"Do you? Where?" Rick grinned sleepily as Scotty's whisper came back. "Off Smugglers' Reef." CHAPTER III The Redheaded Kelsos The Spindrift motor launch rolled gently in the offshore swell as the New Jersey coast slid by off the starboard beam. Behind the wheel, Rick steered easily, following the shore line. In the aft cockpit, Scotty prepared hand lines for the fishing they planned to do to keep up appearances. Their decision to revisit Smugglers' Reef had been made on the spur of the moment. The case of the wrecked trawler was none of their business, and Rick had learned in the past that it was a good idea to keep his nose out of things that didn't concern him. But he could no more resist a mystery than he could resist a piece of Mrs. Brant's best chocolate cake. He watched the shore line as the launch sped along and tried to assure himself that a little look around wasn't really sticking his nose into the case. After all, it wouldn't hurt to satisfy his curiosity, would it? Scotty came forward and joined him. "All set. We ought to find some fish right off the tip of the reef. If you intend to do any fishing, that is." "Of course we'll fish," Rick said. "What else did we come here for?" "Nothing," Scotty agreed. "This is a fishing expedition in the truest sense of the word." Rick looked at his pal suspiciously. "What was behind that remark?" Scotty chuckled. "Are you fooling yourself? Or are you trying to fool me?" Rick had to laugh, too. "Okay. Let's admit it. We're so used to excitement that we have to go fishing for it if none comes our way. But seriously, Scotty, this is none of our business. The local officials can handle it without any help from us. So let's not get too involved." Scotty leaned back against the seat and grinned lazily. "Think you can take your own advice?" "I think so," Rick said, with his fingers crossed. Scotty pointed to a low line ahead. "There's the reef. See the light on the tip?" "Couldn't very well miss it," Rick said. The light was painted with red and white stripes and it stood out sharply against the sky. He gave Scotty a side glance. "What did you make out of all that talk last night? Think Captain Tyler ran on the reef purposely?" Scotty shook his head. "He didn't strike me as a thief, and that's what he'd have to be to wreck his trawler on purpose." "I liked his looks, too. Then Cap'n Mike said he didn't drink, so his statement that he was under the influence of liquor wouldn't hold water, either. What's the answer?" "If we knew, would we be here?" Scotty waved at the shore. "How far does this stuff extend?" The water ended in an almost solid wall of rushes and salt-marsh growth that would be far above even a tall man's head if he stood at sea level. Now and then a small inlet appeared where the water flowed too rapidly for plant life to grow.