ed the Seaford side of the house, and leaned out.

Rick heard Brad call, "Find anyone?" Then a faint answering call. "No
one here."

"Hurry," Scotty whispered. He went to the door and stood to one side
of it, looking into the kitchen.

Rick tugged at a recalcitrant knot, then got it loose. Jerry stood up,
hands still tied behind him. Rick fought with the knot and wished for
a knife.

There were footsteps in the kitchen. Rick's fingers got a hold and he
heaved. The footsteps came closer. Scotty crouched. Brad Marbek
entered the room and stepped into a terrific roundhouse swing with all
of Scotty's frantic weight behind it. Brad stumbled backward and fell,
and he roared.

"They're in the house! Cover the doors!"

He got to his feet and his powerful legs drove him forward. Scotty
stepped directly into his way.

The rope loosened in Rick's hand. He unwound Jerry, working as fast as
he could. He turned just in time to see Brad's arms reach for Scotty.
The fisherman's face was distorted in a snarl and blood trickled from
his cut lip.

Scotty back-pedaled swiftly. He took Brad's out-stretched hands, then
fell backward, feet lifting, catching Brad in the stomach. Scotty
heaved. The heave and the smuggler's momentum shot him headlong. He
smashed into the wall.

Scotty leaped to his feet. "Run!" he yelled.

Rick propelled Jerry into the kitchen, and as they started across the
room he saw Red Kelso at the door. "The front," he called. "Hurry,
Jerry."

The reporter was fast getting the use of his limbs back. Scotty led
the way to the front hall and Jerry stumbled after him. As Rick passed
through the doorway from the kitchen into the wide hallway he spotted
a cabinet. He grabbed it and tugged. It came away from the wall and he
stepped from under it, letting it crash at an angle across the
passageway. That would hold Red for a few seconds. They sprinted for
the open front door and met Carrots head on just inside the entrance.

Scotty dove at him. His shoulder caught the redhead in the chest and
slammed him backward. Carrots' arms flew up and the rifle he was
carrying sailed from his grasp and slid across the porch to the
sidewalk. The boys started to pile out over him, then they stopped
short. Two of the crew were pounding up the sidewalk, leaping to the
steps, and they carried clubs!

They were trapped! "Up the stairs," Rick said hoarsely.

Scotty bent over the fallen Carrots and jerked him to his feet.
"You're