Rick felt a twinge of conscience. He had intended to pay a visit to his friend so many times, but something always seemed to get in the way. It had been many weeks since his last call. "It isn't exactly a social call," he said apologetically. "We need your help, Cap'n Mike." The old man looked at him quizzically. "What for? Fishin' or detectin'?" "Detectin'," Rick answered. "Accepted! Now I see why you were lookin' for strangers. When and where do I start?" "Right now, at Spindrift. Can you come?" "Wait'll I turn off my coffeepot. Anything I'll need?" "We'll want you to do a little fishing, too." Cap'n Mike nodded and hurried up the pier to his shack. In a few minutes he was back, rod case and tackle box in hand. He cast off and climbed into the plane. "Let's go, boy! Time's awastin'. Who we after this time?" Rick started the engine and was air-borne before he answered. Then, almost immediately, he had to land again to take on gas. By the time he was in the air en route to Spindrift, Cap'n Mike was squirming so impatiently that the whole plane seemed to vibrate. "Well, get on with it," he said irritably. Rick smiled. "All right. We don't know who we're after." Cap'n Mike grunted. "Seriously, we don't. Some folks in a houseboat are anchored in North Cove. We want to find out why." Cap'n Mike nodded sagely. "For no reason. They just might be dangerous criminals, so you want to investigate. All right, go ask 'em." "We can't. We want you to go fishing, and work your way to the houseboat. Ask for a drink of water or something, then find out if you can what they're doing." [Illustration: _Cap'n Mike quickly hauled the Sky Wagon to the pier_] "Got it all worked out, have ye?" The old captain snorted. "Where's the fun in that? Like to do things my own way." Rick hurriedly backtracked. "All right, do it anyway you like. We just want the information." "What for?" Rick sighed. "Can't tell you, Cap'n." "Must be I got untrustworthy since I saw you last." "It isn't that. It's a--well, it's a government matter." Cap'n Mike smacked his thigh with a calloused hand. "I should 'a' known! All right, Rick. I'll do it. Then maybe I can get my congressman to tell me what I've done." Rick made a great swing around Whiteside, pointing out the houseboat to Cap'n Mike as he passed North Cove, and landed off Pirate's Field. Scotty was waiting. After greeting the old seaman, Scotty said, "The girls are watching from the attic. When do we get started?" "As soon as Cap'n Mike is fixed up." Cap'n Mike was pretty self-sufficient and required little attention. A cup of hot coffee, a jug of fresh water, a little bait and a rowboat, and he was on his way. Fortunately, the Spindrift boat landing was not in sight of North Cove. Cap'n Mike sculled slowly along the shore. He would emerge at the cove, surprising the houseboaters.