.

Rick winked. "Going to see if the Kelsos are home."

The Cub flashed across Salt Creek and Rick pulled the control wheel
back into his lap. The small plane shot upward in a zoom that just
cleared the hotel, then at the top of the zoom Rick did a fast wing
over and started back.

"I know you can fly," Scotty said calmly, "but don't try to roll your
wheels on the roof."

Rick shot across the hotel within five feet of the chimney and dropped
so low that his prop wash flattened the reeds in the marsh. Then,
climbing again, he swung wide and went over Seaford at a legal
altitude. He was, even the critical Gus admitted, a safe-and-sane
flier, but the temptation to get back at Carrots Kelso a little was
too much. High over the town, he turned to Scotty. "I didn't see
anyone. Now, if you were in the house and a crazy pilot buzzed you
twice, what would you do?"

"Run out and look," Scotty said promptly.

"Uhuh." Rick was enjoying himself. Whether his scheme worked or not,
he liked it. "And if the plane was out of sight, what would you do
then?"

"I'd go far away from the house, so it wouldn't block my view, and
look for it."

"The farthest you can get away from Creek House, without running into
the fence, is at the end of the pier."

Scotty broke into laughter. "I hope I never have you for an enemy.
What'll you bet Carrots doesn't go to the end of the pier?"

"No bets. But I'm hoping."

Rick turned inland. When he was out of sight of the town, he lost
altitude in a tight spiral over Salt Creek. At five hundred feet, he
banked around and followed the creek, his throttle wide open. As the
Cub flashed over Salt Creek Bridge, he put the plane in a shallow
dive. Creek House loomed and he let out a yell of triumph.

Carrots Kelso was standing on the end of the pier, looking at the sky!

Rick pointed the nose of the Cub directly at him and held it there. He
saw Carrots turn at the noise of the plane, saw his mouth open to
yell and his eyes pop. Rick hauled the stick back into his lap and
kicked left rudder. As the Cub spun around he banged Scotty with his
free hand and chortled with glee.

Carrots, afraid for his life, had gone headlong into the creek.

"That pays him back for shooting at you," Scotty said with
satisfaction. "Bet he was more scared than you were. But we still owe
him for those fish."

* * * * *

Two of the photos proved excellent for their purposes. Scotty, who h