<p>He went to the front porch and brought back a curved piece of material, +encrusted with coral. "This used to be a pottery bowl, probably Taino in +origin. I'll probably find many like it."</p> + +<p>It didn't look like much of a find to Rick, but he knew that Tony's +trained eyes could see many things that he couldn't. "You'll dive with +us, though, won't you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course. But you and Scotty are the real enthusiasts, and the diving +I do will use up air that you properly should be using. I'll go down +with you in the morning, because I want a look at the wreck. But after +that I think Hobart and I can amuse ourselves on the midden while you +and Scotty hunt treasure. Of course we'll be ready to help if you need +us."</p> + +<p>A few minutes before six, Rick turned on his portable all-wave radio to +the channel Steve had given him, but the air was silent. He waited for +ten minutes, then snapped it off again. Apparently Steve had no message +for them.</p> + +<p>Dinner consisted of fresh snapper and barracuda steaks served with +coconut sauce for which Zircon had learned the recipe during his tours +of the Pacific. It was delicious, and Rick wondered about the fussiness +of people who refuse to eat barracuda simply because the fish is a noted +predator. However, he knew that people are served barracuda every day +under less offensive names.</p> + +<p>After dinner they sat over coffee on the porch and watched the sun sink +beyond the reef. It was like a Pacific sunset—colorful and somehow +soothing.</p> + +<p>The boys walked to the pier, checked their tanks, and found them fully +charged. Then, at Scotty's suggestion, they locked tanks and compressor +in the cabin of the <i>Water Witch</i>. Fresh-water rinses for the remainder +of their equipment followed, and they carried the equipment into the +house.</p> + +<p>Zircon was already engrossed in a book, while Tony was engaged in +scraping the pottery shard he had found. The boys watched him for a few +minutes, then Scotty suggested, "How about a walk?"</p> + +<p>"Okay." There was an idea stirring in the back of Rick's head. As they +walked down to the beach he said, "We ought to take a look at the folks +who own that boat."</p> + +<p>And Scotty said in the same breath, "Let's visit the fancy frogmen."</p> + +<p>They grinned at each other, amused at how much alike their thought +processes were.</p> + +<p>"We'd better approach from the back," Scotty suggested.</p> + +<p>Rick agreed. "Suppose we cross to the eastern shore, then walk up until +we're in sight of the house. It's close to the northern tip, anyway."</p> + +<p>It was almost fully dark now, and no lights appeared in the houses south +of them. As they watched, lights showed far up the beach where the fancy +frogmen lived. But there were no other lights anywhere on the island.</p> + +<p>"Just two houses occupied," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"We'll probably have more neighbors during the week end," Scotty +answered. "The people in the house south of us must have left, but they +may be back. Come on."</p> + +<p>They made their way through the palm grove, watching fruit bats whirl +against the darkening sky. There was a slight breeze, just enough to +make the palms whisper. It reminded Rick of Hawaii.</p> + +<p>The eastern shore was rough. The reef was much closer here, and long +swells that had come all the way across the Atlantic sounded like +subdued thunder as they broke. It was dark now, and only the white of +the breaking water could be seen.</p> + +<p>They walked up the eastern shore until the lights of the frogmen's house +were directly opposite, then turned toward it, moving with caution.</p> + +<p>"Take it easy," Rick whispered. "They may be outside."</p> + +<p>As they drew closer they could see that the lights were in the front +rooms of the house. The back was dark, except for light that came +through open inner doors.</p> + +<p>"Wait." Scotty whispered. "I'll see if they're out front."</p> + +<p>Rick sat down to wait as Scotty vanished. Few could equal his pal when +it came to moving silently and invisibly.</p> + +<p>In a surprisingly short time Scotty reappeared. "No one out front," he +reported. "They're all in the living room."</p> + +<p>Rick rose, and together they walked swiftly and silently to the rear of +the house. The door of the room in which the diving gear was stowed +opened into the living room. Perhaps they could see in there.</p> + +<p>A card game was in progress by the light of a kerosene lamp. Rick +studied the face of a heavy-set, dark-haired man who sat facing him. The +man wore a T shirt that displayed the heavy muscles of arms and chest. +His face was square-jawed and powerful, the eyes set deep under bushy +eyebrows. His hair was short and curly, sprinkled with gray. He looked +like one used to command. Rick's quick imagination pictured him on the +quarterdeck of a slaver, ruling his cutthroat crew with iron fists.</p> + +<p>The others were not visible through the door. The boys moved silently to +the side of the house and drew back so they could look through the +living-room window. The second man was visible now. He was young, +perhaps in his twenties, and he had an unruly shock of blond hair. Once +he might have been good-looking, but a scar crossed a nose that had been +badly broken.</p> + +<p>The third man sat with his back to them. Rick touched Scotty's sleeve +and they went around the house via the back. The view was blocked by an +open door.</p> + +<p>Scotty put his lips close to Rick's ear. "The front."</p> + +<p>Rick led the way, moving carefully because light spilled out of the +front windows and the open front door. They reached a vantage point and +looked in. The third man was clearly visible. The boys reached for each +other at the same moment.</p> + +<p>The third man was Steve's shadow!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Morning found the <i>Water Witch</i> anchored on the reef close to the place +where the boys had found the bar shot. There was no sign of activity at +the fancy frogmen's house, and the boat was tied up as it had been the +previous evening. Apparently they were late sleepers.</p> + +<p>The Spindrifters tossed coins to see who would make the first dive, and +the lot fell to Rick and Tony. They donned their equipment, then Rick +picked up a spear gun while Tony selected a wrecking bar from his +equipment.</p> + +<p>It took ten minutes of their precious fifteen to find the wreck again. +This time, Rick took the precaution of tying a float to a projection and +unwinding line while the float rose to the surface.</p> + +<p>Tony started at one end of the mass of marine growth and inserted his +wrecking bar. Rick joined him in heaving, and a cloud of dust and fish +eggs rose to envelop them. It took a moment or two for the water to +clear enough so they could see, then Tony hooted his triumph. The pull +had exposed rotted timbers. This had to be a ship! But was it the +<i>Maiden Hand</i>?</p> + +<p>Rick wondered if they would ever be sure. Yet, he felt that it was, even +though he realized that the feeling grew as much out of optimism and +hope as anything else. Still, it was unlikely that another ship would be +wrecked at this same depth.</p> + +<p>Tony wrote on his slate, "Mor undr sand thn can see, likely."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. The shifting sands had undoubtedly covered, exposed, and +recovered the wreck dozens of times in the years it had lain here. He +looked at his watch, then reluctantly gave Tony the signal to surface. +Their time was up.</p> + +<p>On the <i>Water Witch</i>, Tony said, "It's a ship all right. And since its +on the western reef at twenty fathoms, I'd say that it's very likely the +one we want."</p> + +<p>"Wonder how Captain Campion pegged the depth so accurately?" Scotty +inquired.</p> + +<p>Zircon had a possible answer. "Let's assume the pirates knew he was +carrying the golden statue. It would have been logical for them to +sound, just to see if there was any possibility of recovering the +treasure from the wreck. Since they kept Campion for ransom, he would +have heard the depth mentioned."</p> + +<p>It seemed reasonable, and it was as good an answer as any, since there +was no hope of knowing whether it was right or wrong.</p> + +<p>"How do we find the statue?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Tony handed him the wrecking bar with a grin. "Take the wreck apart a +piece at a time. And if you still haven't found it, start digging."</p> + +<p>The boys sighed. Rick recalled reading somewhere that treasure hunting +was synonymous with ditch digging. Now he knew what the author meant.</p> + +<p>Scotty and Zircon prepared to dive, shifting the regulators to fresh +tanks. While they checked equipment, Rick rummaged through the boat's +locker and found a length of heavy line. An empty water jug with a screw +cap was attached to it, and he handed the end of the line to Scotty to +take down with him.</p> + +<p>"The fishing float and line isn't heavy enough. Let's add this, just in +case."</p> + +<p>Scotty took it and went over the side. He carried his spear gun while +Zircon took the wrecking bar. Rick watched as they vanished from sight, +leaving only the continuing track of bubbles.</p> + +<p>Ashore, a man came out of the fancy frogmen's house and walked down to +the beach. He shaded his eyes and stared at the <i>Water Witch</i>. Rick +pointed him out to Tony.</p> + +<p>"This business stumps me," the archaeologist admitted. "Are you certain +about the identity of the man who was trailing Ames?"</p> + +<p>"We're dead sure."</p> + +<p>"Then is there any possible way he could have known about our presence +on the island?"</p> + +<p>"Not unless he recognized the <i>Water Witch</i>."</p> + +<p>"That must be it. The question is, what do we do about it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, I guess. Except to be on our guard."</p> + +<p>Twin sets of bubbles rose, some distance from the boat, showing that +both lungs were working well twenty fathoms down. Since the bubbles did +not ascend vertically, they did not show the location of the two on the +bottom. Rick studied them, working on an idea.</p> + +<p>The chicken had dropped pretty close to them. But since their floats +were tied to the reef, and their bubbles were carried off a vertical +path by the light currents, neither could have been used to pinpoint +their whereabouts—<i>unless whoever dropped the chicken had an excellent +knowledge of the currents in this particular place</i>!</p> + +<p>He carried the thought further. The shadow had gotten upset because he +and Scotty had gone swimming in an area where something was hidden. At +least, that was a reasonable assumption, based on the events at St. +Thomas. The fancy diving gear in the house, the attempt to warn them +off, and the presence of Steve's erstwhile shadow on Clipper Cay could +then be added up.</p> + +<p>Right here, in this particular area, another mysterious something was +hidden! Something that the fancy frogmen dived often to see, use, +collect, or whatever they did with it. That would account for their +familiarity with the currents!</p> + +<p>He started to tell Tony, then reconsidered. It was a pretty good +hypothesis, he thought, but not supported by ironclad evidence. If he +told the scientists, they might forbid any more diving in the area. And +he was determined to get that treasure—more for his sister Barby than +for himself. If he failed to get it there would be no living with Barby, +since she would always maintain <i>she</i> could have found it if they had +only allowed her to go on their old expedition.</p> + +<p>Zircon and Scotty broke water and Rick helped them aboard.</p> + +<p>"It's a ship, and a sailing ship at that," Zircon boomed. "We identified +what was almost certainly a compass binnacle, probably brass, but there +wasn't time to get it free and bring it up. Scotty found what is +probably the muzzle of a cannon, buried in the sand."</p> + +<p>"There's so much growth over everything that it's hard to tell what's +what," Scotty added. "But it certainly looked like a cannon muzzle."</p> + +<p>"From what we saw, I suspect that the portion above the sand is the +stern, probably the stern super-structure. If the timbers haven't +completely rotted away, ripping off the top should expose the stern +cabins."</p> + +<p>"That seems reasonable," Tony agreed. "At any rate, it's a good basis +for operation. Rick, if you'll look in my kit, you will find a larger +bar you can borrow. You'll both need tools if you're going to take the +ship apart."</p> + +<p>"Anyway, that's enough diving for the morning," Zircon said. "Let's up +anchor and go."</p> + +<p>While the others got the boat underway, Rick started the compressor in +the cockpit and connected up the tanks they had used. He almost wished +he and Scotty had been extravagant and had ordered triple tank blocks to +give them maximum time under water. Still, the singles were convenient, +and diving was a sport it wasn't wise to overdo. By the time they were +through with lunch and had rested awhile, the tanks would be fully +charged again.</p> + +<p>As they tied up, Zircon said, "Tony and I will work at his midden this +afternoon. You two take the boat. We won't need it. I'll walk over and +take a look every once in a while, and if we see our friends from the +cottage near you, we'll come running."</p> + +<p>The boys helped Tony prepare a simple lunch of soup and sandwiches, then +all hands retired to the front porch to eat.</p> + +<p>Up the beach, there were signs of activity around the frogmen's boat. As +they ate and watched, the boat moved away from the pier and approached +the reef, where it anchored. Rick went to get the binoculars and focused +them on the scene.</p> + +<p>Two frogmen, complete with suits, went over the side right where their +buoys floated!</p> + +<p>"They're diving at the wreck!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Zircon took the glasses and watched, then handed them to Tony.</p> + +<p>The archaeologist muttered, "Surely they can't be interested in the +treasure. It would be simply too much coincidence for them even to know +about it."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they're just looking to see what interested us," Scotty offered, +and his explanation seemed the most plausible.</p> + +<p>The group watched until the frogmen surfaced and the boat went back to +its pier.</p> + +<p>"Scotty has it," Zircon agreed. "From what we've seen, I'd say they +simply followed our buoy lines down to see what we had been doing."</p> + +<p>"If that's the extent of their interest, I don't see how we could +object," Tony said. "Or even if they tried for the treasure we'd have no +grounds for objecting. The ship is anyone's property after all these +years."</p> + +<p>Rick said flatly, "We won't do any objecting, but we'll do plenty of +watching. We're going to get that treasure if it's there, whether the +fancy frogmen like it or not!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>The Wailing Octopus</h3> + + +<p>As Rick steered the <i>Water Witch</i> to its anchorage above the reef, he +told Scotty about the theory he had developed that morning.</p> + +<p>He concluded, "Their going out to take a look where we were diving is +another piece of evidence. Unless they were afraid that we might be +interested in their stuff—whatever and wherever it is—why would they +be so concerned about what we're doing?"</p> + +<p>"It makes a lot of sense," Scotty agreed soberly. He looked at Rick with +a sudden twinkle. "It might be a good idea to take a look around down +below—just so we'll know what to stay away from, of course."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned.</p> + +<p>By the time they dropped anchor, Scotty had the diving gear rigged and +it was only the work of minutes to get into the water. Each carried a +spear gun in one hand and a wrecking bar in the other. Ordinarily they +would not have bothered with the guns, but being armed seemed just +common sense.</p> + +<p>On the bottom, Rick scouted around the wreck, looking for signs of its +former structure while Scotty attacked the stern with a crowbar. Under +Scotty's prying, a timber suddenly gave with an audible crack, and a +huge grouper that must have weighed nearly three hundred pounds rushed +past Rick, startling him half to death until he saw what it was.</p> + +<p>Scotty hooted in derision as Rick back-pedaled, then he put his bar down +and swam to Rick's side. He scrawled on his belt slate, "Whre he cm +frm?"</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. It was a good question. They swam slowly around, looking +for the grouper's hiding place and failed to locate it. Rick knew the +big fish liked caves, rocky clefts, and the interiors of wrecks. This +one must have a hole somewhere.</p> + +<p>He tried again, going right down to the bottom and crawling along with +stomach touching the sand. Even so, he might have missed the hole if +stirred-up dust from the fish's sudden departure hadn't indicated where +it was. The hole, big enough for him to crawl through, was <i>under</i> the +wreck, hidden by rotted planks covered with marine growth. He hooted for +Scotty's attention and showed it to him.</p> + +<p>He took his belt slate and wrote, "Way into shp?"</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded and wrote in his turn, "Too drk. Need lites."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. For a moment he was tempted to try ripping off the planks +with his bar, but he decided against it. Any disturbance might very well +collapse the entire structure. He wondered whether the hole was just a +shallow opening, or whether it actually led into the ship. No matter. +They had watertight flashlights with their spare gear in the boat. They +could find out on the next dive.</p> + +<p>For their remaining time underwater he joined Scotty in his assault on +the stern of the ship. They were rewarded by finding what was evidently +the interior of a cabin. Rick ripped off another plank, then jumped as +Scotty hooted four times for danger. The cabin was the home of a fairly +large moray eel! Both boys dropped their bars and grabbed for their +spear guns, but Scotty held up his hand in a sign to wait. Rick did so, +and saw the big eel emerge and swim rapidly toward the reef.</p> + +<p>Scotty had shown wisdom. The moray is hard to kill, and this one would +have given them a battle that might have used up more air than they +could spare.</p> + +<p>The water inside the cabin was murky. Rick looked at his watch. They had +only a few minutes left. He wrote on his slate, "Sty dwn til rsrve +wrning."</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded agreement.</p> + +<p>They watched as the water settled and the interior of the cabin grew +clearer. Evidently it had been a very small cabin. There was a rotted +frame that might once have been a single bunk, and a few broken, almost +disintegrated boards that might have been a table. Mattress and bedding +had long since vanished. Then Rick spotted a squarish shape under the +ruin of the bunk and motioned to Scotty. They went in after it.</p> + +<p>The top crumbled under their touch and silt rose into the water around +them. But Rick persisted and felt fabric under his hands. He pulled it +out and recognized a seaman's jacket, brass buttons corroded and fabric +nearly rotted through. Apparently they had found a sea chest, but their +exploring hands discovered nothing but rotted fabrics.</p> + +<p>Rick felt the warning constriction that told him he had only minutes +left. He pulled down the reserve lever of his tank and touched Scotty's +arm. He hooted twice for the ascent.</p> + +<p>Back in the <i>Water Witch</i>, they connected their tanks to the compressor, +put the regulators on charged tanks, then tested their underwater +flashlights.</p> + +<p>Rick said, "Do you realize I haven't taken a single picture?"</p> + +<p>"Why not take some on the next dive?"</p> + +<p>"Good idea." Rick went into the cabin and brought out his camera.</p> + +<p>The camera was the same one he had adapted for night movies, during +their adventure known as <i>Smugglers' Reef</i>. He had built an underwater +case for it from stainless steel and Lucite. An intricate gear +arrangement allowed him to focus or change aperture underwater, and a +light meter in the rear of the case told him what setting to use. There +was an ordinary inner-tube valve projecting from one side by which the +case could be charged with compressed air to compensate for the pressure +of the water. The unit was battery-powered and had a bracket for +mounting the infrared light used for night photography.</p> + +<p>He unscrewed the front of the case and took the camera from its mount. +He hesitated. "Suppose there's enough light down there for color film?"</p> + +<p>"There might be," Scotty replied, "but you wouldn't gain much by using +color. Everything would photograph in shades of green. Might as well +have it in shades of gray."</p> + +<p>"You've got a point." Rick loaded the camera with fast black-and-white +film and returned it to the case. Then he replaced the cover and +disconnected the compressor long enough to pump pressure into the camera +case. "Ready to go," he announced.</p> + +<p>"Take it easy," Scotty said. "We'd better rest a half hour or so. If we +don't knock ourselves out, we can get in three more dives today."</p> + +<p>Rick knew the wisdom of that. He adjusted the camera and took a series +of "establishing" shots, to establish that the movie had been taken on a +boat near an island. Then, when the time came to dive, he photographed +Scotty entering the water. At his direction, Scotty got out again, while +Rick got in, swam down a few feet, and took a shot of Scotty entering +from that angle. Then the camera followed as Scotty flippered smoothly +down into the deep water.</p> + +<p>Rick followed, camera extended in front of him, sighting through the +gun-type sights mounted on top of the case. There was a handgrip on each +side, with the controls handy to his fingers. By watching the light +meter he could change his exposure as the shifting light required.</p> + +<p>He moved ahead of Scotty, panned across the wreck, then reversed the +camera to photograph Scotty approaching. On a hunch, he stood well back +when Scotty approached the underwater entrance and got a picture that +was priceless! The grouper had returned to his home, and frightened by +the light that suddenly probed his hide-out, he flashed out and caught +Scotty by surprise. Scotty dropped his flashlight and back-pedaled +frantically. Grinning, Rick kept his camera grinding. Scotty turned and +saw that Rick was shooting, and held both hands to his face in mock +dismay. Rick cut and secured the camera to an outcropping with its +safety line.</p> + +<p>Scotty picked up his light and crawled slowly into the opening. Rick +waited, watching anxiously to be sure his friend's hoses and regulator +cleared the entrance. Then Scotty vanished inside. In a moment he +reappeared, headfirst, and beckoned.</p> + +<p>Rick followed him in, his own flashlight extended. It was a little murky +from the grouper's hurried departure, but he saw instantly that they +were in what had been for those days a large cabin. This must have been +the skipper's quarters. His light picked out the remains of furniture, +including one massive chair that was still in good condition.</p> + +<p>Scotty gestured with his light and Rick saw an oaken door. He swam over +to it and inspected it closely. It was still firm, still in place. Where +did it lead?</p> + +<p>There was only one way to find out. He took hold of the old-fashioned +handle and pulled. The door didn't budge. Rick tried again and failed. +He swung himself around and put both feet on the wall next to the door, +then applied leverage.</p> + +<p>The handle came completely off. Rick sailed backward across the cabin +and his tank rang like a bell as it struck something metallic. Scotty +hurried to his side, and Rick gestured that he was all right. They +turned to inspect the object against which Rick had hurtled and found +that it was the still-sound strap for a beam, probably made of wrought +iron.</p> + +<p>Rick took his belt slate and wrote, "Whre wld he hide it?"</p> + +<p>Scotty read it with his light, then shrugged. They began a methodical +inspection of the cabin, surprised that it was so clear of marine life. +Rick surmised that the opening had developed only recently, perhaps from +the shifting of the ship. They found a closet and a heap of what had +once been clothes on its floor. Then Scotty made the big discovery of +the day. He reached into a shelf space above the bunk, hand exploring, +and touched something hard. He drew it out. It looked like a +green-covered bundle about a foot long and two inches thick. But before +he had a chance to inspect it further, his air gave out and both boys +hurried to the surface on their reserves.</p> + +<p>Aboard the <i>Water Witch</i> they shed their equipment and sat down to +inspect Scotty's find. The covering proved to be layer after layer of +oilcloth, wrapped around the object. The outer layers had deteriorated +somewhat, but the inner ones were intact.</p> + +<p>Scotty finished unwrapping and found a second wrapping of still-dry +linen. He pulled the linen off, and both boys gasped. It was a jeweled +dagger, with a good-sized ruby winking in its hilt!</p> + +<p>"Take it out of the sheath," Rick suggested.</p> + +<p>Scotty did so, and disclosed a blade covered with some hard brown +substance. "That's not rust. Got a jackknife?"</p> + +<p>Rick found one and handed it to him. Scotty scraped and was rewarded by +the gleam of bright metal.</p> + +<p>"It must have been coated with heavy grease," Rick remarked. "During the +years, the grease hardened into a permanent rustproof coating. Wait +until the scientists see this!"</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned his pleasure. "This is one treasure the log didn't +mention. Poor Captain Campion must have thought a lot of it to protect +it so thoroughly."</p> + +<p>"He might have been taking it to the New World as a gift for some +influential friend," Rick ventured. "It looks like Spanish work."</p> + +<p>Scotty looked at Rick speculatively. "Are you making a claim on this?"</p> + +<p>Rick knitted his brows. What was Scotty driving at? "You found it," he +said. "Technically, we're supposed to share and share alike, the four of +us and Barby. But how do you split a dagger? And we wouldn't sell it, +anyway. It's too nice a souvenir."</p> + +<p>"I'll ask Tony and Zircon," Scotty said, "but if none of you have any +objection, I would like to claim it, because I want to give it to Dad +for a birthday present next month."</p> + +<p>Rick punched him on the arm. "You'll get no objection from me. Or from +Tony and Zircon either."</p> + +<p>"I can buy presents for the family," Scotty said slowly. "I do, on +birthdays and Christmas. But I've always wanted to give Dad something +really special, something to tell him how I feel about being taken into +the family."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. He knew how Scotty felt, and he liked him all the better +for it. "Let's get ready for the next dive," he said abruptly.</p> + +<p>They went through the necessary checks on their equipment, transferring +the regulators to the third set of tanks. Rick decided to leave the +camera on the boat this time. He was anxious to inspect the ship +thoroughly, and photography took time.</p> + +<p>After a half hour of rest the boys went back into the water again, +carrying their wrecking bars and spear guns, flashlights on their belts.</p> + +<p>An inch-by-inch inspection of the cabin disclosed no more treasures, but +Rick found a plate, still intact. He wondered if it were the plate from +which the captain had last dined before the pirate attack, and put it +outside the entrance to be carried to the surface.</p> + +<p>Once satisfied that the cabin held no secrets, the boys attacked the +door. It was hard work, and they raised so much dust that their light +beams were almost useless. However, they struggled on until the door +finally gave, only to admit quantities of sand.</p> + +<p>Rick guessed that the door had opened onto a deck that was now buried +far under the sand. They went outside to allow the murkiness to settle +in the cabin, and Rick consulted his watch. Their time was nearly up. He +hooted to Scotty and they surfaced.</p> + +<p>The first tanks they had used were ready now. They shifted the +regulators and hooked up another pair to the compressor.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid Tony was right," Rick said. "We'll have to take the ship +apart piece by piece."</p> + +<p>Scotty examined his foot where the fin was rubbing a little. "What would +be a logical hiding place? If I were the captain, I'd probably hide the +statue under false flooring or something. Anyway, I'd hide it aft, in +officer's country, and not near the forecastle where the crew lived."</p> + +<p>"That's probably right. Anyway, we won't have time to do much wrecking +today. What say we hunt for loose boards in the cabin?"</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "The treasure fever has got our boy Rick. Have you +forgotten we were going to see what those fancy frogmen were curious +about?"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned back, a little sheepishly. "You're right. I had forgotten. +Well, we can spend half the time looking for the treasure and the other +half looking for the frogmen's cache."</p> + +<p>The search for the treasure disclosed no loose boards, or anything +resembling a secret hiding place. At the end of ten minutes they turned +from the wreck and swam along the bottom toward the reef.</p> + +<p>Since they had no idea what they were looking for, the search couldn't +be a very carefully planned one. Rick led the way, following the reef, +taking time to examine the coral formations. There were countless sea +urchins, and enough small fish to feed the entire population. Bigger +fish, however, were not plentiful. Once Rick saw a snook that would have +been worth taking, but the fish sped off into the watery gloom. Again, +Scotty called his attention to a deadly scorpion fish. This small, +rather weird-looking little creature had a dangerous defense mechanism +in the spines of his back. His poison bore a strong resemblance to cobra +venom. The boys gave him a wide berth.</p> + +<p>Now and then a moray glared at them with unwinking eyes from a crevice, +but the boys paid no attention. The morays wouldn't attack unless +disturbed, and there was no reason for disturbing them. Rick wondered if +the big one they had ousted from the wreck had found a new home.</p> + +<p>They passed a colony of sea worms, colorful even in the green light. The +worms were pretty, but their long hairs could give a painful sting.</p> + +<p>Their time was growing short. Rick consulted his watch, then his depth +gauge. They were at eighty-five feet. Because of the shallower water +they would have a little more time, perhaps another five minutes before +constricted breathing told them only a few minutes of air remained.</p> + +<p>Scotty found a puffer and waved at him, but the fish paid no attention. +Scotty motioned to Rick, then reached out and scratched the creature's +stomach. It began to gulp water until it resembled a balloon. They left +it to return to normal in its own time. On the surface, the puffer would +have gulped air in the same way. They had caught them on lines many +times.</p> + +<p>They were past the <i>Water Witch</i> now, Rick estimated. He hooted at +Scotty, then led the way up to a depth of about forty feet. There he +started back along the cliff.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he wished he had brought a game bag attached to his belt. The +reef here was alive with shellfish. He identified cowries, whelks, and +some excellent specimens of Triton's horn. They would have to come back +again, to collect some to take home. The biggest problem was getting the +animals out of their shells, unless there were some anthills on the +island. Ants would do the job neatly in a few days.</p> + +<p>Scotty hooted, and pointed. Directly ahead was a small shelf. Rick moved +to Scotty's side and saw the dark opening of a cave. Next to the opening +was a small octopus. As they approached he changed color, trying to +imitate the multicolored coral against which he rested.</p> + +<p>Rick reached out a hand and the animal retreated, sliding into the mouth +of the cave. Apparently this was his home, because the ledge was +littered with shells from a number of meals.</p> + +<p>Now Rick wished for his camera, then smiled inwardly. To satisfy all his +unexpected wishes he would need a sort of underwater trailer to tow his +gear.</p> + +<p>Scotty moved close to the octopus and it retreated still further. Both +boys knew the creatures were harmless to divers, and some divers even +handled them. But there were reports of divers being bitten while +playing with octopuses, and they had learned long ago that unnecessary +risks were foolish.</p> + +<p>Rick suddenly rocked back as his ears were smitten by sound. A wail +echoed in his head, so intense that it almost hurt. Scotty started, too, +and reached for the ledge in his astonishment.</p> + +<p>The octopus peered out of the cave, and the wail came again, buzzing +uncomfortably in their heads. And in that moment, Rick's air gave out. +He pulled the reserve lever and planed to the surface, Scotty close on +his heels.</p> + +<p>On the <i>Water Witch</i> they stared at each other.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear that?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>"I'll say I did!"</p> + +<p>"That octopus wailed," Scotty insisted. "Twice!" He hesitated, then put +Rick's thoughts into words. "Only—octopuses don't wail. They don't make +noise of any kind."</p> + +<p>"This one did," Rick said. "A wailing octopus! This is either a new +scientific find, or ..."</p> + +<p>"Or we've found what the fancy frogmen didn't want us to find," Scotty +concluded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>Lights on Clipper Reef</h3> + + +<p>"This," Hobart Zircon boomed, "is a phenomenon that will rock the +science of zoology to its very depths! We will examine this creature and +determine his genus and species, and we will name him after you two. +<i>Octopus waili branti-scotti.</i> Or perhaps <i>Octopus screami</i> would be +better."</p> + +<p>"Of course we're not certain that it was a wail," Rick said soberly. "He +might have been singing. He might even have been telling us to go catch +him a fish."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti observed, "This may not be an isolated phenomenon. Who +knows? A search may disclose screaming squid, or simpering sharks, or +burbling barracuda."</p> + +<p>"Seriously," Zircon asked, "have either of you a theory to account for +this? Or do you really believe that the octopus wailed?"</p> + +<p>"We'd be in a better position to answer that if we'd had a chance to +explore the cave," Scotty replied. "How can we tell? Maybe the octopus +really did wail, and we were the lucky ones who heard the sound for the +first time." He grinned. "We should have wailed back and tried to strike +up a conversation."</p> + +<p>Rick agreed. "I'm with Scotty. We just don't know. I agree that a +wailing octopus is a new kind of beast, but that's not entirely +impossible, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not." Tony stared at the sunset. "I'm trying to recall the +physiology of <i>Octopus vulgaris</i>, as the garden variety of octopus is +called, but my memory isn't working. It isn't beyond reason. After all, +some fish make sounds. I've caught croakers myself that were pretty +noisy. But I've never heard of octopus sounds until now."</p> + +<p>Scotty chuckled. "Haven't I read that octopuses have some intelligence? +We might teach him to sing. He'd be a natural for television."</p> + +<p>"You say that the sound was loud?" Tony asked.</p> + +<p>"Very loud. My head hurt. Did yours, Scotty?"</p> + +<p>"I'll say! For a minute I thought my brain cells were rubbing together."</p> + +<p>Zircon sighed. "I am stumped. And not only by your Wailing Willie, +either. This whole affair baffles me, including the presence of Steve's +former tail on this island. Hasn't it occurred to you that those fancy +frogmen, as you call them, would have made some overt move by now if +they were really interested in us?"</p> + +<p>"Dropping the chicken was an overt move," Rick pointed out.</p> + +<p>"Yes and no. I'd prefer to call it a not-too-subtle warning. Yet they +haven't tried to interfere with your diving around the wreck."</p> + +<p>"I've wondered about that," Scotty offered, "and it seems to me they've +satisfied themselves that our interest is just in the wreck, and not in +whatever they have hidden underwater. If they have anything hidden, I +mean. As long as we stick with the wreck, they have no reason for +causing trouble."</p> + +<p>Tony agreed. "That makes sense to me. Perhaps you can answer this: Why +do they wear cold-water suits? It's appreciably cooler at twenty +fathoms, but it's certainly not cold enough for a suit."</p> + +<p>"We only stay down fifteen minutes," Scotty said. "If we stayed down +longer we might get chilled. The water isn't warm by any means down by +the wreck."</p> + +<p>Rick had a thought. "We're used to cold water, remember? Diving off +Spindrift would chill a polar bear, even in summer. Suppose these people +had done all their diving in tropic waters? This water would seem cold +to them, particularly down deep."</p> + +<p>It was nearly dark now, only a glimmer of light in the west. The four +sat on the front porch of the cottage.</p> + +<p>Zircon asked, "Did you monitor the radio tonight, Rick?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but there was no word from Steve."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think he might like to know about the presence of his shadow +on Clipper Cay?" Tony inquired.</p> + +<p>Rick pointed to the Sky Wagon resting on the beach. "Trouble is, that's +our only communication. I could contact the St. Thomas airport and +request that they pass a message, but that would be like broadcasting it +to the world. Steve might not like it."</p> + +<p>Zircon's deep voice cut into his comment. "Look! Our friends are +apparently going to do some night work."</p> + +<p>There were lights on the frogmen's boat, and it was putting out. As the +Spindrifters watched, it slowly approached the reef, then stopped. +Scotty got the glasses and examined the scene. "Something's up!" he +exclaimed. "I saw a diver go over the side!"</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon coughed self-consciously. "Do you know, I have taken a +certain amount of pride in the fact that I am by nature a conservative +individual with a highly developed capacity for minding my own +business."</p> + +<p>Rick wondered what on earth the big scientist was getting at.</p> + +<p>"The pursuit of truth has led me along many devious routes," Zircon +continued. "I have tried, with some success and many failures, to plumb +the mysteries of Nature. But while I have tried to make the business of +our natural universe my own, I have never thrust my not-inconsiderable +nose into the business of neighbors. However, this admirable reticence +has limits, since, as a scientist, I am also possessed of that inherent +trait of curiosity without which no person can succeed in science."</p> + +<p>Rick exploded into laughter. "And what you're leading up to is, you want +to go see what those people are doing!"</p> + +<p>"Precisely," Zircon admitted.</p> + +<p>Tony and the boys roared with laughter.</p> + +<p>"Hobart," Tony said with a chuckle, "you never fail to astonish me. And +how do you propose to stick your not-inconsiderable nose into the +business now going on over there?"</p> + +<p>Zircon waved his hand. "The method was developed by our young Mr. Brant, +who sometimes shows slight sparks of intelligence. He has a device which +projects infrared light, and glasses that allow the wearer to see +whatever that light illuminates."</p> + +<p>Rick stared. Zircon was proposing that they take his underwater camera +and use it for illumination. That must mean ... "You want to swim over +with the lungs?" he asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"And why not?"</p> + +<p>"But we've never done any night diving!"</p> + +<p>"You tested the camera at night, did you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Rick admitted, "but that was in water that we knew, off Pirate's +Field at home. And we only stayed in long enough to expose a few feet of +film."</p> + +<p>"We know enough about these waters to know that there are no dangerous +obstructions beyond the reef, at least between here and the <i>Maiden +Hand</i>."</p> + +<p>Scotty laughed. "This is a day I never thought would come. It's usually +the other way around, with Rick trying to sell some idea that everyone +else opposes. Why not swim at night, Rick?"</p> + +<p>"No reason," Rick admitted. "It was just that it hadn't occurred to me. +There's one difficulty, though. I have only two pairs of glasses with +infrared-sensitive lenses. So only two of us could go."</p> + +<p>"Only two could dive with the camera," Tony corrected. "But all of us +could go. Two would remain on the surface, with the floats, in case of +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Who would dive and who would stay on the surface?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>Rick produced a quarter. "Let coins decide. Except for the professor. He +thought of it, so he dives."</p> + +<p>"Fair enough," Scotty agreed. "All right with you, Tony?"</p> + +<p>"Of course. The three of us, then. Odd man goes with Hobart."</p> + +<p>Tony and Scotty produced coins. With Rick, they walked into the living +room and lighted a kerosene lamp.</p> + +<p>"Now," Rick said, and tossed his coin, catching it in the palm of his +hand and slapping it onto his other wrist. Tony and Scotty followed +suit. Rick uncovered first. He had heads. Tony uncovered and displayed a +tail.</p> + +<p>Scotty groaned. "Shucks! I lose. It's one of you."</p> + +<p>Rick held his breath as Scotty uncovered—another tail! He turned to +Zircon. "We dive, while Scotty and Tony stay topside."</p> + +<p>"Good. Well, what are we waiting for?"</p> + +<p>They changed quickly into trunks, then assembled their diving gear. Rick +took the front plate from his camera and put the infrared searchlight on +its mounting bracket. He changed to a fresh battery, then replaced the +film in the camera with the special infrared-sensitive film.</p> + +<p>Whatever the infrared illuminated could be seen through special glass. +Rick had ordered lenses ground from the glass and had placed them in +frames made to fit into a face mask. These frames could be purchased at +any diving-equipment supply house. They had been designed for divers who +had to wear their own corrective glasses, and they suited Rick's purpose +to perfection. He handed a pair to Hobart Zircon, then inserted the +other pair in his own mask.</p> + +<p>Zircon, Tony, and Scotty decided to take spear guns. Zircon chose Rick's +rubber-powered gun, while Tony selected the light spring gun. Scotty +chose the highest-powered gun they had, a new jet-type powered with +carbon dioxide.</p> + +<p>Rick and Zircon connected their regulators to two freshly filled tanks, +then tested the equipment. Zircon tied a rope to his belt.</p> + +<p>The big scientist drew them together for a brief conference.</p> + +<p>"We'll swim out and cross the reef," he directed. "Then we'll swim along +the reef, staying as close as possible to the breakers. They will help +conceal us. When we approach the boat, Tony and Scotty will stop and +hold position. Scotty, are the binoculars waterproof?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, they are."</p> + +<p>"Then take them. Rick and I will go directly to the bottom at the base +of the reef. We will then proceed along the reef until we spot our +friends yonder."</p> + +<p>Rick had an unhappy thought. "Suppose they see us?"</p> + +<p>"We will try to prevent them from seeing us. However, if they do, I +suggest a retreat in as good order as we can manage. If they should +catch up with us, we will bluster and bluff our way on the basis that we +were only diving to see if they were trying to search our wreck."</p> + +<p>Scotty laughed. "Turn their own table on them. That's very good, +Professor."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad I'm not a physicist," Tony said piously. "We archaeologists +aren't half so devious."</p> + +<p>"I am acting in my capacity as a former consultant to JANIG, and not as +a physicist," Zircon retorted with dignity. "You will refrain from +casting aspersions on my profession, Doctor Briotti."</p> + +<p>"My apologies," Tony said, grinning. "In other words, the man is +devious, but the scientist is not."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Well, shall we go?"</p> + +<p>Rick was glad to get into the water. The camera in its underwater case +was heavy in air, but weighed only a few ounces in water. He swam with +face mask under, breathing through his snorkel and letting the camera +hang.</p> + +<p>They crossed the reef without difficulty, then turned to swim along it. +The trough just seaward of the breaking point of the waves was the most +comfortable swimming position and they went in single file, Zircon +leading.</p> + +<p>Every now and then Rick looked up. They were getting near the boat, he +thought. Perilously near. The boat was anchored just inside the reef, +and he could see activity on its deck. Apparently the frogmen had +returned from their first dive and were changing tanks.</p> + +<p>Zircon stopped swimming and lay motionless in the water. Rick drew +abreast of the big scientist, and Tony and Scotty stopped behind them. +As they watched, suited figures with belt lights and back tanks climbed +down a ladder into the water. A third man, on deck, lowered something to +them. It was hard to see, but Rick thought it had a golden glisten and +that it was round, about the size of a basketball. The frogmen took it +and went under.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus5" id="illus5"></a> +<img src="images/illus5.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>A third man lowered something that glistened like gold</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Zircon's big hand took Rick by the shoulder, then he turned and motioned +to the others that they were going under. Rick shifted from snorkel to +aqualung mouthpiece. He took the end of rope that Zircon held out and +snapped it to his weight belt. He and Zircon were now connected by a +ten-foot length of rope, necessary to keep them from becoming separated +in the darkness.</p> + +<p>He submerged and dove straight down into the blackness. His thumb +compressed the button on the side of the case and the camera started, +the infrared light turning on. A narrow cone of water extending out +about twenty feet was illuminated, but the illumination was visible only +through the special glasses he and Zircon wore.</p> + +<p>Rick held the button until they reached bottom, then suddenly realized +he would use all his film before they had even found the frogmen. He +groaned silently. Why hadn't he used his head? The light as well as the +camera motor were operated by the same button. If he had only thought, +it would have been a few seconds' work to change the circuit so the +light would be on continuously. Or he might even be able to rig a +waterproof switch that would operate just the light.</p> + +<p>Well, it was too late now. He jerked on the rope for Zircon to stop, +then took his belt slate and wrote, "Cam on whn lite is. Wll use nw & +thn." He held it in the beam of infrared light for Zircon to read. The +scientist scribbled "OK" under the message, then gave him a gentle push +as a signal to go ahead.</p> + +<p>Rick held his wrist in the beam and read ninety-two feet on his depth +gauge. He calculated quickly. They would have enough air for about +twenty-five minutes at this depth.</p> + +<p>He held the camera switch long enough to see that there was only smooth +bottom ahead, then released it. Almost total blackness flooded in. For +all practical purposes it was completely dark, no glimmer of light to +mark their way.</p> + +<p>For an instant Rick felt panic, but reason reasserted itself. It was +instinctive to feel fear under such circumstances, he thought. Not only +was he out of his own medium, air, but in a high-pressure realm +inhabited by potentially dangerous creatures. He grinned inwardly at the +thought. The most dangerous creatures in this vicinity were human.</p> + +<p>A twinkle of light stopped him, but Zircon continued on and the +connecting line tightened. Rick identified the twinkle as +phosphorescence from some marine creature on the reef. There were many +such in the ocean. He flashed the infrared light, saw that they were +still heading properly, and cut it off again.</p> + +<p>The rope at his belt tugged four times for danger! He stopped instantly, +letting go of the camera with one hand while he reached for his belt +knife. Then he saw what Zircon had seen, a glow in the water ahead and +above them. Rick estimated quickly the distance they had traveled. There +was no doubt of it. The frogmen were at the octopus cave!</p> + +<p>He followed Zircon's lead, cutting the light off and on as necessary, as +the big scientist moved ahead. The glow grew in intensity, but they were +still too far away to see its exact position, or whether there were men +around it.</p> + +<p>Rick's heart beat faster, and his breathing speeded up appreciably. In +spite of Zircon's plan to claim they were only checking on the frogmen's +interest in the wreck, Rick knew that being discovered would mean +serious trouble. He recalled Steve's warning that they were up against a +ruthless enemy.</p> + +<p>The question was, how close could they get without being seen? He could +take pictures at ten feet, but at any greater distance the camera would +be useless.</p> + +<p>Zircon moved ahead, going slowly now. Rick followed, not bothering with +the dark-light unit because the glow in the water was enough for a +beacon. Then the glow faded for a moment as a figure crossed in front of +it. Still Zircon moved ahead until Rick could see two additional, +smaller glows that he identified as the belt lights the frogmen had been +wearing.</p> + +<p>Zircon continued on, still hugging the bottom, and Rick divined his +intention. The big scientist was going to take them directly under the +frogmen! It was logical, since the frogmen would not expect danger +below.</p> + +<p>Rick followed, staying just behind Zircon's flippers, feeling the wash +of water from his wake. The light was nearly overhead now, and Rick saw +dark figures moving. It was unreal, like a Hollywood motion picture, +except that the tense music of a movie production was replaced only by +the soft sighing of their regulators.</p> + +<p>And with the thought, Rick almost lost his mouthpiece. Their bubbles! +Their bubbles would rise right past the frogmen, a dead giveaway! It +might already be too late, because Zircon was almost directly under the +cave!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>Clouds Over Clipper Cay</h3> + + +<p>Rick jerked frantically on the tie rope, four times for danger, then he +turned and swam rapidly back the way they had come. At first he felt +resistance on the line, then Zircon hurried to catch up. Not until they +were barely within seeing distance of the light did Rick stop, then he +took his belt slate, started the camera for light, and wrote "Bubbles go +by thm if we undr. They see."</p> + +<p>Zircon held a hand to his head in a sign of chagrin that he had +forgotten, then he wrote, "Hw we gt clos?"