The plane turned obediently. Presently they were moving in a wide circle with the houseboat as a center. A slight surface wind had arisen and the water in the cove was a bit choppy, but not enough to obscure bubble tracks made by Scuba divers below.
"See anything?" Rick asked.
"Not a trace. Can you see the water around the houseboat well enough?"
"Yes. No bubbles in the vicinity." Rick dried his palms again, then mopped his forehead. He was becoming thoroughly frightened. Where were they?
He checked his Megabuck radio to be sure it was on and called, "Barby. Where are you?"
The air was silent, except for the slight background hiss that was always present.
"Look right under the houseboat's gunwales," Scotty urged. "If they're directly under it, the bubbles would rise along the sides."
"Why would they go under the houseboat?" Rick asked.
Scotty shook his head. "Why did they come over here in the first place?"
Rick had no answer. "Let's go over to the shore. Joe's men ought to be at the rowboat by now. Maybe they found the girls."