Cascading thousands of menhaden crushed him violently to the floor.
CHAPTER VII
Search for a Clue
As Rick fell to the floor, he twisted sideways and managed to bring up one arm to protect his head. In an instant he was buried in a great, heavy, slippery mass of fish. His nostrils filled with the oily stench, and when he opened his mouth to breathe, he closed it again on a fish tail. He spat it out, and then, furious, he struggled against the slimy weight, got his hands and feet under him and heaved. Fish cascaded from his arched back and he broke clear just as Scotty reached for him.
"You all right?" Scotty gasped.
"Yes."
Cap'n Mike, hurled clear by Scotty's rush, was getting to his feet.
Scotty departed on a dead run.