</p> + +<p>Rick pondered the problem. The bubbles had alarmed him in another way, +too. It was possible that the man on the boat could see four sets of +bubbles rising where only two were supposed to be. Yet, he couldn't +escape the feeling that it was important to get a look at what the +frogmen were doing. There was no way out of it. He just had to take a +chance.</p> + +<p>He wrote, "I mak pass hldng brth so no bbls, tak pix. U sty out of rnge +& cvr me wth gn."</p> + +<p>Rick had just one hope of getting away with it. He had to assume that +the frogmen would be busy with whatever they were doing in the cave. If +so, their backs would be to the open sea. At least the chance was worth +taking.</p> + +<p>Zircon wrote, "OK bt be crfl."</p> + +<p>Rick didn't need the warning. Together, they swam back until they were +close to the glow of the lights. He hoped that the darkness and breaking +surf above were concealing their bubbles. Finally Zircon halted. Rick +unsnapped the line that held him to the scientist, squeezed Zircon's +shoulder, and swam away from the reef toward the open water. He kept his +head turned so he could keep the light in his field of vision.</p> + +<p>When he was out far enough he swam upward until he was on a level with +the light, and directly out to sea from it. He inhaled, filling his +lungs, then with camera outthrust, he drove directly toward the light. +It wasn't hard to hold his breath—not with his heart acting as a +stopper in his throat.</p> + +<p>The light grew clearer. He started the camera and kept moving with +powerful strokes. Then he held his legs still and let inertia carry him +in a silent glide. He had to get close—close!</p> + +<p>The light grew in intensity, and details grew clearer. He saw the +frogmen, and their backs were to him! Between them, he caught a glimpse +of something brassy and round, and he saw the octopus, clinging to the +reef to one side of the cave.</p> + +<p>He held the camera button as long as he dared. Then when it seemed that +he would glide right into the frogmen, he twisted sideways and bent +backward like a circus acrobat, flippers moving in powerful thrusts. It +was an excellent underwater imitation of a wingover, the plane maneuver +that reversed direction by diving and turning. He planed downward until +he touched bottom, then thrust himself with frantic kicks away from the +vicinity of the cave.</p> + +<p>His lungs were about to burst, he felt, when finally he drew a deep +breath. The gurgling sigh of his bubbles was sheer relief. He kept +moving until he bumped headlong into Hobart Zircon. The scientist +reached out and snapped his rope onto Rick's belt, then tugged twice.</p> + +<p>Zircon led the way along the reef bottom until they reached the spot +where, they estimated, Tony and Scotty would be waiting. As they started +for the surface, Rick switched on the camera and looked at his watch.</p> + +<p>They had been under only ten minutes! And he had been waiting for the +warning constriction of air running out!</p> + +<p>Zircon broke water and instantly submerged again. He led the way a few +feet under the surface to where he had seen Tony and Scotty, then led +Rick to the top once more.</p> + +<p>Tony and Scotty saw them emerge and without a word turned and started +back toward the cottage, pushing their floats. Instead of bothering with +the snorkel, Rick kept the aqualung mouthpiece in place and swam a few +feet under the surface, guiding himself by the wake of the others. He +was tired—and relieved.</p> + +<p>The group crossed over the reef and swam to the beach in front of the +cottage. There they gathered at the water's edge and stripped off their +gear. For long moments no one spoke, then Zircon asked, "See anything, +Rick?"</p> + +<p>"A little. Enough to get an answer, I think. We haven't discovered a new +breed of octopus, because they were installing something in the cave. +Something that makes a noise."</p> + +<p>"Do you know that, or do you infer it?" Tony asked.</p> + +<p>"I didn't hear the noise, if that's what you mean. But what else could +it be?"</p> + +<p>"Too bad," Scotty said. "Now we won't have a new species named after us. +Come on, give us the word. How was it?"</p> + +<p>Rick said, with complete truth, "I was scared to death."</p> + +<p>"And so was I," Zircon admitted. "At first the sensation of complete +blackness caused an emotional reaction. Then I began to see that we had +done a rather foolish thing. And I almost got us into trouble by +forgetting that we send up a constant stream of bubbles." He told them +of his plan to get under the cave, and of Rick's warning.</p> + +<p>"We thought of your bubbles," Scotty told them. "I talked it over with +Tony, and came within an ace of diving after you, although I doubt that +I could have reached bottom and found you. But we watched, and we +couldn't see any bubbles at all. It was too dark, and we were right +where the water was breaking."</p> + +<p>"My question is, did you get a picture?" Zircon wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I did. The camera was going, and it probably saw much more +than I did—since cameras don't get scared. But it won't do us much good +right now. We can't develop the film."</p> + +<p>The boys picked up the equipment and carried it to the <i>Water Witch</i>. +Rick turned off the compressor. He was too tired to wait until all tanks +were full. Time enough for that in the morning.</p> + +<p>When he and Scotty returned to the cottage, Tony greeted them with cups +of hot chocolate and they sat on the porch and enjoyed them.</p> + +<p>"Let's sum up what we know," Zircon invited. "If anyone agrees that we +know anything worth summing."</p> + +<p>"I think we do," Rick said, "and I think we ought to get it to Steve +Ames. We don't know what he's after, or what kind of gang he's fighting, +but we know one of them is here."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we also know that Steve's agency is primarily concerned with +protecting military secrets," Zircon added. "I agree with Rick. We must +get word of these mysterious frogmen to him."</p> + +<p>"We discussed that earlier," Tony recalled. "In view of our discussion, +it would seem that either Rick or Scotty or both must fly to Charlotte +Amalie and tell him personally."</p> + +<p>Scotty pointed at the sky. "Have any of you looked up there?"</p> + +<p>All of them did. The moon was just rising, and there was enough light to +see heavy cirrus moving high overhead.</p> + +<p>"There's a front of some kind moving down on us," Scotty said. "And did +you notice the swells tonight? Long ones. I'm no first-class weather +forecaster, but all the signs are there. We're in for a storm. The +question is, how soon will it arrive?"</p> + +<p>"He's right," Zircon agreed. "I'm glad you're observant, Scotty. +Frankly, I hadn't even bothered looking at the weather. I suppose I +thought it would just continue to be perfect."</p> + +<p>Rick stared at the gathering clouds for long moments, then put into +words the thing that had been bothering him.</p> + +<p>"You know, there has been a cloud over this vacation almost from the +moment we landed at Charlotte Amalie. We didn't want to get involved in +anything but diving and exploring, but we got pulled by the ears into a +hot case. Steve warned us off that first day. The warning didn't help, +because we got dragged back into things when we went swimming, and again +at the hotel."</p> + +<p>Three faces were turned toward him, listening. He was expressing what +all of them had been thinking, too.</p> + +<p>"We thought we'd leave trouble behind when we came here," Rick +continued, "but it was waiting for us. We didn't look for it, until +tonight."</p> + +<p>He drew a deep breath. "Well, from now on we have to become the hunters. +Steve Ames doesn't know there's anything strange going on here. We do, +and it's up to us to find out what. The goings-on in the octopus cave +have something to do with the case Steve is working on—and what Steve +is working on has something important to do with national security."</p> + +<p>He smiled grimly. "I know none of you will disagree with this, because +it's the only thing we can do. Professor Zircon knew it tonight when he +tried to excuse our looking in on the frogmen as curiosity."</p> + +<p>Zircon nodded silently.</p> + +<p>"From now on," Rick concluded, "we have to operate as unofficial JANIG +agents, until we can get word to Steve Ames so he and his men can take +over."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>Message in the Storm</h3> + + +<p>The wind blew. It piled the surf high on the reef and blew the tops from +waves between the reef and the shore. Hour by hour the wind stiffened, +until the breakers on the shore were higher than those through which the +Spindrifters had swum on the reef.</p> + +<p>The first hours of the morning were spent getting ready for a blow. The +<i>Water Witch</i> was secured by springlines, and extra fenders were put +over her side. The four hauled the Sky Wagon high onto the beach by +sheer muscle power, then turned the plane into the wind. Rick and Scotty +salvaged the concrete-block foundation from the wreck of the cottage +where they had found the planks, and used the blocks for land anchors on +the plane.</p> + +<p>The shutters were checked, and closed on the front of the cottage. The +shed where the tank had broken through was repaired as well as +improvised tools and materials allowed, and all loose gear was stowed +inside.</p> + +<p>The rain came. It drove with the wind into the front of the cottage in a +continuous thunder. Its force carried it under the door, through cracks +beside the window frames. The Spindrifters were forced to shred rags to +stuff into cracks. In the kitchen the roof began to leak, and soon every +available pot and pan was being used to catch drippings.</p> + +<p>Rick worked almost in silence, not joining in the bantering of his +friends. As was his way, he worried the problem of the frogmen and their +mysterious behavior the way his dog, Dismal, would worry a bone.</p> + +<p>He discarded a dozen possible reasons for their actions, including +underwater communications, bombs, and an unusual way of fishing. He +pondered on the relations of the Spindrift group—or lack of them—with +the frogmen and re-examined their various theories.</p> + +<p>First premise: The frogmen, specifically Steve's former shadow, hadn't +recognized them or the <i>Water Witch</i>.</p> + +<p>Second premise: The frogmen considered them harmless tourists, +interested only in diving to the wreck, and therefore to be watched but +not considered dangerous.</p> + +<p>He rather liked that one. It would mean that the chicken had been +dropped "mischievously," to use Zircon's word, to try to scare them out +of the immediate vicinity. But there were other possibilities.</p> + +<p>First premise: The frogmen knew of their connection with Steve.</p> + +<p>Second premise: The frogmen weren't worried about people with JANIG +connections.</p> + +<p>This might be explained by superior weapons in the hands of the frogmen, +coupled with the assumption that the Spindrifters had no communication +with Steve. It might also be explained by knowledge of their real reason +for being on Clipper Cay.</p> + +<p>Rick didn't care much for the last two premises. The first one seemed +more reasonable. After all, they were not sure that the former tail had +seen the <i>Water Witch</i> in St. Thomas, or had known of their connection +with it. On the contrary, to get to Clipper Cay so soon after the +Spindrifters arrived, the frogman must have left about the same time the +scientists did. There was even a possibility that he had arrived ahead +of the Spindrift group and that the frogmen's boat had been out when +Rick and Scotty had first spotted the diving equipment in the house. +Anyway, there had been no sign of any tail but the Virgin Islander while +they were around the pier and on the <i>Water Witch</i>. Either he or Scotty +would almost certainly have spotted a second man—especially since they +had seen him before.</p> + +<p>There was a major precaution, however, to be taken: he and Scotty must +not let Steve's former tail get a good look at them. They had to assume +he had recognized their clumsiness for what it was—a deliberate stall.</p> + +<p>Scotty poked him, and Rick suddenly realized that he had been leaning +for quite a long while on the broom he was supposed to be using.</p> + +<p>"Made up your mind about anything?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Rick knew his friend had been watching him. During their many adventures +each had developed a rather unusual understanding of how the other's +mind worked.</p> + +<p>"Partly," Rick replied. He told Scotty his thoughts.</p> + +<p>"You make sense," Scotty agreed, then added practically, "but I don't +see what difference it makes, whether they know about our connection +with Steve or not. The moment they catch us snooping they'll assume +we're enemies. Until then, they'll let us alone just as they've been +doing."</p> + +<p>Zircon and Scotty joined forces to prepare lunch. The temperature had +dropped sharply, and hot soup and hamburger sandwiches were welcome.</p> + +<p>After lunch, Rick braved the storm long enough to go to the <i>Water +Witch</i> for his camera. He returned to the cottage soaked to the skin. +"We'll need diving equipment to go outside if this keeps up," he +announced.</p> + +<p>He took the camera case apart and disconnected his circuits, then he +went outside again with tools in hand and got into the Sky Wagon. The +plane had a heater switch that would do. He removed it, leaving the +wires to dangle for the moment. If the heater was needed he could put +the wires together.</p> + +<p>That done, he sat in the plane and racked his memory for a source of +sheet rubber. There was none, but he recalled a repair kit for the +plastic floats in their tool supply. He found it and took it back to the +house.</p> + +<p>Using the awl blade on his scout knife, he bored a hole through the +plastic back of the case and installed the switch. Then he reconnected +his circuits so the new switch would turn on only the infrared light. He +waterproofed the switch as best he could, making gaskets from a rubber +jar ring he found in the kitchen.</p> + +<p>He knew, however, that the switch wouldn't be waterproof under pressure. +He took a sheet of plastic repair material from the float repair kit and +shaped it carefully with his knife. After much trial and error he +succeeded in cementing it onto the case so that it would protect the +switch from the outside, but left enough slack for the switch to be +operated through the flexible patch. Satisfied, he put it aside to dry.</p> + +<p>It was nearly time for dinner when he finished. He took a hand in +cooking ham and eggs with fried potatoes, while Tony prepared a salad +and made coffee.</p> + +<p>As they ate, Zircon gestured toward the front of the house. "Getting +worse instead of letting up. This must be a hurricane, although I've +never heard of one quite this early in the season."</p> + +<p>"If it gets much worse we'll have to anchor the cottage," Scotty +observed.</p> + +<p>They finished just in time to tune in for the weather forecast from St. +Thomas. According to the announcer, the storm was now centered off the +island of St. Croix, moving in a northwesterly direction. That meant it +would pass St. Thomas, and perhaps come very close to them. The +announcer said, "While the storm has many of the characteristics of a +hurricane, including the general form and wind velocities, we hesitate +to designate it as one."</p> + +<p>"In other words," Tony said, "it's a hurricane but we'll call it +something else because it's too early in the season for hurricanes."</p> + +<p>"Whatever it is, we'll have more of it," Zircon stated.</p> + +<p>Rick switched to the Navy command frequency in time to intercept a +conversation with a destroyer somewhere off the British Virgin Islands. +The destroyer had just lost one of its boats.</p> + +<p>At four minutes after six the air went silent, then a new voice took +over the microphone. The voice said:</p> + +<p>"<i>A message for the ones who hunted blue sheep.</i>"</p> + +<p>"That's us!" Rick gasped.</p> + +<p>When Steve had dispatched Rick, Scotty, and Zircon to Tibet, it had been +with the cover story that they were going to hunt the blue sheep called +Bharals in the mountains of West China. Only Steve would know that. The +message was from him.</p> + +<p>Static crackled, but the message was clear:</p> + +<p>"<i>The one who started the hunt needs the biggest hunter. Only the +biggest hunter. He should be delivered as soon as possible. Call your +usual contact before arrival and say that the doctor is coming and to +notify the patient.</i>"</p> + +<p>The message was repeated, while the four strained to be certain they had +heard every word. When normal traffic resumed, Rick switched the set +off.</p> + +<p>"It appears," Zircon said slowly, "that I'm wanted."</p> + +<p>"Yep." Scotty grinned. "The demand is there, all right. But delivery is +a long way off."</p> + +<p>The storm punctuated his words.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>Below the Dark Coral</h3> + + +<p>The sky was overcast, ceiling about two thousand feet, visibility about +two miles. The wind was moderate and steady. Rick examined the water in +front of the cottage and told his friends, "I can take off all right. +But I don't want to leave without a weather report or we might find +ourselves with no place to land."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to swap this radio for a newspaper," Scotty grumbled. He had +been trying without success to get a weather report.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti looked at the Sky Wagon, brows furrowed, then asked, "Rick, +couldn't you turn on the radio in the plane and get a weather report +from the airport at Charlotte Amalie?"</p> + +<p>Rick was climbing into the Sky Wagon before Tony finished. Of course he +could! He called, "I'm a chump!"</p> + +<p>The set warmed and Rick called the airport, then held the phones to his +ears to hear the reply through heavy static. When the airport answered +he asked for a weather report for the area between St. Thomas and +Clipper Cay. He got it, and climbed out, his face thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"The storm is having a pup," he told the others. "We're in a lull at the +moment. The main storm swung off to the north, but there's another one +right on its tail. We have just about time to get to Charlotte Amalie +and back before the second one closes us in."</p> + +<p>The group went into action fast. All four pushed the plane into the +water. Zircon ran to pack a bag, and Tony went to get the film Rick had +taken for Zircon to carry to Steve. Scotty and Rick went through the +check list, inspecting the plane for possible storm damage. Then Rick +started the engine and warmed it up. By the time they were ready, Zircon +was climbing aboard.</p> + +<p>Scotty yelled, "Tony and I will keep the home fires burning. Don't waste +any time, Rick!"</p> + +<p>"I won't."</p> + +<p>Zircon closed the cabin door and Rick taxied out. In a few moments he +was air-borne, swinging seaward over the north end of the island. He +looked down and saw two of the frogmen. They were in front of the house, +watching the plane.</p> + +<p>"Be sure to tell Steve everything," Rick reminded the big scientist, +"and don't forget to give him the film. I won't have time to see him, +unless he meets the plane. But it doesn't matter, because you know +everything Scotty and I do."</p> + +<p>"I'll be glad to get actively to work on this confounded business," +Zircon stated. "I'm so curious about that brass ball the frogmen had in +the cave that I'm about to burst."</p> + +<p>Rick set a compass course for St. Thomas, flying just under the clouds. +When they were a half hour out he contacted the airport again and asked +for the weather. The report hadn't changed. He told the airport +operator, "The doctor is coming. Please notify the patient." He could +almost see the operator jerk to attention as the headphones gave out a +crisp "Roger."</p> + +<p>He sat down on a heavy chop at Charlotte Amalie, and the Sky Wagon gave +them a rough ride as he taxied to the pier. Lieutenant Jimmy Kelly was +waiting in a Navy sedan with an armed guard in attendance.</p> + +<p>Rick supervised the refueling of his plane at the pier gasoline depot, a +task he would not delegate to anyone else. The presence of attendants +made it impossible to talk to the Navy lieutenant.</p> + +<p>As Rick tightened the gas cap, Jimmy Kelly said, "Hop into your great +mechanical bird and shove off, birdman. You'll just about beat the +weather home as it is. Don't stop to fish on the way."</p> + +<p>"I won't. Professor Zircon will tell you an interesting story. And we'll +be monitoring the command channel at six for any advice you can give +us."</p> + +<p>"Okay. Don't get your feet wet."</p> + +<p>Rick waved good-by to Jimmy and Zircon, then taxied out to the clear +area and took off. The ceiling was lower than on the trip in, and he +almost missed Clipper Cay because of strong winds and low visibility. He +spotted the southern tip of the island just in time to avoid going right +on by. He landed with beads of perspiration on his forehead. If he had +missed, with luck he might have hit Puerto Rico, but more likely he +would have had to make a landing in the open ocean.</p> + +<p>Scotty and Tony came to greet him.</p> + +<p>"We were worried," Tony said. "It's closing in fast."</p> + +<p>"I got a little worried myself," Rick admitted. "Anything new here?"</p> + +<p>Scotty gestured toward the northern end of the island. "Our pals have +been busy, diving. They got the brass ball, or whatever it is, and +stowed it aboard their boat. I kept an eye on 'em through the +binoculars. Also, I suspect they're going to do some more diving, +because they left their equipment on the boat."</p> + +<p>Rick didn't particularly care at that moment. The flight back had been +something of a strain. "Let 'em go," he said. "We can't do anything +about it, anyway—not in broad daylight. Maybe tonight we can take a +look."</p> + +<p>They spent the afternoon indoors, napping or reading, unable to swim or +fish because the second storm had arrived on schedule. Then, a few +minutes before six, Rick turned on the radio to the Navy command +channel.</p> + +<p>At six on the nose, the radio emitted: "<i>A message for the blue-sheep +hunters. The blue sheep seen by the big hunter and the little hunter is +important. Obtain more information if possible. But remember that the +owners of the sheep are also mighty hunters. The snapshots of the sheep +were fine.</i>"</p> + +<p>The message was repeated. When they were sure there was no more, Rick +switched the set off. "Well, we're in it, and with Steve's blessing. Now +what?"</p> + +<p>Scotty shrugged. "Now we steal the brass ball. Didn't Steve's message +say to get more information?"</p> + +<p>"Apparently the pictures turned out well, if I understood that reference +to snapshots correctly," Tony said. "Be serious, Scotty. What can we do +next?"</p> + +<p>"Keep an eye on the frogmen, I guess, and play it by ear. I can't see +anything else to be done. We probably could steal their brass ball, all +right, but they'd know at once who had done it because we're the only +other people on the island."</p> + +<p>"Have you looked recently to see what they're doing?" Tony asked.</p> + +<p>Neither boy had. Both went to the front porch, but the frogmen's cottage +was invisible through the driving rain. "We'll have to go see," Rick +said.</p> + +<p>"After dark," Scotty added. "In about an hour. It will be pretty dark +then."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose the brass ball is still on the boat?" Rick inquired +thoughtfully. "We might be able to sneak aboard after dark and get a +picture of it from close up, and we could examine it and have something +definite to report to Steve."</p> + +<p>"That's a possibility," Scotty admitted. "Anyway, we can get ready."</p> + +<p>Rick rechecked the camera and infrared unit. He loaded the camera with a +fresh roll of film. Then the three sat in the living room over coffee +and listened to the storm batter at the front of the house until it was +nearly dark outside.</p> + +<p>"What now?" Tony inquired. "Do we all go? Or just one of us?"</p> + +<p>"No point in all of us getting soaked," Scotty said. "Have you had any +experience in this kind of spying, Tony?"</p> + +<p>The archaeologist had not. He grinned. "Until I came to Spindrift, I led +a rather quiet, academic sort of life. Except for the war, of course."</p> + +<p>"Then Scotty or I had better go," Rick said. "Or both of us."</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "No need for both. It's only a reconnaissance, +anyway. Toss you for it."</p> + +<p>Rick produced a coin. "All right. Call it." He flipped it as Scotty +claimed heads. It was a tail.</p> + +<p>"Best two out of three?" Scotty invited.</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "And after that, best three out of five?"</p> + +<p>Scotty growled, "All right. I'll go." He got ready by taking off shoes +and socks. He could change his shirt and shorts when he returned. He +slipped through the back door and was gone.</p> + +<p>Rick turned on the radio, tried for a weather report, and settled for a +Miami disk jockey who was playing some good records. The static was bad, +but the station came through clearly enough to make listening worth +while.</p> + +<p>Scotty was back before a half dozen records had been played. He sat +down, ignoring the water that dripped from him. "Listen, our friends +just rounded the northern tip of the island in the boat and they're +heading south just inside the eastern reef. What do you make of that?"</p> + +<p>Rick pictured the movements of the enemy boat from Scotty's description. +"They can't be putting out to sea, otherwise they'd be outside the reef. +And they're not interested in anything on the island or they'd have +walked. I'd say they're planning to do some night diving on the eastern +side of the island."</p> + +<p>"In this kind of weather?" Tony asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"Sure. It's stormy on top, but once you're below the wave motion it's +quiet as ever. They could dive."</p> + +<p>Scotty stood up. "If they can, so can we."</p> + +<p>There was no denial to that. They made a trip to the <i>Water Witch</i> and +collected their equipment, then planned what they would do.</p> + +<p>"We'll all use lungs," Tony said. "We have three regulators and there +are plenty of full tanks, enough for two dives each. However, we have +only two pairs of glasses for the dark-light camera. I'll yield to +Scotty as the more experienced diver, so you and he use the glasses, +Rick. I'll stay on top, or near the top, with a single float, and a gun. +If I use the lung I can stay submerged most of the time and not have to +fight waves."</p> + +<p>"Lash yourself to the float," Scotty cautioned.</p> + +<p>"And we'll use a buddy line," Rick added. "The same one the professor +and I used. Scotty, you take a gun, and I'll take the camera."</p> + +<p>"If I see any trouble in the making, I'll bang on my air tank," Tony +said. "You should be able to hear that for quite a distance."</p> + +<p>There was nothing else to be planned in advance. They picked up their +equipment and went out the back door into the storm, crossing the island +through the palms. As they emerged onto the eastern shore, Scotty +called, "Look—about five hundred yards north."</p> + +<p>The lights of the frogmen's boat, visible as bright halos through the +rain, were tossing violently just inside the eastern reef. Apparently +the boat was anchored. The rain was too thick for them to see any +movement aboard, or to see details of the boat itself.</p> + +<p>"Move carefully," Rick cautioned. He had to raise his voice to be heard +above the storm. "We haven't explored this shore. It may be full of +coral heads."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," Scotty returned. "It would be too dangerous for the boat +in this kind of weather, even if they knew a channel."</p> + +<p>"Rick's right about careful movement, nevertheless," Tony replied. "We +must move with care, especially near the reef." He indicated his float. +"I'll never be able to tow this through that water, so I'll leave it in +the palm grove. We can pick it up on the way back. We shouldn't need it +with lungs, anyway. Do you boys have rescue packs?"</p> + +<p>The packs were plastic floats compressed into packages no larger than a +cigarette pack. They contained a carbon-dioxide cartridge and could be +inflated simply by squeezing them, which punctured the cartridge. The +boys had carried them on their weight belts for so long that they took +them for granted.</p> + +<p>They donned their equipment, then walked down to the beach. The surf was +not heavy, since the wind was blowing from the opposite side of the +island. Nevertheless, there was enough water motion to lift a fine +screen of sand and dust.</p> + +<p>"The camera will be useless until we get into deeper water," Rick +called. "Let's rope together and swim straight out."</p> + +<p>They waded in, awkward in the fins, until they were deep enough for +swimming. Then all adjusted mouthpieces and started out. Rick tried the +infrared light intermittently, but not until they were in about twenty +feet of water did the roiled bottom allow its use. He led the way to the +reef, the others following in file.</p> + +<p>The reef was closer to the surface than on the western side. Rick had to +swim along it until he found a place where they could cross without +being buffeted by breakers. Once across, he swam down the face of the +reef, knowing that the trip was hard on Tony, because the underwater +world was completely dark to one without light, or glasses with which to +see the infrared illumination.</p> + +<p>Rick found a fairly level shelf at about thirty feet and swam along it, +keeping close to the reef wall, until he thought they were in the +vicinity of the frogmen. Then he pulled twice on the tie rope in a +signal to surface, knowing that Scotty would pass the signal along to +Tony.</p> + +<p>He emerged in a rough sea, only yards from the point on the reef +opposite the anchored boat. He was in time to see two frogmen climb down +the boat's ladder. They got into the water and the third man, on deck, +lowered the brass object to them.</p> + +<p>Rick had no fear that they would be seen from the boat. Their heads +would be hidden by the breaking waves, and their bubbles would merge +with the natural foam.</p> + +<p>He saw at once what their tactics should be. He pulled Scotty and Tony +to him, then let his mouthpiece drop. Putting his lips close to their +ears, he said softly, "If it's like last time, they won't be down long. +Scotty and I will track them to find out where they go, and watch what +they're doing. Then, after they leave, we'll see if they left anything +behind."</p> + +<p>Scotty and Tony nodded. Tony untied the line that had held him to +Scotty. Rick replaced his mouthpiece, cleared a little mist from his +face mask, and led the way down.</p> + +<p>This time the infrared light operated continuously. Now and then Rick +worked the toggle switch through its loose plastic covering and shut the +unit off while he searched for visible light. He found it, far down the +face of the reef.</p> + +<p>The camera made it easy, and his mind was at rest because this time +nature had made it impossible for their bubbles to give them away to +surface watchers.</p> + +<p>There were heavy swells on the surface. He knew it because of the +pressure surges on his ears. But otherwise there was no sign of the +storm. He grinned because he suddenly realized that he felt dry. On the +surface, with the rain beating at him, he had felt like a drowned +kitten.</p> + +<p>Moving with the confidence gained in his first experience, he led the +way seaward, then went to the level of the light. Soon they were close +enough to see the frogmen working over something on a coral ledge on the +reef face. They hovered motionless, watching, and as one of the frogmen +moved they saw that it was the brass ball.</p> + +<p>Rick started his camera. He had an advantage, because the frogmen were +concentrating on what they were doing, their backs to him. He moved in +cautiously, camera grinding, then backed away again when he thought he +had enough long shots.</p> + +<p>One frogman moved away a few feet, and Rick's breathing stopped as the +man's belt light flashed toward him. Had the frogman been looking, he +could have seen the boys, but he was too interested in the second +frogman's actions.</p> + +<p>The second frogman crouched over the brass object, hand moving.</p> + +<p>Rick recoiled as a wail lanced through his head with painful impact. He +felt the rope tighten as Scotty involuntarily drew away.</p> + +<p>It was not the octopus, then! It was the brass ball that wailed. But +why? For what possible reason?</p> + +<p>The frogmen were apparently satisfied. One of them picked up the +powerful light they had been using and turned it off. Then, with only +belt lights, they started back up the reef.</p> + +<p>Rick waited until the lights were no longer visible. He glanced at his +depth gauge and wrist watch. They were at eighty feet, and they had +plenty of air left. He swam to the brass ball, camera grinding.</p> + +<p>He had never seen anything quite like it. The brass sphere was mounted +on a box about twelve inches square and six inches high. From the +sphere, two rounded projections thrust out. He identified a waterproof +switch on the box, and two small knobs mounted on calibrated plates. +These were obviously controls, but he had no idea what they controlled.</p> + +<p>Steve would want a few close-ups. Rick worked his camera focus and took +shots from every angle. When he had enough, he pulled twice on the rope +in a signal to surface. Scotty motioned to him to lead the way.</p> + +<p>As Rick started up, four metallic clangs, irregularly spaced, rang +faintly in his ears.</p> + +<p>Tony, banging his tank in the signal for trouble! Rick instantly changed +course and followed the bottom, watching the water overhead for any sign +of the frogmen. When he had reached a spot below the point on the reef +where Tony should be waiting, he turned toward the surface, moving +slowly, searching for any sign of activity. There was no sign of +whatever had alarmed Tony.</p> + +<p>He paused a few inches under the surface, then carefully put his face +into the air. Scotty surfaced beside him.</p> + +<p>There was no sign of Tony. Rick peered through his mask and saw that the +boat was still anchored in the same place. There were figures on its +deck. Four of them—Four! He ripped his mask off for a clearer look, and +his heart skipped a beat. The frogmen had Tony!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>How Sings the Gay Sardine?</h3> + + +<p>Rick and Scotty held a hurried consultation, mouth to ear.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to get him," Scotty whispered urgently. He held up his spear +gun. "I've only got one shot in this."</p> + +<p>Rick's instinctive reaction was the same. They had to rescue Tony! But +they also had a job to do.</p> + +<p>"Wait," he cautioned. "They probably don't know we're here. Tony +wouldn't give us away. If they find out, we'll lose the pictures, and we +may make it worse for Tony. Let's stay right here and watch."</p> + +<p>Scotty subsided. They floated motionless, eyes on the boat, peering to +penetrate the mist. The rain had let up somewhat, but the air was far +from clear.</p> + +<p>Rick would have given the treasure they sought to be able to hear what +was being said on the boat. The three frogmen were all facing Tony, and +the conversation seemed to be pretty animated. Then, as he watched, the +boat pulled up anchor. It moved north.</p> + +<p>"They're taking him to their house," Scotty gasped.</p> + +<p>The boys swam frantically for shore, recklessly crossing the reef +without regard to the danger of cutting themselves on the sharp coral. +They reached the beach and shed tanks and equipment under the palms, +then raced for the frogmen's house.</p> + +<p>They could see the lights of the boat as it rounded the northern tip of +the island, and, lying among the palms, they watched it tie up at the +pier. Tony and the three frogmen got off and walked down the pier. Rick +strained to see, and could not find any sign that Tony was covered by a +gun. But that wouldn't be necessary, anyway, since he was outnumbered +three to one.</p> + +<p>The four marched up to the front door of the frogmen's house and +stopped. The boys were prone under a palm less than twenty feet away. +One of the frogmen said, "Let me get a jacket. I'm getting chilled. Then +we'll walk you home."</p> + +<p>There was something very odd here! Rick nudged Scotty and they backed +slowly away. When they were sure they could not be seen, they stood up +and ran on silent bare feet through the palm grove, circling to approach +their own cottage from the rear.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="illus6" id="illus6"></a> +<img src="images/illus6.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>Rick nudged Scotty to back away</i></h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>At the back door they paused. "Now what?" Rick said helplessly. "They're +bringing him home. Why?"</p> + +<p>"I wondered about that while we were running. I think they're bringing +him home to check up on us. He must have sold them some kind of yarn."</p> + +<p>"Steve's tail will recognize us!"</p> + +<p>"Not if we're in bed," Scotty answered quickly. "We'll pretend to be +asleep. Come on."</p> + +<p>"Just a minute." Rick hurried to the shed and got two short hand spears. +He handed one to Scotty. "Here. Have a bedfellow."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later they heard footsteps and voices on the front porch. +The door opened. A strange voice said, "Your friends don't seem to be +here." The voice hardened. "I thought you said they were?"</p> + +<p>"They're probably in bed," Tony replied mildly. "We go to bed right +after dark because there's nothing to do."</p> + +<p>"Except stick your nose in other people's business," a harsh voice +snapped.</p> + +<p>Tony replied tartly, "I've already apologized for letting my curiosity +get the better of me."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see the bedrooms," a third voice said. Rick thought it +belonged to the man they had taken off Steve's tail.</p> + +<p>He lay motionless as a form blocked out the lamp-light from the living +room. In a moment the voice said, "They're asleep, all right. They must +sleep soundly."</p> + +<p>"Young men do." Tony sounded relieved.</p> + +<p>Rick grinned to himself. The archaeologist couldn't have known they were +in bed, but his stall had worked.</p> + +<p>"All right. We'll be going. But keep in mind that the most stupid thing +anyone can do is to dive alone, even by day. At night it's worse than +stupid. It's sheer insanity. Also, we'll thank you and your party to +keep away from us and not gum up our recordings with your flipper noises +and bubble sounds."</p> + +<p>"We will," Tony said. "Good night."</p> + +<p>The front door closed. Scotty rose, slid open the window, and went out. +Tony scraped a chair in the living room. Rick stayed where he was, in +case the frogmen had lingered outside. In a few moments he heard the +back door open and close, and he tensed, but it was Scotty's voice that +spoke.</p> + +<p>"They're gone. I just wanted to make sure."</p> + +<p>The three gathered in the living room, and Tony chuckled. "If I +associate with you two for much longer, I'll get to be the world's +champion dissembler."</p> + +<p>"What happened?" Rick demanded.</p> + +<p>"Simple and unlucky. The two frogmen surfaced practically under me. My +own fault, because I had moved much closer to the boat. I think one of +them almost fired a spear at me, but the other stopped him. They invited +me to go aboard, and I didn't think it wise to refuse the invitation."</p> + +<p>"I imagine not," Rick commented grimly. "Then what?"</p> + +<p>"Naturally, they demanded to know what I was doing. I admitted to +overpowering curiosity that got the better of my manners. They wanted to +know who I was and why I was on the island. I told them the truth, of +course, at least partly. I identified all of us. Then I'm afraid I told +a slight untruth. I said we had found reference to the <i>Maiden Hand</i> in +an old manuscript, and were diving in hopes of finding cannon and other +old things which we planned to sell for museum pieces to pay for our +vacation. I believe they accepted my story."</p> + +<p>"It's a good story," Scotty approved. "Just enough truth to make it ring +true."</p> + +<p>"They've been watching us," Tony went on. "They asked why the plane had +gone, and why it had come back with only the pilot. I told them +Professor Zircon had cut himself and gotten a coral infection, and that +the doctor at Charlotte Amalie felt that he should stay there for +treatment."</p> + +<p>"I guess they haven't recognized Scotty and me as the two who stopped +Steve's tail."</p> + +<p>"Seems not," Tony agreed. "Well, I admitted that I was still curious +about their activities, since night diving is not common. So they told +me a story."</p> + +<p>The boys waited breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"These gentlemen thirst for scientific knowledge," Tony said with a +grin. "They claim an interest in ichthyology, but they know less about +fish than any cat does. Their story is that they have developed an +underwater recording device with which to make recordings of fish +noises. Since they have some evidence that certain fish make their +noises only at night, it is obviously necessary to make recordings at +night. So they dive, leave their equipment, and pick it up the next +morning. Our diving too close to their gadget creates false sounds, +especially our bubbles. Therefore we are requested politely but firmly +to stay away."</p> + +<p>Scotty whistled.</p> + +<p>Rick laughed. "Quite a story," he said.</p> + +<p>"I pointed out the obvious," Tony went on, "that it was strange they +should choose a stormy night. Their answer was that storms upset fish, +and they thought it possible that some sounds might be obtained only +under storm conditions."</p> + +<p>"Very interesting," Rick remarked. "It's a good story, and if we didn't +know Steve was after at least one of those men, we'd probably believe +it!"</p> + +<p>"Fish noises!" Scotty exclaimed. "If they knew we'd been snooping around +before, they'd probably claim that the octopus really did wail, and that +they were only recording him. Your gag about screaming squid and +burbling barracuda would appeal to them, Tony."</p> + +<p>The archaeologist chuckled. "Anyway, we got out of that one pretty well. +I had a little trouble banging my tank. Didn't want to do it overtly, of +course. Finally I managed to get in position while we were swimming to +the boat, and I banged my tank against one of theirs. But how did you +know what to do?"</p> + +<p>Rick explained briefly, then he broke into a smile again. "These guys +are smart," he declared. "I like that fish-recording story."</p> + +<p>"It's appealing," Tony admitted. "I'm almost tempted to pay them another +call tomorrow to ask if they have captured for posterity the hunting cry +of the wild sea trout, or the love song of the gay sardine."</p> + +<p>"But you won't," Scotty said practically. "You certainly came out of +that mess with a whole skin, Tony."</p> + +<p>Rick laughed. "He's adventure-prone. And lucky. How do you beat a +combination like that?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>The Deadly Spring Gun</h3> + + +<p>The storm blew itself out by noon of the following day, leaving an +overcast sky and heavy swells. An inspection with the binoculars showed +that all was quiet at the frogmen's house. Their boat was tied to the +pier.</p> + +<p>"They probably recovered the brass ball during the night," Rick +observed, "or perhaps early this morning."</p> + +<p>"The question is," Scotty remarked, "did they take the gadget to the +octopus cave?"</p> + +<p>Tony joined them on the porch in time to hear Scotty's query. "I can +shed some light on that. It happens that I woke up at dawn and looked +out to see how the weather was behaving. The frogmen were anchored off +the eastern reef in the same place. We can assume that they picked up +the brass ball and put it back in the cave near the wreck."</p> + +<p>Rick rubbed his hand over his short hair in a gesture of bewilderment. +"But what's their game? What do they get from the brass ball?"</p> + +<p>"I rather imagine Steve Ames would like to know the same thing. If you +boys have no objection, I think I'll spend the afternoon at my midden. +What are you planning?"</p> + +<p>Rick looked at Scotty. "Dive at the wreck?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. Frogmen or no frogmen, there's still a golden statue of St. +Francis somewhere down there."</p> + +<p>After lunch the boys checked their equipment, being particularly careful +because they had not rinsed out the regulators with fresh water after +every dive. Their small supply of water, coupled with the odd hours at +which the equipment had been used, was the reason. They took a little +water from their supply and used it to clean the regulators. The rest of +the equipment would just have to wait.</p> + +<p>Tony departed for his Indian midden, tools slung over his shoulder. The +boys started the compressor to fill the tanks used the previous night, +then untied the <i>Water Witch</i> and headed for the diving area. Scotty +scanned the frogmen's house through the glasses, but saw nothing of +interest.</p> + +<p>They anchored just outside the reef and looked for their buoy. It was +gone, probably torn away by the storm.</p> + +<p>"We can find the wreck again," Rick said. "No trouble. I could find my +way around here in the dark." He grinned. "I have!"</p> + +<p>"Shall we take a look in the octopus cave too?"</p> + +<p>"A quick one. I doubt that we'd see more than we saw last night. Our job +now is finding out what kind of information the frogmen get. And I don't +know how we'll do that."</p> + +<p>"Wait for a break," Scotty replied. "Come on. Let's get into the water."</p> + +<p>It was cold. The storm had blown in colder water from the open sea. Rick +felt goose flesh and wished they had brought along midseason suits.</p> + +<p>The water was murky, too, because of the sand and silt stirred up by the +storm. The murkiness started about twenty feet below the surface. Not +until they were over fifty feet down did the water clear again. The +light was reduced somewhat by the murk, but visibility was good. Rick +had brought his camera to take motion pictures around the wreck. There +would be enough light.</p> + +<p>Scotty carried the big jet spear gun. It was powerful enough to spear +sharks or big barracuda, just in case the frogmen decided to be +"mischievous" again.</p> + +<p>Rick led the way to the octopus cave, glancing up now and then to make +sure they were alone in the water. The little octopus was in his usual +position on the ledge.</p> + +<p>Scotty, spear gun extended, swam right into the cave. Rick followed, +holding the camera tightly to his chest to keep it from scraping on the +coral. Scotty had his flashlight going, so Rick didn't bother with his +own.</p> + +<p>The cave was just about large enough for both of them. It was a typical +coral formation, not much different from the reef outside, except that +the brass ball was in the center of the rough floor.</p> + +<p>The boys examined the cave thoroughly and saw nothing of interest. Rick +pushed at Scotty's shoulder and swam out again. Scotty followed. The +octopus watched them go.</p> + +<p>The wreck of the <i>Maiden Hand</i> was just as they had left it, and the +grouper was back in his comfortable cabin. He departed at high speed as +the boys appeared. They had agreed to start work aft of the captain's +cabin, and the wrecking bars were carried under their tank harnesses for +the purpose. Both were convinced that there was nothing more to be found +in the cabin, although the possibility remained that false boards in the +floor or walls might conceal the statue.</p> + +<p>Rick tied his camera to a projection, then took his wrecking bar and +looked for a place to start. Scotty pointed to a place where there were +boards aft of the cabin they had already uncovered, and they started to +work.</p> + +<p>By the time they had pried off the first few boards it was time to +surface. They went topside and changed tanks, then rested for half an +hour. There was no sign of activity at the frogmen's house, nor could +they see Tony at work on his midden, since the location was hidden by +palms.</p> + +<p>Rick said thoughtfully, "The brass ball might be some kind of signaling +device."</p> + +<p>"What kind of signals?"</p> + +<p>He didn't know the answer to that. "Anyway, since it's underwater, if it +sends out anything it must be sound impulses. Otherwise we wouldn't hear +it wail. And what good is sound if not for signals?" added Rick.</p> + +<p>"Sonar," Scotty reminded.</p> + +<p>The boys were familiar with sonar because of the Spindrift work on the +Submobile. Very high frequency sound impulses were sent out, and the +echoes were timed or used in other ways. It was the way in which bottom +tracings were made by surface craft, and the way in which Navy ships +detected submarines. It could be used for locating schools of fish.</p> + +<p>"It could be sonar of some kind," Rick agreed. "But what good would it +do anyone to stick a sonar device on an island like this?"</p> + +<p>And there speculation stopped again, the question still unanswered.</p> + +<p>They dove to the wreck and continued the hard labor of taking the aft +end of the ship apart. When they finally got the new area cleared of +rotted boards and timbers it was only to find a cabin already filled +with sand.</p> + +<p>Rick borrowed the spear from Scotty's gun and thrust it down into the +sand. It slid in easily, meeting no obstruction. He probed with it but +found nothing except more sand.</p> + +<p>Discouraged, he wrote on his belt slate, "Mybe no bottm. Flr of cbn my +be gne."</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded. He lifted his hands in a gesture of inquiry. Now what?</p> + +<p>Rick thought about it for a moment. Tony had been right! They probably +would have to remove every board in sight, carrying the ship away piece +by piece. But then what? There was the distinct possibility that the +statue was somewhere under sand, and they had no way of removing the +sand to see.</p> + +<p>It was apparent that most of the ship was under the sand—if the +remainder of the ship was still intact. But Rick couldn't escape the +feeling that Captain Campion would have kept the statue close to him. +And that meant in the aft part of the ship, the part that was exposed.</p> + +<p>Scotty hooted twice, pointing at his watch. It was time to surface. The +next dive would be their last for the day.</p> + +<p>On the surface, Rick sounded discouraged as he said, "The cabin we +uncovered might not even have a deck. There may be nothing but a mile of +sand under it. And there isn't much of the aft part of the ship left to +explore, either. I guess tomorrow we can plan to take the captain's +cabin apart board by board."</p> + +<p>"We'll need Tony and Zircon for hard labor like that," Scotty answered. +"Notice how quickly you get tired down there? Also, we use air a lot +faster when we work."</p> + +<p>"Let's just sort of make a survey this time," Rick suggested. "We can +probe for any cracks we might have missed, and I'll take some over-all +shots of the wreck. Then we'll call it a day."</p> + +<p>They followed Rick's plan. He took pictures of Scotty, with wrecking +bar, prying at likely places in the exposed part of the ship. But Scotty +uncovered nothing of interest. In one place his prying disturbed another +moray, who demonstrated his anger at the intruders by trying to fasten +his needle teeth in the wrecking bar.