Harold L. Goodwin

“ The crew of the Albatross was in the flatboat—it scarcely could be called a rowboat—already heading upstream. The Kelsos and Marbek walked toward the house.
Good! That would give them a chance to try the camera. Rick waited impatiently until the boat rounded the turn leading to Salt Creek Bridge, then he sighted in on the Albatross, checked his settings, and started both the camera and infrared light. The dynamo and camera motor hummed quietly. He breathed a sigh of relief. Surely that much sound would blend imperceptibly with the normal night noises. ”

“ Or are you working on something?"
"Working," Rick said. "We scientists must never rest. We must labor always to push back the frontiers of ignorance." He put a hand on his heart and bowed with [4] proper dramatic modesty. "I am working on an invention that will startle the civilized world."
"We will now bow our heads in reverent silence while the master tells all," Scotty intoned.
"I know," Jerry guessed. "You're working on a radar-controlled lawn mower so you can cut the grass while you sit on the porch."
"That's too trivial for a junior genius like Rick," Scotty objected. ”

“ Just let me know where it is so I can tell the insurance company."
"I'm a safe driver, Gus," Rick said with a grin.
"If I believed that I wouldn't lend you the car. Leave it in my back yard when you get through, huh?"
"Thanks a million, Gus. I'll take good care of it."
"Don't. You'll spoil it."
Rick rang off. "What time is it?"
"About half past three," Scotty said. "Why?"
"Let's take the Cub up for a little spin."
Scotty chuckled. "You're never as happy as when you're trying to unravel a mystery. Any mystery."
"You don't like it," Rick scoffed. "You like a peaceful, quiet life. ”

“ Kelso stood before the two boys, his seaweed-green eyes surveying them coldly. "All right. Talk. What did you want in here?"
Rick and Scotty remained quiet.
"Don't make me beat it out of you," Kelso warned.
Rick thought quickly. He jerked his thumb at Carrots. "You can blame him. First he dumped half a ton of menhaden on us and then he took a shot at me while I was climbing the old tower."
"Why were you climbin' the tower?" Marbek demanded quickly.
Rick shrugged, nonchalantly, he hoped. "Why does anyone climb a tower? Just for the fun of it." ”

“ The old mansion was set in the middle of the square with a big combination garage and boathouse behind it, almost against the marsh on the creek side. The doors were open and he could make out a black car, probably a coupé or two-door model, in one of the stalls.
"See anyone?" Scotty asked.
"Not a soul." Evidently the Kelsos were indoors.
Rick climbed as the Cub passed over Seaford, then turned out to sea and went northward again. Scotty kept the glasses on Smugglers' Reef. As they flashed past, he swiveled sharply. "Rick, make another run, right over the wreck." ”

“ Rick saw the color rise to the boy's face and the muscles in his throat tighten. "Easy, Scotty," he said warningly. He knew, as Scotty did, that no normal person would wave a rifle at anyone for mere daytime accidental trespassing, but he had a hunch the young carrot-top would not react normally.
"Jimmy!"
The three of them looked to the hotel as the hail came. A big man with red hair several shades darker than the boy's was waving from the side door of the Creek House. He walked toward them rapidly. ”

“ A crowd waited in front of the red-brick town hall. Jerry swung into the curb. "Let's see what's going on." [13]
Rick got his camera from the case, inserted a film pack, and stuffed a few flash bulbs into his pocket. Then he hurried up the steps of City Hall after Jerry and Scotty. Men, a number of them with the weathered faces of professional fishermen, were talking in low tones. A few looked at the boys with curiosity.
An old man with white hair and a strong, lined face was seated by the door, whittling on an elm twig. Jerry spoke to him. ”

“ Evidently he was well known to the fisherman and pier workers.
Suddenly the old man stopped. "There's Brad Marbek's craft."
The next trawler in line was the Albatross.
Rick looked it over critically. It was indistinguishable from the others. There was the same cabin, set well forward, the same large working space aft, the same net booms. It was no dirtier nor cleaner than the others. Evidently it was filled with fish, because only the top Plimsoll number was showing. But the skipper was far from average. Brad Marbek, as Rick saw him on the deck overhead, was a bull of a man. ”

