ing MTB, ready to grab.

"Stand by," he called to Scotty.

"Don't miss it," Scotty called back.

Chahda flashed by.

Rick had a quick glimpse of Zircon being hauled along like an oversized
surfboard, then the rope was on him. He grabbed with both hands and
braced himself for the shock. The jerk on his arms was tremendous, but
he held tight and flailed his legs to get his head above water. After
one gasping breath he managed to turn himself against the force of the
water and lay flat on his stomach. By arching his back, he brought his
face above water, and in a moment he was planing along like a water ski.
Next to him on the rope Scotty had done the same.

[Illustration: _Rick braced himself for the shock_]

Rick counted anxiously, then heaved a relieved sigh. All present! But
unless Chahda slowed down soon, Shannon would be in serious trouble.
Apparently the Hindu boy was keeping a close watch on his catch. He
dropped his speed until he was barely making headway, giving Zircon a
chance to pull Shannon up to the rope where the injured man could help
himself.

Then Chahda hauled in on the rope until Zircon was directly alongside.
The Hindu boy had thrown over the ship's boarding ladder. Zircon grabbed
it and held.

Rick and Scotty left the rope and swam rapidly toward the boat. Both had
realized that Zircon would need help. So had Tony, who was already
helping Shannon to the ladder.

Chahda lowered a line with a bowline in the end, and Zircon slipped the
loop over Shannon's shoulders and made sure it was secure under his
arms. Then the big scientist hurried up the ladder and called down,
"Hold him away from the side! Rick, get on the ladder. Scotty, come help
me. Tony, keep his feet clear."

In a moment all hands were in position. Rick wrapped one leg around a
wooden rung and slipped one arm behind the ropes. Then, as Scotty and
Zircon hauled, he held Shannon out from the boat so the injured leg
could not strike the side or a rung.

As soon as Shannon's shoulders were at the railing, Tony went by Rick
and helped pull the scientist aboard. Rick waited to give Torres a hand,
noting as the Filipino boy climbed up that the rough bandage on his
wounded arm was stained with fresh blood. The boy gave him a wide grin
as he climbed to safety.

A rifle slug interrupted Rick's answering grin. It slapped into the hull
only a few feet away. With his free hand he found his knife and severed
the rope that held the barrel