Scotty banked around and headed over the clump of birches. In a small clearing behind the clump they saw two men in Scout uniforms. The men looked up, and one spread his hands wide in a gesture that said nothing of importance had been turned up.
"There's only one thing to do," Rick said decisively. "We've got to check on the..."
He stopped as though a hand had clutched his throat. Barby's voice, in his earphones!
Rick pulled the unit from his pocket and turned up the volume. He couldn't hear her well.
"It's Barby," he said swiftly. "Circle!"
Rick strained to hear. She was talking to someone. "... It won't do the slightest bit of good to keep us here, because my brother will know where we are."
The signal faded as she talked. Rick turned the little radio unit, trying to keep the volume constant.
"You'd better let us go," Barby was saying. "You'll get into a lot of trouble if you don't."
Rick groaned. Her threats would do about as much good as a bunny threatening a wolf pack. Where was she? On the houseboat?
Suddenly he realized ... he had the key in his hands!