CHAPTER XIX
The Fight at Creek House
Rick and Scotty watched helplessly as Jerry was carried into thehotel, then they looked at each other wordlessly. In a moment theseamen who had carried him returned, but Brad and Red didn't.
The one who had first reported to Brad, probably the mate or bosun,stood on the dock and called to the men in the boat. The boys couldhear him clearly. "Let's get busy. We've got to load this stuff fast."
One of the men in the boat asked, "What they going to do with thekid?"
"Find out what he knows, then knock him on the head and shove himunder the fish until we're out where we can dump him."
Rick and Scotty grabbed for each other at the same time. They knewwithout speaking what they had to do. Rick snatched up the camera,hauling it out of the muck recklessly. He pulled the power plug andScotty reeled it in. They plowed through the swamp as fast as theycould without making too much of a disturbance. Scotty led the way,cutting straight through the marsh to the boat, his highly developeddirection sense showing him the way.
It seemed forever to Rick, but it was actually only a few minutesbefore they were climbing into the boat. "What do we do?" he askeddesperately as he stowed the camera. "If we start the boat, they'llhear it, and it would take too long to pole out."
"Swim," Scotty said tersely. "It's faster. Get out of your clothes,but tie the laces of your shoes together and hang the shoes aroundyour neck. We'll need 'em."
Quickly they stripped to their shorts, then draped shoes around theirnecks and slipped into the mud again. The water deepened rapidly andthey began to swim with a noiseless side stroke. Rick followed Scotty,knowing that his friend was at his best in a situation like this.
They reached the edge of the marsh and angled along its edge, swimmingstrongly. Rick was in an agony of fear for Jerry. How had he gottencaught? And where? Scotty slowed, then stopped. The sudden feel ofsluggish current warned Rick they were at the creek mouth.
"Watch the splashes," Scotty whispered. "We'll cross to the outside ofthe fence."
For the next few moments they would be vulnerable if Carrots Kelsohappened to walk to the bank and look across. It had to be chanced.Scotty started out and Rick drew abreast of him. They swam cautiously,making no noise or splash, reached the opposite bank safely andcrawled up the beach until they were sure the fence hid them from anywatchers at Creek House.
"Got to draw Carrots to the back side of the hotel," Scottywhispered. "Then we can get in through the creek side of the fence.But how?"
Rick thought quickly. If they could make some sort of noise on theother side ... but it would take too long to go over there and thencome back again and it wouldn't be safe to enter near where they madethe noise, anyway. He started to put on his shoes, and as his fingerstouched the strings, an idea blossomed. "Hunt for a piece of rope orwire," he said swiftly, and began running down the reef, eyessearching the dark ground. Scotty went to the other side and began tosearch, too. Rick knew they would find what he wanted on the wreck ofthe trawler but hoped he wouldn't have to go that far. He was in luck.He stumbled over a loop of rusty wire, grabbed it, and heaved. It camefree. Swiftly his fingers explored it. About eight feet. That wasgood. Probably it had been buried when the part of the reef nearestthe hotel had been filled in with trash to make a parking area. He hadnoticed odds and ends of junk around. He ran over to Scotty and toldhim what else was needed and they both hunted until they found ajagged piece of metal that would suit. It weighed about two pounds,and it had holes along one edge, probably originally drilled forrivets. They unkinked the wire carefully, then Rick passed one endthrough a hole in the steel and made it fast while Scotty bent a loopin the other end and wound the wire around itself to make a handhold.
"You do it," Rick whispered.
Scotty put a hand through the loop he had made and gripped it tight,then he went as close to the hotel fence as he could without raisingthe trajectory too high and began to whirl the contraption around hishead. Faster and faster he whirled it until it began to whine, thenwith all the momentum of his body he released it.
The missile soared away in a long, low arc, past the hotel and on. Theboys waited, not breathing, and heard it crunch through the reeds onthe far side of the hotel. They ran to the creek end of the fence andlooked around. The men at the pier were looking toward the marshbehind the garage. Red Kelso was walking that way and Carrots wasrunning, rifle lifted.
