30 The Secret of Shark Reef by William Arden

Author:William Arden [Arden, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

A Deadly Danger

“No,” Jupiter said stubbornly. “I know he’ll return, and if we go in too soon we’ll lose him for good!”

An hour later the rain was coming in sheets from a low, completely black sky, the waves were breaking over the Sea Wind’s bow, and only four boats were left. Too few to form a circle, they sailed close together with the black Connors boat right behind the Sea Wind. In his red wool hat and a yellow slicker, Tim Connors stood sturdily on his open flying bridge looking like an ancient Viking. As the two boats moved as slowly as possible in the heavy seas, Connors maneuvered the black boat close to the Sea Wind and shouted across the short distance.

“Nice little blow, Jason!”

“It’ll do!” Captain Jason shouted back.

“Going in soon?”

“Soon!”

Tim Connors laughed through the rain. “Fifty bucks we outlast you!”

“You’re crazy, Connors! And keep farther off!”

Tim Connors grinned on his open bridge, and continued to sail dangerously close. The slow-moving boats were all on the seaward side of Shark Reef #1, half-turned into the wind. They were moving just fast enough to hold their distance from the platform and resist the waves’ efforts to push them into the giant legs and the steel landing stage between them.

Two more boats blew their horns and turned toward the safety of the channel, leaving only the black Connors boat and the Sea Wind. Jupiter continued to search the dark sea desperately for any sign of the small underwater vehicle.

“Give up, Jupe!” Pete said. “You couldn’t see him in this light anyway. He might even be under us already!”

“Just a little while longer!” Jupiter pleaded.

Suddenly, the Connors boat pulled away, and Tim Connors shouted back to them.

“You win, Jason! Have fun, all of you!”

With a final laugh, Connors put the black boat’s engine into high gear. It quickly plunged past the platform and vanished into the rain.

“It’s no use, Jupiter,” Captain Jason said. “We’re going in. The barometer’s down another point and the wind is getting stronger all the time. If we stay out here much longer, we’ll be in real danger.”

Jupiter nodded sadly. “I guess so, sir.”

Captain Jason put the engine into high speed. The Sea Wind surged ahead — and suddenly began to shake all over! A violent hammering noise came from under the stern!

“What is it?” Pete cried.

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