e air once more.

"Tricky," he muttered when Scotty looked at him.

Scotty sat up a little straighter. "You're telling me?"

Rick went around the airport again and banked around tightly into the
approach. His jaw was set firmly and he watched the field so closely
that his eyes watered. He'd make it this time! He cut the gun and the
nose dropped. He waited as the runway came up, trying to gauge his
height by the grass that showed clearly in the landing lights. Slowly
he eased the control wheel back and the plane leveled off. Slowly and
more slowly. They were eating up runway rapidly. Scotty shot him an
anxious look. Then, with feather lightness, the wheels touched. The
tail settled gracefully and they were on the ground. Rick applied the
brakes and the Cub slowed to a stop. He wiped his forehead.

Scotty leaned over and solemnly shook hands.

Rick gave the plane the gun again and taxied rapidly to the hangar,
switching out his lights as he went.

Made it, he thought jubilantly. First night flight, safely over. And
that's not all. We got what we went after!

CHAPTER XVII

Enter the Police

Duke Barrows was waiting at the hangar when Rick and Scotty got out of
the Cub. "I can see the headlines now," he greeted them with a grin.
"Young Birdmen Fly by Night. Subhead: Get Up Early to Catch Worms Who
Break Law."

"Speaking of getting up early," Rick retorted. He pointed to where
growing paleness in the east announced the coming of daylight. "How
did you know we'd be landing?"

"My house is near here," Duke reminded them. "I heard you buzz the
field a while ago and I knew you must have gotten the call. So I
dressed and came over. I hadn't gone to sleep after getting home,
anyway. Editors of morning papers are night owls, remember. Well, how
did it go?"

Rick reached into the Cub and drew out his camera. He held it up
triumphantly. "The evidence is in here," he said happily. "We caught
'em in the act, Duke." Then he sobered. "But we're worried." He told
the editor about their misgivings.

"Hmmmm." Barrows gazed at the night sky reflectively. "I agree that
Marbek probably wouldn't throw the stuff overboard, but he might
streak for port. I think we'd better give Captain Douglas a call. We
want state troopers waiting at Creek House when the _Albatross_
arrives."

Scotty groaned. "If they go now, that means we won't get any sleep."

"You hadn't better plan on going with the troopers," Duke said. "They
pr