ought it was a replica of the one he
had recovered.

There was sound from the truck containing the dish antenna. Rick pulled
his mask away to hear a little better and heard a loudspeaker,
rebroadcasting something.

"... reports no aircraft within range limits. We are now at thirty-one
minutes and counting. On my mark the time will be zero minus thirty
exactly."

There was only the crackle of the loudspeaker. The set was tuned in on
the Wallops Island command frequency, Rick realized. That was how
Camillion and company knew when to release the balloon, and when to
trigger the rocket!

Camillion's bodyguard was manning the rope holding the balloon. It was
attached to a ring on the truck. As Rick watched, the bodyguard let out
more line and the balloon rose slightly, tugging at the rope, and moving
toward Rick. The tail hung down almost to the ground, the rocket hanging
at an angle at its end.

The loudspeaker voice said, "Stand by. Mark! Zero minus thirty."

The bodyguard reached up and cut the rope!

Rick saw the flying stingaree heading directly toward him, rising
slowly, caught by the ground wind. He brought his spear gun into
position and rose to his full height, snapping off the safety catch.
Oblivious to the yells from the lawn, he aimed and fired. With a sharp
hiss, the spear flashed through the air--into the balloon and right
through it!

The balloon didn't even falter. It would take time to lose sufficient
gas to bring it down. The wind swept it right toward Rick, still rising.
As it passed over him, the dangling rocket would be almost within reach.

Rick didn't hesitate. He saw the track of the balloon curving, as the
wind shifted direction downstream over the water. He threw himself to
one side and forward, dropping the spear gun, one hand outstretched. The
rocket slapped into his palm and his fingers closed around it. The jerk
pulled him forward and he grabbed with his other hand, missed, and
grabbed again. This time he caught the rocket, and both hands gripped
tight.

The flying stingaree lifted him, dragging him through the water. Rick
spun around at the end of the line, and caught a glimpse of the
bodyguard raising a pistol to shoot at him! Then the scene whirled and
he saw Scotty, standing in water to his waist, spear gun lifted to fire.

[Illustration: _The flying stingaree lifted him!_]

Rick saw the spear leave his pal's gun, and he whirled his head in time
to see the bodyguard looking d