</p> + +<p>A metallic clang caused them to lose interest in the eel suddenly. They +looked at each other, then turned and swam toward the apparent direction +of the sound. At that moment a distant wail struck their ears.</p> + +<p>The brass ball!</p> + +<p>Rick wondered. He had heard no boat noise. The brass ball must be +operating automatically. He hooted for Scotty's attention, then pointed +toward the cave.</p> + +<p>Scotty checked his spear gun and motioned for Rick to lead. Rick pushed +his camera in front of him and made his fins move rapidly. There might +be some outward sign when the ball sounded, something that would tell +them a little about its mechanism or purpose.</p> + +<p>As the cave came in view he coasted, looking upward. The murky layer +prevented his seeing very far, but there was no one in sight. He let +inertia carry him toward the cave, then swung upright in the water as he +saw that the octopus had moved a little distance from the cave mouth.</p> + +<p>Instinctively Rick knew that something was wrong, but it was too late to +get out of harm's way.</p> + +<p>A frogman emerged from the cave, spring-type spear gun pointed directly +toward them. The frogman held the brass instrument in his free hand.</p> + +<p>Even as Rick hooted a warning, the frogman fired!</p> + +<p>His spear lanced through the water directly at Scotty!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>Trapped in Twenty Fathoms</h3> + + +<p>Scotty writhed to one side, and the fact that the frogman had fired from +too great a distance gave him time to dodge. The spear went by, and +Scotty lifted his own gun to return the shot.</p> + +<p>Rick, senses suddenly acute, glanced upward again in time to see two +more figures descending through the murky layer. He hooted for danger!</p> + +<p>Scotty glanced up, too. Then, instead of firing, he sped forward and +thrust the tip of his spear at the frogman's chest. The frogman lifted +his hands high. Scotty jerked the man's face plate loose, then turned +swiftly and motioned to Rick.</p> + +<p>Rick followed, fins driving, as Scotty led the way into deeper water in +the direction of the wreck.</p> + +<p>The frogman who had been in the cave was temporarily out of things. His +Scuba was the type that combined the breathing apparatus with the full +face plate. He could clear the face plate of the water Scotty had let +in, but it would take a little time.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Scotty shot upward. Rick turned and looked over his shoulder as +he followed. The second two frogmen were in clear water now, and both +had spear guns!</p> + +<p>Scotty led the way into the murky layer, then leveled off and swam +horizontally. Rick wondered what kind of evasive action his pal was +planning, but he followed without trying to communicate with the other +boy. In a situation like this, Scotty's instincts were dependable.</p> + +<p>Rick stayed close to Scotty in the murky layer, swimming at his side and +a little behind. After a few yards Scotty dove again, into clear water. +Rick looked around but could see no sign of the enemy. Apparently the +frogmen had followed and were still in the murk.</p> + +<p>Scotty shot downward, Rick at his side. The wreck was directly below +them. Scotty didn't hesitate. He let his momentum carry him right +through the grouper's front door into the cabin. Rick followed, half +expecting to see Scotty and the grouper meet head on, but the fish +hadn't returned.</p> + +<p>Inside the cabin, Scotty switched on his flashlight, took his slate, and +wrote, "Thyl thnk we wnt bk to bot. We sty hr lng nuff thy fnd out we nt +thr & cm bck lkng fr us. Thn we go up to bot."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded his understanding. It was good strategy, provided they timed +it right. The frogmen would assume the boys had returned to the <i>Water +Witch</i> when they went up through the murky layer. They would examine the +boat, then dive down again. At that time, if he and Scotty could time it +right, the two groups would pass in the murky layer and the boys would +emerge while their enemies were still descending.</p> + +<p>He looked at his watch. They had only a few minutes of air left. The +frogmen would have more air, not only because they had entered the water +after the boys were already on the bottom, but because they had not +descended so deeply.</p> + +<p>He wrote, "Rlax. Brethe easy."</p> + +<p>The less effort they made, the longer their air would last. For a moment +he debated suggesting that they share one tank by trading the mouthpiece +back and forth, but that would leave one of them practically without air +when they had to leave. He tried to imagine the movements of their +enemies. The frogmen would be on the surface now, approaching the boat +ladder with caution. They couldn't be sure the boys were not waiting in +ambush.</p> + +<p>Both boys had switched off their lights and were resting motionless in +the darkness of the cabin. A little light filtered through the hole near +the roof, but not enough to see by.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the light was blocked out!</p> + +<p>Rick reached for his belt knife and Scotty thrust the spear gun forward, +then both relaxed a little. The grouper had returned.</p> + +<p>The big fish turned at the opening and backed into his hole. He hovered +in the opening, holding position while he stared out into his watery +kingdom. Apparently the fish had no idea that the boys were in the +cabin. When it came time to leave and they touched him or hooted at him, +he would get the surprise of his life.</p> + +<p>Even in their predicament, Rick could see the humor in the grouper's +reaction. He wondered if groupers were subject to heart failure from +shock.</p> + +<p>Rick returned to trying to imagine the movements of the frogmen. Now +they would be cautiously boarding the <i>Water Witch</i>, one up the ladder, +the other climbing the anchor chain. They would be careful, still unsure +whether or not the quarry was aboard.</p> + +<p>He thought he felt constriction in his lungs from the warning signal +that his air was running out, but finally decided it was only his +imagination.</p> + +<p>Now the frogmen would be aboard the <i>Water Witch</i>, making a quick +search, spear guns ready to fire their lethal shafts. Now they would be +in the cabin and shouting their disappointment.</p> + +<p>Now the frogmen would be hurrying back into the water, readjusting their +face masks, ready to dive.</p> + +<p>The grouper shot out of the cabin with a flick of his powerful tail that +raised the silt around them.</p> + +<p>Rick's heartbeat faltered. The grouper had been alarmed. They had +mistimed!</p> + +<p>Right now, the frogmen were outside the <i>Maiden Hand</i>!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>The Fight on the "Maiden Hand"</h3> + + +<p>They had only one hope now—that the frogmen would make a quick survey +of the wreck, then go away. The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any +sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.</p> + +<p>There was only the sound of their bubbles.</p> + +<p>Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out. The water that could +be seen from the entrance was clear. However, it was only a narrow +sector. For all he knew, the frogmen might be right overhead.</p> + +<p>He backed down into the cabin and pushed his camera into a corner. He +could get it later. Right now he preferred to have both hands free. He +wished for a spear gun, to double their armament. But the other guns +were on the <i>Water Witch</i>. The wrecking bars were useless, too. It was +almost impossible to strike a blow against the resistance of the water.</p> + +<p>Something scraped outside, and both boys froze. There was no doubt that +the frogmen were at the wreck. Why didn't they go away? They couldn't +know about the entrance to the cabin—or could they?</p> + +<p>The moments dragged by. There couldn't be much air left in their tanks. +Rick risked holding his wrist close to the opening and saw that his +watch showed one minute of diving time before shortness of breath would +signal time to turn on their air reserve and surface.</p> + +<p>Time was critical. If the frogmen didn't go away before their air ran +out, they would have to surface, if they were allowed to by the enemy. +With luck, Scotty could account for one. But that would leave two, both +armed. By this time the first frogman would have blown the water from +his mask and recovered his spear.</p> + +<p>No, it would be dangerous for Scotty even to take time for a shot, +unless he could fire without pausing. Their best bet was to make a run +for it, depending on speed.</p> + +<p>On land, he was sure he and Scotty could outrun the enemy, but in the +water, speed depended on skill with the fins, and the power of leg +strokes. He doubted that the frogmen were much faster than he and +Scotty, but there was an excellent chance that their speed in the water +was equal.</p> + +<p>He conserved his air, spacing his breathing, taking only enough air to +keep comfortable.</p> + +<p>There was another scraping sound, and he knew the frogmen were still +around. Were they actually searching the wreck? If so, they might find +the entrance.</p> + +<p>And then Rick suddenly discovered a new danger!</p> + +<p>Their air bubbles had been floating to the top of the cabin, forming a +pool under the ceiling. But they had stayed in the cabin so long that +enough water had been displaced to bring the pool of exhausted air close +to the entrance, which was only a few inches below roof level.</p> + +<p>In a moment the air would spill out, and rising bubbles would warn the +frogmen!</p> + +<p>He gripped Scotty's shoulder and pointed to the silvery mass of +exhausted air that curled perilously close to the entrance.</p> + +<p>The other boy saw the danger at once. He wrote on his slate, "We go whn +air duz," and held it in the light for Rick to see.</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. He drew his belt knife.</p> + +<p>There couldn't be many breaths left before the air spilled out. Nor +could there be many before warning constriction forced them to turn on +the reserves. At this depth the reserve wasn't very great.</p> + +<p>He saw Scotty reach for his reserve lever and pull it down. A moment +later he had to pull his own.</p> + +<p>Something rang like a struck tank, almost directly overhead!</p> + +<p>The lip of the bubble pool moved from the water motion caused by pulling +their reserves. Rick watched it, scarcely breathing.</p> + +<p>The air pool trembled. A tiny bubble broke loose and sped upward.</p> + +<p>Rick squeezed Scotty's arm, then with a powerful thrust of his flippers +he shot out into light, right into the stomach of a frogman!</p> + +<p>He thrust with his knife, and a hand gripped his wrist and twisted. +Scotty shot from the hole in the wreck and turned, fins flailing. His +spear gun belched carbon dioxide, and the deadly spear ripped into the +leg of one frogman.</p> + +<p>Rick flailed arms and legs, trying to break free of the grip that held +him. He saw the wounded frogman fire his spear at Scotty. The boy moved +just in time, and the shaft shot between his arm and side.</p> + +<p>Scotty let go of his useless gun and grappled with the frogman, reaching +for his knife with one hand while he gripped the frogman's wrist with +the other.</p> + +<p>Rick knew their air was running out fast. He felt a knife glance from +his tank and heard the ring of metal. He struggled for footing and +turned in time to thrust a flippered foot into the stomach of the +frogman behind him.</p> + +<p>Next to him he caught a glimpse of Scotty and his opponent rolling in +the water, and he saw the shimmer of metal as a knife flashed.</p> + +<p>Arms locked around his throat. He reached backward over his head and his +hands touched rubber. He gripped and pulled with all his strength and +felt the man's face plate come free.</p> + +<p>The frogman who had lost his mask suddenly threw off tanks and weight +belt and sped for the surface.</p> + +<p>The odds were even! Rick locked with his opponent and felt powerful arms +drag him close. The man had more strength than he! He fought to break +loose, and couldn't!</p> + +<p>Then the mouthpiece was pulled away from Rick's lips in mid-breath, and +he choked on sea water.</p> + +<p>Without air—twenty fathoms down!</p> + +<p>Frantically he fought, locking his air passage so his last lungful +couldn't escape. He got a hand free and caught his opponent's hose where +it joined the tank. He pulled with all his strength and felt it give. +Bubbles rose in a cloud.</p> + +<p>He would have sobbed if he could. It was the wrong hose! He had only +torn loose the exhaust. He groped and found the intake hose, then, +lifting his knee and thrusting for leverage, he pulled with all his +strength. The hose gave! The grip on him loosened.</p> + +<p>Rick was now desperate for air! He pulled the quick release on his +weight belt and felt it drop away, then he kicked for the surface, +frantic with fear for Scotty. Had he gotten free? Had he? His last view +had been of his pal locked with the remaining frogman!</p> + +<p>Bubbles streamed from his mouth as the compressed air in his lungs +expanded under the decreasing pressure. He let himself exhale as he +rose, fighting against panic and the impulse to lock the remaining air +in his lungs. That would be fatal, he knew, and he willed himself to act +properly. He kept his fins moving, knowing that, if he kept his head, he +would make the surface.</p> + +<p>He passed through the murky layer and saw the surface like a wrinkled +silver sheet far overhead. Straining, he swam for it, letting out his +breath as the pressure on his lungs demanded.</p> + +<p>There was another boat hull in the water, almost over him! He angled +away, to avoid coming up under it.</p> + +<p>And suddenly there were forms around the boat. A cry tore from his lips +and was swallowed in the water.</p> + +<p>More frogmen! More enemies, when they were already defeated!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>JANIG Takes to the Water</h3> + + +<p>A figure dove to meet Rick. He angled away, fighting the impulse to +breathe, keeping the compressed air moving out of his lungs. The figure +angled with him, then suddenly sheered off. Rick shot past and the +figure followed.</p> + +<p>These new frogmen were diving in midseason suits. He was aware of nearly +a dozen of them. He didn't count them; with his terrible need for oxygen +he didn't care that much.</p> + +<p>He knew he would make it. He had to! But where was Scotty?</p> + +<p>Rick shot to the surface, went right through it, his impetus carrying +him into the blessed air. He gulped a great lungful before he fell back +with a splash, and as he hit water his fins were flailing, to carry him +toward the hastily glimpsed shore.</p> + +<p>A masked figure surfaced beside him and called, "Take it easy!"</p> + +<p>He only moved faster. The frogman caught him easily, because the power +was gone from his leg strokes now. But he had enough strength to fight. +He reached for the frogman's face plate, and a strong arm pushed him +back.</p> + +<p>A voice penetrated his consciousness. "Stop it, Rick, or I'll have to +let you have one."</p> + +<p>The frogman knew his name! He hesitated, fist pulled back to throw the +best punch he had left, and the new frogman back-pedaled.</p> + +<p>"Hold it," the frogman called, and lifted his face mask.</p> + +<p>Rick stopped moving, staring numbly.</p> + +<p>Jimmy Kelly! Lieutenant Kelly!</p> + +<p>"I'll tow you to the boat," the lieutenant called. "Relax."</p> + +<p>Rick obeyed, head spinning. He was a little groggy, and he couldn't make +sense out of things. How had Kelly got here?</p> + +<p>And Scotty! Where was Scotty? He started struggling again, calling his +friend's name.</p> + +<p>"He's all right," Kelly said urgently. "Relax, Rick!"</p> + +<p>Rick caught the words, and they penetrated. How did Kelly know Scotty +was all right? But the lieutenant had spoken with authority, so he +relaxed.</p> + +<p>Kelly towed him to the landing stage of the ship Rick had seen, a +destroyer escort. Willing hands lifted him from the water. He slumped +down on the edge of the stage, shaking his head to clear it while Navy +frogmen stripped his aqualung harness from him and pulled the mask from +his face.</p> + +<p>A voice said, "Drink this."</p> + +<p>A mug of steaming black coffee was thrust into his hand and he sipped, +grateful for the spreading warmth it brought.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he started again. "Scotty! Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Up here, Rick, with me."</p> + +<p>He looked up, and his eyes focused again—on Tony and Zircon!</p> + +<p>A motor whaleboat drew up to the landing stage, and two husky frogmen +handed up a suited figure. "Here's one, Lieutenant," a frogman called.</p> + +<p>"All right, Danny. Where's the other?"</p> + +<p>"Heading for the reef at top speed. Jonesy's after him."</p> + +<p>"Go help Jonesy haul him in."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sir." The motor whaleboat veered off and sped toward shore.</p> + +<p>A frogman surfaced almost at Rick's feet. He instinctively drew back, +and the frogman gripped the edge of the stage, spat out his mouthpiece, +and pulled up his mask with the other hand.</p> + +<p>Rick found himself looking at Steve Ames! What was he doing here?</p> + +<p>"Where's the brass ball?" Steve asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>With an effort Rick pulled his scattered wits together. His mind began +to work again. Obviously, through some miracle Steve and Zircon had +arrived on a Navy ship with Jimmy Kelly and a detachment of Navy +frogmen.</p> + +<p>Scotty called from on deck. "It's at the octopus cave, Steve. I saw one +of the frogmen drop it there."</p> + +<p>Steve hauled himself out to the landing stage. He grinned at Rick. +"Feeling better?"</p> + +<p>"Much," Rick said. He was beginning to feel nearly human again.</p> + +<p>"Let's go on deck. I want to find out about this octopus cave."</p> + +<p>Rick stood up, and was surprised to find that he didn't wobble. He +followed Steve up the ladder to the deck and found Scotty seated on a +canvas stool, sipping coffee.</p> + +<p>Zircon asked anxiously, "Are you all right, Rick?"</p> + +<p>Tony said, "Here's the doctor for a look at you."</p> + +<p>A young Navy officer joined them and motioned Rick to a canvas stool. He +applied a stethoscope and listened, then grunted his satisfaction. "He +seems all right. Pulse a little fast, but that's to be expected. You had +a slight dose of oxygen starvation. Feel better now?"</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. He was beginning to feel wonderful. They were out of it, +and with whole skins.</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned sheepishly. "I abandoned you. I had to, because I ran +completely out of air. I shoved my man away and headed for the surface. +I felt pretty guilty about leaving you with two of them."</p> + +<p>Rick returned the grin. "I felt the same way. I thought I'd abandoned +you. But I see you got to the surface first."</p> + +<p>Steve accepted a cup of coffee and squatted on the deck, facing them. +"Suppose we start from the beginning. What happened?"</p> + +<p>Rick told him, starting from the moment when they had heard the brass +ball wail. He finished, "There were three of them. Did you get them +all?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Including one with a spear through his leg. The last one is just +being hauled aboard now. He tried to get to the island."</p> + +<p>Jimmy Kelly and a group of frogmen joined them. Jimmy asked, "How about +the sounding gear, Steve?"</p> + +<p>"We'll ask now. How about that octopus cave? Where is it?"</p> + +<p>"We'll take you," Rick said. "Let us get tanks from our boat. There +should be a pair fully charged by now."</p> + +<p>Steve shot a look at the doctor. The officer shrugged, then nodded. +"Okay, if it's a short dive. They've had plenty for today."</p> + +<p>"Chief? Where are you?" Kelly called.</p> + +<p>A frogman stepped from the rear of the group. "Here, Sir."</p> + +<p>"Check their regulators, please. If they're okay, hook up fresh tanks. +If not, loan them complete outfits."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sir."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Chief. Then get set to come with us. Danny, Jonesy, Mike, and +Dick come along, too. Bring still and motion-picture cameras. When we +get down, split into two-man teams and search the area. You know what +we're looking for. It's just like the one we found off St. Croix."</p> + +<p>Rick stared at the frogman officer. Another brass ball off St. Croix? +But there wasn't time for questions.</p> + +<p>"Quick dive, please," Zircon requested. "These boys have had enough."</p> + +<p>"They're through as soon as they show us the cave," Steve agreed. "Come +on, gang. Let's get to it."</p> + +<p>Rick carefully checked his equipment, something that no diver can ever +take for granted or leave to someone else, while Scotty did the same. +Then they put the equipment on and adjusted face masks. Their knives, +Rick's camera, and Scotty's spear and gun were somewhere near the wreck. +They would have to get them another time.</p> + +<p>The group entered the water. Rick looked around and oriented himself by +the position of the <i>Water Witch</i>, then led the way with Scotty, Steve, +and Jimmy swimming along with him while the Navy frogmen stayed closed +behind.</p> + +<p>It was a thrill for Rick to be swimming with the famous UDT frogmen. He +looked to the side and saw that Steve was perfectly at home in the +water, and he marveled at the adaptability of the JANIG agent. Steve +hadn't been joking when he said he would be an expert by nightfall.</p> + +<p>At the reef Rick turned northward and led the way toward the level of +the cave. A few moments later he hooted for attention and with pointed +finger showed it to Steve and Jimmy. The octopus was still there.</p> + +<p>A frogman swam over and picked the little creature up. The octopus +spurted away, leaving a blob of ink behind. He came to rest above the +cave, poised for further flight.</p> + +<p>Rick swam down to the sandy floor of the cave and began to search for +the brass ball. Scotty beckoned, and they swam together toward the spot +where Scotty had last seen it. The frogmen swam to the bottom with them, +then fanned out, searching.</p> + +<p>A few moments later someone hooted, and a tanned, muscled frogman swam +over, holding the object triumphantly.</p> + +<p>Steve Ames pointed to the surface and Jimmy hooted an order. The group +swam leisurely up through the murky layer, oriented themselves by the +sleek shape of the destroyer escort hull, and emerged at the landing. +The frogman who had found the ball handed it up to Hobart Zircon.</p> + +<p>Steve Ames motioned to one of the frogmen. "Run these fellows over to +the beach, please, then wait and bring them back." He turned to the +boys. "Put on dry clothes. Then come on back. We need to talk."</p> + +<p>An hour later the boys, the scientists, Steve, and Kelly were seated at +a table in the destroyer escort's tiny wardroom, noses twitching over +the savory steaks that were being served. The boys ate like starved men, +talking a steady stream between bites.</p> + +<p>Rick sighed and let out his belt. "Well, that's our story. What's +yours?"</p> + +<p>Steve stirred his coffee thoughtfully. "I can make it short. We don't +know the whole story yet, but we will by the time I get back to St. +Thomas. Have you two any idea what these brass-ball gadgets are?"</p> + +<p>"We decided that they were probably sonar equipment of some type," +Scotty said. "But we couldn't figure out what they were for."</p> + +<p>"Easy," Steve said. "Although you couldn't know, of course. They were +for spotting submarines."</p> + +<p>Rick stared. Submarines?</p> + +<p>Steve saw his look of bewilderment. "It happens that our new +atomic-powered submarines are conducting manuevers in this area. Does +that help?"</p> + +<p>It did! Light slowly dawned. "Then these were scanning our subs! But I +still don't see why it would be any problem to find them. The subs must +have equipment that will tell when sonar beams hit them."</p> + +<p>"They do. And that's a big part of the story."</p> + +<p>Steve sipped his coffee for a moment. "These sonar devices are a new +type, and very cleverly designed. They don't send out a continuous beam. +Instead, they operate in bursts, in a random pattern. They might send +out a beam twice in a minute, or wait an hour between bursts. The beam +is a powerful one. It's effective for an extraordinary distance."</p> + +<p>"The wail, of course, was the beam operating," Zircon interjected. "You +didn't hear the beam itself, since that's ultrasonic. But you did hear +the mechanical vibration of the brass ball. It had a kind of +sub-harmonic effect that was audible."</p> + +<p>"That's right," Steve agreed. "Anyway, there were several different +stations, in different locations. Some were on islands, some on fishing +boats. Since they operated only in short bursts in a random pattern, the +subs—and the special teams we sent out—were never able to get a +bearing that meant much."</p> + +<p>"They must be self-recording," Rick said thoughtfully, "otherwise the +enemy couldn't get the information out of them."</p> + +<p>"They are. Whatever echo they get makes a tracing inside the box they're +mounted on."</p> + +<p>Scotty objected, "But what kind of information is it? How can anyone +tell anything about the subs from such recordings?"</p> + +<p>"By putting all the recordings together and running a rather complex +analysis. The analysis will give speed, depth of operation, +maneuverability—if the spies are lucky to have beams operating at the +right time—and number of torpedoes fired, with the same information on +the torps. That's enough information to make it worth an enemy's while."</p> + +<p>"I'll say!" Scotty turned to Zircon. "And what were you doing, +Professor?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I arrived on the scene too late to do much good," Zircon +boomed. "However, I believe we can be useful in preventing such +occurrences in the future. I have an idea for an improvement in our +scanners that will allow a fix to be made on such beams."</p> + +<p>There was a pause when dessert arrived. The boys savored excellent apple +pie smothered in a generous helping of ship-made ice cream.</p> + +<p>"We thought Zircon might help us work out a system of getting fixes on +the transmitters," Steve said. "As it happened, we got a lucky break. +The subs happened to have their devices pointed at St. Croix +simultaneously when a beam scanned them. They got a fix on it. We flew a +team of frogmen down in a Navy amphibian right in the middle of the +second storm. They found it, and got the men who were handling it. One +of them talked."</p> + +<p>Jimmy Kelly picked up the story, "You arrived with Zircon at about the +same time the St. Croix team took off from our base, and headed right +into the storm. They didn't get back until late last night, and it was +nearly dawn before we got the story from the man who talked. Then we +loaded on this DE and headed here."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you didn't wait ten minutes longer," Rick said fervently. +"They foxed us. I kept listening for their boat, but they didn't use +it."</p> + +<p>"They probably decided to swim out and sneak up on you," Zircon stated. +"After capturing Tony last night, their suspicions were probably aroused +somewhat. Even if they swallowed his story entirely, it would be only +good sense to check up."</p> + +<p>Tony looked hurt. "I'm sorry you don't think my story was enough to +allay their suspicions entirely. But speaking of listening for their +boat, why didn't you hear this ship coming? And why didn't the fancy +frogmen?"</p> + +<p>Rick thought that one over. "We wouldn't have heard the ship until it +was very close because of the noise our bubbles make. But we should have +heard it about the time it left the reef opening near our cottage. I +don't know why we didn't."</p> + +<p>"And I don't know why we didn't see it," Scotty added. "It's big enough +to be spotted at horizon distance."</p> + +<p>Jimmy grinned. "We pulled a fast one. We had enough steerageway to drift +over your position after a few turns of the screws down by the reef +passage. You see, we didn't know what was going on, so we took no +chances. Then, when we got into position, we got into the water without +waiting to anchor. We dropped anchor right after we got both of you out, +but you probably didn't notice."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't have cared less, at that point," Rick said, and Scotty +echoed the sentiment.</p> + +<p>"The reason why you didn't see us coming is that we came from the other +side of the island. It's safer for a ship that draws as much water as +this one. Tony spotted us as we approached the southern point."</p> + +<p>Steve grinned. "Anyway, it's a good idea to move in on an objective as +quickly, silently, and invisibly as possible."</p> + +<p>"Have you captured the rest of the stations yet?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"No. But we have teams out, and they know where to go and what to look +for, thanks to the man who talked last night."</p> + +<p>"Who are these people?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>Steve scratched his chin. "Well," he said finally, "you might put it +this way: they're people who have no business knowing what they're +trying to find out."</p> + +<p>Rick hid a grin. He knew perfectly well they would get no more +information out of Steve. The essence of security is to give information +only to people who have a need to know it. The Spindrifters had no +reason for knowing the identity of the enemy, apart from their own +curiosity. One thing was certain, though, it was another nation that +wanted the information.</p> + +<p>"You're probably tired of answering questions," Rick said, "but I've got +one more. How did you happen to arrive right in the nick of time?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing very mysterious about it," Jimmy Kelly answered. "We steamed up +to the island and sent a boat ashore, with Professor Zircon. Dr. Briotti +had seen us approach, and he met the boat. He told us you were diving. +Zircon had assumed as much since we could see your boat anchored on the +reef."</p> + +<p>"I told them about last night," Tony added.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we sent a party of men to the house up the beach to capture +these fancy frogmen of yours. The house was empty. Since their boat was +tied up, we made a quick assumption that they were out on the reef with +you. We did a fast run out ..."</p> + +<p>"And got the fright of our lives," Steve finished. "We knew there were +three of the enemy and two of you down below, and we could see only +three sets of bubbles. We thought you were done for."</p> + +<p>"It was remarkable the way Lieutenant Kelly and his men got ready to +dive," Zircon said. "I've never seen people move so fast. Steve, too. +Then, just as they were about to go over the side, we saw two more +bubble trails and knew at least that you were still alive. But in a +moment the entire pack of bubbles merged."</p> + +<p>"We hit the water," Jimmy Kelly said, "and were about to dive when one +of the enemy skyrocketed up. He was blue in the face and scared witless. +We hauled him out and then started to dive again. And along came Scotty, +half dead and babbling about you. I started straight down to get you, +but you met me halfway." He grinned. "You weren't in very good shape, +either, for a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"How about the men? Where are they?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Down below. Locked up, with an armed guard at the door."</p> + +<p>Steve Ames finished his coffee and sat back with a sigh of satisfaction. +"I'm happy," he announced.</p> + +<p>The boys grinned. He looked it.</p> + +<p>"Glad you wound this up so fast," Zircon boomed. "When will you return +to Charlotte Amalie?"</p> + +<p>Steve looked at Jimmy Kelly. "You in a hurry?"</p> + +<p>"Not particularly. Now that this case is over we go back to some pretty +dull routine. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I thought your boys might like a little recreation."</p> + +<p>Jimmy looked suspicious. "Any sailor likes recreation. The more the +better. The UDTs enjoy it more than most. What's on your mind?"</p> + +<p>Steve's wave took in the four Spindrifters. "It wasn't their fault one +of the gang talked his head off last night. If he hadn't, their work +here would have given us a lead we couldn't have gotten in any other +way. Suppose we repay 'em."</p> + +<p>Jimmy sighed. "Get to the point."</p> + +<p>"Keep the ship here tomorrow. Turn your boys loose to help find the +treasure they're after. You've got equipment they need. Besides, I'm +sure your gang can find some nice souvenirs if they put their minds to +it. Old cutlasses, cannon, cannon balls—things like that."</p> + +<p>"It's a deal." The UDT lieutenant chuckled. "I'll try a little souvenir +hunting myself. Of course, since it's unofficial, I'll have to ask for +volunteers."</p> + +<p>"Think you'll get many?" Rick asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>Steve and Jimmy laughed. The lieutenant said with a chuckle, "If one of +them doesn't volunteer I'll turn him over to the doctor, because I'll +know he's sick. The UDT's volunteer because they like to swim. It isn't +often they get a chance like this, to dive just for fun."</p> + +<p>"If we don't find the treasure," Scotty said with satisfaction, "it'll +be because it isn't there!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>The Buried Secret</h3> + + +<p>At first, the captured frogmen were defiant. They insisted that the Navy +had nothing on them. The brass ball wasn't theirs. They were only sport +divers having some fun.</p> + +<p>Then, faced with the unassailable fact that Rick had taken motion +pictures of their activities, they lapsed into sullen silence and +refused to talk.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty watched Jimmy Kelly check the diving equipment of the +frogman teams lined up on the destroyer escort's deck. Beyond the teams +they could see the three enemy frogmen, taking the air under the +watchful eye of a shotgun-armed sailor.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we'll ever get the full story," Rick mused.</p> + +<p>"We've got all we need," Scotty answered. "What pieces are missing?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm curious about the chicken. I think we hit it when we decided +they wanted to scare us out of the octopus-cave area, but it would be +nice to know for sure. And why did they take the sonar equipment to the +eastern reef during the storm?"</p> + +<p>"Probably to make a recording as a routine check. They couldn't assume +all sub activity was taking place to the west."</p> + +<p>"But how can we be sure?"</p> + +<p>"We can't. We can only try to figure out what happened, based on what +information we have. For instance, there must have been a sonar unit +near where we swam at St. Thomas. It's the only thing that could have +got the shadow so excited. But what difference does it really make? We +know most of the story, and we can guess the rest."</p> + +<p>"Steve may be able to fill in some pieces later," Rick observed. He +liked to have a thing wrapped up neatly, with no loose ends hanging. +Still, that was almost impossible in a case like this.</p> + +<p>Jimmy Kelly called, "You boys ready to go?"</p> + +<p>"Whenever you are," Rick called back. He picked up his heavy three-tank +block from where it rested against the rail and handed it to Scotty. +While his friend held the rig, Rick got into it. Then he performed the +same service for Scotty. The tanks were heavy.</p> + +<p>Tony and Zircon, similarly equipped, came out of the amidships cabin +with Steve Ames. Jimmy had loaned equipment from the frogmen's supplies, +to enable the group to work around the wreck longer.</p> + +<p>The search party assembled on the landing stage. Jimmy had split his +teams into two groups. They would dive in relays.</p> + +<p>"We'll look the situation over, then get to work," Jimmy instructed. +"How many have wrecking bars?"</p> + +<p>Four of the UDT gang held them up.</p> + +<p>"All right. Turn and turn about. Work for ten minutes then pass them to +your mates. Watch your hoses, especially when working inside. Okay. +Let's go."</p> + +<p>They slipped into the water four at a time, Rick and Scotty in the first +four. Once in the water, the weight of the heavy tanks vanished. The +boys had removed weights from their belts to allow for the extra tanks +and for more than ten additional pounds of air on the descent.</p> + +<p>A pair of frogmen payed out a heavy rope, taking the reel down with them +in order to provide a direct link from wreck to ship. On the way up the +divers would pause at knots in the rope to decompress, allowing time for +compressed nitrogen to get out of their blood streams.</p> + +<p>With the boys and the scientists, Jimmy went over all visible portions +of the wreck. He summed up his attitude with an elaborate shrug and +spreading of his hands that said he didn't know where to begin. For his +frogmen, he made a sweeping gesture that told them to tackle the wreck +anywhere. The frogmen moved in, operating in pairs. The water clouded +rapidly with silt, particles of marine growth, and fish eggs.</p> + +<p>The top of the captain's cabin came off. Rick swam in through the murk +and picked up the chair that had seemed to be in good condition. He +carried it to clear water and placed it on the sand. Now that it was out +in the open, it could be seen that teredos—shipworms—had feasted on it +and burrowed into it until it was nothing but a chair-shaped shell.</p> + +<p>The same was true of the cabin interior. It collapsed soundlessly under +the prying bars of the frogmen. Under their enthusiastic attack the +water was soon so roiled that visibility at the wreck was reduced to +almost zero. Jimmy sounded the signal for ascent and the group surfaced +without decompressing. They had just about exhausted a single tank.</p> + +<p>On the landing stage, the lieutenant said, "No use continuing until the +water settles. Any ideas, Chief?"</p> + +<p>Sanders, the group's chief petty officer, replied, "I think we're going +to need a sand hose, Sir. Most of the wreck is buried."</p> + +<p>Jonesy, a short, husky frogman with a bright-red crew cut, added, "Sir, +I think the cannon and stuff would be on the deck ahead of the cabin we +opened up, but the deck is under the sand. Could we rig a hose, Sir?"</p> + +<p>"Good idea. Put a detail to work, Chief."</p> + +<p>Sanders called out four names and issued instructions. Jimmy called a +ten-minute break for the rest.</p> + +<p>During the break, Rick sought out Steve Ames. He commented, "You know, +this wasn't a very well-organized gang. I keep thinking about the two +who tried to get us at St. Thomas."</p> + +<p>Steve disagreed. "You're wrong. It was a <i>very</i> well-organized gang. +Their trouble was not enough trained agents. They had to hire extras, +and the extras were just ordinary mugs, and not very bright ones. It was +the mugs who made the mistakes, not the real agents."</p> + +<p>Jimmy Kelly spoke up. "Did we tell you? We got reports from the other +UDT teams this morning. Our people have all the stations except one in +British territory. Maybe our British cousins can get the station team +for us. We've tipped them off."</p> + +<p>The lieutenant finished a glass of orange juice and rose. "Time's up. +Let's get back to the wreck."</p> + +<p>Hobart Zircon asked, "Don't you want to take your camera, Rick?"</p> + +<p>"Good idea." He hurried to get it. One of the frogmen had picked it up, +along with the rest of the equipment they had left behind.</p> + +<p>The water had settled enough for thorough inspection of the entire aft +portion of the wreck. Rick and Scotty helped the frogmen poke into every +possible place without finding more than a pair of rusted cutlasses.</p> + +<p>Rick surveyed the scene with discouragement. The statue was somewhere +under the sand, which probably meant they would never find it. He had +another sudden realization, too. They had no proof that this ship was +the <i>Maiden Hand</i>, no proof that the whole business wasn't just a +wild-goose chase.</p> + +<p>By the time the dive was over, the sand hose had been rigged. The first +group surfaced and Jimmy ordered the fresh group of frogmen to hose out +the aft cabins to find anything that might be left. Then the group was +to start work on the probable location of the foredeck.</p> + +<p>During the rest period, Rick told Jimmy about the other wreck they had +found, the modern ship that he guessed was a war casualty.</p> + +<p>"We'll take a look at it first thing in the morning before we shove off +for St. Thomas," Jimmy promised. "You never know what you'll find in a +wreck. We've found a lot of things worth salvaging."</p> + +<p>The boys were operating under Navy rules now. They put on fresh tanks +and got their instructions from Chief Sanders. "Longer decompression +this time. Stick with me on the way up and move when I move. We don't +want you to get the bends."</p> + +<p>The boys nodded their understanding, then took to the water.</p> + +<p>The frogmen below were still hosing sand. Water forced at high pressure +through the hose that ran down from the ship sent the stuff swirling in +great clouds. The boys watched. They couldn't do much looking around +until the water settled.</p> + +<p>Then they saw that the frogmen weren't waiting. They swam into the murk, +feeling around with their hands. Rick saw one emerge triumphantly +holding a round object that could only have been a cannon ball.</p> + +<p>He and Scotty plunged in, too. Working with the frogmen they rapidly +assembled a treasure trove of cannon, more cannon balls, cutlasses still +in good condition, and useless ship's gear.</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes later a frantic hooting brought them in a rush to where +Jonesy was holding something. Zircon and Tony got there at the same +time, and soon all work had ceased while Jonesy's find was examined.</p> + +<p>Tony took his belt knife and scraped. Then he looked around at the +watching group and nodded. He clasped his hands together and shook them +like a fighter mitting the crowd.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty hooted their triumph. Jonesy had found the statue of St. +Francis!</p> + +<p>The boys, the scientists, Steve, and Jimmy carried the treasure to the +surface. The rest of the frogmen continued hunting for souvenirs.</p> + +<p>On the landing stage they put the statue down with loving care. Even +under the marine growth they could make out the cowled figure of the +sainted monk, head bent over the fawn he held in his arms.</p> + +<p>Tony went to work. Soon there was a gleam of gold that brought a yell of +triumph from the boys. Then—amazingly—the gleam of dull silver.</p> + +<p>"Hobart, look at this!" Tony exclaimed.</p> + +<p>The big scientist knelt and examined the silvery streak. He borrowed +Tony's knife and probed, then his laugh boomed across the water.</p> + +<p>"We are the victims of our own research!" he roared. "All this +trouble—over a statue of lead!"</p> + +<p>"Lead!" Rick stared incredulously. This couldn't be true! "There's gold, +too," he pointed out.</p> + +<p>"Apparently gold leaf over a lead base," Tony said with a sigh. "No, +Rick. Hobart is right. This is lead."</p> + +<p>A call from the water made them look up. Chief Sanders and his diving +buddy had surfaced, and they were carrying a statue of St. Francis!</p> + +<p>Behind them, another pair of frogmen, with still another statue!</p> + +<p>Within a half hour there were no less than eight identical statues lined +up on deck. St. Francis, in lead, repeated eight times.</p> + +<p>Scotty scratched his head. "Well," he said finally, "we certainly found +St. Francis! In fact, we overdid it a little."</p> + +<p>Not until long afterward did they learn the answer. Tony Briotti, a +scientist of great persistence, did some research in England during a +European trip to attend a conference of archaeologists. He found that +the <i>Maiden Hand</i> had carried several dozen St. Francis statues, for +sale to churches and individuals in the New World. Captain Campion had +considered only one special enough to mention, because it had been +blessed by the Cardinal of France and entrusted to his care for delivery +to the Governor of Barbados.</p> + +<p>The Spindrifters took one statue as a gift for Barby. A cutlass was +Rick's share of the loot, while Tony took the bar shot they had found +near the wreck and Zircon selected a cannon ball. It was understood that +the knife Scotty had found was to be his, so that he could present it to +Hartson Brant.</p> + +<p>A few quick dives the following morning disclosed nothing of interest +around the first wreck they had found, but Jimmy identified it as a +common type of small cargo vessel. Then the destroyer escort sailed for +St. Thomas.</p> + +<p>Before it left, there was time for a few words with Steve Ames.</p> + +<p>"I'm leaving St. Thomas by air tonight for Washington," he reported. +"Something new has come up and I'm needed. I may need you, too, before +this case is over. The report wasn't detailed, but it carried a few +implications that have me worried."</p> + +<p>"We'll be ready if you need us," Rick assured him.</p> + +<p>Steve's warm smile flashed. "I know," he said. "I'll see you soon."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_RICK_BRANT_SCIENCE-ADVENTURE_Stories" id="The_RICK_BRANT_SCIENCE-ADVENTURE_Stories"></a><i>The</i> RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE <i>Stories</i></h2> + +<h3>BY JOHN BLAINE</h3> + +<h3>SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORIES</h3> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="ad" id="ad"></a> +<img src="images/ad.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<p>Rick Brant is the boy who with his pal Scotty lives on an island called +Spindrift and takes part in so many thrilling adventures and baffling +mysteries involving science and electronics. You can share every one of +these adventures in the pages of Rick's books. They are available at +your book store in handsome, low-priced editions.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Rocket's Shadow</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Lost City</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sea Gold</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">100 Fathoms Under</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Whispering Box Mystery</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Phantom Shark</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Smugglers' Reef</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Caves of Fear</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Stairway To Danger</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Golden Skull</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Wailing Octopus</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Electronic Mind Reader</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Scarlet Lake Mystery</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Pirates of Shan</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Blue Ghost Mystery</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Egyptian Cat Mystery</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Flaming Mountain</span></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wailing Octopus, by Harold Leland Goodwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAILING OCTOPUS *** + +***** This file should be named 31495-h.htm or 31495-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/4/9/31495/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wailing Octopus + +Author: Harold Leland Goodwin + +Release Date: March 3, 2010 [EBook #31495] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAILING OCTOPUS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE WAILING OCTOPUS + + A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY + + BY JOHN BLAINE + + +1956 +BY GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC. +NEW YORK, N. Y. + +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + +[Transcriber Note: Extensive research was unable to find a U.S. copyright +renewal.] + + +[Illustration: _With his spear Scotty jerked off the enemy frogman's +face plate_] + + + + +Contents + + +I DESTINATION: CLIPPER CAY + +II THE SCUBA SLIP + +III THE SHADOW + +IV VISITORS BY NIGHT + +V THE WARNING + +VI THE DEADLY TANK + +VII THE DERELICT + +VIII THE FANCY FROGMEN + +IX WRECK OF THE "MAIDEN HAND" + +X THE WAILING OCTOPUS + +XI LIGHTS ON CLIPPER REEF + +XII CLOUDS OVER CLIPPER CAY + +XIII MESSAGE IN THE STORM + +XIV BELOW THE DARK CORAL + +XV HOW SINGS THE GAY SARDINE? + +XVI THE DEADLY SPRING GUN + +XVII TRAPPED IN TWENTY FATHOMS + +XVIII THE FIGHT ON THE "MAIDEN HAND" + +XIX JANIG TAKES TO THE WATER + +XX THE BURIED SECRET + + + + +List of Illustrations + +_With his spear Scotty jerked off the enemy frogman's face plate_ + +_Pretending to lose his balance, Rick fell squarely against the man_ + +_The valve assembly, traveling with bullet speed, barely missed Scotty's +head_ + +_Rick turned in time to see a six-foot shark speed past_ + +_A third man lowered something that glistened like gold_ + +_Rick nudged Scotty to back away_ + + + + +[Illustration: Spindrift Island] + + + + +THE WAILING OCTOPUS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Destination: Clipper Cay + + +The Sky Wagon droned through Caribbean skies, following a compass course +that led to Charlotte Amalie, capital city of the Virgin Islands. With +eager interest, the four people in the small plane watched the blue +water below. In a few moments they should pass over the island that was +their ultimate destination. + +Rick Brant, in the pilot's seat, turned to the husky, black-haired boy +next to him. "See anything yet?" he asked. + +Don Scott had been surveying the far horizon through binoculars. He took +them from his eyes and shook his head. "Nothing but water. You sure +there is an island called Clipper Cay?" + +Rick let the plane fly itself for a moment while he stretched +luxuriously. He was a lean, long-legged boy with brown hair and eyes and +a bone-deep tan. He grinned at his friend. "No faith. That's the trouble +with you." + +"No logic, that's the trouble with you," Scotty countered. "If there +were such an island it would be called an island, not a cay. A cay is +something that follows an O, as in okay." + +The two scientists in the rear seat had been listening with amusement to +the boys. Since the start of the expedition Scotty had professed doubt +and misgiving, more for the sake of conversation than anything else, +Rick was sure. + +Dr. Anthony Briotti, archaeologist of the Spindrift staff, leaned +forward. "At least pronounce it correctly, Scotty. 