Part 3 (1/2)

Rick sighed ”Just our luck he doesn't want us in the case Wouldn't it be great to ith the Navy frog St Francis?” Scotty inquired ”There he lies, twenty fatho to be rescued

And you want to go fogging off with the frogo 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 the their ained 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 ht 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 hness has never failed to amaze me What would we have done without you?”

Ernst sh

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 shi+p 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 fatho The captain ran for the island with the hope of beaching the shi+p 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 theout for pirates? Oh, we have a dark and bloody history, ith 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 A was stirring under the tropical calht you must have a taste of St Thouests at dinner Dr Briotti will be interested inmen will be interested incollection”

”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 Tho water So our plu 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 aquariureed Mrs Ernst's hobby sounded like fun

After lunch Dr Ernst departed for his office, leaving the Spindrift group to their own devices Notin at their hotel For now, they were content to walk around town

As they passed the post office where Alexander Hafully at Rick