He ran over to Scotty and told
him what else was needed and they both hunted until they found a
jagged piece of metal that would suit. It weighed about two pounds,
and it had holes along one edge, probably originally drilled for
rivets. They unkinked the wire carefully, then Rick passed one end
through a hole in the steel and made it fast while Scotty bent a loop
in the other end and wound the wire around itself to make a handhold.

"You do it," Rick whispered.

Scotty put a hand through the loop he had made and gripped it tight,
then he went as close to the hotel fence as he could without raising
the trajectory too high and began to whirl the contraption around his
head. Faster and faster he whirled it until it began to whine, then
with all the momentum of his body he released it.

The missile soared away in a long, low arc, past the hotel and on. The
boys waited, not breathing, and heard it crunch through the reeds on
the far side of the hotel. They ran to the creek end of the fence and
looked around. The men at the pier were looking toward the marsh
behind the garage. Red Kelso was walking that way and Carrots was
running, rifle lifted.

Scotty and Rick rounded the corner and ran silently to the front of
the hotel. Now to find Jerry! Rick stepped to the front porch and
tried the door. It was unlocked. Taking his nerve in both hands, he
pushed the door open and stepped inside.

It was quiet in the hotel. He knew the layout; they had explored every
inch of it. He led the way toward the kitchen, then flattened against
the wall of the hallway as he saw the light streaming through. He felt
Scotty brush against him. Rick leaned forward, keeping his face in the
shadow, just as Brad Marbek, his curiosity getting the better of him,
walked to the side door and stepped out.

Rick took a long step into the kitchen. No one in it. Then he saw a
lighted doorway across the room. It was a good bet. With his eyes on
the door through which Brad had gone, he trotted swiftly across the
floor. Scotty was right behind him.

Rick smothered an exclamation as he saw Jerry. The reporter was seated
in a chair, tied fast to it. The gag, a bundle of rags, had been
stuffed into his mouth. There was a bad bruise over his left eye and
another on his left temple. Rick was at his side in three long steps.
He jerked the gag from Jerry's mouth, cautioned him to silence, and
started to untie him. Scotty went to the window, which fortunately
fac