'Cay' is pronounced +'key.'" + +"See?" Scotty exclaimed triumphantly. "The only place where they have +islands called keys is in Florida. We're on a wild-goose chase, I tell +you!" + +Big Hobart Zircon, a nuclear physicist and long-time friend of the boys, +tapped Scotty on the shoulder. "Since you're so certain of that, may I +ask why you came?" + +Scotty tried to look martyred. "Only because of the buddy system," he +said solemnly. "The first rule of underwater safety--or above-water +safety, for that matter--is that you have to swim with a buddy. You and +Tony swim together, so I had to go along as a buddy for Rick. Somebody +has to chase the mermaids away from him, and it might as well be me." + +"That's nice of you," Rick said soberly. "There'll probably be a whole +horde of mermaids guarding the treasure, not to mention half a dozen sea +monsters." + +Tony Briotti said, "There's one mermaid I wish were with us, and that's +Barby. After all, she started this whole thing. Too bad she has to miss +out." + +Rick's pretty sister, Barbara Brant, had unwittingly launched the flight +to the Virgin Islands by getting into an argument with Tony Briotti +about the authenticity of the legend that pirates had once used +Spindrift Island as a hangout. Tony had challenged the legend. After +that, of course, proof had to be found. + +Rick had recalled digging up the remains of a campfire in Pirate's Field +during the installation of equipment for the moon rocket, the first +great experiment that had put the Spindrift Island scientific group in +business as a research foundation headed by Rick's father, Hartson +Brant. It was during this experiment that Scotty had joined the staff +after rescuing Rick from an unscrupulous gang. The two boys had been on +a number of expeditions together since that time and were fast friends. +Zircon was one of the original Spindrift group. Youthful Tony Briotti +was one of the new staff members, but he had already earned the loyalty +and friendship of the boys by his fine leadership of the expedition to +the Philippines, as related in _The Golden Skull_. + +Starting with the campfire site, Barby and the boys had excavated +Pirate's Field under Tony's direction. They had unearthed positive +evidence that pirates had landed there. The most vital evidence was the +remains of a logbook, once the log of the bark _Maiden Hand_, sunk by +the woman pirate Anne Bonney off the island of Clipper Cay in the Virgin +Islands. + +Scotty turned and looked at the two scientists. "I'm just kidding, of +course. You couldn't have kept me from coming without tossing me into +irons. But seriously, do you expect to find treasure, Tony?" + +The archaeologist grinned. "Depends on what you mean by treasure. As I +recall, one definition is 'something rare or precious.' Well, a chance +to go skin diving in the Virgin Islands is certainly that--a rare and +precious opportunity. At least I think so." + +Hobart Zircon grunted, "And so do I." + +"Amen," Rick echoed. + +"You're evading the issue," Scotty accused. "You know perfectly well +what I mean. Do you expect to find that golden statue mentioned in the +logbook?" + +"Expect? On a treasure hunt, one hopes; one doesn't expect," Zircon +stated in his booming voice. + +Rick smiled to himself. Probably no Spindrift expedition ever had +started with such a flimsy excuse. According to the log of the _Maiden +Hand_, the ship had gone down before the pirates could locate a golden +statue of St. Francis, hidden by the bark's captain, Thomas Campion. +According to Captain Campion, the statue had weighed "an +hundred-weight." Certainly a hundred pounds of gold was worth going +after, but there were a few considerations that made finding it rather +unlikely. + +In Captain Campion's words: "_That we did prevent the boucaniers from +fynding the blessede statue was moste fortunate, yette the bark did go +to her deathe in twentye fathomes, and so the statue is loste._" + +Rick and Scotty had become underwater enthusiasts on their return from +the Philippines, and both had aqualung equipment that would take them to +twenty fathoms without difficulty. However, working time at that depth +was sharply limited by the capacity of their tanks. This was assuming +that they were able to find the wreck of the _Maiden Hand_ in the first +place. + +Still, there was enough of a chance to provide an excuse for a vacation +expedition. The real purpose, so far as Rick was concerned, was to get +in some superb swimming in clear water. He also intended getting plenty +of underwater movies of the colorful reefs and fish. Scotty planned to +do some underwater hunting. + +Tony Briotti's interest grew out of his profession. The Virgin Islands +had been pretty well worked over by archaeologists, and most of the +early Indian middens and mounds explored. But on the west coast, +archaeologists equipped with aqualungs had recently found primitive +artifacts a half mile offshore, and Tony wanted to do a little +underwater artifact hunting of his own. + +Hobart Zircon was the only one without a specific objective. He had +readily agreed to go along simply because he wanted a vacation. He had +said, "Tell you what, I'll go along and do some surface fishing. Rick +and Scotty can catch fish underwater and put them on my hook, then +signal me to pull up. If the fish aren't heavy enough to ruin my rest, +I'll haul them in." + +Mr. and Mrs. Brant had already made plans to take a vacation in Canada, +and Barby was registered at a summer girl's camp. Weiss, Winston, +Gordon, and Shannon, the other staff scientists, were away on various +projects. So the four "treasure hunters" had welcomed an excuse to go +off on a venture of their own. + +They would have a wonderful time, Rick thought, and who knew? They might +even find the treasure! + +Scotty had been looking through the binoculars again. He gave Rick a +grin. "I take it all back," he said. "There's an island ahead." + +The scientists leaned forward eagerly, and Rick strained to see. Sure +enough, in a few moments they began to make out the island on the +horizon ahead. Rick had enough confidence in his navigation to be +certain that it was Clipper Cay. + +The group had spent the night in Puerto Rico, then departed early in +order to fly off the direct route for an advance look at Clipper Cay. +Rick didn't intend to land. He would circle the island once or twice, +then head again for Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas. + +Scotty asked, "Where does the word 'cay' come from, anyway?" + +Tony Briotti answered. "It's from the Spanish, Scotty. It means island, +or islet. However, the Spanish got it from the Taino people, who were +the Indians of the Antilles." + +The island was close enough now so that they could discern its shape. +Rick saw that it formed a rough crescent, running from north to south. +It was about a mile long, perhaps a half mile wide at its greatest +width, tapering to the horns of the crescent. He saw also that the color +of the water changed gradually from the fathomless blue of the ocean to +the green of shallow water. + +Inwardly excited, he put the nose of the plane down and let the small +craft pick up speed. Scotty grinned his pleasure, and Rick knew that his +pal was just as excited in spite of his joking skepticism. + +Rick leveled off at an altitude of four thousand feet and put the plane +in a wide circle. Zircon leaned over Tony to look out the window, and +Rick had to compensate in a hurry because the big scientist's weight +threw the plane out of trim. Then Scotty, just as eager, leaned over to +Rick's side and the trim had to be corrected again. + +The island was a travel agent's wildest dream. The blue water gradually +shifted to green, then lighter green, and finally the white of lovely +beaches on both sides of the island. Lines of surf marked the position +of reefs off both shores. + +Somewhere along the western reef was the wreck of the _Maiden Hand_. +Rick wondered if they would have diver's luck and locate the ancient +bark, and at the same moment he was sure they would. + +"Plenty of vegetation," Briotti remarked. + +"Probably palms, perhaps some mangrove," Zircon agreed. "Take us down +for a closer look, Rick." + +Rick obliged by standing the Sky Wagon up on a wing and sliding down as +quickly as safe flying allowed. He, too, wanted a closer look. He cast a +glance at his gas gauge. There was enough fuel, with a margin of safety, +unless he got too enthusiastic about lingering around the island. + +He leveled off again at a thousand feet and flew up the east coast, +between the outer reef and the beach. This was the Atlantic side of the +island, and the surf on the reef was heavy. + +"Cottages," Scotty called. "Look!" + +They counted seven on the eastern side of the island, most of them near +the middle. It was hard to see details among the palms, but they seemed +small and unpainted, like fishermen's shacks. Rick reversed course and +flew down the western side and they counted five more. One fairly +pretentious beach house was near the northern tip of the island. In +general, the houses on the western side seemed better kept, and slightly +larger. A few houses had small docks. Off the southern tip of the +island, on the western side, a boat was trolling. The occupants waved as +Rick flew over. + +"Wonder which house is ours?" Scotty asked. + +They didn't know, of course. Arrangements for a beach house had been +made for them by a friend of Zircon's, and not until they landed at +Charlotte Amalie would they get the details. The same friend, Dr. Paul +Ernst, had also arranged for a boat, to be used as a diving tender. + +Rick was tempted to land in the smooth water off the western shore. The +Sky Wagon had been equipped with pontoons for that very purpose. They +had realized that no landing place would be available on the cay for a +wheeled aircraft. But there was little to be gained by landing now when +they didn't even know which house would be theirs. + +Besides, there were supplies and equipment to be picked up and charts to +be obtained, and the Sky Wagon needed to have the tank topped off, since +they couldn't very well carry aviation gas to the island. + +Reluctantly, Rick asked, "Anyone want to see anything else?" + +"Not me," Hobart Zircon said flatly. "I want to get to Charlotte Amalie +so we can get started back. That water looks clear enough to drink." + +"See any sign of wrecks on the bottom?" Tony inquired. + +No one had. No one had looked. They were too interested in getting an +over-all view of Clipper Cay. + +Rick set his course for St. Thomas. Now that he thought about it, he was +rather pleased with himself. The flight from Spindrift was the longest +single trip he had ever taken in the Sky Wagon. The party had stopped +for fuel as needed and had stayed overnight as darkness overtook them +along the way. He had hit every destination on the nose, on time. And +now the end of the trip was in sight without a single incident to mar +its smoothness. + +In a short time the mountains of St. Thomas rose out of the sea, and +soon afterward Rick circled high above the colorful roofs of Charlotte +Amalie. He switched on his radio and asked for seaplane landing +instructions. The airfield directed him to the proper landing place, a +beach and pier at the edge of the city. Then Scotty took over the mike +and, while Rick started in for a landing, asked the airfield tower to +phone Dr. Paul Ernst, Zircon's friend, and notify him of their arrival. + +Apparently the tower operator phoned immediately, because as Rick taxied +toward the dock, Zircon saw his friend waiting. Following the +instructions of a dockman, Rick beached the Sky Wagon and cut the +engine. Two husky Virgin Islanders hauled the ship higher onto the +beach, and the Spindrifters climbed out. + +Dr. Ernst was a small, bespectacled man with a shock of unruly white +hair. He looked like a country doctor--which was reasonable enough, Rick +thought, because that's just about what he was. Charlotte Amalie, with a +population of about 11,500, could not be described as a big city. + +The doctor greeted them all cordially, then immediately got down to +business. "I'm sorry you are not remaining in Charlotte Amalie. However, +Hobart, I have done as you requested. For tonight I have reservations +for you at one of our oldest hotels, Alexander's Rest. Named for +Alexander Hamilton, of course." + +Rick remembered that the Revolutionary hero had been brought up in the +Virgin Islands. + +"The beach cottage is waiting at Clipper Cay. It is on the western side, +the third from the southern tip of the island. You shall have my own +boat. I think you will find it ideal for a diving tender. I call it the +_Water Witch_. An attractive name, is it not? I have checked on your +equipment. It is held at the warehouse in my name. The supplies you +wished to buy here have been ordered and are waiting at Andersen's +Supply House. I have told them you will be calling." + +The group listened, delighted at the obvious efficiency with which Dr. +Ernst had taken care of Zircon's requests. + +By lunchtime they had picked up their equipment and supplies, Scotty had +tested the twin diesel engines on the _Water Witch_ and announced +himself more than pleased, Rick had checked over the aqualungs and +compressor that had come down with his camera and other equipment by +freight, the supplies had been stowed, the Sky Wagon refueled, and +nothing remained but to check in at the hotel. This, they had decided, +could wait until after lunch. + +While the scientists drove off in Dr. Ernst's car to pick up the doctor +at his office, Rick and Scotty walked into town, headed for "The Danish +Pastry" where the group was to meet for lunch. + +Rick spoke his amazement. "Look at us," he marveled. "Ready to go. No +trouble, no strain, no pain. Ever see an expedition get off to such a +smooth start? We can't lose, Scotty. After a beginning like this we +couldn't help finding the treasure." + +Scotty grinned his agreement. "I didn't ask," he said, "but I wouldn't +be surprised if the good Dr. Ernst hasn't done some advance diving and +marked the statue's location with a buoy hung around its neck, just to +make things easier for us!" + +"Twenty fathoms," Rick said reflectively. "That's a lot of water. +Besides, we don't know how accurate Captain Campion's guess was. We may +be getting into water that's too deep for us." + +Which, though unknowing, was one of the most prophetic remarks he had +ever made. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Scuba Slip + + +Charlotte Amalie had color. It was an old community, dating back to +Danish ownership of the Virgin Islands, and there was a feeling of +antiquity underneath the color of the tropics. There was no sharp lines +to buildings; everything had a pleasant weathered look. + +"Friendly folks," Scotty observed, after the tenth passer-by had bidden +them a good day. "Doesn't seem to matter whether they're rich or poor. +They look happy, and they're certainly polite." + +"I like it," Rick agreed. "Those colored roofs get me." He stumbled on a +cobblestone and added, "But the street could stand improving. Cobbles +are fine for horses, maybe, but they're hard on cars." + +"What do they do here for a living?" Scotty asked. "Wish we had Chahda +along. He could reel off the straight dope from his _Worrold +Alm-in-ack_." Their Indian friend, Chahda, was at home in Bombay and +they hadn't heard from him in some time. His ability to quote from _The +World Almanac_, which he had memorized, had caused the boys considerable +amusement, even while they appreciated having a kind of walking +encyclopedia with them. + +They passed a fruit stand where women were shopping for mangoes, +soursops, and other delicious-looking things, including sugar cane. +"That's part of it," Rick said. "Sugar. This is also the headquarters +for bay rum." + +Scotty's eyebrows went up. "_Bay_ rum?" He stepped out of the way to let +an ancient woman on a donkey go by. "What's the bay part of it?" + +Rick shrugged. "Search me. Anyway, you don't drink it, you put it on +your face. I guess it was originally distilled from bayberry trees or +something. Anyway--" He stopped suddenly as Scotty's fingers sank into +his arm. + +"Look!" Scotty exclaimed. + +Rick looked, and let out a yell. "Steve! Steve Ames!" In the next moment +he could have bitten his tongue out, because it was entirely possible +that Steve wasn't traveling under his own identity. + +Ames was an athletic-looking young man in a white suit and Panama hat. +He stopped at Rick's hail, turned, and waited for the boys to catch up. +His face split in a pleased grin. + +Rick breathed his relief. Evidently Steve didn't mind being called by +name. + +The boys knew Steve as Spindrift's contact with JANIG, the Joint +Army-Navy Intelligence Group for which Spindrift had worked in the past, +once to solve _The Whispering Box Mystery_, and again to track down the +secret of _The Caves of Fear_. + +"Wonder what he's doing here?" Scotty muttered. + +"We'll soon find out," Rick said. + +Steve greeted them cordially. "What brings you two wanderers to these +shores?" + +"We were about to ask the same of you," Rick returned. + +Steve grinned at the obvious curiosity in the boys' faces. "Nothing very +exciting. I'm here on a little vacation. Swimming." + +"What kind of swimming?" Scotty wanted to know. + +"Oh, skin diving, mostly." + +"Gosh, that's wonderful!" Rick exclaimed. "Scuba or snorkel?" + +There was the barest of hesitations before Steve replied. "Snorkel. +There's nothing that's more fun than snorkeling around the reefs. That's +the only way to swim in waters like these. You can get right down among +the fish." + +Rick saw Scotty's mouth open to point out Steve's error, but he stepped +on his friend's foot and said quickly, "We're here for the swimming, +too. Maybe we can join forces." + +He knew the answer would be no. Steve wasn't vacationing; he was on a +case. A vacationing skin diver would know that a snorkel is nothing but +a tube that allows a swimmer to float face down on the surface of the +water while looking for something to dive after. Once the dive starts, +the snorkel has no purpose, since its short length only allows it to +project a few inches above the surface while a diver is floating face +down. On the other hand, the Scuba--Self-Contained Underwater Breathing +Apparatus, like the boys' aqualungs, really does allow the diver to get +down among the fish. + +"Thanks for the invitation," Steve said. He smiled. "I don't usually try +a cover story unless I have it down cold. Just for my future guidance, +where did I slip? Your faces were quite a study." + +Rick told him. Steve nodded. "Thanks. I just got here on the morning +plane, and I haven't been briefed yet. By tonight I'll be an expert on +skin diving." + +The statement only whetted further Rick's over-sharp curiosity. If Steve +was to be briefed on skin diving, it sounded like a case that would +interest him and Scotty. + +Steve continued to smile. "I don't want to linger too long. Want to give +me a hand?" + +Rick refrained from shouting and merely nodded his head. Scotty, with +only slightly less restraint, said, "You know we do." + +"Fine. Don't look. In the doorway of the tailor shop is a +dark-complexioned man in a gray sharkskin suit. He's a tail. He picked +me up at the airport. I don't know the town well enough to lose him +easily in broad daylight. Never been here before today. Take him out for +me?" + +Rick and Scotty nodded. Neither looked toward the doorway. "How will we +get in touch with you?" Rick asked. + +Steve hesitated. "There's no one I'd rather see more of, and no one I'd +rather have on my side. But this case is not for you. Just do me this +favor, then forget you saw me." + +"You never know when you'll need help," Rick pointed out. "We won't horn +in, but it won't do any harm to know how we can reach other. Tonight +we'll be at a hotel called Alexander's Rest. Tomorrow we take off for an +island called Clipper Cay." + +"All right. If you really need to reach me, call the duty officer at the +UDT base and leave a message. I'll get it." + +Rick turned slightly. In a plate-glass window across the street he could +see a reflection of the tailor shop Steve had mentioned, and he could +make out the form of a man in the shadowed doorway. He estimated that +the shop was about fifty feet away. + +Scotty was also measuring the situation. He said, "Walk away from us so +the tail will have to come by." + +Steve nodded. He shook hands, gave them each a grin, and was gone. + +Rick said loudly, "Give me your shoulder to lean on. I've got a rock in +my shoe." + +Scotty obliged, and Rick half turned as he did so. He saw the man in the +gray sharkskin suit saunter out of the doorway and start toward them. + +Rick balanced on one leg, one hand on Scotty's shoulder, the other hand +fumbling with the shoelace on his lifted foot. + +The tail walked toward them, unfolding a paper as he did so. He was +apparently devoting his full attention to the paper; his actions said he +didn't even know the boys existed. + +"You ought to get tighter shoes," Scotty observed. "Then you wouldn't +get stones in them." + +"Save the advice," Rick grunted. "I've got a knot in the lace." + +The man came abreast of them, between Rick and the building, and in that +moment, clawing wildly for balance, Rick lost his hold on Scotty's +shoulder. He fell squarely against the man in the gray suit and crushed +him into the building. + +[Illustration: _Pretending to lose his balance, Rick fell squarely +against the man_] + +"Hey!" the man yelled. "What's the idea?" + +Scotty rushed to the rescue, took the fallen shadow by the shoulders, +and tried to pull him to his feet. This only made matters worse, since +Rick was stretched across his legs. + +"I'm so sorry," Scotty said. "Gosh, I'm sorry. He slipped. Here. Let me +help you up." + +"Get off me," the man yelled. + +Rick tried, lost his balance again, and fell against the man's chest, +pinning him to the sidewalk. + +Scotty groaned. "Rick! You clumsy ox. Get off the man!" + +"I'm trying to," Rick said plaintively. "My shoe came off. Here. Help me +up." + +"Help yourself!" Scotty returned sharply. "I'm trying to help this +gentleman." + +Rick rolled clear and Scotty got the man to his feet. He was something +less than spotlessly clean, thanks to the dust of the road, and there +was a rip in the arm of his coat. + +"Look at that!" Scotty exclaimed. He made ineffectual efforts to dust +the man off. "Rick, you ripped his coat." + +Rick looked embarrassed. "I'm terribly sorry. Here, sir. Let me take you +to this tailor shop. We can have it repaired in a jiffy." + +"Forget it!" the man snapped. "And get out of my way. I'm in a hurry." + +"It was all my fault, and I refuse to take no for an answer," Rick said +firmly. He took the man by the arm. "Come on. It will only take a +moment. You can't walk around town like that. I insist on having your +suit repaired. I'm sure that the tailor can mend it so no one would ever +notice." + +"No," the man grated. "Please stand aside." Both boys had managed to +block the sidewalk. + +"Please," Rick pleaded. "This is terribly upsetting. We really should +have the damage to your suit repaired." + +The man's dark complexion was turning a grayish pink with rage. Rick +estimated quickly. If he knew Steve Ames, the JANIG agent was long gone, +and the tail would not catch up with him again. They had delayed the +shadow for perhaps two minutes, but for Steve that would be enough. + +Rick stepped aside. "Very well. If you insist--" + +"I do." The man brushed by and hurried off. + +The boys looked at each other and grinned. + +"He won't catch Steve," Rick said. + +"Not a chance. Well, my clumsy friend, shall we put your shoe back on +and go meet the others for lunch?" + +"We shall," Rick returned. "Indeed we shall." He slipped his shoe on and +tied it quickly. "Wasn't it interesting, where Steve said we could reach +him?" + +Steve had said at the UDT base. That meant simply at the home of the +Navy frogmen--the Underwater Demolition Teams. No wonder Steve had said +he would be an expert on skin diving by nightfall. He was going to be +with the most expert experts of all. + +Rick sighed. "Just our luck he doesn't want us in the case. Wouldn't it +be great to work with the Navy frogmen? We could learn plenty." + +"Forgetting St. Francis?" Scotty inquired. "There he lies, twenty +fathoms down, probably covered with barnacles and waiting to be rescued. +And you want to go fogging off with the frogmen." + +"All right, all right! Don't rub it in. We'll go back to being +interested in the bark _Maiden Hand_. And St. Francis. And pirates. +Let's cast off, my hearty." + +The Danish Pastry was only a few blocks away, and Dr. Ernst and the +Spindrifters were already seated. The boys joined them, with apologies +for being late, but without mentioning their meeting with Steve Ames. +There was nothing to be gained by bringing the matter up in front of Dr. +Ernst. They could tell Zircon and Tony later. Zircon knew Steve, but +Tony didn't. + +Over dessert, Dr. Ernst reached into his bag and brought forth a chart. +"I thought you might need this," he said. + +It was a detailed chart of Clipper Cay and the surrounding waters. It +showed clearly the position of the reefs, and it gave soundings that +showed the depths. + +Zircon shook his massive head. "Paul, your thoroughness has never failed +to amaze me. What would we have done without you?" + +Ernst smiled his pleasure. "Thank you, Hobart. I try to be thorough. +Besides, I want you all to have a pleasant recollection of the Virgin +Islands. We who live here love them very much." + +The boys and Tony echoed Zircon's thanks, then fell to a study of the +chart. + +It was apparent that the water deepened rapidly beyond the western reef. +In a few places, the twenty-fathom line was only a short distance out. + +"Have you any idea where this ship went down?" Dr. Ernst asked. + +"A bare idea," Tony replied. "It was off the western shore of the +island, probably close to the reef, in twenty fathoms. The bark had been +hit and was sinking. The captain ran for the island with the hope of +beaching the ship on the reef, but he never made it. The bark went down, +and Anne Bonney's pirates picked up the survivors." + +"We know of Anne Bonney here," Dr. Ernst told them. "You realize that +the Virgin Islands were once a hangout for pirates? Oh, we have a dark +and bloody history, what with piracy, slave rebellions, even Indian +massacres." + +"You'd never know it," Rick said. "This is the most peaceful place I've +seen in years." + +He didn't add that the peace was only apparent. Steve Ames wasn't needed +in really peaceful places. Something was stirring under the tropical +calm of St. Thomas. + +"Tonight you must have a taste of St. Thomas home life," Dr. Ernst said. +"You shall be my guests at dinner. Dr. Briotti will be interested in my +collection of Indian pottery. And you young men will be interested in my +wife's hobby, which is fish. She has an amazing collection." + +"Alive?" Scotty asked. + +"Yes, indeed. In salt-water aquariums. Our misfortune makes it easy. You +see, we have no natural fresh-water supplies on St. Thomas. We depend on +catching rain for our drinking water. So our plumbing is operated by sea +water, of which we have plenty. As a result, Mrs. Ernst is able to have +a constant supply of salt water flowing through her aquariums. I know +you'll be interested." + +The boys agreed. Mrs. Ernst's hobby sounded like fun. + +After lunch Dr. Ernst departed for his office, leaving the Spindrift +group to their own devices. Not much remained to be done, except for +checking in at their hotel. For now, they were content to walk around +town. + +As they passed the post office where Alexander Hamilton had once been a +clerk, Scotty smiled meaningfully at Rick. + +"Steve lost a tail this morning. Remember?" + +Rick looked at him doubtfully. "Of course. Why?" + +"Somebody loses, somebody gains," Scotty replied cheerfully. "Don't look +behind you, but we've found one!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +The Shadow + + +The two scientists had been walking ahead of Rick and Scotty, but +Zircon's keen ears had overheard the boys' remarks. However, he was too +wise to make his interest obvious. He waited until the group passed a +store with a large display, then stopped, as though to examine it. + +Rick found himself surveying a collection of tools for the +do-it-yourself addict. + +"What's this about Steve and a tail?" Zircon asked. He pointed at a +power-drill set, as though discussing it. His normally loud voice +couldn't have been heard five feet away. + +Rick shook his head, then pointed at a different drill set. Anyone +watching would have thought the tools were the subject of conversation. +Rick quickly outlined what had happened and concluded, "Scotty spotted a +tail on us a few minutes ago. Same guy?" + +Scotty bent down for a closer look at a series of wood power bits. His +voice was scarcely audible. "Not the same one. This one is a Virgin +Islander. Looks like a farmer. When we stopped he walked right on by. +He's out of sight now. But he'll pick us up as soon as we start." + +Tony Briotti, to whom this kind of adventure was new, asked, "What do we +do about it?" + +"Nothing," Zircon answered. "Steve Ames wanted to get rid of his shadow +and the boys helped him out. But we have no particular reason for +wanting to get rid of ours. Let him follow. Undoubtedly whoever is +tailing Steve got interested when they saw him talking with the boys, +but they'll learn nothing by trailing us." + +"And it's one less for Steve to contend with," Rick added. + +Scotty straightened up. "I have to admit this bunch of tools is +beginning to bore me a little. Where are we going?" + +Zircon shrugged. "I have nothing in mind. We might check in at the +hotel." + +"I'd rather swim," Rick said. + +"Same here." Scotty made a quick survey of the street without seeming to +do so. "No sign of our friend. He's probably in another doorway." + +"Then Hobart and I might as well check in," Tony suggested. "I'd like a +swim, but frankly I'm a little sleepy from too much lunch." + +"How about checking in for us?" Rick asked. "Then we could get right +into the water. No need for all of us to go to the hotel." + +The scientists agreed, and at Scotty's suggestion hailed a taxi. As the +car rolled off toward the boat where their luggage was stored, Scotty +grinned. "This was the only taxi in sight. Wonder how our friend will +manage to follow us?" + +He had his answer at the pier. While Zircon was piling their overnight +bags into the taxi, a farmer rode past on a bicycle. He didn't look at +them. "There he goes," Scotty said. "Pretty easy after all. Guess the +town is small enough so he wasn't worried about finding us." + +"We'll give him a choice to make when Tony and I leave." Zircon smiled. +"Let's see whether he stays with you, or follows us." + +Not until the boys had changed to swimming trunks in the cabin of the +_Water Witch_ did they find the answer to Zircon's question. The shadow +had decided to stay with them. This time it was Rick who spotted him. +The shadow was nearly hidden beyond a curve in the shore line. To anyone +not aware of being tailed, he would have appeared to be with any of the +other casual figures that went unhurriedly about their business in the +neighborhood. If Scotty hadn't pointed him out, Rick would not have +suspected that the shadow had the slightest interest in the Spindrift +party. + +"We going to rig the aqualungs?" Scotty asked. + +"Let's not bother. Masks, snorkels, and fins. We can swim out and take a +look at some of the coral heads." + +"How about a gun?" + +Rick considered. "I guess not. We don't want to do any hunting. But you +might take a hand spear in case something real inviting shows up. And +let's take our knives." He had also decided against taking his camera. A +leisurely, unencumbered swim was what he wanted. There would be time +enough for hunting fish or taking pictures later, when they got to +Clipper Cay. + +While Scotty went into the cabin to select a spear from their assortment +of fishing gear, Rick surveyed the _Water Witch_ with satisfaction. It +was a thirty-five-foot craft with a small cabin forward and a spacious +cockpit aft. It had been used as a diving tender before, apparently, +because there was a ladder that could be swung outboard for a diver to +use. There was also a small boom that could be rigged quickly for +lowering or lifting gear from the water. + +The gas tanks were ample for their purposes. One filling would be more +than sufficient for a round trip to Clipper Cay plus any cruising they +would do while at the island. The tanks were full. + +Water capacity, an important consideration on waterless Clipper Cay, was +more than adequate. In addition to a built-in fifty-gallon tank in the +cabin, there was a rack of five ten-gallon jerry cans in the cockpit. + +Scotty emerged from the cabin with a short, low-powered spring gun. +"Thought I might as well bring a light gun," he said. "It's just as easy +to carry as a spear." + +"Okay." Rick led the way down the pier to the beach, carrying his mask, +snorkel, and slippers. These he placed carefully on one of the Sky +Wagon's pontoons, in order to protect the clear glass of his mask from +any possible scratching. Then, with a yell to Scotty to hurry, he +bounded through the shallows, threw himself forward, and planed along +the surface of the water. Lifting his head for a quick breath, he dove +under, feeling the wonderful coolness of the water close over him. He +judged its temperature quickly. It was close to eighty degrees, he +estimated, and cool only by comparison with the warm air. + +He reversed course quickly and stood up. Scotty was also in the water. + +"I'm glad we didn't bother with suits," Rick said. "In water like this +we'd even be too warm in midseason suits." + +Because of the coldness of the water off the New Jersey coast, the boys +had equipped themselves with full, waterproof rubber suits under which +long under-wear was worn, and with lighter "midseason" suits of foam +neoprene. Because of the reported warmth of water in the Virgin Islands +they hadn't added the suits to their already heavy load of supplies. + +They returned to the beach, picked up their equipment, and took it into +the water. Rick sat down and rinsed out his flippers, then carefully +removed the last traces of sand from his feet. He pulled the flippers +on, adjusting them for maximum comfort. His face mask was next. He spat +into it, then rubbed the saliva over the glass. This rather +unsanitary-appearing trick was essential, since saliva is an excellent +antifogging compound needed to help keep the glass clear underwater. +Then he rinsed his mask lightly and adjusted the head straps, leaving +the mask on his forehead. + +The snorkels used by the boys were plastic tubes curved at both ends. At +one end was a mouthpiece; at the other was a cage that held a rubber +ball. A dive or rough wave action floated the ball upward, closing the +tube and preventing water entry. Rick and Scotty adjusted the rubber +bands of their snorkels around their heads above the mask straps. + +Scotty was ready. He slipped his mask into place, molded the soft rubber +skirt of the mask to the contours of his face, inhaled through his nose +to make sure the seal was airtight, then called, "Let's go!" He gripped +the mouthpiece of his snorkel between his teeth, the rubber flange under +his lips, and slid into the water. + +Rick was right behind him. As his mask touched water he saw the white +coral sand of the bottom a few inches down. The only sign of life was a +hermit crab, perhaps a half inch in length, dragging his home of the +moment--a tiny spiral shell. + +In one hand, Scotty carried the spear gun by its pistol grip. He swam in +the position that suited him best, both arms hanging limply down. Rick, +on the other hand, preferred to swim with arms relaxed along his sides, +as long as his hands were empty. When carrying a spear gun or his +camera, he also swam with arms hanging downward. Neither boy used his +arms for swimming. The rhythmic, powerful leg strokes were enough, +thanks to the swim fins. + +The water deepened rapidly but lost none of its clarity. Even at a depth +of a dozen feet, Rick thought, he could have counted every grain of +sand. This was unlike anything he had ever experienced. At home, +visibility of five feet was considered good. Lost in the enjoyment of +really clear water, he completely forgot about the shadow. + +Scotty reminded him. He touched Rick's arm and signaled a stop. The boys +removed their snorkel mouthpieces and faced each other upright in the +water, holding position with easy flipper movements. + +"Just pretend we're talking," Scotty said. "Don't look around. I'm +trying to spot our friend over your shoulder." After a moment he shook +his head. "No sign. Wonder if he ran for a bathing suit?" + +"Forget him. Let's swim. See any coral heads?" + +"Darker water off yonder. Let's look." + +They readjusted their snorkels and headed in the direction Scotty had +indicated. + +Rick breathed easily through his tube, constantly scanning the bottom. +Now and then he saw various kinds of debris on the bottom, including +abandoned beer cans and a section of newspaper that had not yet rotted +away. Rubbish like this was to be expected in a harbor, he supposed, +still it was as unattractive to a swimmer as junk along the roadside is +to the motorist. + +Suddenly he noticed a fish--the first he had seen. He took a deep breath +and dove by letting his head drop and then lifting his legs to a nearly +vertical position. He slid underwater without a splash. When his fins +were below the surface he started his leg motion again, and the flippers +propelled him smoothly downward. + +The fish was perhaps a foot long, silvery, with a pointed nose and +yellow fins. Rick couldn't identify it. The fish was busily rooting in +the sand for morsels of food and paid no attention to the diver until +Rick reached out and almost touched it, then it sped just beyond reach +and commenced rooting again. + +His curiosity satisfied for the moment, Rick surfaced and rejoined +Scotty. As he took position at his friend's side, the other boy hooted +once, their signal for "attention." The hooting was done by making a +kind of "hooty" groan into the snorkel mouthpiece, about the only sound +that could be made without letting water pass the lips. Because water +conducted sound so well, the hoot could be heard clearly some distance +away. + +Rick lifted his face from the water and saw that Scotty was pointing to +an area a short distance to their right. He followed Scotty's lead and +saw the reason for the signal. It was a rocky, coral-covered area about +thirty feet square and perhaps fifteen feet below the surface. + +The boys swam directly over it, then floated motionless, watching the +activity below. At first glance, there appeared to be only a pair of +odd-shaped file-fish nibbling at the formation, but as their vision +adjusted they made out literally dozens of tiny, colorful fish in +clefts, under overhangs, or waiting motionless against a patch of color +on the rocks. Rick pointed to a school of about ten vivid little fish of +electric-blue color. The largest was less than two inches long. Scotty +hooted for attention and pointed in his turn to a section of the rock +that held over a dozen sea urchins that looked like black horse +chestnuts with exaggerated spines. + +Rick watched a pair of brown doctorfish about eight inches long swim by +below, then his attention was attracted by a brilliant red squirrelfish +peering out of a cleft. He pointed the red fish out to Scotty, who in +turn showed him where a little moray was peering out of a hole near the +base of the rock. + +Rick was fascinated. If a tiny patch of rock held this amount of life, +what must the real reefs be like off Clipper Cay? He was suddenly +impatient to get going, to put on his aqualung and explore the reef from +top to bottom. And if they should really find the wreck of the _Maiden +Hand_, there was every chance that the exploration of the wreck and the +sea life it had acquired would more than compensate for the treasure +none of them really hoped to find anyway. What a vacation! + +He was suddenly conscious of a throb in his ears. He listened and tried +to identify it. A motorboat of some kind, but it didn't sound like a +very powerful one. He lifted his head and searched for it. + +Scotty, too, had heard the boat. He began to tread water, lifting his +mask, then rinsing it because it had fogged a little. + +Rick spotted the boat. It looked like a large row-boat, powered with an +outboard motor, and it was headed in their direction. + +Scotty took his snorkel out of his mouth. "Better stay topside and +watch. We don't want to start our vacation by getting run over." + +"Too true," Rick said. "Isn't this great? I've never seen so many kinds +of small fish in one place in my life. Wait until we get out to the +reefs where the big ones are." + +Scotty patted his spear gun. "I'll keep us supplied with fresh sea food. +Wonder if there are any lobsters around?" + +But Rick had stopped listening. "Scotty, that guy is heading right for +us!" + +The boat was getting close, and through his face plate Rick could make +out the figure of a single occupant. + +Scotty suddenly gripped his arm. "Rick! It's our shadow!" + +Rick started. "Are you sure?" + +"Yes. I don't like this. What would he come out here for? Get ready to +dive." Scotty pulled his mask into place and molded it to his face, then +gripped his snorkel between his teeth. + +Rick followed suit and leveled off in the water in diving position, but +he hesitated, waiting to see what the boat would do. + +It didn't take long to find out. The boat stayed on a perfectly straight +course, headed directly for them. Rick waited. Perhaps the shadow +intended to sheer off when he got close. He might have come out to talk +with them. + +Scotty hooted four times, their signal for danger! Then he went under. +Still Rick hesitated, until it was clear that the boat did not intend to +swerve. He saw the shadow's face, set in grim lines, then his legs went +up and he slid under, using his hands as well as his legs to pull +himself down to safety. He thought incredulously, "He tried to run us +down!" + +A dozen feet under he turned over on his back and saw the bright circle +of the propeller and its trail of foam. The boat was past. He shot to +the surface and filled his lungs with air, waiting for the next move. + +The boat spun around in a tight turn and headed back. + +Scotty surfaced next to Rick, pulled the snorkel from his mouth, and +gritted, "Swim away. Let him use you for a target. I'm going to get that +son of a spiny sea walrus." + +Rick saw from the position of the spear in Scotty's gun that his friend +had charged the weapon during the dive. He nodded, then turned and swam +away, flippers flailing as though trying to hurry. He watched over his +shoulder and saw the boat head for him. + +He was breathing hard from the excitement now, but he took a deep breath +and got ready to dive. But still he swam, leading the rapidly overtaking +boat until it was almost on him. Only then did he shoot downward, +twisting as he went. He looked back in time to see Scotty sight the +spear gun and fire as the boat went past. + +At first Rick thought his pal had missed, then he realized what Scotty +had done. The spear shaft was attached to a long wire leader, and the +leader to a safety line coiled around a spool just ahead of the pistol +grip. Scotty had deliberately fired ahead of the propeller, knowing that +the wire leader would be caught and would wrap around the shaft. + +Rick saw the spear stop short as the wire caught, saw it hauled back +against the propeller and drop free as the prop blades cut it loose. +Scotty shot up for a breath, then dove instantly, toward the rapidly +falling spear. + +Rick had to breathe himself. He surfaced, caught a quick breath, then +went under again. Scotty was picking up the spear. Rick saw him place it +in the gun barrel, swing the loader over the razor-sharp harpoon head, +and shove down on the spring. In a moment the gun was loaded again. +Luckily the spear had not bent when the prop blade hit it. + +The boat had come to a halt, the engine dead. The propeller could no +longer turn against the wrapping of wire and heavy fishline. Scotty +hooted twice, their signal to surface, and Rick followed him up. Near +the surface they separated, Rick taking the side of the boat away from +his friend. He longed for a weapon, even a hand spear. But he was +helpless. Scotty would have to get in the first blow with the gun. But, +Rick thought, that might give him time to get over the gunwale to +grapple with the shadow. + +His head broke water. He pulled the snorkel from his mouth and let it +hang. As luck would have it, the shadow saw him first. He stood up, oar +in hands, poised for a swing at Rick's head. + +Scotty's voice stopped the swing. "Don't do it or you'll get three feet +of steel through you!" + +The man turned and faced the needle point of Scotty's spear. The oar +dropped from his hands. + +Rick gulped his relief. Apparently the shadow had no weapon. + +"Jump overboard!" Scotty ordered. + +The man hesitated. Scotty thrust the spear gun forward. "Jump, I said!" + +The shadow did, and sank in a flurry of bubbles. When he rose to the +surface again, the point of the spear was against his back. "Hang on to +the boat with both hands," Scotty directed. + +Rick got to his side with a kick of the flippers and ran his hands over +the man's clothing. He found a switch knife, which he put in his belt. +"He's clean," he said. "No other weapons." + +"Take a look in the boat," Scotty suggested. + +Rick did so, lifting himself up on the gunwale. There was nothing in the +boat but oars and a can of gasoline. + +"Want to tell us why you tried to run us down?" Rick asked. + +The shadow merely stared. + +"Talk," Scotty ordered, "or I'll put this spear through you." + +The man spoke, and his accent was the soft speech of the island. "No, +you won't. I could explain running down swimmers by accident, but you +could never explain putting a spear through a man in a boat. You don't +want that kind of trouble." + +Scotty grinned at the truth of it. "Okay," he said. "Just one thing. +Don't push us too far. Stay in the water until we're ashore, and don't +try to overtake us." + +"Better heed that advice," Rick warned. "Come on, Scotty. Let's go." He +put his snorkel in place. + +Scotty moved to his side. "Welcome to the hospitable waters of St. +Thomas," he said. "What say we look up some friendly sharks before we go +ashore?