,*APT] ,SIX

,TURN+ ! ,TA#S

  ,:5 ! "Y 9V5TOR 9=M$ 8 "F :AT HE _H
OV]HE>D ,MR4 ,B]G SAY+1 ! AG$ 9V5TOR 0 N
Z M* WORRI$ Z 8 SON ANTICIPAT$4
  8,ALL WE'LL H 6D1 ,TOM10 HE SD1 8IS
6KEEP QUIET AB ": WE >E GO+4 ,ONCE WE H
! ,ADV.E AFLOAT1 & TRY H] \1 WE C />T ON
\R VOYAGE =! ,S\? ,AM]ICAN ,COA/ & SE>*
=! SUNK5 TR1SURE4 ,:5 WE 2G9 \R VOYAGE
"U WAT] ,I DEFY ANY "O 6TELL ": WE >E
GO+1 OR :AT \R PLANS >E4 ,NO1 ,I DON'T
2LIEVE WE NE$ WORRY AB ,MR4 ,B]G1 ?\< HE
PROBABLY M1NS MIS*IEF40

8,WELL1 ,I'M GO+ 6KEEP MY EYES OP5 = HM
  & ,&Y
,FOG]10 DCLD ,TOM4

  ,! "DS T FOLL[$ 7 FILL$ ) "W4 ,N ONLY
7 "! _M UNEXPECT$ ?+S 6D AB ! SUBM>9E1 B
,MR4 ,%>P 0 KEPT BUSY MAK+ 9QUIRIES AB !
SUNK5 TR1SURE %IP4 ,^! 9QUIRIES _H 6HE
MADE C>E;LLY1 Z ! ADV5TUR]S DID N WANT
_! PLANS TALK$ (1 & NO?+ CIRCULATES M
QKLY ?AN RUMORS ( AN EXP$I;N AF TR1SURE
( ANY K9D4
  8,:AT AB ! OLD SEA CAPTA9 Y 7 GO+ 6GET
6G ) U80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,SWIFT (! BALLOONI/
"O AFN4 8,H Y SU3E$$ 9 F9D+ "O YET80
  8,YES2 ,I AM 9 -MUNIC,N )A MAN ?9K W 2
J ! P]SON = U4 ,8 "N IS ,CAPTA9 ,ALD5
,WE/ON1 & HE HAS SAIL$ ALL OV] ! _W4 ,HE
HAS AL TAK5 "P 9 M ?AN "O REVOLU;N1 &1 9
FACT1 IS A SOLDI] ( =TUNE4 ,I D N "K HM
P]SON,Y1 B A FR ( M9E "KS HM1 & SAYS HE
W S]VE U FAI?;LLY4 ,I H WRITT5 6HM1 & HE
W HE "H 9 A FEW "DS40
  8,T'S GD4 ,N[ AB ! LOC,N (! WRECK XF4
,H Y BE5 A# 6LE>N ANY M DETAILS80
  8,WELL1 N _M4 ,Y SEE1 ! ,BOLD]O 0
AB&ON$ 9 A /ORM1 &! CAPTA9 DID N TAKE V
C>E;L OBS]V,NS4 ,Z NE>LY Z X C 2 FIGUR$
\ ! TR1SURE %IP W5T 6! BOTTOM 9 LATITUDE
=TY-FIVE DEGREES S\?1 & L;GITUDE TW5TY-
SEV5 EA/ F ,WA%+TON4 ,T'S A PRETTY
9DEF9ITE LOC,N1 B ,I HOPE1 ONCE WE GET
(F ! ,URUGUAY COA/1 WE C BETT] X4 ,WE C
AN*OR OR LAY \TSIDE ! H>BOR1 & 9 ! SMALL
BOAT WE C>RY G A%ORE & POSSIBLY GA9 M
DETAILS4 ,= X 0 AT ,MONTEVIDEO T !
%IPWRECK$ PASS5G]S & SAILORS L&$40
  8,DOES ,CAPTA9 ,WE/ON "K \R OBJECT80
