Harris shrugged. "Not very likely. We'd have found his body. Way the tides were that day, there was no ebb tide strong enough to carry a body out into deep water. The creek was clear. We'd have seen him." "Then where did he go?" Scotty demanded. "Can't say. When he disappeared, I went to Baltimore and bought every book on flyin' saucers I could lay hands on. All I know for sure is that what folks have been seein' around here ain't saucers. Shape's wrong, color's wrong, and they don't move the way the books say." "Would you say they were diamond-shaped, dark in color, with tails?" Rick asked carefully. Harris stopped with a match halfway to his pipe. "I would. For sure. When'd you see one?" "Last night. Right here." "Mmmmm." Harris got the pipe going well and threw the match into the water. "I've never seen one close. Hoped to. That's why I crab this creek. Would you say it was big enough to catch a man?" Rick shook his head. "I didn't get a very long look, but I'd say definitely not. Unless it had some kind of powerful motor I couldn't see or hear." Harris puffed silently. "Any theories?" Scotty asked. "Not one. I'm barren as the flats in winter." Rick finished his coffee and put the mug down on the cabin top. "Would Link have gone away of his own accord?" "I wouldn't think so." Harris accepted more coffee from Scotty. "But let's keep one foot anchored. Who knows what's in a man's mind? Any man? Sometimes there's a deep channel full of black water, and nothin' to make you suspect it. Maybe Link did walk off. It would be the easiest explanation--if you hadn't seen somethin' last night. I was about to give up. Now I'm not so sure. What you saw came from somewhere, and it was goin' somewhere. If we could find out whence and whither, so to speak, we might have an idea of what happened to Link." Harris drew erect. "Speakin' of whence and whither, what's your destination?" "We're visiting a friend," Rick answered. "He lives on Martins Creek on the south side of the river. Name is Ames." Harris nodded. "I know who he is. Washington man. Has a summer place." "You've met him?" Scotty inquired. "So to speak. We've howdy'd, but we haven't shook." Rick smothered a grin at the picturesque phrase. "I'd better get back to crabs," Harris said. "I'm mighty grateful for the hospitality. You get to town, look me up, and give me a chance to return it." He shook hands with both boys, pulled his boat alongside, and stepped aboard. In a short time, he was running the crab lines again. "Interesting," Rick said noncommittally. Scotty chuckled. "Here we go again. Sherlock Brant's got his teeth into a nice fat mystery. Good-by vacation." Rick had to grin. "It's not that bad," he said defensively. "I just thought we might sniff around a little." "That's what I thought you thought. Come on, Hawkshaw. Let's get some bacon and eggs on the fire and haul anchor."