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Visitors by Night + + +Rick and Scotty stood on the pier and watched their erstwhile shadow row +slowly toward another pier some distance away. + +"We probably should have tied him up and called the police," Rick +remarked. + +"It wouldn't have gotten us anything," Scotty disagreed. "He could +always claim he didn't see us in the water. After all, it wouldn't be +the first time divers had been run over by motorboats." + +"It's too late now, anyway. Let's dress, then go to the hotel and tell +Zircon and Tony about this." + +As they dressed in the small cabin of the _Water Witch_, Rick spoke +aloud the question that had been bothering him. "What did he have to +gain by running us down? That's what puzzles me. It was a stupid thing +to try, because he didn't really have much chance of getting both of us, +or even one, once he failed to catch us by surprise." + +"He wasn't very well prepared for murder, either," Scotty added. "No +weapons except a switch knife." + +Rick nodded agreement. "He was desperate," he concluded. "Suddenly he +had to take a chance on getting us. He must have known it wasn't much of +a chance. Either he lost his head, or he wasn't very bright. What could +have made him try?" + +Scotty had no answer, nor could Rick even hazard a reasonable guess. + +They locked the cabin of the _Water Witch_, walked into town, and found +a taxi. Their shadow did not show up again, and if a new tail had +replaced him, the new one was too good to be spotted. However, the boys +doubted that they were being followed. + +"I just don't get it," Rick said for the twentieth time. "Our friend +must have lost his head. Otherwise he'd have waited on shore and +continued to follow us when we came out of the water." + +"We'll probably never know," Scotty returned. "After all, we'll be gone +in the morning." + +"I know. But meanwhile, we'd better have eyes in the back of our heads." + +The taxi discharged them in front of Alexander's Rest and they climbed +out and surveyed the hotel with interest. + +Scotty spoke first. "Alexander's Rest? Which Alexander? The Great, or +Hamilton? If it was Hamilton, as Dr. Ernst said, he must have built it +personally." + +It was a two-story frame structure that had definitely seen better days. +On closer inspection Rick decided that the second story had been added +as an afterthought. It looked like the second layer of a poorly +constructed cake. + +Inside, however, the hotel proved to be very comfortable. It was cool, +and the rooms were large and clean. The boys learned that they had been +registered in a twin bedroom on the second floor, while Zircon and +Briotti were on the first floor. + +The boys found the scientists attired only in shorts, cooling off over +long, cold drinks. They accepted glasses of iced ginger ale and told the +scientists of their adventure. + +"It's amazing." Tony Briotti shook his head. "Do you realize that you +two are a phenomenon? I should write you up for one of the scientific +journals." + +"You mean because we turned the tables on the shadow?" Scotty asked. + +"No. Because you're adventure-prone. Did you ever hear of people who are +accident-prone?" + +Zircon chuckled. "A good observation of these two. I agree absolutely, +Tony. They are adventure-prone." + +Rick sighed. "All right. What's the joke?" + +"None. I'm quite serious." Tony found more ice for his glass. "Insurance +statistics show that certain people are accident-prone. Accidents happen +to them. They're going along minding their own business and bang! A +streetcar jumps the tracks and hits them. Or they step into open +manholes. They're the kind of people who always manage to be walking +under things when workmen drop tools." + +"And you," Zircon concluded, "are adventure-prone in the same way. +Consider this. Had you walked down the street either a minute earlier or +later this morning you would not have seen Steve Ames. It's quite likely +that you would never have known of his presence in town. But what +happens? You walk right into an adventure. One thing leads to another, +and suddenly a stranger is trying to run you down with a motorboat." + +"That's what bothers me," Rick replied. "There's no pattern. It just +makes no sense." + +"It doesn't have to," Tony Briotti said with a grin. "The Golden Skull +pattern makes no sense, either. But you got us into more excitement than +I knew was possible. You're just adventure-prone." + +"And for the sake of my gray hair, stay out of trouble," Zircon pleaded. +"Stay close to us until we get to Clipper Cay." + +"It will be a pleasure," Rick assured him. "Only let us out of your +sight long enough to shower, please. I'm sticky." + +"We'll stay in the hotel," Scotty promised. + +"Fine. I'll feel better about it if I know where you are. Suppose you +come by in an hour and we'll have a quiet dinner at the Ernsts'." + +Dinner was quiet but interesting. The Ernsts were excellent hosts, and +both Dr. and Mrs. Ernst had many tales of the islands to tell. As the +good doctor had promised, the boys enjoyed the wonderful variety of sea +life Mrs. Ernst had collected to keep in salt-water tanks. She +identified for them a number of the smaller reef fishes, including +clowns, demoiselles, and even the deadly scorpion fish. + +The party broke up early, since the start for Clipper Cay was to be made +at dawn by the scientists. The plan was for Zircon and Tony to make the +trip in the _Water Witch_, with the boys flying over in the Sky Wagon. +That way, both the plane and boat would be available. Zircon thought +that fast trips to St. Thomas might be necessary to replenish supplies, +and he added that he would be happier if the plane were available in +case of accident. That way, the patient could be in Charlotte Amalie in +a short time. + +As the boys bade good night to the scientists and started up the stairs +to their room, Rick asked, "Any sign of a shadow tonight?" + +"Nope. Guess Steve's friends--or enemies--must have lost interest." + +"I hope that you're right. As long as Steve ordered us to stay out of +the case, I'll be glad when we get to the cay and get underwater. We +have to find that precious gadget even if it takes two solid weeks of +diving. If we don't, Barby will never let us forget it." + +This last was uttered as Rick turned the key in the lock and pushed the +door open. He flicked on the light, then gave a sudden gasp. + +The shadow and a stranger--in their room! + +The boys looked into the muzzles of .38-caliber pistols. + +"Come on in quietly," the stranger said. "Put your hands on the tops of +your heads and sit down on the bed over there." + +The boys did so. They had no alternative. Rick's mind raced. Somehow +they had to warn the scientists, and they had to get out from under the +muzzles of the guns! What could these men want of them? + +The stranger sat down on the other bed. His pistol muzzle was centered +precisely on Rick's belt buckle. "We want information. Give it to us +without any trouble and we'll go away. Give us a hard time and you'll +regret it." + +Rick studied the stranger. He was of medium height, dressed in tan +slacks and sport shirt with a darker jacket. His face was ordinary. He +might have been a store clerk, or streetcar conductor, or nearly +anything. But Rick saw from the way his jacket fitted that he was +powerfully built for his size, and his hands were lean and +strong-looking. He had a heavy tan, as though he had spent many months +in the sun. + +"What do you want to know?" Scotty asked. + +"Let's start with what you were saying when you walked in. Who is +Barby?" + +"My sister," Rick said. "She's at home, in New Jersey." + +The stranger sighed. "I was afraid of this. Give us straight answers or +you'll buy plenty of grief. Now, who is Barby? Who does he represent?" + +"He told you," Scotty answered. "She's his sister." + +The stranger tried a different tack. "How did you know where to swim +today? Did Ames tell you?" + +"No," Rick replied. "We just swam straight out from the pier looking for +coral heads." + +"Come on! You must have had some source of information. Who gave it to +you?" + +"We didn't have any source of information," Scotty protested. "We just +went for a swim!" + +The stranger lifted the pistol menacingly. "You'd better sing, and it +better be straight. I'm warning you!" + +"Warn all you like," Rick said angrily. "What do you want us to say?" + +The shadow walked over and pulled back his fist. + +"Lay off!" the stranger growled. "You've pulled enough stupid stunts for +one day. You'll be lucky if the boss doesn't rip the hide off you." + +The former tail subsided and glared at the boys. + +The stranger rose. "All right. If you won't talk here, we'll take you +where you will talk. Get up." + +The boys looked at each other. Scotty raised his eyebrows. Rick grinned. +He asked calmly, "Suppose we don't go?" + +"You'll go!" the stranger snapped. + +"I don't think we will," Scotty answered. "Look, mister. You're in a +hotel. It's early, and there are people in the lobby. How far do you +think you'd get if you tried to march us downstairs with a gun in your +hand?" + +"We're not going through the lobby," the stranger told them. "We're +going the way we came--through the window. And you'll go quietly or +we'll take our chances. They might catch us, but you wouldn't care with +a couple of slugs in you. Pete, go outside and wait. They'll come down +one at a time. Keep them covered, and don't hesitate to shoot if they +try anything." + +The shadow slipped through the window, hung by his hands, and dropped. + +The stranger's gun singled out Rick. "Get going." + +Rick shrugged. There was nothing else to do but obey--at least for the +moment. He looked at Scotty, and his pal made a small gesture to the +right. Rick's forehead wrinkled. This was no signal he recognized, +unless Scotty meant to jump to the right. + +He swung a leg over the sill and looked down. The shadow was waiting, +and the light from the window glinted dully off the gun in his hand. +Rick went on out, then holding by his hands he gave a swing to the right +and dropped. The gun covered him as he rose to his feet again. + +"Against the wall!" the shadow hissed. + +Rick dutifully moved back against the wall. The shadow was standing +about six feet away. + +Overhead, Scotty was climbing through the window now. Rick watched +carefully as his pal lowered himself to full length, and swung _to the +left_. + +Instantly Rick divined Scotty's tactics. If the two boys were apart, the +gun couldn't cover both of them at the same moment, and there would be +an instant while the stranger jumped when only a single gun would be on +them. And the shadow had already shown that he wasn't the smartest man +in the world. Rick slipped to the right a step or two while the shadow +was distracted by Scotty's jump. Scotty fell to his knees, and in +getting up he managed to put a few more feet between himself and Rick. + +"Watch 'em!" The stranger's voice floated down. Rick glanced up and saw +the stranger with one leg over the sill. He tensed. + +Scotty said, "Listen, you mug ..." + +The shadow's head turned toward Scotty, and Rick left the ground in a +wild spring. He struck the shadow, hand clawing for the gun. He found a +wrist, and twisted, falling backward as he did so. The shadow, the +entire weight of his own body on his wrist from the throw, screamed! + +The gun landed on the ground. Rick let go and scrambled for it, but +Scotty was there before him. + +In the instant of the struggle the stranger had hesitated on the window +sill, hand grabbing for the pistol he had tucked in his belt. He pulled +it free and aimed at the struggling figures below, but in the gloom +there was no way to distinguish friend from foe. And in that heartbeat, +Scotty picked up the shadow's gun and fired one snap shot. + +The stranger's gun dropped to the ground and he fell backward into the +room. + +Scotty thrust the pistol into the shadow's stomach. "Face the wall," he +ordered. "Put your hands against it. Now support your weight on your +hands." + +The shadow did as ordered. Rick took the man's legs and pulled them +backward so that the shadow's whole weight was against his hands, his +outstretched body forming the hypotenuse of a right triangle. The only +way he could move to regain his balance was to lower himself to the +ground and then get up. + +Rick picked up the stranger's fallen pistol and hefted it. "Better see +about the one upstairs," he advised. "I'll watch this one." + +"I fired at his hand, but I was high," Scotty told him. "He got it in +the shoulder. He won't get far." + +Zircon and Briotti charged around the corner of the hotel in pajamas and +slippers, followed by other guests and members of the hotel staff. + +"We had a little trouble," Rick explained briefly. + +The scientists took in the situation at a glance. + +"As I said," Tony Briotti muttered. "Adventure-prone. And lucky! How do +you beat a combination like that?" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Warning + + +Steve Ames walked into the hotel dining room accompanied by a young Navy +lieutenant. He spotted the boys immediately and waved. + +Rick breathed a sigh of relief. "There he is." + +"We can turn this whole business over to him and then get out of here," +Scotty returned. + +The events of the night before had culminated in two phone calls, one by +the hotel manager to the police, the other by Rick to Steve Ames. +However, the duty officer at the UDT base had replied that Ames was not +available. Rick had then asked for intelligence, and his query had +gotten fast results. Steve Ames didn't show up, but Navy Shore Patrol +officers did. The SP's had conferred with the local police, and the +affair had ended with the shadow and the stranger, whom Scotty had +potted in the shoulder, being carried off by both groups. First, +however, the senior Shore Patrol officer had listened to their story, +then instructed the boys, "Wait for Steve Ames. Talk to no one else. The +police won't ask any questions." + +After conferring, the Spindrift group decided to go ahead with their +plans. The scientists were anxious to transfer their activities to +Clipper Cay, not only to get on with their vacation, but to get the boys +away from the mysterious danger that dogged their footsteps in Charlotte +Amalie. + +The scientists had departed at dawn in the _Water Witch_, after +extracting a promise from Rick and Scotty that they would not stir from +the hotel until Steve Ames contacted them, and that they would then fly +at once to Clipper Cay. + +The wait had been a long one. It was now nearly noon, and the boys, +hungry because their breakfast had been at daybreak, were ordering +lunch. + +Steve Ames sat down and motioned the lieutenant to a seat. "Jimmy, this +is Rick Brant and Don Scott. Boys, Lieutenant Kelly. Have you ordered +lunch?" + +"We were just looking over the menu," Rick replied. + +"Fine. We'll join you." + +The four consulted menus, then ordered. Steve turned to Kelly. "Jimmy, +being the athletic type, you've probably never heard of the Spindrift +Scientific Foundation." + +The lieutenant, a heavily tanned young man with crisp black hair, shook +his head. "Sorry. I never have." + +"Well, it's a reputable, highly competent and conservative group of some +of the best scientific brains in the country. But somehow, these two got +attached to it. They're not very conservative, although they're +competent--especially at getting into trouble." + +Kelly gave the boys a comradely grin. "If he talks that way, he must +like you." + +The boys grinned back. The lieutenant was likable. + +"All right. Last I saw of you two, Rick was lying across the legs of the +guy who had been tailing me. The next thing I heard, two men we've been +keeping an eye on were in the hoosegow, one with a slug in his shoulder. +And I also heard some wild tales of jumping out of windows. Now fill in +the details." + +Rick started from the moment they first noticed that a shadow had picked +them up. He told the story in careful and accurate detail, knowing that +Steve's trained mind might find significance in things that meant +nothing to him. Now and then Scotty elaborated on a point. + +When Rick concluded the recital, Steve cupped his chin in one hand and +stared at them thoughtfully. + +Kelly complimented them. "Sounds as if you took care of things like real +professionals, both in the water and in the hotel. And I must say, I +wish my people would learn to give reports like that." + +The boys thanked him, and Scotty added, "I don't suppose you can tell us +anything about what you do?" + +"Sure I can. I'm not one of Steve's hush-hush crew. I'm a simple Navy +lieutenant." + +Rick chuckled. "In other words, you can't tell us." + +Steve said, "He's executive officer of the UDT group here. And he's +group intelligence officer. I might also add that he's brighter than he +looks." + +"Then what do you make of this business?" Scotty inquired. + +"I'm not that bright," Kelly replied. "Seriously, this one has me +stumped. First of all, it's easy to understand why a shadow picked you +up. After all, it must have been obvious that you knocked Steve's tail +off. So they simply picked you up instead, hoping that you'd lead them +back to Steve, or that you might be important in some way they couldn't +understand." + +"It's nice to have someone do my thinking for me," Steve said. "Carry +on, Lieutenant." + +"Aye, aye, Sir. The tail stuck with you. When your party split in two, +he decided to stay with you instead of Zircon and Briotti. There could +be two reasons: First, you were the ones who contacted Steve on the +street. Second, you stayed at the waterfront while the others went off +in a taxi. I like the second reason better because of what happened +later. How about you, Steve?" + +"I'm with you. Go ahead." + +"Well, at this point I get lost. You put on your gear and swam out, not +with any particular destination in mind, but looking for a rock or a +coral head or something of the kind where you could see fish. The shadow +watched you. Suddenly he got excited, grabbed a boat, and tried to run +you down." + +Steve grinned at the boys. "In fact, he got so excited that he stole a +boat right out from under the owner's nose. What do you think of that?" + +Rick scratched his head. "We'd about decided he was either desperate or +stupid. I guess he was both." + +Kelly continued. "The big point is, what made him desperate? It could +only have been one thing, as I see it. You were getting close to +something, and he was afraid you'd find it. So he lost his head. That's +borne out by the remark his pal made last night, that he'd pulled enough +stupid stunts for one day." + +"But what could we have been getting close to?" + +"I don't know. Whatever it was, it isn't there now." + +Scotty and Rick sat up straight. Scotty demanded, "How do you know?" + +Steve smiled. "Because a team of Navy frogmen went over the entire area +inch by inch this morning." + +At the boys' surprised looks, Kelly explained, "You told the Shore +Patrol enough to get us interested. We put teams in the water at +daylight. There's nothing there." + +"But there could have been," Scotty pointed out. "If they suspected we +knew about it, they could have removed it yesterday afternoon or last +night." + +"Correct," Steve agreed. "They were worried, too. Otherwise why the call +on you last night? And the questions?" Steve paused while the waiter +served them. "The conclusion is this: Something they value was in the +water near where you swam. You met me yesterday morning, and they had +already identified me. Which means that they must have agents in +Washington who warned them JANIG was moving in on the case. Since it's +no secret that I'm with the outfit, they could peg me easily. When you +swam out toward this object, whatever it was, they were convinced that +somehow JANIG had learned about it. The tail got desperate and tried to +knock you off. Then, last night, they tried to find out what you knew, +and how." + +"Who are 'they'?" Rick asked. + +"If I knew that, I'd wrap the case up and go home. Jimmy has been +working on it for a week, but he hasn't any answers yet. I've been here +twenty-four hours, and I know even less." + +"Could you identify the two men?" Scotty queried. + +"Yes. Both small fry, both local. And both are obviously green at this +kind of business, otherwise you'd be a pair of real cold turkeys by +now." + +That was true, Rick knew. Experienced agents wouldn't have given him and +Scotty the chances that they'd seized. + +"The men must know what was under the water," Scotty said. + +"Not necessarily. They just knew it was important, and they may have +been ordered to protect it. But your former shadow was on the griddle +all night, and told all he knew. It wasn't much. He didn't even know who +had hired him. He wasn't stalling, either." + +"What's the next step?" Rick wanted to know. + +"Jimmy and I will drive you to the plane. Then you take off for Clipper +Cay. And stay there until your vacation is over. Have you a short-wave +radio, by the way?" + +"Yes. Why?" Rick had an all-wave battery portable. + +"Monitor the Navy command frequency. Here, I'll write it down for you. +Listen every night at six for five minutes. If I want you, I'll send a +message. I don't think I will, but it won't do any harm to set up a +schedule." + +Steve lowered his voice. "Now listen to me. This thing is big. The two +you ran up against yesterday were not good samples. We're dealing with +some tough professionals. I don't know who they are, but from what I've +seen I can tell you they're dangerous. So you two are to stay out of +this case. That is an order. Stay on Clipper Cay and have fun." + +"I can add a small note to that," Lieutenant Kelly said. "I'm new here. +I was ordered down from Norfolk only a week ago. A first-class +intelligence officer had my job. He turned up in a hospital in the +British Virgins after being missing for two days. He had a fractured +skull. He still doesn't know what happened to him, and neither do we." + +"Okay," Steve said flatly. "I appreciate the way you handled things +yesterday, but that's the end so far as you are concerned. Get out, and +stay out! And that's final!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Deadly Tank + + +The Sky Wagon droned smoothly through a series of figure eights as Rick +and Scotty inspected every inch of Clipper Cay and its surrounding +waters. While Rick flew, Scotty marked off landmarks on the chart of the +island that Dr. Ernst had provided. + +"I wish we could spot the wreck of the _Maiden Hand_," Scotty remarked. + +"Too deep," Rick said. "We can't see bottom at twenty fathoms even in +water as clear as this." + +"I've got everything important marked. What say we land and look over +our property?" + +"Okay. I'll shoot the beach while you look for coral heads. We don't +want to snag a pontoon." + +The boys had already identified their house. It was set at the edge of +the palms, about fifty yards inland from the beach. It looked fine. +There was a small dock to which the _Water Witch_ could be tied up when +the scientists arrived. + +Rick estimated that Tony and Zircon would arrive about sundown, two +hours hence. The boys had flown over the _Water Witch_ en route from St. +Thomas. Apparently the scientists were enjoying the trip. Zircon had +been sprawled in the cockpit while Tony trolled for fish. + +"I'm a little surprised there wasn't something wrong with the plane," +Rick observed. He and Scotty had gone over the Sky Wagon from propeller +hub to rudder, fearful that the unknown enemy might have sabotaged the +plane. But there was no sign of any tampering. However, the inspection +had taken so long that it was late afternoon before they got away. It +was significant and perhaps a little ominous that Steve and Jimmy Kelly +had assigned a pair of husky Shore Patrol men with .45-caliber sidearms +to stay with them until the plane actually took off. + +"Maybe the two men who came after us were acting without orders," Scotty +replied. "Maybe the real brains of the gang aren't even interested in +us." + +"I hope that you're right. See any coral heads?" + +Although most coral growth was limited to the reef area, outcroppings of +coral called "heads" had grown up toward the surface in some places. +There were none in the stretch of water before the beach house where +Rick planned to land. + +"The water's clear. Pick your direction. There's not enough wind to make +any difference." + +"I'll land parallel to the beach." + +Rick turned south down the center of the island. When he had reached the +right position he cut the throttle, and the nose of the Sky Wagon +dropped. He banked tightly, reversing course, until the plane was headed +north a hundred yards out from the beach. He let the plane feel its way +toward the water, then felt the first bump as the pontoons touched. In a +moment they were down, and Rick swung the plane to taxi in toward their +new home. + +Scotty was already stripping off his shoes and socks. As the pontoons +touched bottom a few yards from shore, Scotty climbed out. Rick cut the +gun while his pal pulled the plane up on the beach. + +Rick got out and waited until Scotty slipped his shoes on again, then +they walked to the cottage. + +The door was unlocked. Few people came to Clipper Cay, and locks weren't +considered necessary. The boys pushed open the front door and walked in. + +There was a large living room and three bedrooms, each with twin beds. +In the rear of the cottage was a kitchen with kerosene stove and +kerosene refrigerator. A fifty-gallon drum out back provided the fuel +supply, which was piped in through copper tubing. Rick checked the fuel. +The tank was full. He read the simple instructions tacked to the wall +over the refrigerator, then lighted the burner. There were frozen foods +and soft drinks as well as dairy products among their supplies, packed +in dry ice in the _Water Witch's_ food locker; the refrigerator would be +cold enough for the supplies by the time the boat arrived. + +For bathing in fresh water there was an outdoor shower, a shower head +rigged to a five-gallon drum and supported on a frame of two-by-four +wooden members. A canvas curtain gave privacy. Other sanitary facilities +were equally primitive but effective. + +Scotty opened the door of a lean-to shed on the rear of the house. "We +can stow our diving gear in here. There's a bench, too. Looks as though +the owner used the place for cleaning fish and stowing his fishing +equipment." + +They walked around to the front of the house where there was a small +porch. A few wicker chairs were upended against the wall. The boys +righted them and sat down. + +"This is the life," Rick observed. "Look at that view." + +They looked from the porch down to the sandy beach, past the pier and +the Sky Wagon to water that was almost glassy calm. The water continued +in a smooth stretch for about five hundred yards out to the reef. Light +breakers foamed along the reef, and beyond, the water was a blue waste +to the horizon. A quarter mile south, a break in the reef marked a +passage where boats could enter. + +Somewhere, out beyond the reef, was the wreck of the _Maiden Hand_. In +his mind, Rick planned how they would go about finding it. The first +step was to rig some kind of underwater towing boards. Then he and +Scotty, equipped with their aqualungs, would be towed behind the _Water +Witch_, scanning the bottom as they went. + +He wasn't worried about finding material for the towing boards. Any kind +of planks would do, or they could even make a tow board out of a fallen +log, although that would be harder to control. + +"Come on," he invited. "Let's walk through the palms. We need a few +planks, and we might as well get them now." + +By the time the scientists approached the pier, the boys had explored +the central part of the island and had returned to the cottage lugging +planks found in the ruin of a cottage apparently blown down by some +long-past hurricane. They dropped the planks beside the house and +hurried to catch the line that Zircon threw, then they warped the _Water +Witch_ in to the dock. + +All hands turned to, and in a short time supplies were unloaded and +stored, beds were made with linen and blankets loaned by Dr. Ernst, and +the cottage began to take on an inhabited look. + +While Tony Briotti began preparations for dinner, the boys carried their +aqualung equipment to the shed at the rear of the cottage and began to +check it over. Since their lives would depend on proper functioning of +the equipment, they inspected the regulators carefully, checking the +condition of the neoprene flaps. Once checked, the regulators were hung +on nails on the shed walls, out of harm's way. + +The next step was to inspect the tanks. Rick had already looked them +over, but for the sake of safety the boys did it again. There were six +of them, each of seventy-cubic-feet capacity. There was an advantage to +this particular capacity at the depth where they expected to dive; a +diver could work only fifteen minutes at 120 feet without requiring +decompression, and seventy cubic feet of air would last just long +enough. Double tanks would have meant the boys would be able to stay +down nearly twice as long, but would also have meant the nuisance of +waiting through the decompression period of about thirteen minutes ten +feet below the surface on the ascent. For this reason, the boys planned +to dive with single tanks, leaving the spares on the surface. + +Of course, to get even fifteen minutes of diving at twenty fathoms the +tanks had to be filled to capacity. When full, they were under enormous +internal pressure of over two thousand pounds per square inch. The tanks +had been filled at Spindrift, but the boys decided to check them again, +in case there had been some leakage through the valves during shipment. + +Scotty swung one tank upright and prepared to attach the pressure gauge. +Rick, inspecting another tank for bumps that might have weakened the +tank wall, saw him do it. + +For a moment Rick continued his inspection, then what he had seen +suddenly registered. He yelled, "Scotty! The valve!" + +In that instant, as Scotty attached the pressure gauge, the valve blew +out! + +The entire valve assembly and the pressure gauge, propelled by the +tremendous pressure in the tank, blew straight upward, ripping clear of +Scotty's hand and taking a patch of skin along. The ascending assembly, +traveling with bullet speed, clipped a lock of hair from his bent head. + +[Illustration: _The valve assembly, traveling with bullet speed, barely +missed Scotty's head_] + +Scotty yelled, "Run!" + +The tank, its air free to escape, writhed and turned, then fell over on +its side. It was like an inflated balloon, turned loose to fly around a +room. Air jetted from it with terrific velocity, so that the tank was, +for the period while its air lasted, a true rocket. + +It struck the wall of the shed and went through it like paper, smashed +into a stud and caromed slightly, so that its trajectory was altered +enough to drive it directly at Rick. He fell flat and it went over, just +grazing him, then flew into the palm grove. It hit a palm a slanting +blow and turned upward, shooting high in the air, clipping off the top +of another palm as it went. + +As the boys watched, horrified, it climbed straight up. Then, its high +pressure nearly exhausted, it turned leisurely and plunged back into the +grove, almost burying itself in the sandy soil. + +The boys sat down and stared weakly at each other. For the first time, +Rick noted that Scotty's hand was bleeding. He said shakily, "Here, let +me look at that." + +The scientists rushed out of the house and demanded to know what had +happened. The tank had blown through its devastating course so fast that +they had not even had time to get outdoors. + +Zircon bandaged Scotty's hand with supplies from the first-aid kit while +the boys told them what had happened. Tony said, "Very careless, leaving +a valve loose like that." + +Rick told him positively, "It wasn't left unscrewed, Tony. We always use +a wrench on those valves because high pressure is so dangerous. And it +wasn't like that yesterday. I checked the tanks when we stowed them on +the boat." + +Scotty gestured toward the other tanks. "Better take a look." + +Rick did so, and gave a low whistle. The valves had all been loosened. +They were in place only by a turn or two of the threads. + +"They could have come out any time," he said grimly. "Any rough handling +could have knocked a valve out. And if it had happened on the boat, the +tank would have gone right through the bottom or side. It was just luck +Scotty and I weren't killed." + +Zircon wordlessly found the valve wrench and got to work screwing the +assemblies back in place. The others watched silently, until Scotty +said, "Well, at least we're out of St. Thomas. There won't be any more +sabotage!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +The Derelict + + +Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning. They didn't bother +with anything so prosaic as breakfast. Instead, they collected masks, +snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip. They didn't use the lungs; +those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming. + +For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun. Scotty chose the +same light spring gun he had used to save them from the shadow, while +Rick took his favorite gun, a four-strand rubber-powered weapon that +packed a terrific wallop. They belted on their knives and blew up their +plastic floats. These were essential for resting, if necessary, and for +bringing home their catch, if any. Once a fish was speared, it was +important to get it out of the water as soon as possible, since blood +would bring sharks or barracuda if any were in the neighborhood. + +"Come on," Rick said impatiently. "Let's go." + +"I'm coming." Scotty finished coiling up the light line he used to +tether the float to his belt, and they stepped into the water. The +temperature was just right. They ducked under, then put on their +equipment. Scotty pulled a rubber glove over his injured hand. Pushing +their floats ahead of them, faces down in the water, they started for +the reef. + +Rick watched the bottom carefully. It was clear sand, with no sign of +life other than an occasional conch or other shellfish. This was to be +expected, since marine life tended to collect around reefs, rocks, +pilings, wrecks, and similar things. As they approached the reef, coral +heads and outcroppings began to appear. And with them, fish. + +Rick hooted for Scotty's attention, then lifted his head and let his +mouthpiece fall free. "Let's go outside!" he called as Scotty looked up. +The other boy nodded agreement. Both were anxious to examine the reef. + +The surf was light. They crossed over the reef by towing their floats +and timing their movements through the breakers. Once beyond the point +where the waves broke, the water was fairly calm, with only light surges +from the passing waves. + +Rick looked down and saw the reef drop away under him. It shelved off +perhaps twenty feet down, then beyond the shelf it fell away into the +depths. He looked into the blueness with a stirring of excitement. To +find the _Maiden Hand_, they would have to swim into that mysterious +blue realm. + +Scotty hooted. Rick looked, and followed the direction of his pointing +arm. There, browsing around the shelf below, was a handsome red snapper, +perhaps fifteen inches long. They had stopped in Miami and Rick had +noticed that red-snapper prices were about the same as those for steak. +There was no doubt that the fish was very good eating. He gestured to +Scotty to go after it, then floated motionless, watching. + +Scotty put the loader over the tip of his spear and pushed down, cocking +the gun. Then, without a splash, he slid under the water. Rick watched +as his fins propelled him slowly toward the snapper. Scotty was moving +slowly, because this was the prime rule in underwater hunting. As he +swam, he extended the spear gun, aiming over the short barrel. The +snapper stopped browsing and his dorsal fin suddenly erected, a sign of +alarm. But he didn't move because he was not yet sure the big invader +was an enemy. Before he could make up his mind, Scotty fired. + +The spear took the fish right behind the gills. He gave a quick spurt +that brought the line humming from its spool. Scotty followed quickly, +caught the shaft, then sped upward to where Rick waited. + +"Good shot," Rick complimented him as Scotty caught his float. Together, +they took the fish off the shaft and examined him with some pride. Their +first catch off Clipper Cay was a good one. The snapper was pink and +firm-fleshed. He would make good eating. + +Rick put his face down in the water again while Scotty secured the catch +to his float. As he did so he saw a target and hooted for attention. +Scotty joined him and they looked down to where a barracuda hovered +motionless. + +The 'cuda was perhaps two and a half feet long, not big as such +predators went, but big enough. Scotty motioned to Rick to get him. +Obviously the fish had been attracted by the blood or the struggles of +the snapper. Rick hoped that his big brothers wouldn't join him. This +one was plenty big enough. While Scotty held both floats, Rick charged +his gun, pulling back the strong rubbers a pair at a time. Then he +checked his safety line, filled his lungs, and went under. + +The barracuda hovered, waiting. Rick knew that his apparent disinterest +could change to lightning flight. Few fish were so fast. He followed +Scotty's example, moving slowly toward the quarry. He was a dozen feet +down now, and in the lessened light the barracuda loomed large, a slim +arrow of a fish, poised for flight. + +The spear gun was extended, the spear point nearing firing range. Rick +planned to shoot from about six feet. He doubted that he could get +closer. Flippers propelling him gently, he closed. Now he could see the +pointed jaws that contained razor-edged teeth. The fish was watching +him, but without apparent fear. + +The barracuda head was squarely in his sights. Rick squeezed the +trigger. + +For a moment he thought he had missed, then the safety line ran out and +the jerk almost pulled the gun from his hands. He was running out of +breath, too. Quickly he planed for the surface, feeling the fury on the +end of his line. He broke water, gulped air, then dove again. He pulled +in the line until he saw the fish struggling. He had nearly missed. The +harpoon had taken the barracuda near the tail, fortunately hitting the +spine. Rick pulled him in, hand over hand, then gripped his spear by the +extreme end. He had no desire to close with those slashing, dangerous +jaws. Holding fast to the spear he shot to the surface again. Scotty was +waiting, knife in hand. As Rick extended the spear toward him the keen +knife flashed across the 'cuda's spine just behind the gills. Rick +tossed his gun onto the float, then together they heaved the fish up +beside it. + +"Spindrift was never like this," Scotty said, grinning. + +Rick gulped air and grinned back. + +A hail from the shore reached them. They turned and saw Tony Briotti. He +was waving a frying pan in a signal for breakfast. Suddenly Rick +realized that he was famished. + +"Let's go," he said. "We'll trade these for bacon and eggs." + +It was nearly noon before they got into the water again. The first part +of the morning was spent in fashioning sea sleds from the planks the +boys had gathered. This was simple enough, but it took a little time. +First the planks were cut to proper length, then two of them were nailed +together. A bridle was arranged so that they could be towed, and spare +weight belts and weights were used to counteract their bouyancy. They +were very much like the aqua-planes commonly towed behind motorboats, +but much cruder, and designed to go under rather than remain on the +surface. + +Two long ropes were arranged so that a sled could be towed on either +side of the _Water Witch_. Once this was done, the boys rechecked their +equipment, attached the regulators to the tanks, and carried them to the +beach. + +Zircon would pilot the boat, following the 120-foot mark on the chart. +Tony would act as tender at the stern, while Rick and Scotty would ride +the sleds. The first leg would take them through the reef channel, then +south to the tip of the island, reverse course and north again, staying +at the twenty-fathom mark. Zircon was sure that he would be able to +follow the prescribed course by judging his distance from the reef. + +When all was in readiness, they loaded their gear aboard the _Water +Witch_, including the spare tanks. Only the runaway tank was missing, +and Rick had determined that its wild flight had not weakened it. The +valve and pressure gauge had been recovered after a considerable search, +and the tank could be refilled with the others. + +Zircon took the _Water Witch_ through the reef, and the boys donned +their equipment while Tony swung the ladder outboard. Rick checked his +own straps, and then those of Scotty, while Scotty returned the favor. +Then each checked the flow of air through his mouthpiece, and made sure +the reserve rod was in the "up" position. This done, they entered the +water. Tony tossed the boards over and made sure the lines were secured. + +Rick and Scotty paddled the boards to the extreme length of the lines, +then separated as much as the lines allowed. They were about thirty feet +apart and a hundred feet behind the boat. + +They waved their readiness to Tony, who relayed the go-ahead to Zircon. +The boat started slowly. + +Rick moved forward on his board, and the weighted board tilted down. It +acted as a hydrofoil, its forward motion pulling it deeper into the +water. Rick waited until he was only ten feet from the bottom, then +shifted his weight back again. Obediently the board tilted upward and +raced for the surface. Rick moved forward again just in time to keep +from breaking through the surface. By adjusting his weight, he could +keep the board level, or go up or down. It wasn't easy and he had to +fight the board level almost constantly. + +Bubbles rose from the regulator between his shoulder blades as he +breathed rhythmically. The lung performed effortlessly, giving him as +much air as he needed. He felt the pressure on his ears as he steered +the board toward bottom, and there was an instant of pain before his +ears adjusted. + +The bottom was sandy. To his right he saw the wall of the reef, and once +a startled snook shot out of his way. To his left he could see Scotty. +Before he knew it the boat had throttled down, a signal that they were +at the southern end of the reef. He tilted upward and surfaced. + +Tony called, "How is it?" + +"Great!" Rick called back. "But we'll need lots more line. It was +shallow on the way down, but if we try to go any deeper the angle of the +line will make the boards come up." + +"You should try it," Scotty said. "Honestly, Tony, it's wonderful!" + +"I'll try it a little later," Tony promised. "I'm giving you all the +line we have, about three hundred feet each. If you can't make it, +surface. We'll have to splice the two lines together and use just one +board." + +Zircon came to the stern and bellowed, "You forgot these!" + +He tossed in two fishing floats and coils of line. Those were in case +they found the wreck. Whoever spotted it was to drop off his board, +secure the line to the wreck, and let the float rise to the surface. In +that way, they would have a guide. + +Each boy took one of the units and fastened it to his weight belt. + +"We're off!" Zircon called. "Ready?" + +The boys yelled that they were. Rick fitted his mouthpiece and checked +the seal of his mask. Scotty did the same, then both tilted their boards +and slid under. + +On the northbound leg they had trouble keeping the boards down because +of the tendency of the lead rope to pull the front of the boards up, but +by crawling far forward, they managed. + +They were deeper than they had ever gone before, but Rick felt no +sensation of fright or strangeness. It was a green world, not dark but +yet not bright. The light was subdued, filtered by the fathoms of water. +The bottom was mostly clear sand, dotted now and then by patches of +growth. There did not seem to be many fish, or perhaps their eyes were +not adjusted to the subdued light. Scotty was close to the reef on the +northbound leg, while Rick was about twenty feet farther out. + +For long moments there was only the sensation of rushing through the +water, the distant throb of the engines, and the sound of their own +bubbles. Then, ahead, Rick saw a mass of growth and tilted his board +upward just in time to clear it. + +Scotty hooted once, then again. Rick turned in time to see his pal's +board leap ahead, free of Scotty's weight. Sudden fear gripped him. Had +Scotty been caught? Instantly he released his own board and saw it scoot +for the surface. He reversed his course and swam rapidly back. + +The obstruction he had cleared was dead ahead. And there were fish! So +many that they seemed like a swarm of flies around it. The biggest was +not more than five inches long. Then he saw Scotty. His friend was +fastening the float line to a projection! + +Rick's heart leaped. What he thought was a rock formation on the sea +floor was the wreck of a ship! Scotty had recognized it and dropped off. +The _Maiden Hand_? He hooted and Scotty looked up. The other boy shook +his head. + +It wasn't the _Maiden Hand_, then. But how did Scotty know? In a moment, +when he joined the other boy, he saw the curling edges of steel plate. +This was a steel ship, then, and not a very large one at that. He +estimated its length as not more than a hundred feet. Still, it was a +wreck--their first. There, at twenty fathoms, he and Scotty shook hands +solemnly while the tiny fish swam around them like curious gnats. + +Scotty finished tying his line and unwound it from the wooden spool. The +float rose upward and vanished far overhead. They heard the throb of the +returning boat, and Rick hooted twice, the signal to surface. Scotty +nodded, and they went up, slowly, careful to breathe naturally and not +to overtake their small bubbles, as doctrine dictated. In a moment Rick +saw the hull of the boat, propellers barely turning, and knew that +Zircon was holding position overhead. + +They broke water off the side of the _Water Witch_, and Rick waited +until Scotty hailed the scientists. "We found a wreck, but it's a steel +ship." + +"Come aboard!" Tony called, and helped them up the ladder when they +complied. The tanks were cumbersome when out of the water. + +"It's a fish paradise!" Rick said excitedly. "I'm going to get my camera +working and take some pictures. You've got to go down and look, both of +you." + +"How did you spot it?" Zircon asked. + +"Scotty did. I thought it was a rock formation and went over it, but +Scotty dropped off." + +"I saw curled plate," Scotty answered. "I knew it wasn't the _Maiden +Hand_, with steel sides, but I didn't think we'd want to pass up a +wreck." + +"You were so right," Rick agreed, grinning. + +A check of their tanks with the gauge showed that only about five +minutes diving time remained at the twenty-fathom depth, so the +regulators were transferred to spare tanks. Tony and Zircon, already in +trunks, donned diving gear and followed Scotty's line to the bottom. The +boys waited impatiently, Scotty taking the helm to hold the boat in +place. + +Ten minutes later the scientists surfaced, and Rick helped them aboard. +Tony removed his mask and grinned. "It's as wonderful as you said it +was." + +"What kind of ship was it?" Rick asked. + +Tony had been a destroyer skipper during the war and he knew ships. + +"Probably an interisland cargo carrier of some kind. At any rate, it +appears to be a small cargo ship. It's so overgrown with marine growth +that the shape is cluttered. It might have been a small tanker." + +"We can explore it from stem to stern," Rick suggested excitedly. + +Scotty joined them and commented, "But not right now. We'll have to go +ashore and charge the tanks. There may be time for one more dive this +afternoon if we hurry." + +"Besides," Hobart Zircon said with a smile, "I'm hungry. As you say, +Rick, diving certainly develops the appetite!" + +They docked, and Tony and Zircon went off to see about preparing +sandwiches. The boys decided that rather than carry the tanks back and +forth from the pier to the shed, it would be more sensible to bring +their small, portable gas-driven compressor to the pier. + +Scotty went after it while Rick tied the tanks to the afterrail of the +_Water Witch_, in position for filling. + +A yell from Scotty stopped him. He looked up and saw his friend beckon, +and ran down the pier to the house. The scientists joined him and Scotty +at the shed where the compressor had been stored. + +"We've been sabotaged again," Scotty told them flatly. "There's oil in +the compressor!" + +"Are you certain?" Zircon pressed close to examine the machine. + +"Yes. I stumbled over my own feet and tipped the compressor on its side. +And oil ran out through the air fitting. Look!" Scotty held up his hand, +and it was smeared with glistening oil. + +A cold shiver traced its way down Rick's spine. Oil in a compressor was +blown into fine particles, too small to be seen. If they got into an air +tank they would be breathed in, leaving a thin coating on a diver's +lungs. The result was a condition almost exactly like pneumonia, called +"lipoid pneumonia." Their special filter, designed by Zircon, probably +would have taken all the oil particles out of the air before it got into +the tanks, but that didn't alter the fact that faced them. Someone had +deliberately put oil in the compressor. Someone just didn't want them +around! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Fancy Frogmen + + +"The question is," Rick stated, "when was the oil put in? While we were +at Charlotte Amalie? Or while we were out hunting the wreck just now?" + +"In Charlotte Amalie, of course," Tony said. "Why do you think it might +have been done just a little while ago?" + +Rick shrugged. He had no answer to that. The question had popped into +his mind unbidden. + +"We didn't take the compressor apart," Scotty reminded him. + +That was true. But Rick had started it in Charlotte Amalie to be sure it +was functioning. There was no oil in it then. He said as much. + +"You started the compressor at the same time you checked the tanks," +Zircon reminded him. "I believe the oil was put in at the same time the +valves were loosened." + +That seemed reasonable. Rick put aside his hunch. "Well, we found it in +time, anyway. Now Scotty and I will have to tear the compressor down and +clean it before we can recharge the tanks." + +"After lunch," Tony said. "Don't you remember? A diver is supposed to +rest after each dive. Relax, and I'll have some sandwiches ready in a +few minutes." + +All hands were hungry. Scotty stowed away four sandwiches and Rick did +nearly as well. Then they started work on the compressor. It wasn't a +hard job, but it was tedious, and nearly two hours elapsed before they +finished. Each part had to be washed in soap and water, then carefully +dried. Finally, the compressor was ready. They carried it to the boat, +started the gas engine, and connected the tanks. But before the air +started to flow, Rick carefully inspected the filter system to be sure +that hadn't been tampered with too. + +"You know," he observed, "these enemies Steve is hunting know a lot +about sport diving." + +Scotty considered. "They knew that tanks could be dangerous, and they +knew that oil in a compressor is dangerous. You're right, Rick. They +know plenty about it." + +"But it doesn't do us much good to know that they know," Rick concluded. +"Well, now what? It will be a few hours before all the tanks are +charged." + +"Where are Zircon and Tony?" + +"Napping. We probably should join them." + +"Not me. There's nothing to do after sundown but sleep. I'd like to take +a walk and look the island over." + +Rick sighed. "Always an eager beaver. I'll go with you, if you don't +walk fast." + +They turned north and walked up the beach. Somewhere off this stretch of +beach was the _Maiden Hand_. But where? They strolled along leisurely, +stopping now and then to examine some bit of beach flotsam. There were +shells, but most of them were small and water worn. + +"We'll have to collect a few shells on the reef," Rick said. "Barby will +be disappointed if we don't." + +"That's easy enough to do," Scotty replied. "I saw half a dozen +different varieties this morning." + +They passed a beach house, obviously empty. Rick gestured toward it. +"Funny how few people there are here. If I owned a place on this island +I'd be here all the time." + +"Unless you had to make a living," Scotty added practically. "This isn't +the season for vacations. I expect vacation time finds plenty of +activity here. There's one cabin occupied to the south of us. I saw +people there this morning. They're probably the same ones who waved at +us from a boat when we flew over day before yesterday." + +"The boat isn't there now," Rick observed. "At least, I haven't seen +it." + +"They may have gone to St. Thomas for supplies. Or they may have gone +home." Scotty pointed to what seemed to be the largest house on the +island, near the northern tip. "That's quite a place. Let's go have a +look." + +There was a long pier in front of the house, and, unlike the others on +the island, this house had a second story. There was no sign of life. +They walked around it and found a barbecue pit. Scotty examined it. +"This has been used recently, probably in the past few days." + +Rick bent down and peered at a scrap of meat. "You're right. They had +steak. And this piece hasn't dried out yet." + +"Maybe they're still here." Scotty walked to the back of the house. +"They might be out fishing or something." He looked in a window and +called urgently, "Rick! Look!" + +Rick hurried to his side and peered in. The room was evidently used for +storing diving equipment. Hung along one wall were three full diving +suits of expensive make. Next to them, neatly racked, was an assortment +of spear guns, all of the spring type, and all of Italian make. + +On another wall were three Scuba regulators, not aqualung types such as +the boys used, but the variety that carries a full face mask through +which the diver breathes. In a rack on the floor were nine spare tanks +and a compressor much larger and more expensive than theirs. + +Swim fins, also of Italian make, were lying on a table. They were the +shoe type, put on like a pair of slippers. Rick identified an underwater +camera, complete with steering fins and outside controls, and a number +of face masks with built-in snorkels. Boxes stacked on the floor carried +labels that identified them as midseason suits of French make. + +"We've found some real fancy frogmen," Scotty observed. "This place +looks like a high-priced show-room for diving gear." + +"Pretty plush," Rick agreed. + +They wandered back down to the beach and found that this area of the +island was apparently more open to the sea. There were bits of flotsam, +including coconuts that had washed in. The sea shells were larger, and +they found a few worth picking up. + +Scotty beckoned and pointed to a piece of wood, nearly buried in the +sand. "What do you make of this?" + +Rick examined it. It was curved, and a shred of green metal still clung +to the rusty remains of an ancient hand-fashioned nail. He looked up +with sudden excitement. "It's a section of a ship rib. And a pretty old +one, too." His finger indicated the shred of metal. "Copper. Or used to +be." He broke it off. "Completely oxidized. It's been in the water a +long time, perhaps even centuries." + +The boys stared out at the reef, both half afraid to put their thoughts +into words. Finally Scotty asked, "Do you remember reading about any +earthquakes or big tidal waves down here recently?" + +Rick tried to recall. "No. Why?" + +"Well, the _Maiden Hand_ has been under the water out here for a couple +of centuries--and in pretty deep water, too. It would take some +disturbance that could reach down a hundred and twenty feet to break off +a chunk." + +Rick grinned. "You're right. But we haven't anything to lose by taking a +look, have we?" + +They trotted down the beach toward their own house at a half run. Rick +looked at his watch. "At least one pair of tanks should be full by now, +and there's plenty of time for a dive. Come on!" + +They paused at the pier, put the pressure gauge on the first two tanks +in series, and found them charged, as Rick had predicted. Then they ran +for the house. + +Zircon and Tony were gone and there was a note on the living-room table. +"_We're exploring the southern end. Be back in an hour or two._" + +"Shall we wait?" Scotty asked. + +"No need. We can take our floats. Let's get going." + +They changed to trunks. Then, since they would not have anyone on the +surface to keep track of time or depth, strapped on wrist watches, +compasses, and wrist depth gauges. Floats and weight belts were put on, +then the boys added small plastic slates and pencils for writing +underwater. Knives, masks, snorkels, their favorite guns, fins, and +lungs completed their equipment. + +"Shall we walk up the beach, or swim?" + +"Swim," Rick said promptly. "This stuff is too heavy to carry +comfortably." + +They launched floats, placed aqualung mouthpieces on top of their masks, +and swam parallel to the beach. By using snorkels they avoided the +effort of lifting their faces out of water to breathe and conserved the +air in the tanks. With effective but effortless leg strokes they moved +along rapidly. + +As they approached the ship rib that Scotty had found they turned and +swam straight out toward the reef, crossed it, then came to a halt. + +"Let's tie our floats to something," Rick suggested, and Scotty nodded. + +Aqualung mouthpieces replaced the snorkels, and each boy tested his flow +of air, checked to be sure his mask was connected to the