Rick showered and dressed hurriedly, and got downstairs just in time to take his seat at the breakfast table. After bidding the family good morning, he turned to Jan. "Shah and Dismal had a fight this morning." Jan put a hand to her mouth. "Oh! Shah didn't hurt him, did he?" That nettled Rick a little. The idea of assuming that a mere cat, even a champion Persian, could win a fight with Dismal! Then common sense got the better of him. The unhappy truth was, Shah could lick Dismal with no strain at all. "No damage," he replied. "Except to me. The war took place on my stomach." Jan was supposed to look sorry, but she didn't. She giggled. Barby giggled, too. "I guess they thought you'd be a fair witness if anyone asked who won," Jan explained. Rick saw he was getting no sympathy. After all, what could anyone do? Dogs and cats were just natural enemies. Besides, if he was fair about it, he had to admit that Shah teased the pup but didn't start serious fights. After breakfast the four young people went down to the beach where the Sky Wagon was hauled up. In a few moments they were air-borne. Rick headed for Seaford, the fishing town down the coast. It didn't make much sense to go farther south than that. Beside him, Scotty polished the binocular lenses with a piece of lens tissue from the camera kit, and started sweeping the area below. Apparently all was normal along the seacoast and in Seaford, but that meant nothing. The area could be loaded with strangers and they'd never know it from the air. Rick had a sudden idea. "Let's call Cap'n Mike and get him on the job. If there are any strangers in Seaford, he'll know it." "I think that's a wonderful idea," Barby called from the back seat. Jan asked, "Who is Cap'n Mike?" Barby immediately related the adventure of _Smugglers' Reef_, and the part the retired fishing skipper had played. Cap'n Mike knew everything worth while about the town of Seaford. He would be a good check point not only for the town, but also for the summer colonies between Whiteside and Seaford. He often acted as a fishing guide for the summer tourists. Rick checked the summer colonies from the air, although he had little expectation of seeing anything unusual. Barby pointed down as they passed over one. "Look! Scotty, let me have the glasses." Both boys turned quickly. "What do you see?" Scotty asked. He handed her the glasses. "The gaudiest houseboat!" Barby exclaimed. "Jan, it's painted orange!" The boys snorted. After inspecting the coast from Seaford past Spindrift to the more populated areas on the north, Rick swung inland to inspect the woods near Whiteside. He didn't know exactly what to look for, except possibly unexplained campfires that could be investigated later. He landed at Spindrift and went at once to the house. Cap'n Mike didn't have a phone, but Rick knew how to get a message to him. Scotty, listening, said, "He won't be in. The fleet is still out fishing this time of day."