9QUIR$ ,TOM4
  8,NO1 & ,I DON'T PROPOSE 6TELL HM
UNTIL WE >E R1DY 6/>T10 REPLI$ ,MR4
,%>P4 8,I DON'T "K J H[ HE'LL 3SID] A
SUBM>9E TRIP AF TR1SURE1 B IF ,I SPR+ X
ON HM SU45LY HE'S LESS LIKELY 6BACK \4
,OH1 ,I ?9K HE'LL G40
  ,"S:AT UNEXPECT$LY ! NEXT "D X 0
4COV]$ T C]TA9 TOOLS & APPLI.ES 7 NE$$
=! SUBM>9E1 & !Y _H BE5 LEFT 9 ! H\SE AT
,%OPTON1 ": ,ERADICATE ,SAMPSON 0 9 *>GE
Z C>ETAK] DUR+ ! ABS;E ( ,MR4 ,SWIFT & 8
SON &! H\SEKEEP]4
  8,WELL1 ,I SUPPOSE WE'LL H 6G BACK AF
!M10 REM>K$ ,TOM4 8,WE'LL TAKE ! AIR%IP1
DAD1 & MAKE A TWO-"DS' TRIP ( X4 ,IS "!
ANY?+ ELSE Y WANT80
  8,WELL1 Y MI<T BR+ A BUNDLE ( PAP]S
Y'LL F9D 9 ! L[] "R H& DRAW] ( MY DESK4
,!Y 3TA9 "S MEMOR&A ,I NE$40
  ,TOM & ,MR4 ,%>P _H 2COME S US$
6TRAVEL+ 9 ! AIR%IP T X SEEM$ NO NOVELTY
6!M1 ?\< !Y ATTRACT$ M* ATT5;N :]"E !Y
W5T4 ,!Y SOON _H ! ,R$ ,CL\D 9 R1DI;S =A
FLI<T1 & RIS+ 9 ! AIR ABV ! %OP T 3TA9$
! P[];L SUBM>9E1 A CRAFT UTT]LY DI6]5T 9
TYPE F ! AEROPLANE1 ! NOSE (! AIR%IP 0
PO9T$ T[>D ,%OPTON4
  ,!Y MADE A GD FLI<T & L&$ NE> ! BIG %$
": ! BIRD (! AIR 0 KEPT4 ,X 0 E>LY EV5+
:5 !Y GOT 6! ,SWIFT HOME/1D1 &
,ERADICATE ,SAMPSON 0 GLAD 6SEE !M4
  ,ERADICATE 0 A GD COOK1 & SOON _H A
M1L R1DY =! TRAVEL]S4 ,!N1 :ILE ,MR4
,%>P SELECT$ ! TOOLS & O!R ?+S NE$$1 &
PUT !M 9 ! AIR%IP R1DY =! />T BACK !
NEXT MORN+1 ,TOM 3CLUD$ HE WD TAKE A
/ROLL 96,%OPTON1 6SEE IF HE CD SEE 8 FR1
,N$ ,NEWTON4 ,X 0 E>LY EV5+1 &! CLOSE (A
B1UTI;L "D1 A %>P %[] 9 ! MORN+ HAV+
COOL$ ! AIR4
  ,TOM 0 GREET$ 0A NUMB] ( ACQUA9T.ES Z
HE /ROLL$ AL;G1 =1 S9CE ! EPISODE (!
BANK RO2]Y1 :5 HE _H S UNEXPECT$LY
RETURN$ )! ?IEVES &! CA%1 ! LAD 0 BETT]
"KN ?AN "E4
  8,I GUESS ,N$ M/ 2 HOME0 ?"\ \R H]O Z
HE LOOK$ 9 VA9 = 8 *UM AM;G ! ?R;G ON !
/REETS4 8,I'VE GOT "T 6TAKE A /ROLL D[N
6HIS H\SE40
  ,TOM 0 AB 6CROSS ! /REET :5 HE 0 />TL$
0! S.D ( AN AUTOMOBILE HORN L\DLY BL[N J
AT 8 SIDE4 ,!N A VOICE CALL$3

