Jerry spoke up. "Captain, I'm on the Whiteside _Morning Record_. I'll make a deal with you. Give us your story exclusively, when the right time comes, and the paper will guarantee your safety." "It sounds good," Captain Killian admitted. "But when is the right time going to come? Maybe never." "Sooner than you think," Rick said quietly. "Look, gang. There's only one way to crack this case. We know now we can't get Captain Tyler cleared unless the whole outfit is rounded up. So we'll just have to get busy and find the evidence we need. We'll start over again, and this time we won't go wrong because we know what to look for, and where to look." "Fighting talk," Cap'n Mike chuckled happily. Scotty laughed. "Do we dare put our heads inside the Seaford city limits again after what we did to Carrots? He'll be waiting for us with a squad of thugs and that little popgun of his." "The popgun maybe, but no thugs," Rick corrected. "What will you bet he never even tells his father what happened to him?" "No bet there," Jerry said, grinning. "I'll bet the same thing." He put the car in gear. "We may as well head back to Whiteside. First, though, we'll have to collect Captain Killian's baggage." The captain spoke his agreement. "I'll take your offer, son." He shook his head. "You know, I'm real surprised at Brad Marbek. I knew he wasn't above turning a dishonest dollar, but I thought he had more sense than to go into smuggling. No matter how foolproof you think your setup is, if you start smuggling you're bound to get caught. Sooner or later." "In this case," Rick added hopefully, "we'll try to make it sooner." CHAPTER XV Plimsoll Marks Duke Barrows, editor of the Whiteside _Morning Record_, sipped slowly at his cup of coffee, nodding encouragement at Rick every once in a while. The editor, after a few words with Jerry, had taken Captain Killian to his own house for safekeeping. The captain could stay there, Duke said, until it was time for him to make a public appearance. But the price Duke asked was to be told the complete story. At first Rick hesitated. With no proof of anything except for Captain Killian's testimony, which actually convicted no one, he was a little doubtful about making accusations. But when it came to keeping a tight lip, the editor was probably more experienced than any of them. Besides, Rick hoped that he might have a suggestion, so, finally, they put Cap'n Mike on the Seaford bus and the three boys and Duke retired to a secluded booth in the rear of a restaurant to talk it over. Barrows traced circles on the plastic table top for long moments after Rick had finished. "You've been pretty thorough," he said finally. "What do you plan to try now?" Rick shook his head. "I wish I knew. We could try to get to Creek House earlier next time the _Albatross_ puts in there, but we know now they guard the place." "How about spotting the _Albatross_ from the air while she actually loads at sea?" Duke asked.