n the
problem of the tower scratches and the shifting current. He looked at
his watch. "Ten of nine. Why?"

"Almost time for the trawlers to be getting back to Seaford."

"As though I didn't know it! Unless we get a call within the next
half-hour, we might as well forget it for tonight, too."

Scotty went back to his book. Rick resumed staring at the ceiling. It
had occurred to him that there was an old wrecker's trick, well used
in the days of sailing ships. The trick was to extinguish a navigation
light so ships would run aground and be easy prey for the wreckers.
And sometimes the wreckers helped out by raising false lights. Now if
the automatic light at the tip of the reef could be cut off, and if a
false light were raised on the old tower . . . they just had to talk
with Captain Killian! Bill Lake thought a shift of current and a patch
of mist had been responsible for him losing the light and putting him
off course. But what if Smugglers' Light had been cut off and a false
light lighted on the old tower?

Rick snapped his fingers. "I've got it!"

Scotty looked up. "Got what?"

Just then the phone rang.

The boys almost fell over each other in their haste. Rick got to it
first and said a breathless hello.

"Cap'n Mike speaking. Rick?"

"Yes!"

"Brad just turned up Salt Creek. I'll be in my shack waiting to hear
about it, boy. And say, the automatic light works by a cable. Cable
comes down the pole in front of the Creek House fence and goes into a
metal box. From there it goes underground to the light."

"Thanks a million," Rick said exultantly. "We'll see you sometime
tonight, Cap'n." He hung up and turned to Scotty. "Let's go!"

They ran down the stairs and almost barged into Mrs. Brant. "Got to
hurry, Mom."

"Where to, Rick?"

"Seaford," he said. "We'll take the boat. Don't worry, I don't think
we'll be out too late."

Mrs. Brant's eyes were troubled. The boys had told the Brants
something about events at Seaford. "Be careful, you two," she said.

"We will," Scotty assured her.

They had every intention of being extremely careful. Hartson Brant,
who had been on expeditions with the boys, had every confidence in
their ability to look out for themselves. But Mrs. Brant, like all
mothers, had some reservations.

As they ran down the stairs to the landing, Scotty asked, "What was it
you said you had just before the phone rang?"

"Tell you when we get underway," Rick returned, and as they sped