Scotty and Rick rounded the corner and ran silently to the front ofthe hotel. Now to find Jerry! Rick stepped to the front porch andtried the door. It was unlocked. Taking his nerve in both hands, hepushed the door open and stepped inside.
It was quiet in the hotel. He knew the layout; they had explored everyinch of it. He led the way toward the kitchen, then flattened againstthe wall of the hallway as he saw the light streaming through. He feltScotty brush against him. Rick leaned forward, keeping his face in theshadow, just as Brad Marbek, his curiosity getting the better of him,walked to the side door and stepped out.
Rick took a long step into the kitchen. No one in it. Then he saw alighted doorway across the room. It was a good bet. With his eyes onthe door through which Brad had gone, he trotted swiftly across thefloor. Scotty was right behind him.
Rick smothered an exclamation as he saw Jerry. The reporter was seatedin a chair, tied fast to it. The gag, a bundle of rags, had beenstuffed into his mouth. There was a bad bruise over his left eye andanother on his left temple. Rick was at his side in three long steps.He jerked the gag from Jerry's mouth, cautioned him to silence, andstarted to untie him. Scotty went to the window, which fortunatelyfaced the Seaford side of the house, and leaned out.
Rick heard Brad call, "Find anyone?" Then a faint answering call. "Noone here."
"Hurry," Scotty whispered. He went to the door and stood to one sideof it, looking into the kitchen.
Rick tugged at a recalcitrant knot, then got it loose. Jerry stood up,hands still tied behind him. Rick fought with the knot and wished fora knife.
There were footsteps in the kitchen. Rick's fingers got a hold and heheaved. The footsteps came closer. Scotty crouched. Brad Marbekentered the room and stepped into a terrific roundhouse swing with allof Scotty's frantic weight behind it. Brad stumbled backward and fell,and he roared.
"They're in the house! Cover the doors!"
He got to his feet and his powerful legs drove him forward. Scottystepped directly into his way.
The rope loosened in Rick's hand. He unwound Jerry, working as fast ashe could. He turned just in time to see Brad's arms reach for Scotty.The fisherman's face was distorted in a snarl and blood trickled fromhis cut lip.
Scotty back-pedaled swiftly. He took Brad's out-stretched hands, thenfell backward, feet lifting, catching Brad in the stomach. Scottyheaved. The heave and the smuggler's momentum shot him headlong. Hesmashed into the wall.
Scotty leaped to his feet. "Run!" he yelled.
Rick propelled Jerry into the kitchen, and as they started across theroom he saw Red Kelso at the door. "The front," he called. "Hurry,Jerry."
The reporter was fast getting the use of his limbs back. Scotty ledthe way to the front hall and Jerry stumbled after him. As Rick passedthrough the doorway from the kitchen into the wide hallway he spotteda cabinet. He grabbed it and tugged. It came away from the wall and hestepped from under it, letting it crash at an angle across thepassageway. That would hold Red for a few seconds. They sprinted forthe open front door and met Carrots head on just inside the entrance.
Scotty dove at him. His shoulder caught the redhead in the chest andslammed him backward. Carrots' arms flew up and the rifle he wascarrying sailed from his grasp and slid across the porch to thesidewalk. The boys started to pile out over him, then they stoppedshort. Two of the crew were pounding up the sidewalk, leaping to thesteps, and they carried clubs!
They were trapped! "Up the stairs," Rick said hoarsely.
Scotty bent over the fallen Carrots and jerked him to his feet."You're
coming with us," he grated.
Rick was already halfway to the stairs. Red Kelso was climbing overthe blockade in the hallway, Brad Marbek behind him. Rick stopped."Hurry, Scotty!"
"Hostage," Scotty grunted. He took Carrots' arm in a Japanesewristlock and rushed him across the room. Carrots struggled, then letout a yelp. It was either go peacefully or break his own arm. "Run,"Scotty commanded, and Carrots ran, up the stairs. Jerry followed andRick brought up the rear. Their pursuers were gaining!
Rick's mind raced as he climbed two stairs at a time, reconstructingthe plan of the house. He rejected the idea of barricading themselvesin a room on the second or third floor; the halls would give theirenemies too much room for a battering rush against the door. "Theattic," he called ahead to Scotty, "and step on it! They're gaining!"
