As Rick started up, four metallic clangs, irregularly spaced, rang faintly in his ears.
Tony, banging his tank in the signal for trouble! Rick instantly changed course and followed the bottom, watching the water overhead for any sign of the frogmen. When he had reached a spot below the point on the reef where Tony should be waiting, he turned toward the surface, moving slowly, searching for any sign of activity. There was no sign of whatever had alarmed Tony.
He paused a few inches under the surface, then carefully put his face into the air. Scotty surfaced beside him.
There was no sign of Tony. Rick peered through his mask and saw that the boat was still anchored in the same place. There were figures on its deck. Four of them—Four! He ripped his mask off for a clearer look, and his heart skipped a beat. The frogmen had Tony!
CHAPTER XV
How Sings the Gay Sardine?
Rick and Scotty held a hurried consultation, mouth to ear.
"We'll have to get him," Scotty whispered urgently. He held up his spear gun. "I've only got one shot in this."
Rick's instinctive reaction was the same. They had to rescue Tony! But they also had a job to do.