ll semicircular deck used primarily for docking
and anchoring. The anchor line was coiled on a hook on the curving front
of the cabin, and the patent anchor was stowed on the deck itself. Rick
took the coil and faked down the line in smooth figure eights so it
would run out without fouling, then made sure the anchor was free and
ready to go.

When Rick stood up and looked down the length of the cabin top at
Scotty, he saw that the squall was almost on them. The turbulent cloud
front was directly overhead. He saw the wind line, marked by turbulent
water, move swiftly toward the houseboat. The _Spindrift_ rocked as
though shaken by a giant hand, and its speed picked up appreciably. The
houseboat began to pitch as the chop built up around it. Visibility
dropped suddenly; it was almost dark. Rick winced as large, hard-driven
raindrops lashed into his face, then he turned his back to the storm and
stared ahead.

The creek mouth was in sight. He pointed to it for Scotty's benefit, but
when he turned to look at his pal, the driving rain slashed into his
eyes and made him look away.

Scotty had seen the creek mouth. Staying as close to shore as he dared,
Scotty drove the houseboat to within fifty yards of the narrow mouth,
then swung the helm hard. The wind, which had been astern, was now abeam
and its force was acting on the high side of the boat. The houseboat
slewed sideways, and for a moment Rick thought they would be driven on
to the upstream bank of the creek. But Scotty had judged his distance
and wind pressure well. The boat shot into the creek mouth with feet to
spare.

The cove opened up ahead. Scotty reversed one motor and the houseboat
turned almost in its own length. Rick watched the shore through
squinting eyes, and the moment he saw the boat's forward motion cease,
he dropped the big anchor over. The wind caught the houseboat again and
drove it backward into the cove while the anchor line ran out. When he
had enough line out for safety, Rick snubbed it tight around a cleat,
held the taut line between thumb and forefinger until he was sure it had
none of the vibrations caused by a dragging anchor, and then hurried
back along the catwalk to the cockpit. He and Scotty ran from the
rainswept deck down the two steps into the cabin.

For a moment the two stood grinning at each other and listening to the
heavy drumming of the rain on the cabin top, then Rick spoke. "We'd
better get out of these wet clothes so we c