with their
plans. The scientists were anxious to transfer their activities to
Clipper Cay, not only to get on with their vacation, but to get the boys
away from the mysterious danger that dogged their footsteps in Charlotte
Amalie.

The scientists had departed at dawn in the _Water Witch_, after
extracting a promise from Rick and Scotty that they would not stir from
the hotel until Steve Ames contacted them, and that they would then fly
at once to Clipper Cay.

The wait had been a long one. It was now nearly noon, and the boys,
hungry because their breakfast had been at daybreak, were ordering
lunch.

Steve Ames sat down and motioned the lieutenant to a seat. "Jimmy, this
is Rick Brant and Don Scott. Boys, Lieutenant Kelly. Have you ordered
lunch?"

"We were just looking over the menu," Rick replied.

"Fine. We'll join you."

The four consulted menus, then ordered. Steve turned to Kelly. "Jimmy,
being the athletic type, you've probably never heard of the Spindrift
Scientific Foundation."

The lieutenant, a heavily tanned young man with crisp black hair, shook
his head. "Sorry. I never have."

"Well, it's a reputable, highly competent and conservative group of some
of the best scientific brains in the country. But somehow, these two got
attached to it. They're not very conservative, although they're
competent--especially at getting into trouble."

Kelly gave the boys a comradely grin. "If he talks that way, he must
like you."

The boys grinned back. The lieutenant was likable.

"All right. Last I saw of you two, Rick was lying across the legs of the
guy who had been tailing me. The next thing I heard, two men we've been
keeping an eye on were in the hoosegow, one with a slug in his shoulder.
And I also heard some wild tales of jumping out of windows. Now fill in
the details."

Rick started from the moment they first noticed that a shadow had picked
them up. He told the story in careful and accurate detail, knowing that
Steve's trained mind might find significance in things that meant
nothing to him. Now and then Scotty elaborated on a point.

When Rick concluded the recital, Steve cupped his chin in one hand and
stared at them thoughtfully.

Kelly complimented them. "Sounds as if you took care of things like real
professionals, both in the water and in the hotel. And I must say, I
wish my people would learn to give reports like that."

The boys thanked him, and Scotty added, "I don't suppose you can