Part 1 (1/2)
The Wailing Octopus
by Harold Leland Goodwin
CHAPTER I
Destination: Clipper Cay
The Sky Wagon droned through Caribbean skies, following a compass course that led to Charlotte Aer 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 hi yet?” he asked
Don Scott had been surveying the far horizon through binoculars He took the but water You sure there is an island called Clipper Cay?”
Rick let the plane fly itself for a ged 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 so 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 andelse, 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 sith a buddy You and Tony swi as a buddy for Rick Soht as well be me”
”That's nice of you,” Rick said soberly ”There'll probably be a whole horde ofthe treasure, not to mention half a dozen sea monsters”
Tony Briotti said, ”There's one mermaid I ith 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 arguend 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 re the installation of equipreat experiroup in business as a research foundation headed by Rick's father, Hartson Brant It was during this experi Rick fro The two boys had been on a nuether since that tiinal Spindrift group Youthful Tony Briotti was one of the new staff members, but he had already earned the loyalty and friendshi+p of the boys by his fine leadershi+p 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 Theof 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', of course You couldn't have keptme into irons But seriously, do you expect to find treasure, Tony?”
The archaeologist grinned ”Depends on what yourare 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”