Scotty's arm, then with a powerful thrust of his flippers
he shot out into light, right into the stomach of a frogman!

He thrust with his knife, and a hand gripped his wrist and twisted.
Scotty shot from the hole in the wreck and turned, fins flailing. His
spear gun belched carbon dioxide, and the deadly spear ripped into the
leg of one frogman.

Rick flailed arms and legs, trying to break free of the grip that held
him. He saw the wounded frogman fire his spear at Scotty. The boy moved
just in time, and the shaft shot between his arm and side.

Scotty let go of his useless gun and grappled with the frogman, reaching
for his knife with one hand while he gripped the frogman's wrist with
the other.

Rick knew their air was running out fast. He felt a knife glance from
his tank and heard the ring of metal. He struggled for footing and
turned in time to thrust a flippered foot into the stomach of the
frogman behind him.

Next to him he caught a glimpse of Scotty and his opponent rolling in
the water, and he saw the shimmer of metal as a knife flashed.

Arms locked around his throat. He reached backward over his head and his
hands touched rubber. He gripped and pulled with all his strength and
felt the man's face plate come free.

The frogman who had lost his mask suddenly threw off tanks and weight
belt and sped for the surface.

The odds were even! Rick locked with his opponent and felt powerful arms
drag him close. The man had more strength than he! He fought to break
loose, and couldn't!

Then the mouthpiece was pulled away from Rick's lips in mid-breath, and
he choked on sea water.

Without air--twenty fathoms down!

Frantically he fought, locking his air passage so his last lungful
couldn't escape. He got a hand free and caught his opponent's hose where
it joined the tank. He pulled with all his strength and felt it give.
Bubbles rose in a cloud.

He would have sobbed if he could. It was the wrong hose! He had only
torn loose the exhaust. He groped and found the intake hose, then,
lifting his knee and thrusting for leverage, he pulled with all his
strength. The hose gave! The grip on him loosened.

Rick was now desperate for air! He pulled the quick release on his
weight belt and felt it drop away, then he kicked for the surface,
frantic with fear for Scotty. Had he gotten free? Had he? His last view
had been of his pal locked with the remaining frogman!

Bubbles streamed from his mouth as the compr