, but he followed without trying to communicate with the other
boy. In a situation like this, Scotty's instincts were dependable.

Rick stayed close to Scotty in the murky layer, swimming at his side and
a little behind. After a few yards Scotty dove again, into clear water.
Rick looked around but could see no sign of the enemy. Apparently the
frogmen had followed and were still in the murk.

Scotty shot downward, Rick at his side. The wreck was directly below
them. Scotty didn't hesitate. He let his momentum carry him right
through the grouper's front door into the cabin. Rick followed, half
expecting to see Scotty and the grouper meet head on, but the fish
hadn't returned.

Inside the cabin, Scotty switched on his flashlight, took his slate, and
wrote, "Thyl thnk we wnt bk to bot. We sty hr lng nuff thy fnd out we nt
thr & cm bck lkng fr us. Thn we go up to bot."

Rick nodded his understanding. It was good strategy, provided they timed
it right. The frogmen would assume the boys had returned to the _Water
Witch_ when they went up through the murky layer. They would examine the
boat, then dive down again. At that time, if he and Scotty could time it
right, the two groups would pass in the murky layer and the boys would
emerge while their enemies were still descending.

He looked at his watch. They had only a few minutes of air left. The
frogmen would have more air, not only because they had entered the water
after the boys were already on the bottom, but because they had not
descended so deeply.

He wrote, "Rlax. Brethe easy."

The less effort they made, the longer their air would last. For a moment
he debated suggesting that they share one tank by trading the mouthpiece
back and forth, but that would leave one of them practically without air
when they had to leave. He tried to imagine the movements of their
enemies. The frogmen would be on the surface now, approaching the boat
ladder with caution. They couldn't be sure the boys were not waiting in
ambush.

Both boys had switched off their lights and were resting motionless in
the darkness of the cabin. A little light filtered through the hole near
the roof, but not enough to see by.

Suddenly the light was blocked out!

Rick reached for his belt knife and Scotty thrust the spear gun forward,
then both relaxed a little. The grouper had returned.

The big fish turned at the opening and backed into his hole. He hovered
in the opening, holding position while