They crossed the second-floor landing and went up the stairs to thethird. At the top of the third landing was a rusty bucket, full ofsand. Rick knew, because he had been forced to dig through the sand.It was evidently a relic of Coast Guard occupancy, placed there toextinguish incendiaries. He pressed hard against Jerry's heels,hearing the thud of footsteps on the stairs behind him and the criesof "Get 'em" from Red Kelso.
Scotty, Carrots, and Jerry sprinted for the attic stairs. Rick pausedlong enough to scoop up the bucket of sand. He hurled it after him,straight into the faces of the smugglers and found time for a grin attheir yells and curses.
The attic stairs led straight up, with no landing at the top. The doorwas ajar. Rick's trick had gained a little time. They went through itwith seconds to spare, and Rick slammed it shut. "Find a light," hegasped. "There's one up here." He remembered a tiny bulb, high in theceiling.
"Key," Scotty snapped. "In the door. Outside. It was there last time."
Rick opened the door and had a quick glimpse of dark figures rushingup the stairs. He fumbled for the key, jerked it loose, and slammedthe door. With his shoulder against it he inserted the key on theirside and twisted it just as bodies thumped against the other side.
Jerry found the light switch and turned it on. Carrots, lips drawntight, was bent over in the judo hold Scotty had on him. Rick found afew old pieces of overstuffed furniture, too disreputable to have beenmoved or sold, and he and Jerry pushed them against the door.
"If we can hold out," Jerry said between swollen lips, "CaptainDouglas will get here."
"If!" Rick echoed.
Red Kelso called through the door. "Okay, you kids. Open up and we'llmake things easy on you. But if we have to break the door down, it'llbe rugged."
The boys looked at each other. Carrots grinned. Rick didn't like thegrin. He yelled back, "Try to come through that door and we throw yourson out the window!"
Carrots turned white.
"Stop talking like a fool and open up," Kelso demanded.
"We warned you," Rick yelled.
There was a solid thump as shoulders hit the door. Rick cast adesperate look at Scotty. The door wouldn't hold long. Scotty winkedat Rick and jerked his chin at Carrots' back.
"Out the window with him," Rick growled. He lunged forward and tookthe boy's legs. Jerry, who had caught the wink too, took his shoulderswhile Scotty kept a wristlock clamped tight. They rushed Carrots tothe window and Rick let go long enough to throw up the sash. Then theylifted Carrots to the sill.
"Pop!" he screamed. "They're throwing me out!"
The thumping at the door ceased. The elder Kelso called, "Keep yourhead, Jimmy. They don't dare. They know we're comin' in, anyway, andif they throw you out they haven't got a chance."
Kelso had spoken the exact truth, and the boys knew it. They letCarrots slump to the floor. "Get close," Scotty said. He spoke intoCarrots' ear. "One peep out of you and I'll break your arm. Listen.We've got to have help and quick. Who's the fastest runner?"
"Jerry," Rick said promptly. The reporter had been a sprintingchampion in school. "Are you okay now?"
"Fine. What's your plan?"
A door panel splintered as shoulders crashed against it. Good thingthere was little space to stand out there. The smugglers couldn't getmuch leverage. Scotty talked fast. "We'll unblock the door and open itsuddenly, then, Rick, you dive into the mob. They'll be off balancebecause the stairs are steep. Jerry, you'll have to leap for it, overtheir heads, and try to get away." He was behind Carrots and his winkwas concealed. "Carrots will help us."
"I won't," Carrots stated.
"You will," Scotty corrected, "and you'll say 'Pop, hold it a minute.They want to talk it over.' Just like that." He twisted his handslightly and Carrots yelped.
Scotty marched him to the door. Rick and Jerry slid the furnitureaway. The door was close to giving in now, the hinges starting to pullloose. Rick put one hand on the key and the other on the knob, hopinghe had interpreted Scotty's wink correctly. Jerry crouched to oneside of the door. Scotty held Carrots directly in front of it andcommanded: "Speak your piece."
Carrots did, willingly, under the pressure of Scotty's hand.
The thumping stopped.
