e cylinder didn't feel like metal. The
texture was that of a smooth plastic.

Rick lifted the object gingerly. It was hard to estimate weight under
water, but he thought ten pounds would be about right. The total length
was less than three feet. It would be easy to carry.

This time he needed a reciprocal compass course. It would be 260 degrees
going out. He oriented himself properly, picked up the cylinder, and
began the long swim back. He wondered if Merlin's guards were watching
his bubbles. He had seen no sign of bullets, but he hadn't been looking
for them. With Orvil's motor so near, it was likely he would not have
heard the slap of a bullet on the water.

Pressure told him he was out of the cove. He breathed a little easier.
Now to count leg strokes again. He looked up, and saw that the surface
of the water was shining with light, the first rays of true daylight.
Scotty would have no trouble finding him.

Because of the daylight, he continued on for a distance beyond where
Scotty had dropped him. No use giving the guards too good a shot.
Finally, exhausted, he surfaced. He lifted his mask and surveyed the
scene.

Orvil Harris was still crabbing. Rick could see the boat, but the angle
was wrong for him to see the crabber at work. He turned slowly in the
water, and saw Scotty. The runabout was floating, motor off, about a
mile away. He lifted an arm. The glint of first sunrise turned the
lenses of Scotty's binoculars into a crimson eye, and Scotty waved back.
In a few seconds Rick heard the motor start and saw the boat racing
toward him. He kept his mouthpiece in place, and floated, waiting.

[Illustration: _Now to find out what he had_]

Scotty came alongside and reached down. Rick handed him the cylinder.
Scotty put it on the seat without even looking at it. He gave Rick a
hand and pulled him over the side. He asked anxiously, "Are you all
right?"

"Done in," Rick said wearily. "But otherwise okay."

"Let's get out of here." Scotty put the runabout in gear and headed back
toward Martins Creek.

Rick sat down and picked up the cylinder. There was a gob of mud still
on it. He wiped it off with his hand and examined the thing. The
material was fiber glass set in resin, and it was designed so the
rounded nose could be removed. He didn't remove it, however. Instead he
looked at the other end, down into the hole with the puzzling shape. It
was like a cutout Star of David in shape, the hole gradually narrowi