Part 12 (1/2)

”Make it one f-stop less than you'd use if you were taking the picture through a regular carinned ”It's pointless to ask what you want us to do with this

We're to get pictures of that antenna--fro else that looks interesting, including the occupants,”

Rick added

Steve spread his hands in an expressive gesture ”What more could an instructor want than students who know the answers before the questions are asked? I won't even tell you to be careful, because I know you will”

”We will,” Rick assured hiht Listen, boys, we have no idea e're up against, but we do have so objects originate at the mansion There's no other place on the creek that seems likely Two, the house is inhabited by a uard who gets rough Four, one h said?”

The boys nodded soberly

”Then go to it, whenever you feel like it--after you've dropped me at the airport, that is Be here by four this afternoon If I don't call, otten tied up”

Steve hesitated ”Just oneBe _really_ careful All I have is a hunch, but that hunch tells erous If Link Harris is dead, as he probably is, there's a fair chance he was ent's keen eyes et out of,” he concluded

CHAPTER IX

The Duck Blind

Orvil Harris had described the opening to the hidden ay, but when the boys exan of it ”He said thirty yards downstream,” Scotty remembered

Rick was at the wheel of the runabout ”Cliested ”Take the boat hook with you I'll just keep nosing in until we find it”

”Okay” Scotty took the short, alus in the small cockpit, stood up on the seat, and stepped over the windshi+eld to the bow For a e point ”There's a place that looks pro

Rick put the runabout in gear, andover the side, he could see the bottom clearly They were in only two feet of water, and the outboard was stirring up ood,” Scotty called ”That one doesn't go anywhere Try upstrea for the opening Scotty had spotted He saw it a moment later ”Looks too small,” he called back

”I think it opens up Go ahead slow”

The runabout nosed up to the alrass, and Scotty leaned forward ”I think this is it Take it easy”

The heavy grass rubbed on both sides of the boat, but nothing ireen swale until it was alh, into a narrow channel with high grass on both sides It was hard for Rick to see ahead because of the turns, and Scotty served as his eyes,from one side to the other as the channel shi+fted

Rick wondered if the sound of the outboard motor could be heard at the rass was a good sound baffle and theto see ahead There were many birds in the swa turtle looked up briefly, then scurried into thenow Scotty looked back and drew his hand across his throat in the old signal to ”cut” Rick instantly killed the an using the boat hook as a pole, digging it into the bank and pulling the runabout ahead Finally he stopped, and wiped sweat froo”

Rick took a swipe at a black fly that bit hiet started”

Scotty tied the boat to a projecting root while Rick took the equipment from its place under the seat and put it within reach on the forward deck, then juround, but kept right on going down into a foot of ooze