“ Hartson Brant said approvingly. "These kinds of jobs belong to the law, Rick. An amateur can go only so far, and then if he's wise, he calls the police."
They had barely finished breakfast when the phone rang. It was Cap'n Mike. He said that he had been standing on first one leg then the other ever since he first phoned, and would they please tell him what had happened.
Scotty obliged with a dramatic report and Cap'n Mike exclaimed his delight so loudly that Rick could hear him half the room away. Scotty hung up and grinned. ”

“ Rick asked. They were anchored a few hundred yards off the reef tip and had been for almost an hour. In that time Cap'n Mike had made a good haul of four blacks, one flounder and a porgy. Rick and Scotty had caught two blacks apiece.
There was a definite twinkle in Cap'n Mike's eyes. "Came to talk," he said. "But the fish are biting too good. Better fish while the fishing's good. Time enough to talk later."
"Time enough for fishing later, you mean," Rick retorted. "Hauling in blackfish isn't going to find out why the Sea Belle was wrecked." ”

“ Rick's temper began to fray a little. "You're using the wrong tone of voice," he said gently. "You should say 'I'm terribly sorry, fellows, but this is private property. Do you mind tying up somewhere else?' Ask us nicely like that and we'll do it."
The redhead half lifted the rifle. "Wise guy, huh? I warned you. Now cast off those lines and get out." He dropped his hand to the lever of the rifle as though to pump a cartridge into place.
Scotty tensed. He said softly, "Get gay with that rifle and I'll climb up there and feed it to you breech first." ”

“ Your instinct for self-preservation is exceeded by only one thing."
"My," Rick said. "That's almost poetic. What's the one thing?"
"Your instinct for getting into trouble," Scotty stated. "You get a warning to stay away from Seaford, so what happens next?" He waved at the scenery as they sped past in Gus's old car. "Naturally we head for Seaford at ninety miles an hour, not even stopping to pick up our press cards."
Rick laughed. "Be accurate. This old heap can't go ninety miles an hour. Besides, it's only my never-ending search for the truth that leads me to Seaford. ”

“ SMUGGLERS' REEF CHAPTER I Night Assignment
"Adventure," Rick Brant said, "is kind of hard to define, because what may be adventure to one person may be commonplace to another." He took a bite of cake and stretched his long legs comfortably. "Now, you take flying with Scotty. That's the most adventurous thing I do."
Mr. and Mrs. Brant and Jerry Webster looked at Don Scott, the object of Rick's jibe, and waited for his reply. Verbal warfare between the two boys was a usual feature of the evening discussions on the big front porch of the Brant home on Spindrift Island. ”

“ Rick said.
Scotty went up to the bow and took the bow line, ready to drop it over a piling.
Rick started a wide turn that would bring him into the dock, then cut the engine. The launch slowed as it lost momentum and drifted into place perfectly.
"Hey! Get out of there!"
Both boys looked up.
Coming from the hotel's side door on a dead run was a stocky youth of about their own age. He was between Rick and Scotty in height, and he had hair the color of a ripe carrot. Swinging from one hand was a rifle.
"Is that hair real or has he got a wig on?" Scotty asked.
"It's real," Rick returned. ”

“ Rick said excitedly. "And the man with the light in the tower just removes it, gets down, and runs for Creek House before the men on the Sea Belle have even picked themselves up!"
"It makes sense," Scotty agreed. "And how! Of course Tom Tyler knows he's been tricked the minute he hits, and he knows why. So does Brad Marbek, but he's in on it. Bill Lake, who's pretty far behind, thinks the shift in the light is due to a patch of mist and a strong current. But how about Captain Killian? He was closer to the light." ”