lung by a +safety line, charged his gun, and set his watch. The watches, designed +especially for underwater swimming, had an outer dial that could be set +to show elapsed diving time. + +Rick hooted and pointed down. Scotty nodded and they submerged. Because +of their belt weights, and the weight of air in their tanks, they were +just heavy enough to sink slowly. After the dive, when the air in the +tanks was nearly exhausted, they would weigh about five pounds less and +have a slight positive buoyancy that would help them to rise. + +They found coral outcroppings and tied their float lines, being careful +not to cut their hands. Rick suddenly wished they had brought canvas +gloves. Scotty still wore a single rubber one. + +Then, with a few strong kicks to overcome their inertia, they started +down the face of the reef. It fell off sharply for about forty feet, +then more gradually until sand bottom was reached at about ninety feet. + +Rick felt the sensation of thrusting his face into a wedge as the +pressure increased. He swallowed a couple of times and felt his ears +equalize, but his mask was beginning to hurt. He exhaled through his +nose and equalized the pressure inside the mask. + +There were plenty of fish around now. A grouper saw them coming and +ducked into his hole in the coral. A fairly large moray eel, only his +head visible, watched their progress. Tiny demoiselles fluttered around +them, and a pair of red squirrelfish watched from the shelter of a +purple coral fan. + +The coral growth was spectacular, with fantastic shapes and colors. +Then, as they went deeper, the colors gradually faded to a uniform +green. Rick knew from underwater flash photographs that the appearance +was deceptive. The colors remained, but the quality of light changed. + +Scotty hooted four times, the signal for danger! Rick looked and saw a +barracuda hovering near by. He gulped. The fish was easily five feet +long. Both boys lifted their spear guns just in case the 'cuda attacked, +but the motion alarmed him and he was gone with one powerful flick of +his tail. + +Rick consulted his wrist depth gauge, holding it close to his face +plate. They were at bottom at ninety feet, and the clean sand dropped +away at an angle of about thirty degrees. The boys planed downward, a +few feet above the sand until Rick's gauge read 120 feet. This was the +limit of their dive. Going deeper would mean stopping for decompression +on the way up. + +He recalled that the waves came into the beach from a slightly northerly +direction and motioned to Scotty that they should turn north. Scotty +moved out to the limit of visibility, and they swam on a compass heading +of north, watching for any sign of a wreck. Now and then a coral shelf +extended out from the reef, but they saw nothing that could have been a +wreck. Once they swam over a patch of marine growth perhaps twenty feet +long and ten wide, and a huge eagle ray lifted from it and glided off +like a weird futuristic airplane. + +It was quiet, except for the regular chuckle of their exhausts, and the +light was subdued and even. It was a world without shadows. Still, Rick +thought, there was plenty of light for photography. Next time he would +bring his camera. + +The watch showed him that over half their allotted time was gone, and he +hooted once to Scotty, then reversed course, heading back toward their +floats. + +They approached the patch where they had seen the ray and Rick paused +suddenly. There was an odd shape on the sand near the patch. He +flippered over to it and examined it. Scotty joined him. It looked like +an oversized mushroom protruding from the sand at an angle. + +Rick unsheathed his knife and poked at it. The sharp tip penetrated for +a fraction of an inch, then stopped. It was either rock or metal, and +judging from the shape, it was unlikely that it was rock. He put his +knife under it and pried, and the thing moved in the sand. + +Both boys went to work on it, scooping the sand from around it. In a +moment they had it clear. It was something like a dumbbell, covered with +marine growth where it had been above the sand, but fairly smooth under +it. + +Rick took his belt slate and scribbled, "Metal." + +Scotty nodded. Then both of them turned to look at the patch of marine +life. + +A distant throb, as though of a boat, caught their attention. They +looked up, but the surface was invisible. + +It was Tony and Zircon, Rick decided. They probably had returned to the +cottage and found the diving equipment missing. They could spot the +location where the boys were diving easily enough, first by the floats, +then by the bubbles of their exhausts. + +Scotty hooted suddenly, four times. Rick turned quickly in time to see a +six-foot shark speed past. The tips of the pectoral fins and the second +dorsal were darker than the rest of the fish, and Rick identified it as +a black-tipped shark. Obviously, the shark was on business of its own, +not particularly interested in them. Still, it was curious. The shark +was rushing almost straight up. + +[Illustration: _Rick turned in time to see a six-foot shark speed past_] + +Scotty gripped his arm and pointed. More sharks! Another black tip. And +a ten-foot leopard shark! All rushing upward. + +The boys watched tensely, and then out of the dimness above something +sped down at them, followed by the sharks. It landed in the clear sand +just beyond the marine growth. Rick saw a black tip go for it, then the +black tip was struck from the side by the big leopard. In spite of his +sudden apprehension, Rick couldn't help wishing for his camera. + +The sharks rushed again, and the falling object was lifted from the sand +by the disturbed water. This time, Rick recognized it. A chicken! It was +tied to a length of string from which dangled a lead sinker. The bird +was dead, but apparently freshly so. He knew that it was the chicken +blood that had brought the sharks--and a giant barracuda! The great +fish, a full six feet in length, slashed past the sharks and tore a +chunk out of the bird. + +The leopard shark made a fast pass at the barracuda, then turned and +snapped at a black tip. Rick gulped. A hole suddenly appeared in the +black's side, as smooth as though scooped out of ice cream. And then the +other sharks hit the wounded black tip. + +There were many sharks now, worrying the chicken and the wounded black +tip like fierce dogs over scraps of meat. Rick thought, "We'd better get +out of here!" He hooted twice at Scotty, the signal to ascend. Scotty +motioned to him to retreat. Rick picked up the dumbbell-shaped object. +It was heavy, but not too heavy to handle, and he started a slow retreat +along the sand. + +The sharks were paying no attention to the boys, but Rick wasn't at all +sure that they wouldn't, once the supply of chicken and wounded shark +were exhausted. His mind raced. Where had the chicken come from? Whoever +had tossed it into the water would have known that the blood would bring +sharks. It wasn't a casual toss, either. Not when the chicken had been +weighted with a fishing sinker big enough to carry it to the bottom. +Tony and Zircon would never do such a thing. Besides, they had no +chickens. + +Rick and Scotty backed far enough away so that the sharks could no +longer be seen. Then, heading toward the reef, they started for the +surface. Scotty was slightly in the lead, and Rick kept glancing back in +case one of the big fish decided to follow. But they reached the surface +without incident and broke water about two hundred feet from their +floats. There was no boat in sight. + +Replacing aqualung tubes with snorkels, they swam on the surface, faces +down, alert for sharks. When they reached the floats, Scotty kept watch +from the surface while Rick dove to untie the lines. + +As they climbed on the floats and lifted masks, Scotty and Rick pointed +and yelled "Hey!" simultaneously. + +But they had seen different things. Rick had seen the _Water Witch_ pass +through the reef and head for them. Scotty had seen another boat, a big +cabin cruiser, tied up at the pier in front of the house occupied by the +fancy frogmen! + +Rick turned and looked at the cruiser, then at the house. He was in time +to see the front door close. There would have been plenty of time for +someone to drop the chicken from the cruiser and then cross the reef and +tie up at the dock. + +"I'll bet that's where the chicken came from," Rick said harshly. + +"That's a bet I won't take," Scotty returned. "But you can bet we'll +find out!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Wreck of the "Maiden Hand" + + +Tony Briotti examined the metallic object they had brought from the +bottom, then took his knife and scraped at it. Under the covering of +marine growth, red rust appeared. He looked at Hobart Zircon. "Recognize +this, Hobart?" + +"There's only one thing I can think of that fits the shape, Tony. Bar +shot." + +"My conclusion exactly." Tony weighed the thing in his hand. He grinned +at the boys. "Adventure-prone, and lucky. Describe the place where you +found it." + +Rick did so, concluding, "The patch didn't look anything like a ship, +though. If that's what you're thinking." + +"After two centuries, the ship would no longer look like a ship. But +this is unquestionably a bar shot for an ancient cannon. It was used to +cut ship's rigging, and to knock down masts, and create other damage of +that sort. It's likely that the pirates, or the _Maiden Hand_, would +have carried bar shot." + +"I think you have found the ship," Zircon told them, "and the question +about earthquakes was a good one. There was a heavy quake in this region +about a year ago. I had occasion to recall it a half hour ago when we +found a slight fault at the southern tip of the island that had +uncovered an Indian midden." + +"And a fine one," Tony added. "You boys can dive for treasure if you +want to. I've some work of my own to do." + +"Incidentally," Scotty reminded Rick, "in the confusion below we forgot +to send up a buoy. Hope we can find the place again." + +"We can." + +"What confusion?" Zircon asked. + +Rick told him. "A freshly killed chicken was dropped near us. And it +must have been bleeding when it hit the water, because we suddenly had a +shark convention around us." He pointed to the boat tied at the pier, +now far behind them because the _Water Witch_ had been moving. "And we +think that was the boat that dropped it." + +"It was weighted," Scotty added. + +The scientists looked at each other. Tony grunted. "It makes no sense, +Hobart. Why would anyone weight a freshly killed chicken and throw it +over the side?" + +"No reason at all," the big scientist said, "unless he wanted to create +mischief below." + +"But just the act of dropping a chicken wouldn't ensure harm to divers +below," Tony objected. + +"That's why I said mischief. Inexperienced divers might panic under such +circumstances and attract the sharks to themselves." + +Rick hazarded a guess. "What if they just wanted to keep people from +diving in the area?" + +"That might be one way of doing it." Zircon said thoughtfully. "Are you +suggesting that there are others after the _Maiden Hand_ treasure?" + +Scotty spoke up. "How could anyone else find out about the treasure?" + +"It's possible that there are other references besides the logbook we +found," Tony replied. "But it would be too farfetched to speculate that +other treasure hunters had found the location and were diving right at +this time." + +"This might be related to what happened on St. Thomas," Rick ventured. + +Zircon shook his massive head. "Extremely unlikely. Consider." He ticked +off the points on his fingers. "Who knew we were coming to Clipper Cay? +Ernst, Steve, and his Navy friend. We did not mention it to the people +from whom we bought supplies, nor did we discuss it in the presence of +others. We were not followed here. No, Rick, I think that we cannot +blame this incident on the ones in St. Thomas." + +"Then it was a dangerous practical joke," Tony concluded. "Unless there +was some legitimate reason for throwing the chicken over that we don't +know about." + +Zircon steered the _Water Witch_ through the reef entrance, and the +Spindrifters tied up at the dock. Rick and Scotty inspected the +compressor and then measured the amount of air in the tanks. They hooked +the tanks up, refilled the gas tank of the compressor engine, and left +the tanks to fill while they went to the cottage. + +Rick and Zircon prepared dinner while Tony and Scotty refilled the +gasoline lanterns that provided light, and generally straightened up the +cottage. + +Rick called, "Tony, tell us more about this Indian stuff you found." + +Scotty added, "And what's a midden, anyway?" + +Tony leaned on his broom. "A midden is a polite name for a refuse heap. +Before the days of rubbish collection, people used to dump their trash +in the yard. The Indians did, and thereby provided archaeologists with +an important source of information. Apparently a tribe lived on this +island, close to the southern tip. It's likely that they simply dumped +their rubbish into the water. Well, the earthquake Hobart spoke of +shifted the old coral formations at the southern tip slightly and lifted +a few square yards out of the water." + +He went to the front porch and brought back a curved piece of material, +encrusted with coral. "This used to be a pottery bowl, probably Taino in +origin. I'll probably find many like it." + +It didn't look like much of a find to Rick, but he knew that Tony's +trained eyes could see many things that he couldn't. "You'll dive with +us, though, won't you?" he asked. + +"Of course. But you and Scotty are the real enthusiasts, and the diving +I do will use up air that you properly should be using. I'll go down +with you in the morning, because I want a look at the wreck. But after +that I think Hobart and I can amuse ourselves on the midden while you +and Scotty hunt treasure. Of course we'll be ready to help if you need +us." + +A few minutes before six, Rick turned on his portable all-wave radio to +the channel Steve had given him, but the air was silent. He waited for +ten minutes, then snapped it off again. Apparently Steve had no message +for them. + +Dinner consisted of fresh snapper and barracuda steaks served with +coconut sauce for which Zircon had learned the recipe during his tours +of the Pacific. It was delicious, and Rick wondered about the fussiness +of people who refuse to eat barracuda simply because the fish is a noted +predator. However, he knew that people are served barracuda every day +under less offensive names. + +After dinner they sat over coffee on the porch and watched the sun sink +beyond the reef. It was like a Pacific sunset--colorful and somehow +soothing. + +The boys walked to the pier, checked their tanks, and found them fully +charged. Then, at Scotty's suggestion, they locked tanks and compressor +in the cabin of the _Water Witch_. Fresh-water rinses for the remainder +of their equipment followed, and they carried the equipment into the +house. + +Zircon was already engrossed in a book, while Tony was engaged in +scraping the pottery shard he had found. The boys watched him for a few +minutes, then Scotty suggested, "How about a walk?" + +"Okay." There was an idea stirring in the back of Rick's head. As they +walked down to the beach he said, "We ought to take a look at the folks +who own that boat." + +And Scotty said in the same breath, "Let's visit the fancy frogmen." + +They grinned at each other, amused at how much alike their thought +processes were. + +"We'd better approach from the back," Scotty suggested. + +Rick agreed. "Suppose we cross to the eastern shore, then walk up until +we're in sight of the house. It's close to the northern tip, anyway." + +It was almost fully dark now, and no lights appeared in the houses south +of them. As they watched, lights showed far up the beach where the fancy +frogmen lived. But there were no other lights anywhere on the island. + +"Just two houses occupied," Rick said. + +"We'll probably have more neighbors during the week end," Scotty +answered. "The people in the house south of us must have left, but they +may be back. Come on." + +They made their way through the palm grove, watching fruit bats whirl +against the darkening sky. There was a slight breeze, just enough to +make the palms whisper. It reminded Rick of Hawaii. + +The eastern shore was rough. The reef was much closer here, and long +swells that had come all the way across the Atlantic sounded like +subdued thunder as they broke. It was dark now, and only the white of +the breaking water could be seen. + +They walked up the eastern shore until the lights of the frogmen's house +were directly opposite, then turned toward it, moving with caution. + +"Take it easy," Rick whispered. "They may be outside." + +As they drew closer they could see that the lights were in the front +rooms of the house. The back was dark, except for light that came +through open inner doors. + +"Wait." Scotty whispered. "I'll see if they're out front." + +Rick sat down to wait as Scotty vanished. Few could equal his pal when +it came to moving silently and invisibly. + +In a surprisingly short time Scotty reappeared. "No one out front," he +reported. "They're all in the living room." + +Rick rose, and together they walked swiftly and silently to the rear of +the house. The door of the room in which the diving gear was stowed +opened into the living room. Perhaps they could see in there. + +A card game was in progress by the light of a kerosene lamp. Rick +studied the face of a heavy-set, dark-haired man who sat facing him. The +man wore a T shirt that displayed the heavy muscles of arms and chest. +His face was square-jawed and powerful, the eyes set deep under bushy +eyebrows. His hair was short and curly, sprinkled with gray. He looked +like one used to command. Rick's quick imagination pictured him on the +quarterdeck of a slaver, ruling his cutthroat crew with iron fists. + +The others were not visible through the door. The boys moved silently to +the side of the house and drew back so they could look through the +living-room window. The second man was visible now. He was young, +perhaps in his twenties, and he had an unruly shock of blond hair. Once +he might have been good-looking, but a scar crossed a nose that had been +badly broken. + +The third man sat with his back to them. Rick touched Scotty's sleeve +and they went around the house via the back. The view was blocked by an +open door. + +Scotty put his lips close to Rick's ear. "The front." + +Rick led the way, moving carefully because light spilled out of the +front windows and the open front door. They reached a vantage point and +looked in. The third man was clearly visible. The boys reached for each +other at the same moment. + +The third man was Steve's shadow! + + * * * * * + +Morning found the _Water Witch_ anchored on the reef close to the place +where the boys had found the bar shot. There was no sign of activity at +the fancy frogmen's house, and the boat was tied up as it had been the +previous evening. Apparently they were late sleepers. + +The Spindrifters tossed coins to see who would make the first dive, and +the lot fell to Rick and Tony. They donned their equipment, then Rick +picked up a spear gun while Tony selected a wrecking bar from his +equipment. + +It took ten minutes of their precious fifteen to find the wreck again. +This time, Rick took the precaution of tying a float to a projection and +unwinding line while the float rose to the surface. + +Tony started at one end of the mass of marine growth and inserted his +wrecking bar. Rick joined him in heaving, and a cloud of dust and fish +eggs rose to envelop them. It took a moment or two for the water to +clear enough so they could see, then Tony hooted his triumph. The pull +had exposed rotted timbers. This had to be a ship! But was it the +_Maiden Hand_? + +Rick wondered if they would ever be sure. Yet, he felt that it was, even +though he realized that the feeling grew as much out of optimism and +hope as anything else. Still, it was unlikely that another ship would be +wrecked at this same depth. + +Tony wrote on his slate, "Mor undr sand thn can see, likely." + +Rick nodded. The shifting sands had undoubtedly covered, exposed, and +recovered the wreck dozens of times in the years it had lain here. He +looked at his watch, then reluctantly gave Tony the signal to surface. +Their time was up. + +On the _Water Witch_, Tony said, "It's a ship all right. And since its +on the western reef at twenty fathoms, I'd say that it's very likely the +one we want." + +"Wonder how Captain Campion pegged the depth so accurately?" Scotty +inquired. + +Zircon had a possible answer. "Let's assume the pirates knew he was +carrying the golden statue. It would have been logical for them to +sound, just to see if there was any possibility of recovering the +treasure from the wreck. Since they kept Campion for ransom, he would +have heard the depth mentioned." + +It seemed reasonable, and it was as good an answer as any, since there +was no hope of knowing whether it was right or wrong. + +"How do we find the statue?" Rick asked. + +Tony handed him the wrecking bar with a grin. "Take the wreck apart a +piece at a time. And if you still haven't found it, start digging." + +The boys sighed. Rick recalled reading somewhere that treasure hunting +was synonymous with ditch digging. Now he knew what the author meant. + +Scotty and Zircon prepared to dive, shifting the regulators to fresh +tanks. While they checked equipment, Rick rummaged through the boat's +locker and found a length of heavy line. An empty water jug with a screw +cap was attached to it, and he handed the end of the line to Scotty to +take down with him. + +"The fishing float and line isn't heavy enough. Let's add this, just in +case." + +Scotty took it and went over the side. He carried his spear gun while +Zircon took the wrecking bar. Rick watched as they vanished from sight, +leaving only the continuing track of bubbles. + +Ashore, a man came out of the fancy frogmen's house and walked down to +the beach. He shaded his eyes and stared at the _Water Witch_. Rick +pointed him out to Tony. + +"This business stumps me," the archaeologist admitted. "Are you certain +about the identity of the man who was trailing Ames?" + +"We're dead sure." + +"Then is there any possible way he could have known about our presence +on the island?" + +"Not unless he recognized the _Water Witch_." + +"That must be it. The question is, what do we do about it?" + +"Nothing, I guess. Except to be on our guard." + +Twin sets of bubbles rose, some distance from the boat, showing that +both lungs were working well twenty fathoms down. Since the bubbles did +not ascend vertically, they did not show the location of the two on the +bottom. Rick studied them, working on an idea. + +The chicken had dropped pretty close to them. But since their floats +were tied to the reef, and their bubbles were carried off a vertical +path by the light currents, neither could have been used to pinpoint +their whereabouts--_unless whoever dropped the chicken had an excellent +knowledge of the currents in this particular place_! + +He carried the thought further. The shadow had gotten upset because he +and Scotty had gone swimming in an area where something was hidden. At +least, that was a reasonable assumption, based on the events at St. +Thomas. The fancy diving gear in the house, the attempt to warn them +off, and the presence of Steve's erstwhile shadow on Clipper Cay could +then be added up. + +Right here, in this particular area, another mysterious something was +hidden! Something that the fancy frogmen dived often to see, use, +collect, or whatever they did with it. That would account for their +familiarity with the currents! + +He started to tell Tony, then reconsidered. It was a pretty good +hypothesis, he thought, but not supported by ironclad evidence. If he +told the scientists, they might forbid any more diving in the area. And +he was determined to get that treasure--more for his sister Barby than +for himself. If he failed to get it there would be no living with Barby, +since she would always maintain _she_ could have found it if they had +only allowed her to go on their old expedition. + +Zircon and Scotty broke water and Rick helped them aboard. + +"It's a ship, and a sailing ship at that," Zircon boomed. "We identified +what was almost certainly a compass binnacle, probably brass, but there +wasn't time to get it free and bring it up. Scotty found what is +probably the muzzle of a cannon, buried in the sand." + +"There's so much growth over everything that it's hard to tell what's +what," Scotty added. "But it certainly looked like a cannon muzzle." + +"From what we saw, I suspect that the portion above the sand is the +stern, probably the stern super-structure. If the timbers haven't +completely rotted away, ripping off the top should expose the stern +cabins." + +"That seems reasonable," Tony agreed. "At any rate, it's a good basis +for operation. Rick, if you'll look in my kit, you will find a larger +bar you can borrow. You'll both need tools if you're going to take the +ship apart." + +"Anyway, that's enough diving for the morning," Zircon said. "Let's up +anchor and go." + +While the others got the boat underway, Rick started the compressor in +the cockpit and connected up the tanks they had used. He almost wished +he and Scotty had been extravagant and had ordered triple tank blocks to +give them maximum time under water. Still, the singles were convenient, +and diving was a sport it wasn't wise to overdo. By the time they were +through with lunch and had rested awhile, the tanks would be fully +charged again. + +As they tied up, Zircon said, "Tony and I will work at his midden this +afternoon. You two take the boat. We won't need it. I'll walk over and +take a look every once in a while, and if we see our friends from the +cottage near you, we'll come running." + +The boys helped Tony prepare a simple lunch of soup and sandwiches, then +all hands retired to the front porch to eat. + +Up the beach, there were signs of activity around the frogmen's boat. As +they ate and watched, the boat moved away from the pier and approached +the reef, where it anchored. Rick went to get the binoculars and focused +them on the scene. + +Two frogmen, complete with suits, went over the side right where their +buoys floated! + +"They're diving at the wreck!" he exclaimed. + +Zircon took the glasses and watched, then handed them to Tony. + +The archaeologist muttered, "Surely they can't be interested in the +treasure. It would be simply too much coincidence for them even to know +about it." + +"Maybe they're just looking to see what interested us," Scotty offered, +and his explanation seemed the most plausible. + +The group watched until the frogmen surfaced and the boat went back to +its pier. + +"Scotty has it," Zircon agreed. "From what we've seen, I'd say they +simply followed our buoy lines down to see what we had been doing." + +"If that's the extent of their interest, I don't see how we could +object," Tony said. "Or even if they tried for the treasure we'd have no +grounds for objecting. The ship is anyone's property after all these +years." + +Rick said flatly, "We won't do any objecting, but we'll do plenty of +watching. We're going to get that treasure if it's there, whether the +fancy frogmen like it or not!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The Wailing Octopus + + +As Rick steered the _Water Witch_ to its anchorage above the reef, he +told Scotty about the theory he had developed that morning. + +He concluded, "Their going out to take a look where we were diving is +another piece of evidence. Unless they were afraid that we might be +interested in their stuff--whatever and wherever it is--why would they +be so concerned about what we're doing?" + +"It makes a lot of sense," Scotty agreed soberly. He looked at Rick with +a sudden twinkle. "It might be a good idea to take a look around down +below--just so we'll know what to stay away from, of course." + +Rick grinned. + +By the time they dropped anchor, Scotty had the diving gear rigged and +it was only the work of minutes to get into the water. Each carried a +spear gun in one hand and a wrecking bar in the other. Ordinarily they +would not have bothered with the guns, but being armed seemed just +common sense. + +On the bottom, Rick scouted around the wreck, looking for signs of its +former structure while Scotty attacked the stern with a crowbar. Under +Scotty's prying, a timber suddenly gave with an audible crack, and a +huge grouper that must have weighed nearly three hundred pounds rushed +past Rick, startling him half to death until he saw what it was. + +Scotty hooted in derision as Rick back-pedaled, then he put his bar down +and swam to Rick's side. He scrawled on his belt slate, "Whre he cm +frm?" + +Rick shrugged. It was a good question. They swam slowly around, looking +for the grouper's hiding place and failed to locate it. Rick knew the +big fish liked caves, rocky clefts, and the interiors of wrecks. This +one must have a hole somewhere. + +He tried again, going right down to the bottom and crawling along with +stomach touching the sand. Even so, he might have missed the hole if +stirred-up dust from the fish's sudden departure hadn't indicated where +it was. The hole, big enough for him to crawl through, was _under_ the +wreck, hidden by rotted planks covered with marine growth. He hooted for +Scotty's attention and showed it to him. + +He took his belt slate and wrote, "Way into shp?" + +Scotty nodded and wrote in his turn, "Too drk. Need lites." + +Rick nodded. For a moment he was tempted to try ripping off the planks +with his bar, but he decided against it. Any disturbance might very well +collapse the entire structure. He wondered whether the hole was just a +shallow opening, or whether it actually led into the ship. No matter. +They had watertight flashlights with their spare gear in the boat. They +could find out on the next dive. + +For their remaining time underwater he joined Scotty in his assault on +the stern of the ship. They were rewarded by finding what was evidently +the interior of a cabin. Rick ripped off another plank, then jumped as +Scotty hooted four times for danger. The cabin was the home of a fairly +large moray eel! Both boys dropped their bars and grabbed for their +spear guns, but Scotty held up his hand in a sign to wait. Rick did so, +and saw the big eel emerge and swim rapidly toward the reef. + +Scotty had shown wisdom. The moray is hard to kill, and this one would +have given them a battle that might have used up more air than they +could spare. + +The water inside the cabin was murky. Rick looked at his watch. They had +only a few minutes left. He wrote on his slate, "Sty dwn til rsrve +wrning." + +Scotty nodded agreement. + +They watched as the water settled and the interior of the cabin grew +clearer. Evidently it had been a very small cabin. There was a rotted +frame that might once have been a single bunk, and a few broken, almost +disintegrated boards that might have been a table. Mattress and bedding +had long since vanished. Then Rick spotted a squarish shape under the +ruin of the bunk and motioned to Scotty. They went in after it. + +The top crumbled under their touch and silt rose into the water around +them. But Rick persisted and felt fabric under his hands. He pulled it +out and recognized a seaman's jacket, brass buttons corroded and fabric +nearly rotted through. Apparently they had found a sea chest, but their +exploring hands discovered nothing but rotted fabrics. + +Rick felt the warning constriction that told him he had only minutes +left. He pulled down the reserve lever of his tank and touched Scotty's +arm. He hooted twice for the ascent. + +Back in the _Water Witch_, they connected their tanks to the compressor, +put the regulators on charged tanks, then tested their underwater +flashlights. + +Rick said, "Do you realize I haven't taken a single picture?" + +"Why not take some on the next dive?" + +"Good idea." Rick went into the cabin and brought out his camera. + +The camera was the same one he had adapted for night movies, during +their adventure known as _Smugglers' Reef_. He had built an underwater +case for it from stainless steel and Lucite. An intricate gear +arrangement allowed him to focus or change aperture underwater, and a +light meter in the rear of the case told him what setting to use. There +was an ordinary inner-tube valve projecting from one side by which the +case could be charged with compressed air to compensate for the pressure +of the water. The unit was battery-powered and had a bracket for +mounting the infrared light used for night photography. + +He unscrewed the front of the case and took the camera from its mount. +He hesitated. "Suppose there's enough light down there for color film?" + +"There might be," Scotty replied, "but you wouldn't gain much by using +color. Everything would photograph in shades of green. Might as well +have it in shades of gray." + +"You've got a point." Rick loaded the camera with fast black-and-white +film and returned it to the case. Then he replaced the cover and +disconnected the compressor long enough to pump pressure into the camera +case. "Ready to go," he announced. + +"Take it easy," Scotty said. "We'd better rest a half hour or so. If we +don't knock ourselves out, we can get in three more dives today." + +Rick knew the wisdom of that. He adjusted the camera and took a series +of "establishing" shots, to establish that the movie had been taken on a +boat near an island. Then, when the time came to dive, he photographed +Scotty entering the water. At his direction, Scotty got out again, while +Rick got in, swam down a few feet, and took a shot of Scotty entering +from that angle. Then the camera followed as Scotty flippered smoothly +down into the deep water. + +Rick followed, camera extended in front of him, sighting through the +gun-type sights mounted on top of the case. There was a handgrip on each +side, with the controls handy to his fingers. By watching the light +meter he could change his exposure as the shifting light required. + +He moved ahead of Scotty, panned across the wreck, then reversed the +camera to photograph Scotty approaching. On a hunch, he stood well back +when Scotty approached the underwater entrance and got a picture that +was priceless! The grouper had returned to his home, and frightened by +the light that suddenly probed his hide-out, he flashed out and caught +Scotty by surprise. Scotty dropped his flashlight and back-pedaled +frantically. Grinning, Rick kept his camera grinding. Scotty turned and +saw that Rick was shooting, and held both hands to his face in mock +dismay. Rick cut and secured the camera to an outcropping with its +safety line. + +Scotty picked up his light and crawled slowly into the opening. Rick +waited, watching anxiously to be sure his friend's hoses and regulator +cleared the entrance. Then Scotty vanished inside. In a moment he +reappeared, headfirst, and beckoned. + +Rick followed him in, his own flashlight extended. It was a little murky +from the grouper's hurried departure, but he saw instantly that they +were in what had been for those days a large cabin. This must have been +the skipper's quarters. His light picked out the remains of furniture, +including one massive chair that was still in good condition. + +Scotty gestured with his light and Rick saw an oaken door. He swam over +to it and inspected it closely. It was still firm, still in place. Where +did it lead? + +There was only one way to find out. He took hold of the old-fashioned +handle and pulled. The door didn't budge. Rick tried again and failed. +He swung himself around and put both feet on the wall next to the door, +then applied leverage. + +The handle came completely off. Rick sailed backward across the cabin +and his tank rang like a bell as it struck something metallic. Scotty +hurried to his side, and Rick gestured that he was all right. They +turned to inspect the object against which Rick had hurtled and found +that it was the still-sound strap for a beam, probably made of wrought +iron. + +Rick took his belt slate and wrote, "Whre wld he hide it?" + +Scotty read it with his light, then shrugged. They began a methodical +inspection of the cabin, surprised that it was so clear of marine life. +Rick surmised that the opening had developed only recently, perhaps from +the shifting of the ship. They found a closet and a heap of what had +once been clothes on its floor. Then Scotty made the big discovery of +the day. He reached into a shelf space above the bunk, hand exploring, +and touched something hard. He drew it out. It looked like a +green-covered bundle about a foot long and two inches thick. But before +he had a chance to inspect it further, his air gave out and both boys +hurried to the surface on their reserves. + +Aboard the _Water Witch_ they shed their equipment and sat down to +inspect Scotty's find. The covering proved to be layer after layer of +oilcloth, wrapped around the object. The outer layers had deteriorated +somewhat, but the inner ones were intact. + +Scotty finished unwrapping and found a second wrapping of still-dry +linen. He pulled the linen off, and both boys gasped. It was a jeweled +dagger, with a good-sized ruby winking in its hilt! + +"Take it out of the sheath," Rick suggested. + +Scotty did so, and disclosed a blade covered with some hard brown +substance. "That's not rust. Got a jackknife?" + +Rick found one and handed it to him. Scotty scraped and was rewarded by +the gleam of bright metal. + +"It must have been coated with heavy grease," Rick remarked. "During the +years, the grease hardened into a permanent rustproof coating. Wait +until the scientists see this!" + +Scotty grinned his pleasure. "This is one treasure the log didn't +mention. Poor Captain Campion must have thought a lot of it to protect +it so thoroughly." + +"He might have been taking it to the New World as a gift for some +influential friend," Rick ventured. "It looks like Spanish work." + +Scotty looked at Rick speculatively. "Are you making a claim on this?" + +Rick knitted his brows. What was Scotty driving at? "You found it," he +said. "Technically, we're supposed to share and share alike, the four of +us and Barby. But how do you split a dagger? And we wouldn't sell it, +anyway. It's too nice a souvenir." + +"I'll ask Tony and Zircon," Scotty said, "but if none of you have any +objection, I would like to claim it, because I want to give it to Dad +for a birthday present next month." + +Rick punched him on the arm. "You'll get no objection from me. Or from +Tony and Zircon either." + +"I can buy presents for the family," Scotty said slowly. "I do, on +birthdays and Christmas. But I've always wanted to give Dad something +really special, something to tell him how I feel about being taken into +the family." + +Rick nodded. He knew how Scotty felt, and he liked him all the better +for it. "Let's get ready for the next dive," he said abruptly. + +They went through the necessary checks on their equipment, transferring +the regulators to the third set of tanks. Rick decided to leave the +camera on the boat this time. He was anxious to inspect the ship +thoroughly, and photography took time. + +After a half hour of rest the boys went back into the water again, +carrying their wrecking bars and spear guns, flashlights on their belts. + +An inch-by-inch inspection of the cabin disclosed no more treasures, but +Rick found a plate, still intact. He wondered if it were the plate from +which the captain had last dined before the pirate attack, and put it +outside the entrance to be carried to the surface. + +Once satisfied that the cabin held no secrets, the boys attacked the +door. It was hard work, and they raised so much dust that their light +beams were almost useless. However, they struggled on until the door +finally gave, only to admit quantities of sand. + +Rick guessed that the door had opened onto a deck that was now buried +far under the sand. They went outside to allow the murkiness to settle +in the cabin, and Rick consulted his watch. Their time was nearly up. He +hooted to Scotty and they surfaced. + +The first tanks they had used were ready now. They shifted the +regulators and hooked up another pair to the compressor. + +"I'm afraid Tony was right," Rick said. "We'll have to take the ship +apart piece by piece." + +Scotty examined his foot where the fin was rubbing a little. "What would +be a logical hiding place? If I were the captain, I'd probably hide the +statue under false flooring or something. Anyway, I'd hide it aft, in +officer's country, and not near the forecastle where the crew lived." + +"That's probably right. Anyway, we won't have time to do much wrecking +today. What say we hunt for loose boards in the cabin?" + +Scotty grinned. "The treasure fever has got our boy Rick. Have you +forgotten we were going to see what those fancy frogmen were curious +about?" + +Rick grinned back, a little sheepishly. "You're right. I had forgotten. +Well, we can spend half the time looking for the treasure and the other +half looking for the frogmen's cache." + +The search for the treasure disclosed no loose boards, or anything +resembling a secret hiding place. At the end of ten minutes they turned +from the wreck and swam along the bottom toward the reef. + +Since they had no idea what they were looking for, the search couldn't +be a very carefully planned one. Rick led the way, following the reef, +taking time to examine the coral formations. There were countless sea +urchins, and enough small fish to feed the entire population. Bigger +fish, however, were not plentiful. Once Rick saw a snook that would have +been worth taking, but the fish sped off into the watery gloom. Again, +Scotty called his attention to a deadly scorpion fish. This small, +rather weird-looking little creature had a dangerous defense mechanism +in the spines of his back. His poison bore a strong resemblance to cobra +venom. The boys gave him a wide berth. + +Now and then a moray glared at them with unwinking eyes from a crevice, +but the boys paid no attention. The morays wouldn't attack unless +disturbed, and there was no reason for disturbing them. Rick wondered if +the big one they had ousted from the wreck had found a new home. + +They passed a colony of sea worms, colorful even in the green light. The +worms were pretty, but their long hairs could give a painful sting. + +Their time was growing short. Rick consulted his watch, then his depth +gauge. They were at eighty-five feet. Because of the shallower water +they would have a little more time, perhaps another five minutes before +constricted breathing told them only a few minutes of air remained. + +Scotty found a puffer and waved at him, but the fish paid no attention. +Scotty motioned to Rick, then reached out and scratched the creature's +stomach. It began to gulp water until it resembled a balloon. They left +it to return to normal in its own time. On the surface, the puffer would +have gulped air in the same way. They had caught them on lines many +times. + +They were past the _Water Witch_ now, Rick estimated. He hooted at +Scotty, then led the way up to a depth of about forty feet. There he +started back along the cliff. + +Suddenly he wished he had brought a game bag attached to his belt. The +reef here was alive with shellfish. He identified cowries, whelks, and +some excellent specimens of Triton's horn. They would have to come back +again, to collect some to take home. The biggest problem was getting the +animals out of their shells, unless there were some anthills on the +island. Ants would do the job neatly in a few days. + +Scotty hooted, and pointed. Directly ahead was a small shelf. Rick moved +to Scotty's side and saw the dark opening of a cave. Next to the opening +was a small octopus. As they approached he changed color, trying to +imitate the multicolored coral against which he rested. + +Rick reached out a hand and the animal retreated, sliding into the mouth +of the cave. Apparently this was his home, because the ledge was +littered with shells from a number of meals. + +Now Rick wished for his camera, then smiled inwardly. To satisfy all his +unexpected wishes he would need a sort of underwater trailer to tow his +gear. + +Scotty moved close to the octopus and it retreated still further. Both +boys knew the creatures were harmless to divers, and some divers even +handled them. But there were reports of divers being bitten while +playing with octopuses, and they had learned long ago that unnecessary +risks were foolish. + +Rick suddenly rocked back as his ears were smitten by sound. A wail +echoed in his head, so intense that it almost hurt. Scotty started, too, +and reached for the ledge in his astonishment. + +The octopus peered out of the cave, and the wail came again, buzzing +uncomfortably in their heads. And in that moment, Rick's air gave out. +He pulled the reserve lever and planed to the surface, Scotty close on +his heels. + +On the _Water Witch_ they stared at each other. + +"Did you hear that?" Scotty demanded. + +"I'll say I did!" + +"That octopus wailed," Scotty insisted. "Twice!" He hesitated, then put +Rick's thoughts into words. "Only--octopuses don't wail. They don't make +noise of any kind." + +"This one did," Rick said. "A wailing octopus! This is either a new +scientific find, or ..." + +"Or we've found what the fancy frogmen didn't want us to find," Scotty +concluded. