buoy. When we reach it, we should be
able to see the range markers into Knapps Narrows."

Scotty checked the chart on the table hinged to the bulkhead formed by
the rear cabin wall. "What time is it?"

Rick glanced at his watch. "Five after six. Time for chow. Want to
rustle up something? Or shall we eat at Knapps Narrows? The cruising
guide says there's a restaurant there."

"Let's eat out," Scotty replied promptly. "I'm sick of my cooking--and
yours. I'd like some Maryland crab cakes like those we had in Chesapeake
City."

Rick remembered with pleasure. "Suits me."

"Think we'll get to Steve's tonight?" Scotty asked.

"I doubt it. We probably could reach the mouth of the river about dark,
but then we'd have to navigate up the river and into a creek before
reaching Steve's. I don't want to tackle these Chesapeake backwaters at
night."

The destination of the houseboat was the summer cottage of Rick's old
friend, Steve Ames, who was also a chief agent of JANIG, the top-secret
Federal security organization. The boys, and the Spindrift scientists,
had worked on several cases for JANIG, starting with the adventure of
_The Whispering Box Mystery_. Steve was responsible for Rick's ownership
of the houseboat, which had been named for Rick's home island on the
grounds that it was now his "home away from home."

Rick's first glimpse of the houseboat had been from the air. At the
request of Steve Ames, he, Scotty, his sister Barby, and Jan Miller,
daughter of one of the Spindrift physicists, had been searching the
coast of New Jersey for signs of strangers in the area. Barby had
spotted the houseboat, which at that time was painted a bright orange.
Later, the houseboat had played a major role in the adventure of _The
Electronic Mind Reader_, and Rick had fought for his life and the safety
of the two girls in the very cabin behind which he now stood. The
houseboat had been impounded by Federal authorities, and recently Steve
had mentioned to Rick that it was to be auctioned. After consulting with
his family, Rick had entered a bid for the boat. His bid had been the
only one, and he became owner at what was close to a salvage price.

It was Rick's pride that his chief possessions had been bought with his
own money, and the houseboat was no exception. Like his first plane, the
Cub, he expected the houseboat to pay its own way. Rick had recovered
his investment in the Cub by using it to operate Spindrift Island's
ferry se