“ The smugglers couldn't get much leverage. Scotty talked fast. "We'll unblock the door and open it suddenly, then, Rick, you dive into the mob. They'll be off balance because the stairs are steep. Jerry, you'll have to leap for it, over their heads, and try to get away." ”

“ Hartson Brant said.
Jerry Webster sighed. "Excuse my ignorance. What's a sniperscope?"
"They were used during the last war," Scotty explained. He picked up the unit and pointed to the light, which was about the size and shape of a bicycle head lamp. "This searchlight throws a beam of black light. Rick would call it infrared. Anyway, it's invisible. The telescope is actually a special telescopic rifle sight which will pick up infrared. You can use the thing in total darkness. Mount it on a rifle and then go looking for the enemy. Since he can't see the infrared, he thinks he's safe. ”

“ The scoop came back rapidly, sped out the track extension above the hold, and paused. Bill Lake signaled and the big bucket dropped slowly. At a further signal, it opened its jaws and plunged into the mass of fish, then slowly crunched closed and lifted again. There was certainly no waste motion here, Rick thought. [58]
Cap'n Mike asked, too casually, "What'd you think of Tom Tyler running on Smugglers' Reef, Bill?"
Bill's cordiality seemed to freeze up. "None of my business," he said shortly. "Can't pass judgment on a fellow skipper." ”

“ If you were hiding out, where would you go?"
"I've thought about it," the old seaman said. "Don't do no good. This is the first time Jim Killian has left town in twenty years, except to go into Newark or New York for a day's shopping."
"Where did he live?" Scotty asked.
"Little Cape Cod cottage over near Tom Tyler. Lived by himself."
"We might start there," Rick said.
"Good a place as any," Cap'n Mike agreed. "Let's get going."
Rick shook his head. "We have to wait for Jerry. Let's sit in the car. I don't think the hearing will last very long. Tom Tyler is pleading guilty." ”

“ Anything worth smuggling was too valuable to be dumped just because two kids saw it transferred. But still . . .
"If I were Brad," he said, "I'd get up a full head of steam for Creek House and unload that stuff. How about you?"
"Because you'd be afraid those two wild men in the airplane would report it to the police? Maybe you're right, Rick. We'd better get Captain Douglas and his men on the job right away!"
The street lights of Whiteside were in sight now. Rick took a bearing from them and swung slightly northward to pick up the airport. ”

“ They turn off Smugglers' Light from the junction box in front of the hotel and light up their own light on the crossbeam of the old tower. When Captain Tyler comes over the horizon far enough to see the light, what he sees is the Kelsos' light. But he doesn't know that. He gives it leeway as usual; he's used to passing it close because there's plenty of water. Then, when he's within a short distance of it, the light goes off. He keeps on course, thinking something has happened to the light, and piles on the reef."
"And as he piles up, the real light is put back on!" Scotty exclaimed. ”

“ Rick asked curiously.
"Pshaw! You don't give people credit for knowing much, do you? I'll bet everyone in Seaford knows about your airplane. Everyone who reads the Whiteside Morning Record, anyway."
"But all Cubs look alike," Rick protested, "and most of them are painted yellow."
Cap'n Mike snorted. "What of it? No other yellow planes in this area, and you been seen on the ground in Seaford twice already. What would anyone think? Especially when you're on a direct bearing for Spindrift when you leave?"
"He's got something there," Scotty said. "It's a logical conclusion." ”

“ That's the only threat they could make stick with a man like Tyler. If they threatened him, he'd laugh at them. But if they threatened his wife and little girl ..."
"That's the way I see it, too. Now, what kind of business requires a boat, a house on a secluded part of the beach, and a guard with a rifle?"
"Smuggling," Scotty said flatly.
Smuggling. It was the answer that fitted. Rick didn't know yet what kind of smuggling, but he intended to find out. "If you were the Kelsos, and if you were bringing contraband into Creek House, how would you get it out of Seaford?" he asked. ”

