Part 23 (1/2)

As Rick started up, fourfaintly in his ears

Tony, banging his tank in the signal for trouble! Rick instantly changed course and followed the bottomen When he had reached a spot below the point on the reef where Tony should be waiting, he turned toward the surface, n 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 hih his mask and saw that the boat was still anchored in the saures on its deck Four of them--Four! He ripped his mask off for a clearer look, and his heart skipped a beat The frogs the Gay Sardine?

Rick and Scotty held a hurried consultation, et hiun ”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 knoe're here Tony wouldn't give us away If they find out, we'll lose the pictures, and we ht here and watch”

Scotty subsided They floatedto penetrate the mist The rain had let up somewhat, but the air was far froht to be able to hear as being said on the boat The three frog Tony, and the conversation seemed to be pretty animated Then, as he watched, the boat pulled up anchor Ithiasped

The boys swa the reef without regard to the danger of cutting themselves on the sharp coral

They reached the beach and shed tanks and equiphts of the boat as it rounded the northern tip of the island, and, lying a the palms, they watched it tie up at the pier Tony and the three frogot 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 men's house and stopped The boys were prone under a pal chilled Then we'll walk you hoed Scotty and they backed sloay When they were sure they could not be seen, they stood up and ran on silent bare feet through the pale froed Scotty to back away_]

At the back door they paused ”Nohat?” Rick said helplessly ”They're bringing him ho I think they're bringing him home to check up on us He must have sold thenize us!”

”Not if we're in bed,” Scotty answered quickly ”We'll pretend to be asleep Coot 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 seeht you said they were?”

”They're probably in bed,” Tony repliedto do”