"What do they want to talk over?" Kelso demanded.
Scotty nodded. Rick spun the key and jerked the door open. Carrots,all of Scotty's driving weight behind him, catapulted headlong andsmashed into the men on the stairs like a battering ram. They tumbleddown under the impact like a row of dominoes, and Jerry went out thedoor as though shot from a crossbow. His flying feet struck backs,legs, and spurned faces. He gained the landing in a mad dive,scrambled to his feet, and was gone.
The smugglers clambered to their feet, or tried to. "After him,"Marbek bellowed.
Red Kelso had fallen backward, and his legs were almost at the door.Scotty and Rick grabbed simultaneously and heaved, sending the uppermen sprawling again. Then the boys withdrew and slammed and locked thedoor. Jerry had had the advantage of complete surprise, and hismomentum had gotten him past the men on the lower stairs. Rick andScotty couldn't have made it after the initial shock.
They pushed the furniture against the door again and drew back. Unlesshelp was near, they were done for. There was nothing more they coulddo except wait, and fight once the door gave. Rick wrenched the legfrom an ancient and broken chair and silently handed it to Scotty.Then he found one for himself.
The banging had renewed almost instantly. Scotty went to the windowand looked out. Rick joined him just in time to see Jerry round thecorner of the fence.
"He made it," Rick said with satisfaction. Two of the seamen crossedbelow, but Rick knew they would never catch his friend. He turned toface the door.
"Closer," Scotty said.
They moved closer and took places, one on each side of the door, andwaited.
Smash. And again, and again. Wood dust flew as hinge screws gave witha loud screech. The door was just hanging now. One more smash! It flewinward and Red and Brad charged, two seamen close behind them.
Rick met Brad Marbek with a lightning thrust of his chair leg, and thesmuggler doubled up. But his great body could absorb more punishmentthan Rick could give. He drove forward, brushed aside a swing of thechair leg, and his arms locked around the boy. Rick groaned as thesteely hug drove the air from him; he felt a hand loosen, and kickedfrantically for Brad's legs, then Brad's free hand caught him behindthe ear, stunning him. Rick slumped to the floor fighting for breathand consciousness. Across the room, the seamen had Scotty, grabbingfor his flailing arms while Red Kelso stood back and shot punches athim. Then the seamen got a firm grip and held him fast. Kelso's openhand slapped, back and forth, until Scotty's head sagged.
Carrots crawled into the room, his face contorted, one hand on hisribs. He got to his feet and walked unsteadily over to Scotty. Heswung a roundhouse right. Scotty's head moved an inch. Carrotsmissed, and the force of his swing spun him around and he almostfell.
Rick laughed gaspingly.
Carrots' face turned scarlet. He walked over to where Rick wasstruggling for wind and drew his foot back. "I'm goin' to kick yourteeth right down your throat," he grated.
Cap'n Mike's vo
ice came from the doorway. "I'd call that mightyimpolite!"
Rick turned on his side and stared unbelievingly. The old sea captainstood rock steady in the door, and at his shoulder was Carrots' rifle.
He spoke calmly. "Only got one shot in here. You could get me before Ihad time to pump it up again. Found it on the porch and took me a fewminutes to figure it out. Almost put a slug through my foot doing it.But I got it in hand now. Got one shot. Who wants it?"
Marbek took a half step forward and the muzzle swung to cover him.Cap'n Mike's finger tightened. "You, Brad?"
Marbek stepped back.
"Come toward me, both of you," Cap'n Mike said. "Rick and Scotty."
Rick crawled forward, under the line of fire. Scotty, suddenlyreleased, dropped to the floor and did the same.
The smugglers stayed where they were, frozen by the calm threat of theold man's voice. "Been eel fishing," he said. "Saw that young reporterskate around the corner with two men after him. Then I noticed Scottyand Rick looking out, and I thought I better take a hand. Didn't knowjust what to do until I spotted this BB gun in front of the porch."
His voice hardened as Red Kelso shifted position. "But now I know whatto do."
Far down Million Dollar Row, Jerry met the State Police cars. And asRick grinned up at the Captain, he heard the welcome sound of sirens.