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Lights on Clipper Reef + + +"This," Hobart Zircon boomed, "is a phenomenon that will rock the +science of zoology to its very depths! We will examine this creature and +determine his genus and species, and we will name him after you two. +_Octopus waili branti-scotti._ Or perhaps _Octopus screami_ would be +better." + +"Of course we're not certain that it was a wail," Rick said soberly. "He +might have been singing. He might even have been telling us to go catch +him a fish." + +Tony Briotti observed, "This may not be an isolated phenomenon. Who +knows? A search may disclose screaming squid, or simpering sharks, or +burbling barracuda." + +"Seriously," Zircon asked, "have either of you a theory to account for +this? Or do you really believe that the octopus wailed?" + +"We'd be in a better position to answer that if we'd had a chance to +explore the cave," Scotty replied. "How can we tell? Maybe the octopus +really did wail, and we were the lucky ones who heard the sound for the +first time." He grinned. "We should have wailed back and tried to strike +up a conversation." + +Rick agreed. "I'm with Scotty. We just don't know. I agree that a +wailing octopus is a new kind of beast, but that's not entirely +impossible, is it?" + +"Perhaps not." Tony stared at the sunset. "I'm trying to recall the +physiology of _Octopus vulgaris_, as the garden variety of octopus is +called, but my memory isn't working. It isn't beyond reason. After all, +some fish make sounds. I've caught croakers myself that were pretty +noisy. But I've never heard of octopus sounds until now." + +Scotty chuckled. "Haven't I read that octopuses have some intelligence? +We might teach him to sing. He'd be a natural for television." + +"You say that the sound was loud?" Tony asked. + +"Very loud. My head hurt. Did yours, Scotty?" + +"I'll say! For a minute I thought my brain cells were rubbing together." + +Zircon sighed. "I am stumped. And not only by your Wailing Willie, +either. This whole affair baffles me, including the presence of Steve's +former tail on this island. Hasn't it occurred to you that those fancy +frogmen, as you call them, would have made some overt move by now if +they were really interested in us?" + +"Dropping the chicken was an overt move," Rick pointed out. + +"Yes and no. I'd prefer to call it a not-too-subtle warning. Yet they +haven't tried to interfere with your diving around the wreck." + +"I've wondered about that," Scotty offered, "and it seems to me they've +satisfied themselves that our interest is just in the wreck, and not in +whatever they have hidden underwater. If they have anything hidden, I +mean. As long as we stick with the wreck, they have no reason for +causing trouble." + +Tony agreed. "That makes sense to me. Perhaps you can answer this: Why +do they wear cold-water suits? It's appreciably cooler at twenty +fathoms, but it's certainly not cold enough for a suit." + +"We only stay down fifteen minutes," Scotty said. "If we stayed down +longer we might get chilled. The water isn't warm by any means down by +the wreck." + +Rick had a thought. "We're used to cold water, remember? Diving off +Spindrift would chill a polar bear, even in summer. Suppose these people +had done all their diving in tropic waters? This water would seem cold +to them, particularly down deep." + +It was nearly dark now, only a glimmer of light in the west. The four +sat on the front porch of the cottage. + +Zircon asked, "Did you monitor the radio tonight, Rick?" + +"Yes, but there was no word from Steve." + +"Don't you think he might like to know about the presence of his shadow +on Clipper Cay?" Tony inquired. + +Rick pointed to the Sky Wagon resting on the beach. "Trouble is, that's +our only communication. I could contact the St. Thomas airport and +request that they pass a message, but that would be like broadcasting it +to the world. Steve might not like it." + +Zircon's deep voice cut into his comment. "Look! Our friends are +apparently going to do some night work." + +There were lights on the frogmen's boat, and it was putting out. As the +Spindrifters watched, it slowly approached the reef, then stopped. +Scotty got the glasses and examined the scene. "Something's up!" he +exclaimed. "I saw a diver go over the side!" + +Hobart Zircon coughed self-consciously. "Do you know, I have taken a +certain amount of pride in the fact that I am by nature a conservative +individual with a highly developed capacity for minding my own +business." + +Rick wondered what on earth the big scientist was getting at. + +"The pursuit of truth has led me along many devious routes," Zircon +continued. "I have tried, with some success and many failures, to plumb +the mysteries of Nature. But while I have tried to make the business of +our natural universe my own, I have never thrust my not-inconsiderable +nose into the business of neighbors. However, this admirable reticence +has limits, since, as a scientist, I am also possessed of that inherent +trait of curiosity without which no person can succeed in science." + +Rick exploded into laughter. "And what you're leading up to is, you want +to go see what those people are doing!" + +"Precisely," Zircon admitted. + +Tony and the boys roared with laughter. + +"Hobart," Tony said with a chuckle, "you never fail to astonish me. And +how do you propose to stick your not-inconsiderable nose into the +business now going on over there?" + +Zircon waved his hand. "The method was developed by our young Mr. Brant, +who sometimes shows slight sparks of intelligence. He has a device which +projects infrared light, and glasses that allow the wearer to see +whatever that light illuminates." + +Rick stared. Zircon was proposing that they take his underwater camera +and use it for illumination. That must mean ... "You want to swim over +with the lungs?" he asked incredulously. + +"And why not?" + +"But we've never done any night diving!" + +"You tested the camera at night, did you not?" + +"Yes," Rick admitted, "but that was in water that we knew, off Pirate's +Field at home. And we only stayed in long enough to expose a few feet of +film." + +"We know enough about these waters to know that there are no dangerous +obstructions beyond the reef, at least between here and the _Maiden +Hand_." + +Scotty laughed. "This is a day I never thought would come. It's usually +the other way around, with Rick trying to sell some idea that everyone +else opposes. Why not swim at night, Rick?" + +"No reason," Rick admitted. "It was just that it hadn't occurred to me. +There's one difficulty, though. I have only two pairs of glasses with +infrared-sensitive lenses. So only two of us could go." + +"Only two could dive with the camera," Tony corrected. "But all of us +could go. Two would remain on the surface, with the floats, in case of +trouble." + +"Who would dive and who would stay on the surface?" Scotty demanded. + +Rick produced a quarter. "Let coins decide. Except for the professor. He +thought of it, so he dives." + +"Fair enough," Scotty agreed. "All right with you, Tony?" + +"Of course. The three of us, then. Odd man goes with Hobart." + +Tony and Scotty produced coins. With Rick, they walked into the living +room and lighted a kerosene lamp. + +"Now," Rick said, and tossed his coin, catching it in the palm of his +hand and slapping it onto his other wrist. Tony and Scotty followed +suit. Rick uncovered first. He had heads. Tony uncovered and displayed a +tail. + +Scotty groaned. "Shucks! I lose. It's one of you." + +Rick held his breath as Scotty uncovered--another tail! He turned to +Zircon. "We dive, while Scotty and Tony stay topside." + +"Good. Well, what are we waiting for?" + +They changed quickly into trunks, then assembled their diving gear. Rick +took the front plate from his camera and put the infrared searchlight on +its mounting bracket. He changed to a fresh battery, then replaced the +film in the camera with the special infrared-sensitive film. + +Whatever the infrared illuminated could be seen through special glass. +Rick had ordered lenses ground from the glass and had placed them in +frames made to fit into a face mask. These frames could be purchased at +any diving-equipment supply house. They had been designed for divers who +had to wear their own corrective glasses, and they suited Rick's purpose +to perfection. He handed a pair to Hobart Zircon, then inserted the +other pair in his own mask. + +Zircon, Tony, and Scotty decided to take spear guns. Zircon chose Rick's +rubber-powered gun, while Tony selected the light spring gun. Scotty +chose the highest-powered gun they had, a new jet-type powered with +carbon dioxide. + +Rick and Zircon connected their regulators to two freshly filled tanks, +then tested the equipment. Zircon tied a rope to his belt. + +The big scientist drew them together for a brief conference. + +"We'll swim out and cross the reef," he directed. "Then we'll swim along +the reef, staying as close as possible to the breakers. They will help +conceal us. When we approach the boat, Tony and Scotty will stop and +hold position. Scotty, are the binoculars waterproof?" + +"Yes, they are." + +"Then take them. Rick and I will go directly to the bottom at the base +of the reef. We will then proceed along the reef until we spot our +friends yonder." + +Rick had an unhappy thought. "Suppose they see us?" + +"We will try to prevent them from seeing us. However, if they do, I +suggest a retreat in as good order as we can manage. If they should +catch up with us, we will bluster and bluff our way on the basis that we +were only diving to see if they were trying to search our wreck." + +Scotty laughed. "Turn their own table on them. That's very good, +Professor." + +"I'm glad I'm not a physicist," Tony said piously. "We archaeologists +aren't half so devious." + +"I am acting in my capacity as a former consultant to JANIG, and not as +a physicist," Zircon retorted with dignity. "You will refrain from +casting aspersions on my profession, Doctor Briotti." + +"My apologies," Tony said, grinning. "In other words, the man is +devious, but the scientist is not." + +"Exactly. Well, shall we go?" + +Rick was glad to get into the water. The camera in its underwater case +was heavy in air, but weighed only a few ounces in water. He swam with +face mask under, breathing through his snorkel and letting the camera +hang. + +They crossed the reef without difficulty, then turned to swim along it. +The trough just seaward of the breaking point of the waves was the most +comfortable swimming position and they went in single file, Zircon +leading. + +Every now and then Rick looked up. They were getting near the boat, he +thought. Perilously near. The boat was anchored just inside the reef, +and he could see activity on its deck. Apparently the frogmen had +returned from their first dive and were changing tanks. + +Zircon stopped swimming and lay motionless in the water. Rick drew +abreast of the big scientist, and Tony and Scotty stopped behind them. +As they watched, suited figures with belt lights and back tanks climbed +down a ladder into the water. A third man, on deck, lowered something to +them. It was hard to see, but Rick thought it had a golden glisten and +that it was round, about the size of a basketball. The frogmen took it +and went under. + +[Illustration: _A third man lowered something that glistened like gold_] + +Zircon's big hand took Rick by the shoulder, then he turned and motioned +to the others that they were going under. Rick shifted from snorkel to +aqualung mouthpiece. He took the end of rope that Zircon held out and +snapped it to his weight belt. He and Zircon were now connected by a +ten-foot length of rope, necessary to keep them from becoming separated +in the darkness. + +He submerged and dove straight down into the blackness. His thumb +compressed the button on the side of the case and the camera started, +the infrared light turning on. A narrow cone of water extending out +about twenty feet was illuminated, but the illumination was visible only +through the special glasses he and Zircon wore. + +Rick held the button until they reached bottom, then suddenly realized +he would use all his film before they had even found the frogmen. He +groaned silently. Why hadn't he used his head? The light as well as the +camera motor were operated by the same button. If he had only thought, +it would have been a few seconds' work to change the circuit so the +light would be on continuously. Or he might even be able to rig a +waterproof switch that would operate just the light. + +Well, it was too late now. He jerked on the rope for Zircon to stop, +then took his belt slate and wrote, "Cam on whn lite is. Wll use nw & +thn." He held it in the beam of infrared light for Zircon to read. The +scientist scribbled "OK" under the message, then gave him a gentle push +as a signal to go ahead. + +Rick held his wrist in the beam and read ninety-two feet on his depth +gauge. He calculated quickly. They would have enough air for about +twenty-five minutes at this depth. + +He held the camera switch long enough to see that there was only smooth +bottom ahead, then released it. Almost total blackness flooded in. For +all practical purposes it was completely dark, no glimmer of light to +mark their way. + +For an instant Rick felt panic, but reason reasserted itself. It was +instinctive to feel fear under such circumstances, he thought. Not only +was he out of his own medium, air, but in a high-pressure realm +inhabited by potentially dangerous creatures. He grinned inwardly at the +thought. The most dangerous creatures in this vicinity were human. + +A twinkle of light stopped him, but Zircon continued on and the +connecting line tightened. Rick identified the twinkle as +phosphorescence from some marine creature on the reef. There were many +such in the ocean. He flashed the infrared light, saw that they were +still heading properly, and cut it off again. + +The rope at his belt tugged four times for danger! He stopped instantly, +letting go of the camera with one hand while he reached for his belt +knife. Then he saw what Zircon had seen, a glow in the water ahead and +above them. Rick estimated quickly the distance they had traveled. There +was no doubt of it. The frogmen were at the octopus cave! + +He followed Zircon's lead, cutting the light off and on as necessary, as +the big scientist moved ahead. The glow grew in intensity, but they were +still too far away to see its exact position, or whether there were men +around it. + +Rick's heart beat faster, and his breathing speeded up appreciably. In +spite of Zircon's plan to claim they were only checking on the frogmen's +interest in the wreck, Rick knew that being discovered would mean +serious trouble. He recalled Steve's warning that they were up against a +ruthless enemy. + +The question was, how close could they get without being seen? He could +take pictures at ten feet, but at any greater distance the camera would +be useless. + +Zircon moved ahead, going slowly now. Rick followed, not bothering with +the dark-light unit because the glow in the water was enough for a +beacon. Then the glow faded for a moment as a figure crossed in front of +it. Still Zircon moved ahead until Rick could see two additional, +smaller glows that he identified as the belt lights the frogmen had been +wearing. + +Zircon continued on, still hugging the bottom, and Rick divined his +intention. The big scientist was going to take them directly under the +frogmen! It was logical, since the frogmen would not expect danger +below. + +Rick followed, staying just behind Zircon's flippers, feeling the wash +of water from his wake. The light was nearly overhead now, and Rick saw +dark figures moving. It was unreal, like a Hollywood motion picture, +except that the tense music of a movie production was replaced only by +the soft sighing of their regulators. + +And with the thought, Rick almost lost his mouthpiece. Their bubbles! +Their bubbles would rise right past the frogmen, a dead giveaway! It +might already be too late, because Zircon was almost directly under the +cave! + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Clouds Over Clipper Cay + + +Rick jerked frantically on the tie rope, four times for danger, then he +turned and swam rapidly back the way they had come. At first he felt +resistance on the line, then Zircon hurried to catch up. Not until they +were barely within seeing distance of the light did Rick stop, then he +took his belt slate, started the camera for light, and wrote "Bubbles go +by thm if we undr. They see." + +Zircon held a hand to his head in a sign of chagrin that he had +forgotten, then he wrote, "Hw we gt clos?" + +Rick pondered the problem. The bubbles had alarmed him in another way, +too. It was possible that the man on the boat could see four sets of +bubbles rising where only two were supposed to be. Yet, he couldn't +escape the feeling that it was important to get a look at what the +frogmen were doing. There was no way out of it. He just had to take a +chance. + +He wrote, "I mak pass hldng brth so no bbls, tak pix. U sty out of rnge +& cvr me wth gn." + +Rick had just one hope of getting away with it. He had to assume that +the frogmen would be busy with whatever they were doing in the cave. If +so, their backs would be to the open sea. At least the chance was worth +taking. + +Zircon wrote, "OK bt be crfl." + +Rick didn't need the warning. Together, they swam back until they were +close to the glow of the lights. He hoped that the darkness and breaking +surf above were concealing their bubbles. Finally Zircon halted. Rick +unsnapped the line that held him to the scientist, squeezed Zircon's +shoulder, and swam away from the reef toward the open water. He kept his +head turned so he could keep the light in his field of vision. + +When he was out far enough he swam upward until he was on a level with +the light, and directly out to sea from it. He inhaled, filling his +lungs, then with camera outthrust, he drove directly toward the light. +It wasn't hard to hold his breath--not with his heart acting as a +stopper in his throat. + +The light grew clearer. He started the camera and kept moving with +powerful strokes. Then he held his legs still and let inertia carry him +in a silent glide. He had to get close--close! + +The light grew in intensity, and details grew clearer. He saw the +frogmen, and their backs were to him! Between them, he caught a glimpse +of something brassy and round, and he saw the octopus, clinging to the +reef to one side of the cave. + +He held the camera button as long as he dared. Then when it seemed that +he would glide right into the frogmen, he twisted sideways and bent +backward like a circus acrobat, flippers moving in powerful thrusts. It +was an excellent underwater imitation of a wingover, the plane maneuver +that reversed direction by diving and turning. He planed downward until +he touched bottom, then thrust himself with frantic kicks away from the +vicinity of the cave. + +His lungs were about to burst, he felt, when finally he drew a deep +breath. The gurgling sigh of his bubbles was sheer relief. He kept +moving until he bumped headlong into Hobart Zircon. The scientist +reached out and snapped his rope onto Rick's belt, then tugged twice. + +Zircon led the way along the reef bottom until they reached the spot +where, they estimated, Tony and Scotty would be waiting. As they started +for the surface, Rick switched on the camera and looked at his watch. + +They had been under only ten minutes! And he had been waiting for the +warning constriction of air running out! + +Zircon broke water and instantly submerged again. He led the way a few +feet under the surface to where he had seen Tony and Scotty, then led +Rick to the top once more. + +Tony and Scotty saw them emerge and without a word turned and started +back toward the cottage, pushing their floats. Instead of bothering with +the snorkel, Rick kept the aqualung mouthpiece in place and swam a few +feet under the surface, guiding himself by the wake of the others. He +was tired--and relieved. + +The group crossed over the reef and swam to the beach in front of the +cottage. There they gathered at the water's edge and stripped off their +gear. For long moments no one spoke, then Zircon asked, "See anything, +Rick?" + +"A little. Enough to get an answer, I think. We haven't discovered a new +breed of octopus, because they were installing something in the cave. +Something that makes a noise." + +"Do you know that, or do you infer it?" Tony asked. + +"I didn't hear the noise, if that's what you mean. But what else could +it be?" + +"Too bad," Scotty said. "Now we won't have a new species named after us. +Come on, give us the word. How was it?" + +Rick said, with complete truth, "I was scared to death." + +"And so was I," Zircon admitted. "At first the sensation of complete +blackness caused an emotional reaction. Then I began to see that we had +done a rather foolish thing. And I almost got us into trouble by +forgetting that we send up a constant stream of bubbles." He told them +of his plan to get under the cave, and of Rick's warning. + +"We thought of your bubbles," Scotty told them. "I talked it over with +Tony, and came within an ace of diving after you, although I doubt that +I could have reached bottom and found you. But we watched, and we +couldn't see any bubbles at all. It was too dark, and we were right +where the water was breaking." + +"My question is, did you get a picture?" Zircon wanted to know. + +"I'm sure I did. The camera was going, and it probably saw much more +than I did--since cameras don't get scared. But it won't do us much good +right now. We can't develop the film." + +The boys picked up the equipment and carried it to the _Water Witch_. +Rick turned off the compressor. He was too tired to wait until all tanks +were full. Time enough for that in the morning. + +When he and Scotty returned to the cottage, Tony greeted them with cups +of hot chocolate and they sat on the porch and enjoyed them. + +"Let's sum up what we know," Zircon invited. "If anyone agrees that we +know anything worth summing." + +"I think we do," Rick said, "and I think we ought to get it to Steve +Ames. We don't know what he's after, or what kind of gang he's fighting, +but we know one of them is here." + +"Yes, and we also know that Steve's agency is primarily concerned with +protecting military secrets," Zircon added. "I agree with Rick. We must +get word of these mysterious frogmen to him." + +"We discussed that earlier," Tony recalled. "In view of our discussion, +it would seem that either Rick or Scotty or both must fly to Charlotte +Amalie and tell him personally." + +Scotty pointed at the sky. "Have any of you looked up there?" + +All of them did. The moon was just rising, and there was enough light to +see heavy cirrus moving high overhead. + +"There's a front of some kind moving down on us," Scotty said. "And did +you notice the swells tonight? Long ones. I'm no first-class weather +forecaster, but all the signs are there. We're in for a storm. The +question is, how soon will it arrive?" + +"He's right," Zircon agreed. "I'm glad you're observant, Scotty. +Frankly, I hadn't even bothered looking at the weather. I suppose I +thought it would just continue to be perfect." + +Rick stared at the gathering clouds for long moments, then put into +words the thing that had been bothering him. + +"You know, there has been a cloud over this vacation almost from the +moment we landed at Charlotte Amalie. We didn't want to get involved in +anything but diving and exploring, but we got pulled by the ears into a +hot case. Steve warned us off that first day. The warning didn't help, +because we got dragged back into things when we went swimming, and again +at the hotel." + +Three faces were turned toward him, listening. He was expressing what +all of them had been thinking, too. + +"We thought we'd leave trouble behind when we came here," Rick +continued, "but it was waiting for us. We didn't look for it, until +tonight." + +He drew a deep breath. "Well, from now on we have to become the hunters. +Steve Ames doesn't know there's anything strange going on here. We do, +and it's up to us to find out what. The goings-on in the octopus cave +have something to do with the case Steve is working on--and what Steve +is working on has something important to do with national security." + +He smiled grimly. "I know none of you will disagree with this, because +it's the only thing we can do. Professor Zircon knew it tonight when he +tried to excuse our looking in on the frogmen as curiosity." + +Zircon nodded silently. + +"From now on," Rick concluded, "we have to operate as unofficial JANIG +agents, until we can get word to Steve Ames so he and his men can take +over." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Message in the Storm + + +The wind blew. It piled the surf high on the reef and blew the tops from +waves between the reef and the shore. Hour by hour the wind stiffened, +until the breakers on the shore were higher than those through which the +Spindrifters had swum on the reef. + +The first hours of the morning were spent getting ready for a blow. The +_Water Witch_ was secured by springlines, and extra fenders were put +over her side. The four hauled the Sky Wagon high onto the beach by +sheer muscle power, then turned the plane into the wind. Rick and Scotty +salvaged the concrete-block foundation from the wreck of the cottage +where they had found the planks, and used the blocks for land anchors on +the plane. + +The shutters were checked, and closed on the front of the cottage. The +shed where the tank had broken through was repaired as well as +improvised tools and materials allowed, and all loose gear was stowed +inside. + +The rain came. It drove with the wind into the front of the cottage in a +continuous thunder. Its force carried it under the door, through cracks +beside the window frames. The Spindrifters were forced to shred rags to +stuff into cracks. In the kitchen the roof began to leak, and soon every +available pot and pan was being used to catch drippings. + +Rick worked almost in silence, not joining in the bantering of his +friends. As was his way, he worried the problem of the frogmen and their +mysterious behavior the way his dog, Dismal, would worry a bone. + +He discarded a dozen possible reasons for their actions, including +underwater communications, bombs, and an unusual way of fishing. He +pondered on the relations of the Spindrift group--or lack of them--with +the frogmen and re-examined their various theories. + +First premise: The frogmen, specifically Steve's former shadow, hadn't +recognized them or the _Water Witch_. + +Second premise: The frogmen considered them harmless tourists, +interested only in diving to the wreck, and therefore to be watched but +not considered dangerous. + +He rather liked that one. It would mean that the chicken had been +dropped "mischievously," to use Zircon's word, to try to scare them out +of the immediate vicinity. But there were other possibilities. + +First premise: The frogmen knew of their connection with Steve. + +Second premise: The frogmen weren't worried about people with JANIG +connections. + +This might be explained by superior weapons in the hands of the frogmen, +coupled with the assumption that the Spindrifters had no communication +with Steve. It might also be explained by knowledge of their real reason +for being on Clipper Cay. + +Rick didn't care much for the last two premises. The first one seemed +more reasonable. After all, they were not sure that the former tail had +seen the _Water Witch_ in St. Thomas, or had known of their connection +with it. On the contrary, to get to Clipper Cay so soon after the +Spindrifters arrived, the frogman must have left about the same time the +scientists did. There was even a possibility that he had arrived ahead +of the Spindrift group and that the frogmen's boat had been out when +Rick and Scotty had first spotted the diving equipment in the house. +Anyway, there had been no sign of any tail but the Virgin Islander while +they were around the pier and on the _Water Witch_. Either he or Scotty +would almost certainly have spotted a second man--especially since they +had seen him before. + +There was a major precaution, however, to be taken: he and Scotty must +not let Steve's former tail get a good look at them. They had to assume +he had recognized their clumsiness for what it was--a deliberate stall. + +Scotty poked him, and Rick suddenly realized that he had been leaning +for quite a long while on the broom he was supposed to be using. + +"Made up your mind about anything?" Scotty asked. + +Rick knew his friend had been watching him. During their many adventures +each had developed a rather unusual understanding of how the other's +mind worked. + +"Partly," Rick replied. He told Scotty his thoughts. + +"You make sense," Scotty agreed, then added practically, "but I don't +see what difference it makes, whether they know about our connection +with Steve or not. The moment they catch us snooping they'll assume +we're enemies. Until then, they'll let us alone just as they've been +doing." + +Zircon and Scotty joined forces to prepare lunch. The temperature had +dropped sharply, and hot soup and hamburger sandwiches were welcome. + +After lunch, Rick braved the storm long enough to go to the _Water +Witch_ for his camera. He returned to the cottage soaked to the skin. +"We'll need diving equipment to go outside if this keeps up," he +announced. + +He took the camera case apart and disconnected his circuits, then he +went outside again with tools in hand and got into the Sky Wagon. The +plane had a heater switch that would do. He removed it, leaving the +wires to dangle for the moment. If the heater was needed he could put +the wires together. + +That done, he sat in the plane and racked his memory for a source of +sheet rubber. There was none, but he recalled a repair kit for the +plastic floats in their tool supply. He found it and took it back to the +house. + +Using the awl blade on his scout knife, he bored a hole through the +plastic back of the case and installed the switch. Then he reconnected +his circuits so the new switch would turn on only the infrared light. He +waterproofed the switch as best he could, making gaskets from a rubber +jar ring he found in the kitchen. + +He knew, however, that the switch wouldn't be waterproof under pressure. +He took a sheet of plastic repair material from the float repair kit and +shaped it carefully with his knife. After much trial and error he +succeeded in cementing it onto the case so that it would protect the +switch from the outside, but left enough slack for the switch to be +operated through the flexible patch. Satisfied, he put it aside to dry. + +It was nearly time for dinner when he finished. He took a hand in +cooking ham and eggs with fried potatoes, while Tony prepared a salad +and made coffee. + +As they ate, Zircon gestured toward the front of the house. "Getting +worse instead of letting up. This must be a hurricane, although I've +never heard of one quite this early in the season." + +"If it gets much worse we'll have to anchor the cottage," Scotty +observed. + +They finished just in time to tune in for the weather forecast from St. +Thomas. According to the announcer, the storm was now centered off the +island of St. Croix, moving in a northwesterly direction. That meant it +would pass St. Thomas, and perhaps come very close to them. The +announcer said, "While the storm has many of the characteristics of a +hurricane, including the general form and wind velocities, we hesitate +to designate it as one." + +"In other words," Tony said, "it's a hurricane but we'll call it +something else because it's too early in the season for hurricanes." + +"Whatever it is, we'll have more of it," Zircon stated. + +Rick switched to the Navy command frequency in time to intercept a +conversation with a destroyer somewhere off the British Virgin Islands. +The destroyer had just lost one of its boats. + +At four minutes after six the air went silent, then a new voice took +over the microphone. The voice said: + +"_A message for the ones who hunted blue sheep._" + +"That's us!" Rick gasped. + +When Steve had dispatched Rick, Scotty, and Zircon to Tibet, it had been +with the cover story that they were going to hunt the blue sheep called +Bharals in the mountains of West China. Only Steve would know that. The +message was from him. + +Static crackled, but the message was clear: + +"_The one who started the hunt needs the biggest hunter. Only the +biggest hunter. He should be delivered as soon as possible. Call your +usual contact before arrival and say that the doctor is coming and to +notify the patient._" + +The message was repeated, while the four strained to be certain they had +heard every word. When normal traffic resumed, Rick switched the set +off. + +"It appears," Zircon said slowly, "that I'm wanted." + +"Yep." Scotty grinned. "The demand is there, all right. But delivery is +a long way off." + +The storm punctuated his words. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Below the Dark Coral + + +The sky was overcast, ceiling about two thousand feet, visibility about +two miles. The wind was moderate and steady. Rick examined the water in +front of the cottage and told his friends, "I can take off all right. +But I don't want to leave without a weather report or we might find +ourselves with no place to land." + +"I'm going to swap this radio for a newspaper," Scotty grumbled. He had +been trying without success to get a weather report. + +Tony Briotti looked at the Sky Wagon, brows furrowed, then asked, "Rick, +couldn't you turn on the radio in the plane and get a weather report +from the airport at Charlotte Amalie?" + +Rick was climbing into the Sky Wagon before Tony finished. Of course he +could! He called, "I'm a chump!" + +The set warmed and Rick called the airport, then held the phones to his +ears to hear the reply through heavy static. When the airport answered +he asked for a weather report for the area between St. Thomas and +Clipper Cay. He got it, and climbed out, his face thoughtful. + +"The storm is having a pup," he told the others. "We're in a lull at the +moment. The main storm swung off to the north, but there's another one +right on its tail. We have just about time to get to Charlotte Amalie +and back before the second one closes us in." + +The group went into action fast. All four pushed the plane into the +water. Zircon ran to pack a bag, and Tony went to get the film Rick had +taken for Zircon to carry to Steve. Scotty and Rick went through the +check list, inspecting the plane for possible storm damage. Then Rick +started the engine and warmed it up. By the time they were ready, Zircon +was climbing aboard. + +Scotty yelled, "Tony and I will keep the home fires burning. Don't waste +any time, Rick!" + +"I won't." + +Zircon closed the cabin door and Rick taxied out. In a few moments he +was air-borne, swinging seaward over the north end of the island. He +looked down and saw two of the frogmen. They were in front of the house, +watching the plane. + +"Be sure to tell Steve everything," Rick reminded the big scientist, +"and don't forget to give him the film. I won't have time to see him, +unless he meets the plane. But it doesn't matter, because you know +everything Scotty and I do." + +"I'll be glad to get actively to work on this confounded business," +Zircon stated. "I'm so curious about that brass ball the frogmen had in +the cave that I'm about to burst." + +Rick set a compass course for St. Thomas, flying just under the clouds. +When they were a half hour out he contacted the airport again and asked +for the weather. The report hadn't changed. He told the airport +operator, "The doctor is coming. Please notify the patient." He could +almost see the operator jerk to attention as the headphones gave out a +crisp "Roger." + +He sat down on a heavy chop at Charlotte Amalie, and the Sky Wagon gave +them a rough ride as he taxied to the pier. Lieutenant Jimmy Kelly was +waiting in a Navy sedan with an armed guard in attendance. + +Rick supervised the refueling of his plane at the pier gasoline depot, a +task he would not delegate to anyone else. The presence of attendants +made it impossible to talk to the Navy lieutenant. + +As Rick tightened the gas cap, Jimmy Kelly said, "Hop into your great +mechanical bird and shove off, birdman. You'll just about beat the +weather home as it is. Don't stop to fish on the way." + +"I won't. Professor Zircon will tell you an interesting story. And we'll +be monitoring the command channel at six for any advice you can give +us." + +"Okay. Don't get your feet wet." + +Rick waved good-by to Jimmy and Zircon, then taxied out to the clear +area and took off. The ceiling was lower than on the trip in, and he +almost missed Clipper Cay because of strong winds and low visibility. He +spotted the southern tip of the island just in time to avoid going right +on by. He landed with beads of perspiration on his forehead. If he had +missed, with luck he might have hit Puerto Rico, but more likely he +would have had to make a landing in the open ocean. + +Scotty and Tony came to greet him. + +"We were worried," Tony said. "It's closing in fast." + +"I got a little worried myself," Rick admitted. "Anything new here?" + +Scotty gestured toward the northern end of the island. "Our pals have +been busy, diving. They got the brass ball, or whatever it is, and +stowed it aboard their boat. I kept an eye on 'em through the +binoculars. Also, I suspect they're going to do some more diving, +because they left their equipment on the boat." + +Rick didn't particularly care at that moment. The flight back had been +something of a strain. "Let 'em go," he said. "We can't do anything +about it, anyway--not in broad daylight. Maybe tonight we can take a +look." + +They spent the afternoon indoors, napping or reading, unable to swim or +fish because the second storm had arrived on schedule. Then, a few +minutes before six, Rick turned on the radio to the Navy command +channel. + +At six on the nose, the radio emitted: "_A message for the blue-sheep +hunters. The blue sheep seen by the big hunter and the little hunter is +important. Obtain more information if possible. But remember that the +owners of the sheep are also mighty hunters. The snapshots of the sheep +were fine._" + +The message was repeated. When they were sure there was no more, Rick +switched the set off. "Well, we're in it, and with Steve's blessing. Now +what?" + +Scotty shrugged. "Now we steal the brass ball. Didn't Steve's message +say to get more information?" + +"Apparently the pictures turned out well, if I understood that reference +to snapshots correctly," Tony said. "Be serious, Scotty. What can we do +next?" + +"Keep an eye on the frogmen, I guess, and play it by ear. I can't see +anything else to be done. We probably could steal their brass ball, all +right, but they'd know at once who had done it because we're the only +other people on the island." + +"Have you looked recently to see what they're doing?" Tony asked. + +Neither boy had. Both went to the front porch, but the frogmen's cottage +was invisible through the driving rain. "We'll have to go see," Rick +said. + +"After dark," Scotty added. "In about an hour. It will be pretty dark +then." + +"Do you suppose the brass ball is still on the boat?" Rick inquired +thoughtfully. "We might be able to sneak aboard after dark and get a +picture of it from close up, and we could examine it and have something +definite to report to Steve." + +"That's a possibility," Scotty admitted. "Anyway, we can get ready." + +Rick rechecked the camera and infrared unit. He loaded the camera with a +fresh roll of film. Then the three sat in the living room over coffee +and listened to the storm batter at the front of the house until it was +nearly dark outside. + +"What now?" Tony inquired. "Do we all go? Or just one of us?" + +"No point in all of us getting soaked," Scotty said. "Have you had any +experience in this kind of spying, Tony?" + +The archaeologist had not. He grinned. "Until I came to Spindrift, I led +a rather quiet, academic sort of life. Except for the war, of course." + +"Then Scotty or I had better go," Rick said. "Or both of us." + +Scotty shook his head. "No need for both. It's only a reconnaissance, +anyway. Toss you for it." + +Rick produced a coin. "All right. Call it." He flipped it as Scotty +claimed heads. It was a tail. + +"Best two out of three?" Scotty invited. + +Rick grinned. "And after that, best three out of five?" + +Scotty growled, "All right. I'll go." He got ready by taking off shoes +and socks. He could change his shirt and shorts when he returned. He +slipped through the back door and was gone. + +Rick turned on the radio, tried for a weather report, and settled for a +Miami disk jockey who was playing some good records. The static was bad, +but the station came through clearly enough to make listening worth +while. + +Scotty was back before a half dozen records had been played. He sat +down, ignoring the water that dripped from him. "Listen, our friends +just rounded the northern tip of the island in the boat and they're +heading south just inside the eastern reef. What do you make of that?" + +Rick pictured the movements of the enemy boat from Scotty's description. +"They can't be putting out to sea, otherwise they'd be outside the reef. +And they're not interested in anything on the island or they'd have +walked. I'd say they're planning to do some night diving on the eastern +side of the island." + +"In this kind of weather?" Tony asked incredulously. + +"Sure. It's stormy on top, but once you're below the wave motion it's +quiet as ever. They could dive." + +Scotty stood up. "If they can, so can we." + +There was no denial to that. They made a trip to the _Water Witch_ and +collected their equipment, then planned what they would do. + +"We'll all use lungs," Tony said. "We have three regulators and there +are plenty of full tanks, enough for two dives each. However, we have +only two pairs of glasses for the dark-light camera. I'll yield to +Scotty as the more experienced diver, so you and he use the glasses, +Rick. I'll stay on top, or near the top, with a single float, and a gun. +If I use the lung I can stay submerged most of the time and not have to +fight waves." + +"Lash yourself to the float," Scotty cautioned. + +"And we'll use a buddy line," Rick added. "The same one the professor +and I used. Scotty, you take a gun, and I'll take the camera." + +"If I see any trouble in the making, I'll bang on my air tank," Tony +said. "You should be able to hear that for quite a distance." + +There was nothing else to be planned in advance. They picked up their +equipment and went out the back door into the storm, crossing the island +through the palms. As they emerged onto the eastern shore, Scotty +called, "Look--about five hundred yards north." + +The lights of the frogmen's boat, visible as bright halos through the +rain, were tossing violently just inside the eastern reef. Apparently +the boat was anchored. The rain was too thick for them to see any +movement aboard, or to see details of the boat itself. + +"Move carefully," Rick cautioned. He had to raise his voice to be heard +above the storm. "We haven't explored this shore. It may be full of +coral heads." + +"I doubt it," Scotty returned. "It would be too dangerous for the boat +in this kind of weather, even if they knew a channel." + +"Rick's right about careful movement, nevertheless," Tony replied. "We +must move with care, especially near the reef." He indicated his float. +"I'll never be able to tow this through that water, so I'll leave it in +the palm grove. We can pick it up on the way back. We shouldn't need it +with lungs, anyway. Do you boys have rescue packs?" + +The packs were plastic floats compressed into packages no larger than a +cigarette pack. They contained a carbon-dioxide cartridge and could be +inflated simply by squeezing them, which punctured the cartridge. The +boys had carried them on their weight belts for so long that they took +them for granted. + +They donned their equipment, then walked down to the beach. The surf was +not heavy, since the wind was blowing from the opposite side of the +island. Nevertheless, there was enough water motion to lift a fine +screen of sand and dust. + +"The camera will be useless until we get into deeper water," Rick +called. "Let's rope together and swim straight out." + +They waded in, awkward in the fins, until they were deep enough for +swimming. Then all adjusted mouthpieces and started out. Rick tried the +infrared light intermittently, but not until they were in about twenty +feet of water did the roiled bottom allow its use. He led the way to the +reef, the others following in file. + +The reef was closer to the surface than on the western side. Rick had to +swim along it until he found a place where they could cross without +being buffeted by breakers. Once across, he swam down the face of the +reef, knowing that the trip was hard on Tony, because the underwater +world was completely dark to one without light, or glasses with which to +see the infrared illumination. + +Rick found a fairly level shelf at about thirty feet and swam along it, +keeping close to the reef wall, until he thought they were in the +vicinity of the frogmen. Then he pulled twice on the tie rope in a +signal to surface, knowing that Scotty would pass the signal along to +Tony. + +He emerged in a rough sea, only yards from the point on the reef +opposite the anchored boat. He was in time to see two frogmen climb down +the boat's ladder. They got into the water and the third man, on deck, +lowered the brass object to them. + +Rick had no fear that they would be seen from the boat. Their heads +would be hidden by the breaking waves, and their bubbles would merge +with the natural foam. + +He saw at once what their tactics should be. He pulled Scotty and Tony +to him, then let his mouthpiece drop. Putting his lips close to their +ears, he said softly, "If it's like last time, they won't be down long. +Scotty and I will track them to find out where they go, and watch what +they're doing. Then, after they leave, we'll see if they left anything +behind." + +Scotty and Tony nodded. Tony untied the line that had held him to +Scotty. Rick replaced his mouthpiece, cleared a little mist from his +face mask, and led the way down. + +This time the infrared light operated continuously. Now and then Rick +worked the toggle switch through its loose plastic covering and shut the +unit off while he searched for visible light. He found it, far down the +face of the reef. + +The camera made it easy, and his mind was at rest because this time +nature had made it impossible for their bubbles to give them away to +surface watchers. + +There were heavy swells on the surface. He knew it because of the +pressure surges on his ears. But otherwise there was no sign of the +storm. He grinned because he suddenly realized that he felt dry. On the +surface, with the rain beating at him, he had felt like a drowned +kitten. + +Moving with the confidence gained in his first experience, he led the +way seaward, then went to the level of the light. Soon they were close +enough to see the frogmen working over something on a coral ledge on the +reef face. They hovered motionless, watching, and as one of the frogmen +moved they saw that it was the brass ball. + +Rick started his camera. He had an advantage, because the frogmen were +concentrating on what they were doing, their backs to him. He moved in +cautiously, camera grinding, then backed away again when he thought he +had enough long shots. + +One frogman moved away a few feet, and Rick's breathing stopped as the +man's belt light flashed toward him. Had the frogman been looking, he +could have seen the boys, but he was too interested in the second +frogman's actions. + +The second frogman crouched over the brass object, hand moving. + +Rick recoiled as a wail lanced through his head with painful impact. He +felt the rope tighten as Scotty involuntarily drew away. + +It was not the octopus, then! It was the brass ball that wailed. But +why? For what possible reason? + +The frogmen were apparently satisfied. One of them picked up the +powerful light they had been using and turned it off. Then, with only +belt lights, they started back up the reef. + +Rick waited until the lights were no longer visible. He glanced at his +depth gauge and wrist watch. They were at eighty feet, and they had +plenty of air left. He swam to the brass ball, camera grinding. + +He had never seen anything quite like it. The brass sphere was mounted +on a box about twelve inches square and six inches high. From the +sphere, two rounded projections thrust out. He identified a waterproof +switch on the box, and two small knobs mounted on calibrated plates. +These were obviously controls, but he had no idea what they controlled. + +Steve would want a few close-ups. Rick worked his camera focus and took +shots from every angle. When he had enough, he pulled twice on the rope +in a signal to surface. Scotty motioned to him to lead the way. + +As Rick started up, four metallic clangs, irregularly spaced, rang +faintly in his ears. + +Tony, banging his tank in the signal for trouble! Rick instantly changed +course and followed the bottom, watching the water overhead for any sign +of the frogmen. When he had reached a spot below the point on the reef +where Tony should be waiting, he turned toward the surface, moving +slowly, searching for any sign of activity. There was no sign of +whatever had alarmed Tony. + +He paused a few inches under the surface, then carefully put his face +into the air. Scotty surfaced beside him. + +There was no sign of Tony. Rick peered through his mask and saw that the +boat was still anchored in the same place. There were figures on its +deck. Four of them--Four! He ripped his mask off for a clearer look, and +his heart skipped a beat. The frogmen had Tony! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +How Sings the Gay Sardine? + + +Rick and Scotty held a hurried consultation, mouth to ear. + +"We'll have to get him," Scotty whispered urgently. He held up his spear +gun. "I've only got one shot in this." + +Rick's instinctive reaction was the same. They had to rescue Tony! But +they also had a job to do. + +"Wait," he cautioned. "They probably don't know we're here. Tony +wouldn't give us away. If they find out, we'll lose the pictures, and we +may make it worse for Tony. Let's stay right here and watch." + +Scotty subsided. They floated motionless, eyes on the boat, peering to +penetrate the mist. The rain had let up somewhat, but the air was far +from clear. + +Rick would have given the treasure they sought to be able to hear what +was being said on the boat. The three frogmen were all facing Tony, and +the conversation seemed to be pretty animated. Then, as he watched, the +boat pulled up anchor. It moved north. + +"They're taking him to their house," Scotty gasped. + +The boys swam frantically for shore, recklessly crossing the reef +without regard to the danger of cutting themselves on the sharp coral. +They reached the beach and shed tanks and equipment under the palms, +then raced for the frogmen's house. + +They could see the lights of the boat as it rounded the northern tip of +the island, and, lying among the palms, they watched it tie up at the +pier. Tony and the three frogmen got off and walked down the pier. Rick +strained to see, and could not find any sign that Tony was covered by a +gun. But that wouldn't be necessary, anyway, since he was outnumbered +three to one. + +The four marched up to the front door of the frogmen's house and +stopped. The boys were prone under a palm less than twenty feet away. +One of the frogmen said, "Let me get a jacket. I'm getting chilled. Then +we'll walk you home." + +There was something very odd here! Rick nudged Scotty and they backed +slowly away. When they were sure they could not be seen, they stood up +and ran on silent bare feet through the palm grove, circling to approach +their own cottage from the rear. + +[Illustration: _Rick nudged Scotty to back away_] + +At the back door they paused. "Now what?" Rick said helplessly. "They're +bringing him home. Why?" + +"I wondered about that while we were running. I think they're bringing +him home to check up on us. He must have sold them some kind of yarn." + +"Steve's tail will recognize us!" + +"Not if we're in bed," Scotty answered quickly. "We'll pretend to be +asleep. Come on." + +"Just a minute." Rick hurried to the shed and got two short hand spears. +He handed one to Scotty. "Here. Have a bedfellow." + +A few minutes later they heard footsteps and voices on the front porch. +The door opened. A strange voice said, "Your friends don't seem to be +here." The voice hardened. "I thought you said they were?" + +"They're probably in bed," Tony replied mildly. "We go to bed right +after dark because there's nothing to do." + +"Except stick your nose in other people's business," a harsh voice +snapped. + +Tony replied tartly, "I've already apologized for letting my curiosity +get the better of me." + +"I'd like to see the bedrooms," a third voice said. Rick thought it +belonged to the man they had taken off Steve's tail. + +He lay motionless as a form blocked out the lamp-light from the living +room. In a moment the voice said, "They're asleep, all right. They must +sleep soundly." + +"Young men do." Tony sounded relieved. + +Rick grinned to himself. The archaeologist couldn't have known they were +in bed, but his stall had worked. + +"All right. We'll be going. But keep in mind that the most stupid thing +anyone can do is to dive alone, even by day. At night it's worse than +stupid. It's sheer insanity. Also, we'll thank you and your party to +keep away from us and not gum up our recordings with your flipper noises +and bubble sounds." + +"We will," Tony said. "Good night." + +The front door closed. Scotty rose, slid open the window, and went out. +Tony scraped a chair in the living room. Rick stayed where he was, in +case the frogmen had lingered outside. In a few moments he heard the +back door open and close, and he tensed, but it was Scotty's voice that +spoke. + +"They're gone. I just wanted to make sure." + +The three gathered in the living room, and Tony chuckled. "If I +associate with you two for much longer, I'll get to be the world's +champion dissembler." + +"What happened?" Rick demanded. + +"Simple and unlucky. The two frogmen surfaced practically under me. My +own fault, because I had moved much closer to the boat. I think one of +them almost fired a spear at me, but the other stopped him. They invited +me to go aboard, and I didn't think it wise to refuse the invitation." + +"I imagine not," Rick commented grimly. "Then what?" + +"Naturally, they demanded to know what I was doing. I admitted to +overpowering curiosity that got the better of my manners. They wanted to +know who I was and why I was on the island. I told them the truth, of +course, at least partly. I identified all of us. Then I'm afraid I told +a slight untruth. I said we had found reference to the _Maiden Hand_ in +an old manuscript, and were diving in hopes of finding cannon and other +old things which we planned to sell for museum pieces to pay for our +vacation. I believe they accepted my story." + +"It's a good story," Scotty approved. "Just enough truth to make it ring +true." + +"They've been watching us," Tony went on. "They asked why the plane had +gone, and why it had come back with only the pilot. I told them +Professor Zircon had cut himself and gotten a coral infection, and that +the doctor at Charlotte Amalie felt that he should stay there for +treatment." + +"I guess they haven't recognized Scotty and me as the two who stopped +Steve's tail." + +"Seems not," Tony agreed. "Well, I admitted that I was still curious +about their activities, since night diving is not common. So they told +me a story." + +The boys waited breathlessly. + +"These gentlemen thirst for scientific knowledge," Tony said with a +grin. "They claim an interest in ichthyology, but they know less about +fish than any cat does. Their story is that they have developed an +underwater recording device with which to make recordings of fish +noises. Since they have some evidence that certain fish make their +noises only at night, it is obviously necessary to make recordings at +night. So they dive, leave their equipment, and pick it up the next +morning. Our diving too close to their gadget creates false sounds, +especially our bubbles. Therefore we are requested politely but firmly +to stay away." + +Scotty whistled. + +Rick laughed. "Quite a story," he said. + +"I pointed out the obvious," Tony went on, "that it was strange they +should choose a stormy night. Their answer was that storms upset fish, +and they thought it possible that some sounds might be obtained only +under storm conditions." + +"Very interesting," Rick remarked. "It's a good story, and if we didn't +know Steve was after at least one of those men, we'd probably believe +it!" + +"Fish noises!" Scotty exclaimed. "If they knew we'd been snooping around +before, they'd probably claim that the octopus really did wail, and that +they were only recording him. Your gag about screaming squid and +burbling barracuda would appeal to them, Tony." + +The archaeologist chuckled. "Anyway, we got out of that one pretty well. +I had a little trouble banging my tank. Didn't want to do it overtly, of +course. Finally I managed to get in position while we were swimming to +the boat, and I banged my tank against one of theirs. But how did you +know what to do?" + +Rick explained briefly, then he broke into a smile again. "These guys +are smart," he declared. "I like that fish-recording story." + +"It's appealing," Tony admitted. "I'm almost tempted to pay them another +call tomorrow to ask if they have captured for posterity the hunting cry +of the wild sea trout, or the love song of the gay sardine." + +"But you won't," Scotty said practically. "You certainly came out of +that mess with a whole skin, Tony." + +Rick laughed. "He's adventure-prone. And lucky. How do you beat a +combination like that?" