Part 8 (2/2)
”It's all your imagination. n.o.body suspects.”
”Those boys at the house-”
”Just dumb kids. If they come nosin' around again, we'll knock 'em on the head.”
”I don't like this rough stuff. It's dangerous.”
”We've got to do it or we'll end up in the pen. What's the matter with you tonight? You're nervous.”
”I'm worried. I've got a hunch we'd better clear out of here.”
”Clear out!” replied the other contemptuously. ”Are you crazy? Why, this place is as safe as a church.”
The man laughed sardonically. ”Haven't we got all the squealers locked up? And tonight we make the big cleanup and get away.”
”Well, maybe you're right,” said the first man doubtfully. ”But still-”
His voice died away as the boat entered the tunnel.
Joe grabbed Frank's arm. ”Did you hear that? All the squealers locked up? I'll bet Dad's one of them and he's a prisoner somewhere around here.”
”And this is the hide-out of Snattman and the other smugglers he was after,” Frank added.
”I don't like this,” Chet spoke up. ”Let's leave here and get the police.”
Frank shook his head. ”It would take so long we might goof the whole thing. Tell you what. Joe and I will follow that rowboat through the tunnel!”
”How?”
”On foot or swim. I don't think it's deep along the edges.”
”You mean Chet and I will wait here?” Tony asked.
”No,” Frank answered. ”You two beat it back to Bayport and notify the Coast Guard. Tell them we're on the track of smugglers and ask them to send some men here.”
”And tell them our suspicions about AH Singh and the Marco Polo,” Joe added. ”They can radio the captain to keep an eye on him.”
”Okay,” said Tony. ”I'll do that. First I'll put you ash.o.r.e.”
”Don't go too close or you'll hit those rocks and wreck the boat,” Frank warned. ”Joe and I can swim to sh.o.r.e. Then we'll work around into the tunnel and see what we can find. If we do discover anything, we'll wait at the entrance and show the men from the Coast Guard where to go when they get here.”
Tony edged the boat in as close to the dark sh.o.r.e as he dared without lights. Quickly Frank and Joe took off their slacks, T s.h.i.+rts, sweaters, and sneakers. They rolled them up, and with twine which Tony provided, tied the bundles on top of their heads. Then they slipped over the side into the water. The Napoli sped off.
Frank and Joe were only a few yards from the rocks and after a short swim emerged on the mainland.
”Well, here goes!” Joe whispered, heading for the tunnel.
CHAPTER XII.
The Secret Pa.s.sage CAUTIOUSLY Frank and Joe made their way across the slippery rocks. Suddenly there was a loud splash as Joe lost his footing.
”Are you all right?” Frank whispered, as he came up to where his brother was standing in the shallow water at the edge of the cliff.
”Yes. For a moment I sure thought I'd sprained my ankle,” Joe replied tensely, ”but it seems to be okay now.”
”Give me your hand,” Frank whispered and quickly pulled Joe back onto the rocks.
The Hardys had landed at a point some twenty-five yards from the tunnel opening, but the climb over the treacherous rocks was so difficult that the distance seemed much longer. It was very dark in the shadow of the steep cliff. The waves breaking against the rocks had a lonely and foreboding sound.
”Good night!” Joe muttered. ”Aren't we ever coming to that tunnel?”
”Take it easy,” Frank advised. ”It can't be much farther.”
”I hope Tony and Chet will hurry back with help,” Joe said. ”This is a ticklish job.”
”If anybody's on guard here, we'll certainly be at a disadvantage,” Frank remarked in a barely audible tone. ”Watch out!”
By this time they had reached the entrance to the tunnel. After a few cautious steps they discovered that the narrow piece of land between the water and the base of the cliff was covered by a thick growth of bushes.
Frank turned to Joe. ”If we try to walk through all that stuff,” he whispered, ”we're sure to be heard. That is, if those men are in here some place.”
Joe grunted in agreement. ”What shall we do?” Tentatively, Frank put one foot into the water from the rock on which he was standing.
”It isn't deep,” he said. ”I guess we can wade through.”
The boys hugged the wall and started off. Fortunately, the water came only to their knees because there was a shelf of rocks all the way along. The brothers' hearts beat wildly. What would they find ahead of them? The boys had not heard a sound since entering the tunnel. It appeared that the men in the row-boat had gone on to some secret hiding place.
”I think I'll risk my flashlight,” Frank said in a low voice as they reached the pond. ”We can't find out anything without it.”
He pulled one he always carried from its waterproof case and snapped it on. The yellow beam shone over the pond. There was no sign of the rowboat.
”How do you think those men got out of here?” Joe asked. ”Do you suppose there's another opening?”
Frank turned the flashlight onto the steep sides surrounding the water. ”I don't see any. My guess is that those men hid the boat some place. Let's make a thorough search.”
Slowly the brothers began to walk around the edge of the pond, brus.h.i.+ng aside the heavy growth and peering among the bushes. They had about given up in despair as they reached the section by the far wall of the tunnel. Then, as Frank beamed the flashlight over the thicket, he exclaimed hoa.r.s.ely, ”Look!”
”A door!” Joe whispered tensely.
The door had been so cleverly concealed that it would not have been seen in full daylight except at close quarters. The glare of the flashlight, however, brought the artificial screen of branches and leaves into sharp relief against the dark cliffside.
”This explains it,” Joe said. ”The men in the boat went through here. I wonder where it goes.”
In order to avoid detection, Frank extinguished his light before trying to open the door. He swung it open inch by inch, half expecting to find lights and people beyond. But there was only darkness. Luckily the door had made no noise. Frank turned on his light again.
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