the north, but there's another one
right on its tail. We have just about time to get to Charlotte Amalie
and back before the second one closes us in."

The group went into action fast. All four pushed the plane into the
water. Zircon ran to pack a bag, and Tony went to get the film Rick had
taken for Zircon to carry to Steve. Scotty and Rick went through the
check list, inspecting the plane for possible storm damage. Then Rick
started the engine and warmed it up. By the time they were ready, Zircon
was climbing aboard.

Scotty yelled, "Tony and I will keep the home fires burning. Don't waste
any time, Rick!"

"I won't."

Zircon closed the cabin door and Rick taxied out. In a few moments he
was air-borne, swinging seaward over the north end of the island. He
looked down and saw two of the frogmen. They were in front of the house,
watching the plane.

"Be sure to tell Steve everything," Rick reminded the big scientist,
"and don't forget to give him the film. I won't have time to see him,
unless he meets the plane. But it doesn't matter, because you know
everything Scotty and I do."

"I'll be glad to get actively to work on this confounded business,"
Zircon stated. "I'm so curious about that brass ball the frogmen had in
the cave that I'm about to burst."

Rick set a compass course for St. Thomas, flying just under the clouds.
When they were a half hour out he contacted the airport again and asked
for the weather. The report hadn't changed. He told the airport
operator, "The doctor is coming. Please notify the patient." He could
almost see the operator jerk to attention as the headphones gave out a
crisp "Roger."

He sat down on a heavy chop at Charlotte Amalie, and the Sky Wagon gave
them a rough ride as he taxied to the pier. Lieutenant Jimmy Kelly was
waiting in a Navy sedan with an armed guard in attendance.

Rick supervised the refueling of his plane at the pier gasoline depot, a
task he would not delegate to anyone else. The presence of attendants
made it impossible to talk to the Navy lieutenant.

As Rick tightened the gas cap, Jimmy Kelly said, "Hop into your great
mechanical bird and shove off, birdman. You'll just about beat the
weather home as it is. Don't stop to fish on the way."

"I won't. Professor Zircon will tell you an interesting story. And we'll
be monitoring the command channel at six for any advice you can give
us."

"Okay. Don't get your feet wet."

Rick waved good-by to Jimmy and