Part 17 (1/2)
”The people in the mansion can't be suspicious of Orvil,” Rick went on
”He goes crabbing there every day They must be used to him by now
Suppose we call him, to warn him about the stake, and to see if he'll help out”
”He'll be glad to help,” Scotty said
”Help how?” Steve asked ”By providing cover?”
Rick nodded ”Exactly Scotty and I will suit up, so our skins won't show at night, and have our Scuba equipment on Harris could come by and take the runabout in toith us in it We would drop off near the creek entrance and push the runabout into the channel where it would be hidden Then ould swim into the cove and recover the object With two of us, it would be a cinch to find the fish line”
”If the thing is too heavy to sith,” Scotty went on, ”we'll hand it into Orvil's boat Of course we'll pull up the sapling and hand that to Orvil If the gadget is light, we'll swim back to the runabout with it, push the runabout away froet aboard and co, no one would hear our bubbles”
Steve had followed the plan carefully ”Fair enough,” he agreed ”It's a good plan No one will see you enter the cove, and no one will see you leave There will be only Orvil Harris catching crabs as usual”
Scotty spoke up ”We could e, Steve You could be with us, either in the water or in the runabout”
Steve shook his head ”No thanks, Scotty I have soht You carry out your plan and I'll carry out mine”
”Is your business connected with ours?” Rick asked
”Yes, but I'ation If it brings results, we'll compare notes at breakfast”
”We could postpone recovery and help you tonight,” Scotty suggested
Steve smiled warmly ”Thanks, but no thanks What I have to do is for a lone hand Rick, you phone Orvil Harris and ements”
Rick consulted the telephone directory and turned to Steve ”Any chance the line ht ask Orvil if he's on a party line, though If he is, be careful If not, go ahead and talk”
Orvil Harris had a private line, so Rick described their adventure in the cove and asked for the crabber's help Harris responded at once, as the boys had known he would
”I'll come by at half past three You hook on and I'll tow you to the mouth of the creek, then you cut loose We'll fix up the details when I see you”
Rick thanked hiet little sleep tonight”
”It's only about eight,” Steve pointed out ”You could go to bed right away” He ht face
”We could,” Scotty agreed ”But on't How about a little television tonight?”
Steve waved a hand ”Take your pick Medical drama, crime drama, western drama”
”The purpose of television drama,” Rick declared, ”is to provide an escape from the real world into the world of fantasy So no crime drama for us because that's the real world We atch a medical-type show”
”Western,” Scotty said ”Trot-trot, bang-bang”