data from Wallops
firings is published by scientific publications," Scotty pointed out.
"How could he have been so stupid?"

"He fell into a natural trap," Steve answered. "Most people think there
is military secrecy connected with rocket firings. They don't make a
distinction between the civilian space agency and the military services.
But the law does. It says the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration is required to report on its scientific findings."

"And it does," Rick concluded. "Dad has already written a report on the
instruments for measuring solar X rays. The scientists who actually use
the instruments will also write a report on the data they obtained."

"That's it," Steve agreed. "What's a little more puzzling is why the
electronics expert didn't know. I suspect he has been concerned only
with the design of telemetry equipment and not with any actual
launchings or space experiments."

"Maybe he did know," Scotty offered. "He might have kept quiet just to
get money from Lefty for doing the work on intercepting the data. You
know we had the clues, but it never occurred to us there might be a
connection between Wallops Island and the stingarees, because who could
imagine going to all that trouble to intercept open, unclassified data
you can get by asking for it?"

Rick had to laugh. "Whether he knew or not, it's still a joke on Lefty,
and on us for not suspecting the connection. And poor Lefty won't have a
nest egg to take back to Europe with him."

"He won't need a nest egg," Steve corrected. "Lefty violated the law by
kidnaping Link and Orvil. I don't know whether we can make a federal
espionage rap stick or not, since the data he was collecting was
unclassified. But we'll try. Anyway, he won't be going back to Europe.
He'll end up in a Maryland prison, or a Federal one. Either way, it'll
be some years before he has to worry about money."

"Lucky Lefty," Rick said. "A cell of his own, plenty of food, and no
worries about money. We did him a favor."

Steve grinned. "Just don't expect any gratitude for a favor like that!"

CHAPTER XX

Hunt the Wide Waters

The cruising houseboat _Spindrift_ moved sedately across Eastern Bay,
off the main Chesapeake Bay, toward the town of Claiborne. It was a
lovely day with a blue sky dotted with occasional fair-weather clouds.
The temperature was in the low eighties, the wind gentle, and the water
warm.

Rick Brant sat on the bow of the houseboat