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +The Deadly Spring Gun + + +The storm blew itself out by noon of the following day, leaving an +overcast sky and heavy swells. An inspection with the binoculars showed +that all was quiet at the frogmen's house. Their boat was tied to the +pier. + +"They probably recovered the brass ball during the night," Rick +observed, "or perhaps early this morning." + +"The question is," Scotty remarked, "did they take the gadget to the +octopus cave?" + +Tony joined them on the porch in time to hear Scotty's query. "I can +shed some light on that. It happens that I woke up at dawn and looked +out to see how the weather was behaving. The frogmen were anchored off +the eastern reef in the same place. We can assume that they picked up +the brass ball and put it back in the cave near the wreck." + +Rick rubbed his hand over his short hair in a gesture of bewilderment. +"But what's their game? What do they get from the brass ball?" + +"I rather imagine Steve Ames would like to know the same thing. If you +boys have no objection, I think I'll spend the afternoon at my midden. +What are you planning?" + +Rick looked at Scotty. "Dive at the wreck?" + +"Sure. Frogmen or no frogmen, there's still a golden statue of St. +Francis somewhere down there." + +After lunch the boys checked their equipment, being particularly careful +because they had not rinsed out the regulators with fresh water after +every dive. Their small supply of water, coupled with the odd hours at +which the equipment had been used, was the reason. They took a little +water from their supply and used it to clean the regulators. The rest of +the equipment would just have to wait. + +Tony departed for his Indian midden, tools slung over his shoulder. The +boys started the compressor to fill the tanks used the previous night, +then untied the _Water Witch_ and headed for the diving area. Scotty +scanned the frogmen's house through the glasses, but saw nothing of +interest. + +They anchored just outside the reef and looked for their buoy. It was +gone, probably torn away by the storm. + +"We can find the wreck again," Rick said. "No trouble. I could find my +way around here in the dark." He grinned. "I have!" + +"Shall we take a look in the octopus cave too?" + +"A quick one. I doubt that we'd see more than we saw last night. Our job +now is finding out what kind of information the frogmen get. And I don't +know how we'll do that." + +"Wait for a break," Scotty replied. "Come on. Let's get into the water." + +It was cold. The storm had blown in colder water from the open sea. Rick +felt goose flesh and wished they had brought along midseason suits. + +The water was murky, too, because of the sand and silt stirred up by the +storm. The murkiness started about twenty feet below the surface. Not +until they were over fifty feet down did the water clear again. The +light was reduced somewhat by the murk, but visibility was good. Rick +had brought his camera to take motion pictures around the wreck. There +would be enough light. + +Scotty carried the big jet spear gun. It was powerful enough to spear +sharks or big barracuda, just in case the frogmen decided to be +"mischievous" again. + +Rick led the way to the octopus cave, glancing up now and then to make +sure they were alone in the water. The little octopus was in his usual +position on the ledge. + +Scotty, spear gun extended, swam right into the cave. Rick followed, +holding the camera tightly to his chest to keep it from scraping on the +coral. Scotty had his flashlight going, so Rick didn't bother with his +own. + +The cave was just about large enough for both of them. It was a typical +coral formation, not much different from the reef outside, except that +the brass ball was in the center of the rough floor. + +The boys examined the cave thoroughly and saw nothing of interest. Rick +pushed at Scotty's shoulder and swam out again. Scotty followed. The +octopus watched them go. + +The wreck of the _Maiden Hand_ was just as they had left it, and the +grouper was back in his comfortable cabin. He departed at high speed as +the boys appeared. They had agreed to start work aft of the captain's +cabin, and the wrecking bars were carried under their tank harnesses for +the purpose. Both were convinced that there was nothing more to be found +in the cabin, although the possibility remained that false boards in the +floor or walls might conceal the statue. + +Rick tied his camera to a projection, then took his wrecking bar and +looked for a place to start. Scotty pointed to a place where there were +boards aft of the cabin they had already uncovered, and they started to +work. + +By the time they had pried off the first few boards it was time to +surface. They went topside and changed tanks, then rested for half an +hour. There was no sign of activity at the frogmen's house, nor could +they see Tony at work on his midden, since the location was hidden by +palms. + +Rick said thoughtfully, "The brass ball might be some kind of signaling +device." + +"What kind of signals?" + +He didn't know the answer to that. "Anyway, since it's underwater, if it +sends out anything it must be sound impulses. Otherwise we wouldn't hear +it wail. And what good is sound if not for signals?" added Rick. + +"Sonar," Scotty reminded. + +The boys were familiar with sonar because of the Spindrift work on the +Submobile. Very high frequency sound impulses were sent out, and the +echoes were timed or used in other ways. It was the way in which bottom +tracings were made by surface craft, and the way in which Navy ships +detected submarines. It could be used for locating schools of fish. + +"It could be sonar of some kind," Rick agreed. "But what good would it +do anyone to stick a sonar device on an island like this?" + +And there speculation stopped again, the question still unanswered. + +They dove to the wreck and continued the hard labor of taking the aft +end of the ship apart. When they finally got the new area cleared of +rotted boards and timbers it was only to find a cabin already filled +with sand. + +Rick borrowed the spear from Scotty's gun and thrust it down into the +sand. It slid in easily, meeting no obstruction. He probed with it but +found nothing except more sand. + +Discouraged, he wrote on his belt slate, "Mybe no bottm. Flr of cbn my +be gne." + +Scotty nodded. He lifted his hands in a gesture of inquiry. Now what? + +Rick thought about it for a moment. Tony had been right! They probably +would have to remove every board in sight, carrying the ship away piece +by piece. But then what? There was the distinct possibility that the +statue was somewhere under sand, and they had no way of removing the +sand to see. + +It was apparent that most of the ship was under the sand--if the +remainder of the ship was still intact. But Rick couldn't escape the +feeling that Captain Campion would have kept the statue close to him. +And that meant in the aft part of the ship, the part that was exposed. + +Scotty hooted twice, pointing at his watch. It was time to surface. The +next dive would be their last for the day. + +On the surface, Rick sounded discouraged as he said, "The cabin we +uncovered might not even have a deck. There may be nothing but a mile of +sand under it. And there isn't much of the aft part of the ship left to +explore, either. I guess tomorrow we can plan to take the captain's +cabin apart board by board." + +"We'll need Tony and Zircon for hard labor like that," Scotty answered. +"Notice how quickly you get tired down there? Also, we use air a lot +faster when we work." + +"Let's just sort of make a survey this time," Rick suggested. "We can +probe for any cracks we might have missed, and I'll take some over-all +shots of the wreck. Then we'll call it a day." + +They followed Rick's plan. He took pictures of Scotty, with wrecking +bar, prying at likely places in the exposed part of the ship. But Scotty +uncovered nothing of interest. In one place his prying disturbed another +moray, who demonstrated his anger at the intruders by trying to fasten +his needle teeth in the wrecking bar. + +A metallic clang caused them to lose interest in the eel suddenly. They +looked at each other, then turned and swam toward the apparent direction +of the sound. At that moment a distant wail struck their ears. + +The brass ball! + +Rick wondered. He had heard no boat noise. The brass ball must be +operating automatically. He hooted for Scotty's attention, then pointed +toward the cave. + +Scotty checked his spear gun and motioned for Rick to lead. Rick pushed +his camera in front of him and made his fins move rapidly. There might +be some outward sign when the ball sounded, something that would tell +them a little about its mechanism or purpose. + +As the cave came in view he coasted, looking upward. The murky layer +prevented his seeing very far, but there was no one in sight. He let +inertia carry him toward the cave, then swung upright in the water as he +saw that the octopus had moved a little distance from the cave mouth. + +Instinctively Rick knew that something was wrong, but it was too late to +get out of harm's way. + +A frogman emerged from the cave, spring-type spear gun pointed directly +toward them. The frogman held the brass instrument in his free hand. + +Even as Rick hooted a warning, the frogman fired! + +His spear lanced through the water directly at Scotty! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Trapped in Twenty Fathoms + + +Scotty writhed to one side, and the fact that the frogman had fired from +too great a distance gave him time to dodge. The spear went by, and +Scotty lifted his own gun to return the shot. + +Rick, senses suddenly acute, glanced upward again in time to see two +more figures descending through the murky layer. He hooted for danger! + +Scotty glanced up, too. Then, instead of firing, he sped forward and +thrust the tip of his spear at the frogman's chest. The frogman lifted +his hands high. Scotty jerked the man's face plate loose, then turned +swiftly and motioned to Rick. + +Rick followed, fins driving, as Scotty led the way into deeper water in +the direction of the wreck. + +The frogman who had been in the cave was temporarily out of things. His +Scuba was the type that combined the breathing apparatus with the full +face plate. He could clear the face plate of the water Scotty had let +in, but it would take a little time. + +Suddenly Scotty shot upward. Rick turned and looked over his shoulder as +he followed. The second two frogmen were in clear water now, and both +had spear guns! + +Scotty led the way into the murky layer, then leveled off and swam +horizontally. Rick wondered what kind of evasive action his pal was +planning, but he followed without trying to communicate with the other +boy. In a situation like this, Scotty's instincts were dependable. + +Rick stayed close to Scotty in the murky layer, swimming at his side and +a little behind. After a few yards Scotty dove again, into clear water. +Rick looked around but could see no sign of the enemy. Apparently the +frogmen had followed and were still in the murk. + +Scotty shot downward, Rick at his side. The wreck was directly below +them. Scotty didn't hesitate. He let his momentum carry him right +through the grouper's front door into the cabin. Rick followed, half +expecting to see Scotty and the grouper meet head on, but the fish +hadn't returned. + +Inside the cabin, Scotty switched on his flashlight, took his slate, and +wrote, "Thyl thnk we wnt bk to bot. We sty hr lng nuff thy fnd out we nt +thr & cm bck lkng fr us. Thn we go up to bot." + +Rick nodded his understanding. It was good strategy, provided they timed +it right. The frogmen would assume the boys had returned to the _Water +Witch_ when they went up through the murky layer. They would examine the +boat, then dive down again. At that time, if he and Scotty could time it +right, the two groups would pass in the murky layer and the boys would +emerge while their enemies were still descending. + +He looked at his watch. They had only a few minutes of air left. The +frogmen would have more air, not only because they had entered the water +after the boys were already on the bottom, but because they had not +descended so deeply. + +He wrote, "Rlax. Brethe easy." + +The less effort they made, the longer their air would last. For a moment +he debated suggesting that they share one tank by trading the mouthpiece +back and forth, but that would leave one of them practically without air +when they had to leave. He tried to imagine the movements of their +enemies. The frogmen would be on the surface now, approaching the boat +ladder with caution. They couldn't be sure the boys were not waiting in +ambush. + +Both boys had switched off their lights and were resting motionless in +the darkness of the cabin. A little light filtered through the hole near +the roof, but not enough to see by. + +Suddenly the light was blocked out! + +Rick reached for his belt knife and Scotty thrust the spear gun forward, +then both relaxed a little. The grouper had returned. + +The big fish turned at the opening and backed into his hole. He hovered +in the opening, holding position while he stared out into his watery +kingdom. Apparently the fish had no idea that the boys were in the +cabin. When it came time to leave and they touched him or hooted at him, +he would get the surprise of his life. + +Even in their predicament, Rick could see the humor in the grouper's +reaction. He wondered if groupers were subject to heart failure from +shock. + +Rick returned to trying to imagine the movements of the frogmen. Now +they would be cautiously boarding the _Water Witch_, one up the ladder, +the other climbing the anchor chain. They would be careful, still unsure +whether or not the quarry was aboard. + +He thought he felt constriction in his lungs from the warning signal +that his air was running out, but finally decided it was only his +imagination. + +Now the frogmen would be aboard the _Water Witch_, making a quick +search, spear guns ready to fire their lethal shafts. Now they would be +in the cabin and shouting their disappointment. + +Now the frogmen would be hurrying back into the water, readjusting their +face masks, ready to dive. + +The grouper shot out of the cabin with a flick of his powerful tail that +raised the silt around them. + +Rick's heartbeat faltered. The grouper had been alarmed. They had +mistimed! + +Right now, the frogmen were outside the _Maiden Hand_! + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" + + +They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey +of the wreck, then go away. The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any +sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy. + +There was only the sound of their bubbles. + +Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out. The water that could +be seen from the entrance was clear. However, it was only a narrow +sector. For all he knew, the frogmen might be right overhead. + +He backed down into the cabin and pushed his camera into a corner. He +could get it later. Right now he preferred to have both hands free. He +wished for a spear gun, to double their armament. But the other guns +were on the _Water Witch_. The wrecking bars were useless, too. It was +almost impossible to strike a blow against the resistance of the water. + +Something scraped outside, and both boys froze. There was no doubt that +the frogmen were at the wreck. Why didn't they go away? They couldn't +know about the entrance to the cabin--or could they? + +The moments dragged by. There couldn't be much air left in their tanks. +Rick risked holding his wrist close to the opening and saw that his +watch showed one minute of diving time before shortness of breath would +signal time to turn on their air reserve and surface. + +Time was critical. If the frogmen didn't go away before their air ran +out, they would have to surface, if they were allowed to by the enemy. +With luck, Scotty could account for one. But that would leave two, both +armed. By this time the first frogman would have blown the water from +his mask and recovered his spear. + +No, it would be dangerous for Scotty even to take time for a shot, +unless he could fire without pausing. Their best bet was to make a run +for it, depending on speed. + +On land, he was sure he and Scotty could outrun the enemy, but in the +water, speed depended on skill with the fins, and the power of leg +strokes. He doubted that the frogmen were much faster than he and +Scotty, but there was an excellent chance that their speed in the water +was equal. + +He conserved his air, spacing his breathing, taking only enough air to +keep comfortable. + +There was another scraping sound, and he knew the frogmen were still +around. Were they actually searching the wreck? If so, they might find +the entrance. + +And then Rick suddenly discovered a new danger! + +Their air bubbles had been floating to the top of the cabin, forming a +pool under the ceiling. But they had stayed in the cabin so long that +enough water had been displaced to bring the pool of exhausted air close +to the entrance, which was only a few inches below roof level. + +In a moment the air would spill out, and rising bubbles would warn the +frogmen! + +He gripped Scotty's shoulder and pointed to the silvery mass of +exhausted air that curled perilously close to the entrance. + +The other boy saw the danger at once. He wrote on his slate, "We go whn +air duz," and held it in the light for Rick to see. + +Rick nodded. He drew his belt knife. + +There couldn't be many breaths left before the air spilled out. Nor +could there be many before warning constriction forced them to turn on +the reserves. At this depth the reserve wasn't very great. + +He saw Scotty reach for his reserve lever and pull it down. A moment +later he had to pull his own. + +Something rang like a struck tank, almost directly overhead! + +The lip of the bubble pool moved from the water motion caused by pulling +their reserves. Rick watched it, scarcely breathing. + +The air pool trembled. A tiny bubble broke loose and sped upward. + +Rick squeezed Scotty's arm, then with a powerful thrust of his flippers +he shot out into light, right into the stomach of a frogman! + +He thrust with his knife, and a hand gripped his wrist and twisted. +Scotty shot from the hole in the wreck and turned, fins flailing. His +spear gun belched carbon dioxide, and the deadly spear ripped into the +leg of one frogman. + +Rick flailed arms and legs, trying to break free of the grip that held +him. He saw the wounded frogman fire his spear at Scotty. The boy moved +just in time, and the shaft shot between his arm and side. + +Scotty let go of his useless gun and grappled with the frogman, reaching +for his knife with one hand while he gripped the frogman's wrist with +the other. + +Rick knew their air was running out fast. He felt a knife glance from +his tank and heard the ring of metal. He struggled for footing and +turned in time to thrust a flippered foot into the stomach of the +frogman behind him. + +Next to him he caught a glimpse of Scotty and his opponent rolling in +the water, and he saw the shimmer of metal as a knife flashed. + +Arms locked around his throat. He reached backward over his head and his +hands touched rubber. He gripped and pulled with all his strength and +felt the man's face plate come free. + +The frogman who had lost his mask suddenly threw off tanks and weight +belt and sped for the surface. + +The odds were even! Rick locked with his opponent and felt powerful arms +drag him close. The man had more strength than he! He fought to break +loose, and couldn't! + +Then the mouthpiece was pulled away from Rick's lips in mid-breath, and +he choked on sea water. + +Without air--twenty fathoms down! + +Frantically he fought, locking his air passage so his last lungful +couldn't escape. He got a hand free and caught his opponent's hose where +it joined the tank. He pulled with all his strength and felt it give. +Bubbles rose in a cloud. + +He would have sobbed if he could. It was the wrong hose! He had only +torn loose the exhaust. He groped and found the intake hose, then, +lifting his knee and thrusting for leverage, he pulled with all his +strength. The hose gave! The grip on him loosened. + +Rick was now desperate for air! He pulled the quick release on his +weight belt and felt it drop away, then he kicked for the surface, +frantic with fear for Scotty. Had he gotten free? Had he? His last view +had been of his pal locked with the remaining frogman! + +Bubbles streamed from his mouth as the compressed air in his lungs +expanded under the decreasing pressure. He let himself exhale as he +rose, fighting against panic and the impulse to lock the remaining air +in his lungs. That would be fatal, he knew, and he willed himself to act +properly. He kept his fins moving, knowing that, if he kept his head, he +would make the surface. + +He passed through the murky layer and saw the surface like a wrinkled +silver sheet far overhead. Straining, he swam for it, letting out his +breath as the pressure on his lungs demanded. + +There was another boat hull in the water, almost over him! He angled +away, to avoid coming up under it. + +And suddenly there were forms around the boat. A cry tore from his lips +and was swallowed in the water. + +More frogmen! More enemies, when they were already defeated! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +JANIG Takes to the Water + + +A figure dove to meet Rick. He angled away, fighting the impulse to +breathe, keeping the compressed air moving out of his lungs. The figure +angled with him, then suddenly sheered off. Rick shot past and the +figure followed. + +These new frogmen were diving in midseason suits. He was aware of nearly +a dozen of them. He didn't count them; with his terrible need for oxygen +he didn't care that much. + +He knew he would make it. He had to! But where was Scotty? + +Rick shot to the surface, went right through it, his impetus carrying +him into the blessed air. He gulped a great lungful before he fell back +with a splash, and as he hit water his fins were flailing, to carry him +toward the hastily glimpsed shore. + +A masked figure surfaced beside him and called, "Take it easy!" + +He only moved faster. The frogman caught him easily, because the power +was gone from his leg strokes now. But he had enough strength to fight. +He reached for the frogman's face plate, and a strong arm pushed him +back. + +A voice penetrated his consciousness. "Stop it, Rick, or I'll have to +let you have one." + +The frogman knew his name! He hesitated, fist pulled back to throw the +best punch he had left, and the new frogman back-pedaled. + +"Hold it," the frogman called, and lifted his face mask. + +Rick stopped moving, staring numbly. + +Jimmy Kelly! Lieutenant Kelly! + +"I'll tow you to the boat," the lieutenant called. "Relax." + +Rick obeyed, head spinning. He was a little groggy, and he couldn't make +sense out of things. How had Kelly got here? + +And Scotty! Where was Scotty? He started struggling again, calling his +friend's name. + +"He's all right," Kelly said urgently. "Relax, Rick!" + +Rick caught the words, and they penetrated. How did Kelly know Scotty +was all right? But the lieutenant had spoken with authority, so he +relaxed. + +Kelly towed him to the landing stage of the ship Rick had seen, a +destroyer escort. Willing hands lifted him from the water. He slumped +down on the edge of the stage, shaking his head to clear it while Navy +frogmen stripped his aqualung harness from him and pulled the mask from +his face. + +A voice said, "Drink this." + +A mug of steaming black coffee was thrust into his hand and he sipped, +grateful for the spreading warmth it brought. + +Suddenly he started again. "Scotty! Where is he?" + +"Up here, Rick, with me." + +He looked up, and his eyes focused again--on Tony and Zircon! + +A motor whaleboat drew up to the landing stage, and two husky frogmen +handed up a suited figure. "Here's one, Lieutenant," a frogman called. + +"All right, Danny. Where's the other?" + +"Heading for the reef at top speed. Jonesy's after him." + +"Go help Jonesy haul him in." + +"Yes, Sir." The motor whaleboat veered off and sped toward shore. + +A frogman surfaced almost at Rick's feet. He instinctively drew back, +and the frogman gripped the edge of the stage, spat out his mouthpiece, +and pulled up his mask with the other hand. + +Rick found himself looking at Steve Ames! What was he doing here? + +"Where's the brass ball?" Steve asked. + +"I don't know." + +With an effort Rick pulled his scattered wits together. His mind began +to work again. Obviously, through some miracle Steve and Zircon had +arrived on a Navy ship with Jimmy Kelly and a detachment of Navy +frogmen. + +Scotty called from on deck. "It's at the octopus cave, Steve. I saw one +of the frogmen drop it there." + +Steve hauled himself out to the landing stage. He grinned at Rick. +"Feeling better?" + +"Much," Rick said. He was beginning to feel nearly human again. + +"Let's go on deck. I want to find out about this octopus cave." + +Rick stood up, and was surprised to find that he didn't wobble. He +followed Steve up the ladder to the deck and found Scotty seated on a +canvas stool, sipping coffee. + +Zircon asked anxiously, "Are you all right, Rick?" + +Tony said, "Here's the doctor for a look at you." + +A young Navy officer joined them and motioned Rick to a canvas stool. He +applied a stethoscope and listened, then grunted his satisfaction. "He +seems all right. Pulse a little fast, but that's to be expected. You had +a slight dose of oxygen starvation. Feel better now?" + +Rick nodded. He was beginning to feel wonderful. They were out of it, +and with whole skins. + +Scotty grinned sheepishly. "I abandoned you. I had to, because I ran +completely out of air. I shoved my man away and headed for the surface. +I felt pretty guilty about leaving you with two of them." + +Rick returned the grin. "I felt the same way. I thought I'd abandoned +you. But I see you got to the surface first." + +Steve accepted a cup of coffee and squatted on the deck, facing them. +"Suppose we start from the beginning. What happened?" + +Rick told him, starting from the moment when they had heard the brass +ball wail. He finished, "There were three of them. Did you get them +all?" + +"Yes. Including one with a spear through his leg. The last one is just +being hauled aboard now. He tried to get to the island." + +Jimmy Kelly and a group of frogmen joined them. Jimmy asked, "How about +the sounding gear, Steve?" + +"We'll ask now. How about that octopus cave? Where is it?" + +"We'll take you," Rick said. "Let us get tanks from our boat. There +should be a pair fully charged by now." + +Steve shot a look at the doctor. The officer shrugged, then nodded. +"Okay, if it's a short dive. They've had plenty for today." + +"Chief? Where are you?" Kelly called. + +A frogman stepped from the rear of the group. "Here, Sir." + +"Check their regulators, please. If they're okay, hook up fresh tanks. +If not, loan them complete outfits." + +"Yes, Sir." + +"Thanks, Chief. Then get set to come with us. Danny, Jonesy, Mike, and +Dick come along, too. Bring still and motion-picture cameras. When we +get down, split into two-man teams and search the area. You know what +we're looking for. It's just like the one we found off St. Croix." + +Rick stared at the frogman officer. Another brass ball off St. Croix? +But there wasn't time for questions. + +"Quick dive, please," Zircon requested. "These boys have had enough." + +"They're through as soon as they show us the cave," Steve agreed. "Come +on, gang. Let's get to it." + +Rick carefully checked his equipment, something that no diver can ever +take for granted or leave to someone else, while Scotty did the same. +Then they put the equipment on and adjusted face masks. Their knives, +Rick's camera, and Scotty's spear and gun were somewhere near the wreck. +They would have to get them another time. + +The group entered the water. Rick looked around and oriented himself by +the position of the _Water Witch_, then led the way with Scotty, Steve, +and Jimmy swimming along with him while the Navy frogmen stayed closed +behind. + +It was a thrill for Rick to be swimming with the famous UDT frogmen. He +looked to the side and saw that Steve was perfectly at home in the +water, and he marveled at the adaptability of the JANIG agent. Steve +hadn't been joking when he said he would be an expert by nightfall. + +At the reef Rick turned northward and led the way toward the level of +the cave. A few moments later he hooted for attention and with pointed +finger showed it to Steve and Jimmy. The octopus was still there. + +A frogman swam over and picked the little creature up. The octopus +spurted away, leaving a blob of ink behind. He came to rest above the +cave, poised for further flight. + +Rick swam down to the sandy floor of the cave and began to search for +the brass ball. Scotty beckoned, and they swam together toward the spot +where Scotty had last seen it. The frogmen swam to the bottom with them, +then fanned out, searching. + +A few moments later someone hooted, and a tanned, muscled frogman swam +over, holding the object triumphantly. + +Steve Ames pointed to the surface and Jimmy hooted an order. The group +swam leisurely up through the murky layer, oriented themselves by the +sleek shape of the destroyer escort hull, and emerged at the landing. +The frogman who had found the ball handed it up to Hobart Zircon. + +Steve Ames motioned to one of the frogmen. "Run these fellows over to +the beach, please, then wait and bring them back." He turned to the +boys. "Put on dry clothes. Then come on back. We need to talk." + +An hour later the boys, the scientists, Steve, and Kelly were seated at +a table in the destroyer escort's tiny wardroom, noses twitching over +the savory steaks that were being served. The boys ate like starved men, +talking a steady stream between bites. + +Rick sighed and let out his belt. "Well, that's our story. What's +yours?" + +Steve stirred his coffee thoughtfully. "I can make it short. We don't +know the whole story yet, but we will by the time I get back to St. +Thomas. Have you two any idea what these brass-ball gadgets are?" + +"We decided that they were probably sonar equipment of some type," +Scotty said. "But we couldn't figure out what they were for." + +"Easy," Steve said. "Although you couldn't know, of course. They were +for spotting submarines." + +Rick stared. Submarines? + +Steve saw his look of bewilderment. "It happens that our new +atomic-powered submarines are conducting manuevers in this area. Does +that help?" + +It did! Light slowly dawned. "Then these were scanning our subs! But I +still don't see why it would be any problem to find them. The subs must +have equipment that will tell when sonar beams hit them." + +"They do. And that's a big part of the story." + +Steve sipped his coffee for a moment. "These sonar devices are a new +type, and very cleverly designed. They don't send out a continuous beam. +Instead, they operate in bursts, in a random pattern. They might send +out a beam twice in a minute, or wait an hour between bursts. The beam +is a powerful one. It's effective for an extraordinary distance." + +"The wail, of course, was the beam operating," Zircon interjected. "You +didn't hear the beam itself, since that's ultrasonic. But you did hear +the mechanical vibration of the brass ball. It had a kind of +sub-harmonic effect that was audible." + +"That's right," Steve agreed. "Anyway, there were several different +stations, in different locations. Some were on islands, some on fishing +boats. Since they operated only in short bursts in a random pattern, the +subs--and the special teams we sent out--were never able to get a +bearing that meant much." + +"They must be self-recording," Rick said thoughtfully, "otherwise the +enemy couldn't get the information out of them." + +"They are. Whatever echo they get makes a tracing inside the box they're +mounted on." + +Scotty objected, "But what kind of information is it? How can anyone +tell anything about the subs from such recordings?" + +"By putting all the recordings together and running a rather complex +analysis. The analysis will give speed, depth of operation, +maneuverability--if the spies are lucky to have beams operating at the +right time--and number of torpedoes fired, with the same information on +the torps. That's enough information to make it worth an enemy's while." + +"I'll say!" Scotty turned to Zircon. "And what were you doing, +Professor?" + +"I'm afraid I arrived on the scene too late to do much good," Zircon +boomed. "However, I believe we can be useful in preventing such +occurrences in the future. I have an idea for an improvement in our +scanners that will allow a fix to be made on such beams." + +There was a pause when dessert arrived. The boys savored excellent apple +pie smothered in a generous helping of ship-made ice cream. + +"We thought Zircon might help us work out a system of getting fixes on +the transmitters," Steve said. "As it happened, we got a lucky break. +The subs happened to have their devices pointed at St. Croix +simultaneously when a beam scanned them. They got a fix on it. We flew a +team of frogmen down in a Navy amphibian right in the middle of the +second storm. They found it, and got the men who were handling it. One +of them talked." + +Jimmy Kelly picked up the story, "You arrived with Zircon at about the +same time the St. Croix team took off from our base, and headed right +into the storm. They didn't get back until late last night, and it was +nearly dawn before we got the story from the man who talked. Then we +loaded on this DE and headed here." + +"I'm glad you didn't wait ten minutes longer," Rick said fervently. +"They foxed us. I kept listening for their boat, but they didn't use +it." + +"They probably decided to swim out and sneak up on you," Zircon stated. +"After capturing Tony last night, their suspicions were probably aroused +somewhat. Even if they swallowed his story entirely, it would be only +good sense to check up." + +Tony looked hurt. "I'm sorry you don't think my story was enough to +allay their suspicions entirely. But speaking of listening for their +boat, why didn't you hear this ship coming? And why didn't the fancy +frogmen?" + +Rick thought that one over. "We wouldn't have heard the ship until it +was very close because of the noise our bubbles make. But we should have +heard it about the time it left the reef opening near our cottage. I +don't know why we didn't." + +"And I don't know why we didn't see it," Scotty added. "It's big enough +to be spotted at horizon distance." + +Jimmy grinned. "We pulled a fast one. We had enough steerageway to drift +over your position after a few turns of the screws down by the reef +passage. You see, we didn't know what was going on, so we took no +chances. Then, when we got into position, we got into the water without +waiting to anchor. We dropped anchor right after we got both of you out, +but you probably didn't notice." + +"I couldn't have cared less, at that point," Rick said, and Scotty +echoed the sentiment. + +"The reason why you didn't see us coming is that we came from the other +side of the island. It's safer for a ship that draws as much water as +this one. Tony spotted us as we approached the southern point." + +Steve grinned. "Anyway, it's a good idea to move in on an objective as +quickly, silently, and invisibly as possible." + +"Have you captured the rest of the stations yet?" Rick asked. + +"No. But we have teams out, and they know where to go and what to look +for, thanks to the man who talked last night." + +"Who are these people?" Scotty demanded. + +Steve scratched his chin. "Well," he said finally, "you might put it +this way: they're people who have no business knowing what they're +trying to find out." + +Rick hid a grin. He knew perfectly well they would get no more +information out of Steve. The essence of security is to give information +only to people who have a need to know it. The Spindrifters had no +reason for knowing the identity of the enemy, apart from their own +curiosity. One thing was certain, though, it was another nation that +wanted the information. + +"You're probably tired of answering questions," Rick said, "but I've got +one more. How did you happen to arrive right in the nick of time?" + +"Nothing very mysterious about it," Jimmy Kelly answered. "We steamed up +to the island and sent a boat ashore, with Professor Zircon. Dr. Briotti +had seen us approach, and he met the boat. He told us you were diving. +Zircon had assumed as much since we could see your boat anchored on the +reef." + +"I told them about last night," Tony added. + +"Yes, and we sent a party of men to the house up the beach to capture +these fancy frogmen of yours. The house was empty. Since their boat was +tied up, we made a quick assumption that they were out on the reef with +you. We did a fast run out ..." + +"And got the fright of our lives," Steve finished. "We knew there were +three of the enemy and two of you down below, and we could see only +three sets of bubbles. We thought you were done for." + +"It was remarkable the way Lieutenant Kelly and his men got ready to +dive," Zircon said. "I've never seen people move so fast. Steve, too. +Then, just as they were about to go over the side, we saw two more +bubble trails and knew at least that you were still alive. But in a +moment the entire pack of bubbles merged." + +"We hit the water," Jimmy Kelly said, "and were about to dive when one +of the enemy skyrocketed up. He was blue in the face and scared witless. +We hauled him out and then started to dive again. And along came Scotty, +half dead and babbling about you. I started straight down to get you, +but you met me halfway." He grinned. "You weren't in very good shape, +either, for a few minutes." + +"How about the men? Where are they?" Scotty asked. + +"Down below. Locked up, with an armed guard at the door." + +Steve Ames finished his coffee and sat back with a sigh of satisfaction. +"I'm happy," he announced. + +The boys grinned. He looked it. + +"Glad you wound this up so fast," Zircon boomed. "When will you return +to Charlotte Amalie?" + +Steve looked at Jimmy Kelly. "You in a hurry?" + +"Not particularly. Now that this case is over we go back to some pretty +dull routine. Why?" + +"Oh, I thought your boys might like a little recreation." + +Jimmy looked suspicious. "Any sailor likes recreation. The more the +better. The UDTs enjoy it more than most. What's on your mind?" + +Steve's wave took in the four Spindrifters. "It wasn't their fault one +of the gang talked his head off last night. If he hadn't, their work +here would have given us a lead we couldn't have gotten in any other +way. Suppose we repay 'em." + +Jimmy sighed. "Get to the point." + +"Keep the ship here tomorrow. Turn your boys loose to help find the +treasure they're after. You've got equipment they need. Besides, I'm +sure your gang can find some nice souvenirs if they put their minds to +it. Old cutlasses, cannon, cannon balls--things like that." + +"It's a deal." The UDT lieutenant chuckled. "I'll try a little souvenir +hunting myself. Of course, since it's unofficial, I'll have to ask for +volunteers." + +"Think you'll get many?" Rick asked anxiously. + +Steve and Jimmy laughed. The lieutenant said with a chuckle, "If one of +them doesn't volunteer I'll turn him over to the doctor, because I'll +know he's sick. The UDT's volunteer because they like to swim. It isn't +often they get a chance like this, to dive just for fun." + +"If we don't find the treasure," Scotty said with satisfaction, "it'll +be because it isn't there!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +The Buried Secret + + +At first, the captured frogmen were defiant. They insisted that the Navy +had nothing on them. The brass ball wasn't theirs. They were only sport +divers having some fun. + +Then, faced with the unassailable fact that Rick had taken motion +pictures of their activities, they lapsed into sullen silence and +refused to talk. + +Rick and Scotty watched Jimmy Kelly check the diving equipment of the +frogman teams lined up on the destroyer escort's deck. Beyond the teams +they could see the three enemy frogmen, taking the air under the +watchful eye of a shotgun-armed sailor. + +"I wonder if we'll ever get the full story," Rick mused. + +"We've got all we need," Scotty answered. "What pieces are missing?" + +"Well, I'm curious about the chicken. I think we hit it when we decided +they wanted to scare us out of the octopus-cave area, but it would be +nice to know for sure. And why did they take the sonar equipment to the +eastern reef during the storm?" + +"Probably to make a recording as a routine check. They couldn't assume +all sub activity was taking place to the west." + +"But how can we be sure?" + +"We can't. We can only try to figure out what happened, based on what +information we have. For instance, there must have been a sonar unit +near where we swam at St. Thomas. It's the only thing that could have +got the shadow so excited. But what difference does it really make? We +know most of the story, and we can guess the rest." + +"Steve may be able to fill in some pieces later," Rick observed. He +liked to have a thing wrapped up neatly, with no loose ends hanging. +Still, that was almost impossible in a case like this. + +Jimmy Kelly called, "You boys ready to go?" + +"Whenever you are," Rick called back. He picked up his heavy three-tank +block from where it rested against the rail and handed it to Scotty. +While his friend held the rig, Rick got into it. Then he performed the +same service for Scotty. The tanks were heavy. + +Tony and Zircon, similarly equipped, came out of the amidships cabin +with Steve Ames. Jimmy had loaned equipment from the frogmen's supplies, +to enable the group to work around the wreck longer. + +The search party assembled on the landing stage. Jimmy had split his +teams into two groups. They would dive in relays. + +"We'll look the situation over, then get to work," Jimmy instructed. +"How many have wrecking bars?" + +Four of the UDT gang held them up. + +"All right. Turn and turn about. Work for ten minutes then pass them to +your mates. Watch your hoses, especially when working inside. Okay. +Let's go." + +They slipped into the water four at a time, Rick and Scotty in the first +four. Once in the water, the weight of the heavy tanks vanished. The +boys had removed weights from their belts to allow for the extra tanks +and for more than ten additional pounds of air on the descent. + +A pair of frogmen payed out a heavy rope, taking the reel down with them +in order to provide a direct link from wreck to ship. On the way up the +divers would pause at knots in the rope to decompress, allowing time for +compressed nitrogen to get out of their blood streams. + +With the boys and the scientists, Jimmy went over all visible portions +of the wreck. He summed up his attitude with an elaborate shrug and +spreading of his hands that said he didn't know where to begin. For his +frogmen, he made a sweeping gesture that told them to tackle the wreck +anywhere. The frogmen moved in, operating in pairs. The water clouded +rapidly with silt, particles of marine growth, and fish eggs. + +The top of the captain's cabin came off. Rick swam in through the murk +and picked up the chair that had seemed to be in good condition. He +carried it to clear water and placed it on the sand. Now that it was out +in the open, it could be seen that teredos--shipworms--had feasted on it +and burrowed into it until it was nothing but a chair-shaped shell. + +The same was true of the cabin interior. It collapsed soundlessly under +the prying bars of the frogmen. Under their enthusiastic attack the +water was soon so roiled that visibility at the wreck was reduced to +almost zero. Jimmy sounded the signal for ascent and the group surfaced +without decompressing. They had just about exhausted a single tank. + +On the landing stage, the lieutenant said, "No use continuing until the +water settles. Any ideas, Chief?" + +Sanders, the group's chief petty officer, replied, "I think we're going +to need a sand hose, Sir. Most of the wreck is buried." + +Jonesy, a short, husky frogman with a bright-red crew cut, added, "Sir, +I think the cannon and stuff would be on the deck ahead of the cabin we +opened up, but the deck is under the sand. Could we rig a hose, Sir?" + +"Good idea. Put a detail to work, Chief." + +Sanders called out four names and issued instructions. Jimmy called a +ten-minute break for the rest. + +During the break, Rick sought out Steve Ames. He commented, "You know, +this wasn't a very well-organized gang. I keep thinking about the two +who tried to get us at St. Thomas." + +Steve disagreed. "You're wrong. It was a _very_ well-organized gang. +Their trouble was not enough trained agents. They had to hire extras, +and the extras were just ordinary mugs, and not very bright ones. It was +the mugs who made the mistakes, not the real agents." + +Jimmy Kelly spoke up. "Did we tell you? We got reports from the other +UDT teams this morning. Our people have all the stations except one in +British territory. Maybe our British cousins can get the station team +for us. We've tipped them off." + +The lieutenant finished a glass of orange juice and rose. "Time's up. +Let's get back to the wreck." + +Hobart Zircon asked, "Don't you want to take your camera, Rick?" + +"Good idea." He hurried to get it. One of the frogmen had picked it up, +along with the rest of the equipment they had left behind. + +The water had settled enough for thorough inspection of the entire aft +portion of the wreck. Rick and Scotty helped the frogmen poke into every +possible place without finding more than a pair of rusted cutlasses. + +Rick surveyed the scene with discouragement. The statue was somewhere +under the sand, which probably meant they would never find it. He had +another sudden realization, too. They had no proof that this ship was +the _Maiden Hand_, no proof that the whole business wasn't just a +wild-goose chase. + +By the time the dive was over, the sand hose had been rigged. The first +group surfaced and Jimmy ordered the fresh group of frogmen to hose out +the aft cabins to find anything that might be left. Then the group was +to start work on the probable location of the foredeck. + +During the rest period, Rick told Jimmy about the other wreck they had +found, the modern ship that he guessed was a war casualty. + +"We'll take a look at it first thing in the morning before we shove off +for St. Thomas," Jimmy promised. "You never know what you'll find in a +wreck. We've found a lot of things worth salvaging." + +The boys were operating under Navy rules now. They put on fresh tanks +and got their instructions from Chief Sanders. "Longer decompression +this time. Stick with me on the way up and move when I move. We don't +want you to get the bends." + +The boys nodded their understanding, then took to the water. + +The frogmen below were still hosing sand. Water forced at high pressure +through the hose that ran down from the ship sent the stuff swirling in +great clouds. The boys watched. They couldn't do much looking around +until the water settled. + +Then they saw that the frogmen weren't waiting. They swam into the murk, +feeling around with their hands. Rick saw one emerge triumphantly +holding a round object that could only have been a cannon ball. + +He and Scotty plunged in, too. Working with the frogmen they rapidly +assembled a treasure trove of cannon, more cannon balls, cutlasses still +in good condition, and useless ship's gear. + +Fifteen minutes later a frantic hooting brought them in a rush to where +Jonesy was holding something. Zircon and Tony got there at the same +time, and soon all work had ceased while Jonesy's find was examined. + +Tony took his belt knife and scraped. Then he looked around at the +watching group and nodded. He clasped his hands together and shook them +like a fighter mitting the crowd. + +Rick and Scotty hooted their triumph. Jonesy had found the statue of St. +Francis! + +The boys, the scientists, Steve, and Jimmy carried the treasure to the +surface. The rest of the frogmen continued hunting for souvenirs. + +On the landing stage they put the statue down with loving care. Even +under the marine growth they could make out the cowled figure of the +sainted monk, head bent over the fawn he held in his arms. + +Tony went to work. Soon there was a gleam of gold that brought a yell of +triumph from the boys. Then--amazingly--the gleam of dull silver. + +"Hobart, look at this!" Tony exclaimed. + +The big scientist knelt and examined the silvery streak. He borrowed +Tony's knife and probed, then his laugh boomed across the water. + +"We are the victims of our own research!" he roared. "All this +trouble--over a statue of lead!" + +"Lead!" Rick stared incredulously. This couldn't be true! "There's gold, +too," he pointed out. + +"Apparently gold leaf over a lead base," Tony said with a sigh. "No, +Rick. Hobart is right. This is lead." + +A call from the water made them look up. Chief Sanders and his diving +buddy had surfaced, and they were carrying a statue of St. Francis! + +Behind them, another pair of frogmen, with still another statue! + +Within a half hour there were no less than eight identical statues lined +up on deck. St. Francis, in lead, repeated eight times. + +Scotty scratched his head. "Well," he said finally, "we certainly found +St. Francis! In fact, we overdid it a little." + +Not until long afterward did they learn the answer. Tony Briotti, a +scientist of great persistence, did some research in England during a +European trip to attend a conference of archaeologists. He found that +the _Maiden Hand_ had carried several dozen St. Francis statues, for +sale to churches and individuals in the New World. Captain Campion had +considered only one special enough to mention, because it had been +blessed by the Cardinal of France and entrusted to his care for delivery +to the Governor of Barbados. + +The Spindrifters took one statue as a gift for Barby. A cutlass was +Rick's share of the loot, while Tony took the bar shot they had found +near the wreck and Zircon selected a cannon ball. It was understood that +the knife Scotty had found was to be his, so that he could present it to +Hartson Brant. + +A few quick dives the following morning disclosed nothing of interest +around the first wreck they had found, but Jimmy identified it as a +common type of small cargo vessel. Then the destroyer escort sailed for +St. Thomas. + +Before it left, there was time for a few words with Steve Ames. + +"I'm leaving St. Thomas by air tonight for Washington," he reported. +"Something new has come up and I'm needed. I may need you, too, before +this case is over. The report wasn't detailed, but it carried a few +implications that have me worried." + +"We'll be ready if you need us," Rick assured him. + +Steve's warm smile flashed. "I know," he said. "I'll see you soon." + + + + +The RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE Stories + +BY JOHN BLAINE + +SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORIES + +[Illustration: RICK BRANT] + +Rick Brant is the boy who with his pal Scotty lives on an island called +Spindrift and takes part in so many thrilling adventures and baffling +mysteries involving science and electronics. You can share every one of +these adventures in the pages of Rick's books. They are available at +your book store in handsome, low-priced editions. + +THE ROCKET'S SHADOW + +THE LOST CITY + +SEA GOLD + +100 FATHOMS UNDER + +THE WHISPERING BOX MYSTERY + +THE PHANTOM SHARK + +SMUGGLERS' REEF + +THE CAVES OF FEAR + +STAIRWAY TO DANGER + +THE GOLDEN SKULL + +THE WAILING OCTOPUS + +THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + +THE SCARLET LAKE MYSTERY + +THE PIRATES OF SHAN + +THE BLUE GHOST MYSTERY + +THE EGYPTIAN CAT MYSTERY + +THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wailing Octopus, by Harold Leland Goodwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAILING OCTOPUS *** + +***** This file should be named 31495.txt or 31495.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/4/9/31495/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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