8,HEY1 "!6 ,GIT \ (! WAY IF Y DON'T WANT
  6BE
RUN OV]60

  ,HE LOOK$ UP1 & SAW A C> C>E5+ AL;G4
,AT ! :EEL 0 ! R$-HAIR$ BULLY1 ,&Y
,FOG]1 & 9 ! TONN1U 7 ,SAM ,SNEDECK] &
,PETE ,BAILEY4

8,GIT \ (! WAY10 A4$ ,SAM1 & HE GR9N$
MALICI\SLY AT ,TOM4

  ,! LATT] /EPP$ BACK1 WELL \ (! PA? (!
C>1 : 0 N MOV+ V FA/4 ,J 9 FRONT ( ,TOM
0 A PU4LE ( MU4Y WAT]4 ,"! 0 NO NECESS;Y
= ,&Y /E]+ 96X1 B HE SAW 8 OPPORTUN;Y1
&A MO;T LAT] "O (! BIG PNEUMATIC TIRES
_H PLUNG$ 96! DIRTY FLUID1 SPATT]+ X ALL
OV] ,TOM1 "S EV5 GO+ Z HI< Z 8 FACE4

8,HA6 HA60 LAU<$ ,&Y4 8,MAYBE Y'LL GET \
  ( MY WAY
NEXT "T1 ,TOM ,SWIFT40

  ,! "Y 9V5TOR 0 ALM SPEE*.S F "RE\S
ANG]4 ,HE WIP$ ! MUD F 8 FACE1 GL.ED D[N
AT 8 CLO!S1 : 7 ALL B RU9$1 & CALL$ \3

8,HOLD ON "!1 ,&Y ,FOG]6 ,I WANT 6SEE
  Y60 = HE
?"\ (! "T :5 ,&Y _H %UT HM 9 ! TANK4

  8,TA6 TA60 %\T$ ,PETE ,BAILEY4
  8,SEE Y LAT]10 A4$ ,SAM4

8,BETT] G HOME & TAKE A BA?1 & !N SAIL
  AWAY 9
YR SUBM>9E10 W5T ON ,&Y4 8,I'LL BET X W
  S9K40

  ,2F ,TOM CD REPLY ! AUTO _H TURN$ A
CORN]4 ,4GU/$ & ANGRY1 HE TRI$ 6SOP UP
"S (! MU4Y WAT] ) 8 H&K]*IEF4 ,:ILE ?US
5GAG$ HE HE>D 8 "N CALL$1 & LOOK$ UP
6SEE ,N$ ,NEWTON4
  8,:AT'S ! MATT]8 ,FALL D[N80 ASK$ 8
*UM4
  8,&Y ,FOG]10 REPLI$ ,TOM4
  8,T'S 5\<10 RETORT$ ,N$4 8,I C GUESS !
RE/4 ,WE'LL H 6T> & F1!R HM "S "D1 &
RIDE HM \ ( T[N ON A RAIL4 ,I'D KICK HM
MYF1 ONLY 8 "F IS A DIRECTOR 9 ! BANK ":
,I "W1 & ,I'D 2 FIR$ IF ,I DID4 ,C'T
AF=D ANY S* PL1SURE4 ,B "S "D ,I'LL GIVE
,&Y A GD TR\NC+1 & !N RESIGN 2F !Y C
4*>GE ME4 ,B ,I'LL 2 LOOK+ = ANO!R JOB
2F ,I D T4 ,-E ON 6MY H\SE1 ,TOM1 &
,I'LL HELP Y CL1N UP40
  ,TOM 0 A LL M PRES5TA# :5 HE LEFT 8
*UM'S RESID;E1 AF SP5D+ ! EV5+ "!1 B HE
0 / BURN+ = REV5GE AG/ ,&Y & 8 CRONIES4
,HE _H HALF A NO;N 6G 6,&Y'S H\SE & TELL
,MR4 ,FOG] H[ NE>LY S]I\S ! BULLY'S
PRANK AT ! SUB M>9E _H BE51 B 2 3CLUD$ T
,MR4 ,FOG] CD ONLY UPHOLD 8 SON4 8,NO1
,I'LL SETTLE ) HM MYF10 DECID$ ,TOM4
  ,BI4+ ,ERADICATE KEEP A WAT*;L EYE AB
! H\SE1 & L1V+ ^W = ,MR4 ,DAMON 6BE SURE
6-E 6! COA/ IF HE AG CALL$ AT ! ,%OPTON
H\SE1 ,TOM & ,MR4 ,%>P PREP>$ 6MAKE _!
RETURN TRIP E>LY ! NEXT MORN+4
  ,! GAS TANK 0 FILL$ &! ,R$ ,CL\D >OSE
9 ! AIR4 ,!N1 )! PROPELL]S MOV+ AT
MOD]ATE SPE$1 ! NOSE (! CRAFT 0 PO9T$
T[>D ! ,NEW ,J]SEY COA/4
  ,A FEW MILES \ F ,%OPTON1 F9D+ "! 0 A
3TR>Y W9D 9 ! UPP] REGIONS ": !Y 7
TRAVEL+1 ,MR4 ,%>P DESC5D$ S"EAL HUNDR$
FEET4 ,!Y 7 MOV+ OV] A SP>SELY SETTL$ "P
(! C.TRY1 & LOOK+ D[N1 ,TOM SAW1 SPE$+
AL;G A HI<WAY1 AN AUTOMOBILE4
  8,I WOND] :O'S 9 X80 HE REM>K$1 TAK+
D[N A TELESCOPE & PE]+ OV] ! W9D[ L$GE
(! CAB94 ,! NEXT MO;T HE UTT]$ A />TL$
EXCLAM,N4
  8,&Y ,FOG]1 ,SAM ,SNEDECK] & ,PETE
,BAILEY60 HE CRI$4 8,OH1 ,I WI% ,I _H A
BUCKET ( WAT] 6EMPTY ON !M40

