Part 21 (1/2)

As they came closer both boys looked for the boat's occupant, but there was no one in sight Worried, Scotty held top speed until they were nearly alongside, then he throttled down and put his gunwale next to that of the crab boat

”It's Orvil's,” Rick said ”But where is he?”

”Get aboard,” Scotty suggested

”Okay” Rick stood up and tiht roll of both boats, then stepped into the crabber Orvil's crab lines were coiled neatly in their barrels, the stone crab-line anchors and floats were stacked along the side of the boat There were three covered bushel baskets of crabs, and extra baskets stacked in place One open basket held a dozen juine box, but there was no sign of Orvil hin Rick knelt by a small brown patch on the deck

He touched it, and a chill lanced through hihtened Someone had turned the boat loose, idled down to its lowest speed The stable crab boat had continued on course, heading out the mouth of the Little Choptank into the wide bay Only a bloodstain showed that there had been violence aboard

The flying stingaree had claimed another victim!

CHAPTER XVI

Steve Waits It Out

The two-boat processionin the runabout and Rick following in Orvil's boat The boys had decided to take the crab boat back to Steve's, because it could not be left adrift, and they did not knohere Orvil berthed it

Both agreed it was senseless to return to Swamp Creek That wouldn't help Orvil, at least for now, and they ht possibly be picked off by the riflemen

As they neared the pier, Scottycrab boat into the runabout's place Before he had finished, Steve was coent took the line Rick tossed and ht another line and secured the bow Scotty backed in with the runabout and Rick helped him secure the smaller boat to the side of the crabber

”bumpers on the houseboat,” Rick called ”Under the cockpit deck”

Steve hurried to get them, and they were placed between the crab boat and the runabout to prevent rubbing

The boys climbed to the pier and faced their friend

”We found the boat headed into the bay,” Rick said grin of violence We had a phone call telling us to keep away from the creek and the house, or Orvil would be fed to the crabs There's no doubt about it They have Orvil”

Strangely, Steve replied, ”Yes, I know Come on in the house”

The three walked up the path to the farent How had he known?

”Did you get a phone call after we left?” Rick asked

Steve shook his head

”Then how did you know?” Scotty de to get htened out a little and make some plans We'll talk it over shortly”

Inside the house, Rick went at once to the refrigerator As the others watched, he pulled the bottom panel loose, took out the serator control back to norent exaht Then he put it down on the kitchen table and investigated the state of the coffeepot while Rick and Scotty stood first on one foot, then the other, and fumed quietly