Part 9 (1/2)

”I knew you would when you understood,” Barby said sly

”I don't understand, but I'll trade Coo to Whiteside”

Jan reiven permission for the Morrisons to leave the island, and Rick refused to take the responsibility in spite of Barby's pleading The best he could do was to proet peron landed at Whiteside pier, and the trio went to the nearby garage where the Brants' car was kept Hartson Brant had decided it was more convenient to have a car available for use at all times than to depend on taxis, or on friends

The local sporting goods store had a good stock of equipment and Barby was able to purchase what she wanted without difficulty But when it cae selection for an hour before choosing two that were identical except for color Rick and Scotty waited i Barby to hurry up She refused to be hurried

Back at Spindrift, Jan ! Barby, how on earth could you pick these out so quickly?”

The boys looked at each other Their opinion was that Barby had taken just one hour longer than necessary Here, obviously, was that , the feminine mind at work Rick exaot nowhere The ways of girls defied analysis

Both boys had to ad had been worth the delay Their own rather shabby swim trunks, torn and stained from contact with undersea rocks and coral, suddenly see tanks distastefully and demanded that Rick paint them to match the new suits, both boys put their feet down emphatically

”The tanks are that color because they've been treated to withstand rust and corrosion,” Rick stated ”If we paint 'eet knocked off and they'll look terrible I won't do it”

The girls exchanged a glance that seemed to say, ”Boys! They have such stubborn, silly ideas!”

Jan had already gone through the exercise of clearing the aqualung hoses of water, clearing herthe reserve lever on the tank, and Rick had instructed her in the theory of diving

Noas time to put what she had learned to the ultimate test

The boys hauled the equipon, irls to check the regulators, check the tanks, and connect regulators to tanks preparatory to diving

They lolled on the beach and watched Scotty grinned ”This is the life Tony Briotti tells me it's always this way in primitive societies The men loaf while the women work I'm in favor of it”

”I', but continued to ith meticulous care Rick watched closely, and was satisfied There was aear while Rick instructed Jan

”This is the tough part If you make it, that's the end From then on all you'll need is practice We'll all swim down to the fifty-foot depth Watch your ears and don't try to continue down if you feel any pain Go back up a few feet and try to clear your ears When we get to the bottom, I want you to take off all your equipment, say froave him a tremulous smile ”I think so”

”Good Plan how you'll do it Re you'll need, and the first”

”I'll reh for a diver with plenty of experience, and the confidence that experience brings, but Rick reh the first tiot into harness and said reassuringly, ”You'llbecause you don't lose your head That's just about the only really dangerous thing a diver can do” He got into his harness, then picked up his nal, the four waded out into the cold water, splashed around a little to get accustomed to it, then put mouthpieces in place and prepared to donair?” When they nodded, he put his own mouthpiece in place, checked to , then slipped the mask down from his forehead and went underwater

There was a convenient sandy space a the rocks at the fifty-foot level He reached it and turned to count noses All were present

Visibility was good enough He set his caed on the sand Barby and Scotty took sinal, Jan slipped off her fins, which she placed carefully on the sand Her weight belt followed, then heras she jerked the quick release buckle on her harness, then pulled the tank over her head, keeping the mouthpiece in place

At the last s with air, let the mouthpiece drop to the sand, and say Rick followed as she went about twenty feet into the rocks, and returned

Jan had planned well She picked up the h so the air rushed out, then she popped it into herShe didn't bother with the tank harness yet Instead, she picked up her mask, adjusted it, and blew it clear Only then, when she could see and breathe, did she leisurely put the harness straps in position and swing the tank over her head and into place on her back