Part 27 (2/2)

”Yes, Sir” The motor whaleboat veered off and sped toward shore

A frogman surfaced ale, spat out his mouthpiece, and pulled up hisat Steve A here?

”Where's the brass ball?” Steve asked

”I don't know”

With an effort Rick pulled his scattered wits together His h some miracle Steve and Zircon had arrived on a Navy shi+p with Jimen

Scotty called from on deck ”It's at the octopus cave, Steve I saw one of the frogmen drop it there”

Steve hauled hirinned at Rick

”Feeling better?”

”Much,” Rick said He was beginning to feel nearly huo on deck I want to find out about this octopus cave”

Rick stood up, and was surprised to find that he didn't wobble He followed Steve up the ladder to the deck and found Scotty seated on a canvas stool, sipping coffee

Zircon asked anxiously, ”Are you all right, Rick?”

Tony said, ”Here's the doctor for a look at you”

A young Navy officer joined them and motioned Rick to a canvas stool He applied a stethoscope and listened, then grunted his satisfaction ”He seeht Pulse a little fast, but that's to be expected You had a slight dose of oxygen starvation Feel better now?”

Rick nodded He was beginning to feel wonderful They were out of it, and hole skins

Scotty grinned sheepishly ”I abandoned you I had to, because I ran completely out of air I shoved uilty about leaving you with two of therin ”I felt the saot to the surface first”

Steve accepted a cup of coffee and squatted on the deck, facing the What happened?”

Rick told hi from the moment when they had heard the brass ball wail He finished, ”There were three of the one with a spear through his leg The last one is just being hauled aboard now He tried to get to the island”

Jiear, Steve?”