8,I "K A BETT] WAY 6GET EV5 ) !M ?AN T10
SD ,MR4 ,%>P4
  8,H[80 ASK$ ,TOM EAG]LY4
  8,I'LL %[ Y10 REPLI$ ! BALLOONI/4
8,X'S A TRICK ,I ONCE PLAY$ ON A FELL[
:O DID ME AN 9JURY4 ,"H1 Y /E] =A M9UTE
UNTIL ,I GET ! ?+ FIX$1 !N ,I'LL TAKE
*>GE40
  ,MR4 ,%>P W5T 6! /OREROOM & CAME BACK
)A L;G1 /\T ROPE &A SMALL AN*OR ( F\R
PR;GS4 ,X 0 C>RI$ 6BE US$ 9 EM]G5CIES1 B
S F> _H N"E BE5 CALL$ 96REQUISI;N4
,FA/5+ ! GRAPPLE 6! CA#1 ! BALLOONI/ SD3
  8,N[1 ,TOM1 !Y HAV5'T SE5 Y4 ,Y /& 9 !
/]N & PAY \ ! ROPE4 ,I'LL /E] ! AIR%IP1
& :AT ,I WANT Y 6D IS 6CAT* ! AN*OR 9 !
RE> ( _! C>4 ,!N ,I'LL %[ Y "S FUN40
  ,TOM FOLL[$ 9/RUC;NS4 ,SL[LY HE L[]$ !
ROPE )! DANGL+ GRAPPLE4 ,! AIR%IP 0 AL
S5T D[N1 Z ! CA# 0 N Q L;G 5 6R1* ! E>?
F ! HEI<T AT : !Y W]E4 ,! 5G9E 0 RUN AT
SL[ SPE$1 S T ! NOISE WD N ATTRACT !
ATT5;N (! ?REE CRONIES :O 7 SPE$+ AL;G1
ALL UNCONSCI\S (! CRAFT 9 ! AIR OV] _!
H1DS4 ,! ,R$ ,CL\D 0 MOV+ 9 ! SAME
DIREC;N Z 0 ! AUTOMOBILE4
  ,! AN*OR 0 N[ CLOSE 6! RE> ( ,&Y'S C>4
,SU45LY X CAU<T ON ! TONN1U & ,TOM CALL$
T FACT 6,MR4 ,%>P4
  8,FA/5 ! ROPE AT ! CL1T10 DIRECT$ !
BALLOONI/4
  ,TOM DID S1 &A MO;T LAT] ! AERONAUT
S5T ! AIR%IP UP 0TURN+ M GAS 96! 3TA9]4
,AT ! SAME "T HE REV]S$ ! 5G9E &! ,R$
,CL\D 2GAN PULL+ ! T\R+ C> BACKW>D1 AL
LIFT+ ! RE> :EELS CLE> F ! E>?4
  ,A />TL$ CRY F ! O3UPANTS (! MA*9E
TOLD ,TOM & 8 FR T ,&Y & 8 CRONIES 7
AW>E "S?+ 0 WR;G4 ,A MO;T LAT] ,&Y1
LOOK+ UP1 SAW ! AIR%IP HOV]+ 9 ! AIR ABV
HM4 ,!N HE SAW ! ROPE FA/ 6HIS AUTO4 ,!
AIR%IP 0 N RIS+ N[1 OR ! AUTO WD H BE5
TURN$ OV]1 B X 0 SL[LY PULL+ X BACKW>D1
9 SPITE (! FACT T ! MOTOR (! C> 0 / GO+4

