rew aboard the _Sea Belle_?" he asked.

"Yes. Just the regulars. All good men who've sailed with Tom Tyler for
more'n ten years."

"You said Mrs. Tyler was afraid, too," Scotty remembered.

Cap'n Mike shrugged. "Probably Tom talked the whole thing over with
her."

There had been an air of tension at the wreck last night, Rick
thought. Maybe other fishermen were in it, too. He put the question to
Cap'n Mike.

"I don't think so," the old man said. "The whole town knows
something's up. They know Tom Tyler doesn't wince at shadows. If he's
afraid, and they know he is, he's got reasons. That makes 'em all
uneasy. But there is one gang that I'm sure is mixed up in this, and
that's the bunch on the _Albatross_. She's a fishing craft just like
Tom's, only her skipper isn't much like Tom. Name's Brad Marbek."

Rick stretched his legs. "Why do you think he and his crew are mixed
up in it?"

"Eel fishing is a good business for them as wants information," Cap'n
Mike said.

Rick hid a smile. The old seaman was bursting with curiosity about the
Creek House and its new inhabitants. He had a picture of him sitting
patiently at the mouth of Salt Creek, ostensibly fishing but actually
watching to see what he could find out.

"I've seen the _Albatross_ tied up at Salt Creek pier three times,"
the captain went on. "Now! Why would a trawler, loaded to the gunwales
with menhaden, stop at the hotel before coming in to the fish wharves
to unload?"

"Not for social purposes, that's certain," Rick said.

"Find out why and we're a lot closer to the solution," Cap'n Mike
stated.

Rick had the germ of an idea. "How far out do the trawlers go?"

"Few miles. Fishing grounds start a couple of miles out. Why?"

"Just an idea."

Scotty's eyes met Rick's. "Thinking about going to take a look?"

"Could be. What time do they leave here, and what time do they get
back?"

"They leave about four in the morning at this time of year. Mostly
they don't get back until around nine. They like to get to the grounds
by daylight and fish until dark. If they get a full load before dark,
of course they come in earlier."

Rick grinned at Scotty. "Ever wanted to be a reporter?"

"Nope. My spelling isn't that good."

"Well, you're going to be one. Let's get home. I want to make a call
to the Whiteside _Morning Record_."

Cap'n Mike's eyes brightened. "So you'll work along with me, hey? Knew
you would. What happens now?"

"First thing is to in