Part 29 (2/2)
The plane traveled the length of the cove's shoreline and rounded the southern tip They passed over a section where the woods caht a gli and he lost it
”Circle,” he said quickly ”I think I saw soon and threw it into a tight turn Rick watched carefully as the clump of birches caht He wished for the binoculars, but they were probably at the attic lookout where Barby and Jan had spied on the houseboat
He had no real doubt He was sure the boat was the Spindrift rowboat
”Circle over the island,” he called to Scotty, then reached over and took the hand microphone from the instrument panel rack He turned on the radio and waited a moment while it warmed
”Joe, this is Rick,” he said ”Rowboat under a cluo there and look it over See if the girls are in the woods We'll watch for sign of the girls on the water”
To Scotty, he directed, ”Over the cove Circle the whole area We'll watch for their bubbles Joe's men will check the woods”
The plane turned obediently Presently they were ht surface wind had arisen and the water in the cove was a bit choppy, but not enough to obscure bubble tracks ?” Rick asked
”Not a trace Can you see the water around the houseboat well enough?”
”Yes No bubbles in the vicinity” Rick dried his palhly frightened Where were they?
He checked his Megabuck radio to be sure it was on and called, ”Barby
Where are you?”
The air was silent, except for the slight background hiss that was always present
”Look right under the houseboat's gunwales,” Scotty urged ”If they're directly under it, the bubbles would rise along the sides”
”Why would they go under the houseboat?” Rick asked
Scotty shook his head ”Why did they come over here in the first place?”
Rick had no answer ”Let's go over to the shore Joe's irls”
Scotty banked around and headed over the clu behind the clump they sao men in Scout uniforesture that said nothing of i to do,” Rick said decisively ”We've got to check on the”
He stopped as though a hand had clutched his throat Barby's voice, in his earphones!
Rick pulled the unit from his pocket and turned up the volume He couldn't hear her well
”It's Barby,” he said swiftly ”Circle!”