Tyler's shoulders straightened. "If that's the way it is, sir, I guess that's the way it is. I'm pleading guilty."
The murmur in the court rose.
Rick leaned over to Jerry. "He's scared stiff. He must be, to take this lying down."
But if the Kelsos had threatened Mrs. Tyler and their little girl, there wasn't much else he could do. Wrecking the trawler had shown him they were capable of carrying out any threat. Rick was glad he had had presence of mind the night before to say that other people knew he and Scotty were going to Creek House. He was sure that had the Kelsos and Brad thought that no one else knew, their fate would have been much different.
A hand fell on his shoulder. He looked up into the face of the officer who had been at the door.
"You Rick Brant?"
He nodded.
"Cap'n Mike is outside. Says it's urgent. He wants you and Don Scott."
"We'll come right away," Rick said. He leaned over and explained to Jerry. "We'll meet you outside. Come on, Scotty."
As quietly as possible he and Scotty left the room just as the spokesman for the board declared that the hearing would proceed.