"I'll take it," Rick said. He picked up the phone. "This is Rick, Duke."
"Bad news," the editor said. "It's all over, and nothing came out of it."
Rick woke up sharply. "What? But, Duke, we saw them load!"
"Tough luck. Brad came in at the usual time and Douglas was waiting for him. They went over that ship from stem to stern and didn't turn up a single thing."
Rick realized that it was dark outside. Mother had let them sleep right through dinner.
"But the crates in the marsh," he exclaimed. "How about those?"
"Gone," Duke said. "There wasn't a thing but flattened reeds and muddy water."
Scotty had been holding his ear close to the phone. "Brad must have jettisoned his cargo," he said. "We didn't think he would."
Duke heard him. "Was that Scotty? Well, Rick, if the pictures prove out, we'll know he must have thrown the stuff overboard. Captain Douglas has faith in you. He says not to be discouraged."
"Thanks," Rick said hollowly.