Part 23 (2/2)

”Except stick your nose in other people's business,” a harsh voice snapped

Tony replied tartly, ”I've already apologized for letting et the better of me”

”I'd like to see the bedrooed to the man they had taken off Steve's tail

He lay ht fro rooht Theyrinned to hiist couldn't have known they were in bed, but his stall had worked

”All right We'll be going But keep inanyone 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 fros with your flipper noises and bubble sounds”

”We will,” Tony said ”Good night”

The front door closed Scotty rose, slid open the , and went out

Tony scraped a chair in the living rooered 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 toroom, and Tony chuckled ”If I associate with you two for et to be the world's champion dissembler”

”What happened?” Rick demen 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 o aboard, and I didn't think it wise to refuse the invitation”

”I irimly ”Then what?”

”Naturally, they de curiosity that got the better of my manners They wanted to knoho 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'ht untruth I said we had found reference to the _Maiden Hand_ in an oldcannon and other old things which we planned to sell for museum pieces to pay for our vacation I believe they accepted ood story,” Scotty approved ”Just enough truth tous,” Tony went on ”They asked why the plane had gone, and why it had come back with only the pilot I told theotten a coral infection, and that the doctor at Charlotte Amalie felt that he should stay there for treatnized Scotty and me as the tho stopped Steve's tail”

”Seereed ”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 gentlerin ”They claiy, but they know less about fish than any cat does Their story is that they have developed an underwater recording device hich to s of fish noises Since they have soht, it is obviously necessary to ht So they dive, leave their equip too close to their gadget creates false sounds, especially our bubbles Therefore we are requested politely but firmly to stay away”