“ Rick dropped into the idiom of the sea. "I like to know the course before I haul anchor."
Cap'n Mike chuckled. "Didn't expect caution or wisdom from you."
Scotty grinned. "Don't worry. He's neither cautious nor wise. He can't wait to get started and neither can I. [38] But Rick's right. We have to know the whole story."
"Right. Well, there isn't much. Something's been going on in Seaford. Don't ask me what, because I don't know. I think Tom Tyler does, and I think his finding out is what led to the wreck of the Sea Belle." He held up his hand as Rick's lips framed a question. ”

“ Rick had the germ of an idea. "How far out do the trawlers go?"
"Few miles. Fishing grounds start a couple of miles out. Why?"
"Just an idea."
Scotty's eyes met Rick's. "Thinking about going to take a look?"
"Could be. What time do they leave here, and what time do they get back?" [41]
"They leave about four in the morning at this time of year. Mostly they don't get back until around nine. They like to get to the grounds by daylight and fish until dark. If they get a full load before dark, of course they come in earlier."
Rick grinned at Scotty. "Ever wanted to be a reporter?" ”

“ As they walked toward the Whiteside boat landing after saying good night to Duke and Jerry, Rick rapidly reviewed all they knew about the wreck of Tom Tyler's trawler and the events at Seaford.
"I sure thought I had the connecting link," he said. "I still think so, even if there wasn't any evidence in the [68] papers. It's the only answer that makes any sense."
Scotty nodded. "Keep talking."
"Okay. The Kelsos suddenly arrive at Seaford and move into Creek House. Then the Albatross starts making visits at a time when no fisherman in his right mind would pay calls. ”

“ The thumping at the door ceased. The elder Kelso called, "Keep your head, Jimmy. They don't dare. They know we're comin' in, anyway, and if they throw you out they haven't got a chance."
Kelso had spoken the exact truth, and the boys knew it. They let Carrots slump to the floor. "Get close," Scotty said. He spoke into Carrots' ear. "One peep out of you and I'll break your arm. Listen. We've got to have help and quick. Who's the fastest runner?"
"Jerry," Rick said promptly. The reporter had been a sprinting champion in school. "Are you okay now?" ”

“ Rick's mental image was far from the truth. As he read the letter, Chahda was writing to Rick and Scotty again, but this time he was composing an urgent cable, laboriously working over the cipher that would conceal its content from his strange enemy.
The Hindu boy was in the hiding place he had chosen deep in the Indian quarter of Singapore, but he knew it was only a temporary refuge. Once he emerged, the shadow would find him again. But if he could succeed in getting to the cable office first, Rick and Scotty would get his message, and they would come. ”

“ Scotty read the names aloud. None of the trawlers was the Albatross.
Rick put the Cub into a climb. "There must be other trawlers around. Let's go up and take a look."
Scotty shook his head. "I have a better idea. We'll see [48] the Albatross tonight, anyway. Why not go into shore and fly over Creek House? Sometimes you can see things from the air you can't see from the ground."
Rick considered. Flying out to the fleet had been only an impulse anyway; he hadn't expected to see anything. He was quite sure the Albatross would look and act just like the rest of the Seaford fleet. ”

“ Cap'n Mike said. "We'll be getting on. By the way, happen to know where Jim Killian is tied up?"
"I think he's on the other side of the pier. Cross over and duck under the belts. He should be right abeam of us."
"Thanks. Let's go, boys."
Cap'n Mike led the way down the gangplank with Rick and Scotty following. Rick felt Brad Marbek's eyes [62] on them. He had sensed tension under the fisherman's surface cordiality, and he was interested in the quick way Marbek had remembered the strange current when Cap'n Mike quoted Bill Lake. ”

“ Rick Brant and his pal, Scotty, have the kind of adventures all boys would like to have. They live on an island called Spindrift where Rick's father heads a group of scientists working in the field of electronics. Here and abroad, the boys encounter many thrilling adventures and solve many baffling mysteries. ”