Part 4 (1/2)
Not until the boys had changed to swi 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 shadoas 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 soun?”
Rick considered ”I guess not We don't want to do any hunting But youshows up And let's take our knives” He had also decided against taking his camera A leisurely, unencuh for hunting fish or taking pictures later, when they got to Clipper Cay
While Scotty went into the cabin to select a spear froear, 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 s gear froas tanks were a 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 allon tank in the cabin, there was a rack of five ten-gallon jerry cans in the cockpit
Scotty eun
”Thought I un,” 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 hisThen, with a yell to Scotty to hurry, he bounded through the shallows, threw hi the surface of the water Lifting his head for a quick breath, he dove under, feeling the wonderful coolness of the water close over hihty 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'lad 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 the under-orn, and with lighter ”midseason” suits of foam neoprene Because of the reported warin 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 fro 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 colass clear underwater
Then he rinsed histhe mask on his forehead
The snorkels used by the boys were plastic tubes curved at both ends At one end was a e 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 h his nose to ripped 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 botton of life was a her his home of the moment--a tiny spiral shell
In one hand, Scotty carried the spear gun by its pistol grip He swa limply down Rick, on the other hand, preferred to sith ar as his hands were eun or his ca doard Neither boy used his arh, 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 hoood Lost in the enjoyot about the shadow
Scotty renaled a stop The boys reht in the water, holding position with easy flipper ,” Scotty said ”Don't look around I' to spot our friend over your shoulder” After a n 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