8,"H6 ,Y LET G ( ME60 CRI$ ,&Y4 8,I'LL H
  Y
>RE/$ IF Y DAMAGE MY C>40

  8,-E UP "H & CUT ! ROPE40 CALL$ ,TOM
L1N+ OV] & LOOK+ D[N4 ,HE CD 5JOY !
BULLY'S 4COMFITURE4 ,Z = ,SAM & ,PETE1
!Y 7 M* F"R5$1 & C[]$ D[N ON ! FLOOR (!
TONN1U4
  8,MAYBE Y'LL %UT ME 9 ! TANK AG &
SPLA% MUD ON ME60 %\T$ ,TOM4
  ,! RE> :EELS (! AUTO 7 LIFT$ / HI<] F
! GR.D1 Z ,MR4 ,%>P TURN$ ON A LL M GAS4
,&Y 0 N PRO( AG/ ?4
  8,OH6 OH60 HE CRI$4 8,PL1SE LET ME
D[N1 ,TOM4 ,I'M AW;L SORRY = :AT ,I DID6
,I'LL N"E D X AG6 ,PL1SE1 PL1SE LET ME
D[N6 ,DON'T ,Y'LL TIP ME OV]60

,HE _H %UT (F 8 MOTOR N[1 & 0 FRANTIC,Y
CL++ 6! /E]+ :EEL4

8,D Y ADMIT T Y'RE A SN1K &A C[>D80 ASK$
,TOM1 8RU2+ X IN40

  8,YES1 YES6 ,OH1 PL1SE LET ME D[N60
  8,% WE80 ASK$ ,TOM ( ,MR4 ,%>P4
  8,YES10 REPLI$ ! BALLOONI/4 8,WE C
AF=D 6LOSE ! ROPE & AN*OR =! SAKE (
TURN+ ! TA#S4 ,CUT ! CA#40
  ,TOM SAW :AT 0 9T5D$4 ,US+ A LL
HAT*ET1 HE S"E$ ! ROPE )A S+LE BL[4 ,)A
CRA% T CD 2 HE>D UP 9 ! AIR ": ! ,R$
,CL\D HOV]$1 ! RE> :EELS (! AUTO DROPP$
6! GR.D4 ,!N CAME TWO L\D REPORTS4
  8,BO? TIRES BU/$60 -;T$ ,MR4 ,%>P
DRYLY1 & ,TOM1 LOOK+ D[N1 SAW ! TRIO (
LADS RUE;LLY 3TEMPLAT+ ! COLLAPS$ RU2]
(! RE> :EELS4 ,! TA#S _H BE5 E6ECTU,Y
TURN$ ON ,&Y ,FOG]4 ,8 AUTO 0 4A#D1 &!
AIR%IP1 )A GRACE;L SWEEP1 M.T$ HI<] &
HI<]1 3T9U+ ON XS WAY 6! COA/4















