Part 9 (2/2)
”We haven't time,” Frank whispered. ”Hide!”
The beam of the flashlight revealed a number of boxes close to the door. On top of these someone had thrown a heavy bolt of silk, the folds of which hung down to the floor. The brothers scrambled swiftly behind the boxes, pressing themselves close against the wall. They had just enough time to hide and switch out Frank's light before they heard the other door open.
”There's a bunch of drugs in that s.h.i.+pment that came in three weeks ago,” they heard a husky voice say.
”We'll take it upstairs. Burke says he can get rid of it for us right away. No use leaving it down here. Got to make room for the new s.h.i.+pment.”
”Right,” the Hardys heard someone else reply. ”Anything else to go up?”
”No. I'll switch on the light.”
There was a click, and suddenly the cave was flooded with light. It had been wired for electricity.
Frank and Joe crouched in their hiding place, holding their breaths in terror. Would they be discovered?
Footsteps slowly approached the boxes behind which they were concealed!
CHAPTER XIII.
A Startling Discovery FRANK AND JOE tried to crowd themselves into the smallest s.p.a.ce possible as the men came nearer to their hiding place. The electric light bulb hanging from the center of the ceiling cast such a strong illumination over the cave that the boys felt certain they would be discovered.
The boxes were placed a small distance apart, and only the fact that folds of silk hung down over the open s.p.a.ces between the boxes prevented the boys from being seen immediately. However, through a crack in one of the crates, the Hardys could just make out two husky-looking figures.
”Here's some o' that j.a.panese silk,” the boys heard one of the men say. ”I'd better take a bolt of that up too. Burke said he could place some more of it.”
Instantly the same thought ran through both the brothers' minds. If the man picked up the silk, they would surely be found!
”Don't be crazy!” the other man objected. ”You know you won't get any credit for pus.h.i.+n' a sale. Why break your arm luggin' all that stuff upstairs?”
”Well,” the first man explained in a whining tone, ”I thought maybe we could get rid of some more of this swag and make ourselves a little extra dough.”
”Naw,” his companion snarled. ”I can tell you ain't been with this gang long. You never get any thanks around here for thinkin'. If Burke don't take the extra stuff, the boss'll make you bring it all the way down again.”
”Maybe you're right.”
”Sure I'm right! My idea for the rest of us in this gang is to do just what Snattman tells us to and no more.”
”You got somethin' there, Bud. Okay. We'll just take up the package of drugs and leave the rest.”
To the boys' relief the men turned away and went over to the other side of the room. Frank and Joe did not dare peer out, but they could hear the sound of boxes being s.h.i.+fted.
Then came the words, ”All set. I've got the packages. Let's go!”
The switch was snapped and the cave was plunged into darkness. The Hardys began to breathe normally again. The door to the corridor closed and faintly the boys could detect the men's footsteps as they ascended the stairs at the end of it.
When they had died away completely, Frank switched on the flashlight. ”Wow!” he said, giving a tremendous sigh of relief. ”That was a close call! I sure thought they had us.”
”Me too,” Joe agreed. ”We wouldn't have had a chance with that pair. Looked like a couple of wrestlers.”
”Do we dare follow them?”
”You bet. I'd say we've solved the smuggling mystery, but we've still got to find out if they're holding Dad,” Joe said grimly.
”We'll have to watch our step even more carefully. We don't want to walk right into the whole ring of smugglers,” Frank reminded him.
”Right. I don't crave anything worse than what we've just gone through,” said Joe. ”I thought I'd die of suspense while that pair was in here.”
They crossed the room, opened the door, and started up the dark pa.s.sageway. Presently they were confronted by the flight of steps. Part way up there was a landing, then more steps with a door at the top.
”I'll go first,” Frank offered. ”Stick close behind me. I think I'll keep the flash off.”
”That's right,” Joe agreed. ”Snattman might have a guard at the top and there's no use advertising our presence.”
Step by step, the boys crept upward in the inky blackness. Then they found themselves on a crude landing of planks. Carefully they felt their way along the side of the rock wall until they reached the next flight of steps.
Here the brothers stopped again to listen. Silence.
”So far, so good,” Frank whispered. ”But somehow I don't like this whole thing. I have a feeling we're walking into a trap.”
”We can't quit now,” Joe answered. ”But I admit I'm scared.”
Still groping in the dark, the boys climbed up and up until they were nearly winded.
”Where are we?” Joe panted. ”I feel as if I've been climbing stairs for an hour!”
”Me too,” Frank agreed. ”The cliff doesn't look this high from the outside.”
They rested a minute, then continued their journey. Groping around, they finally reached another door.
Frank hunted for the door handle. Finding it, he turned the k.n.o.b ever so slightly to find out if the door was locked.
”I can open it,” Frank said in Joe's ear, ”but we'd better wait a few minutes.”
”Every second is vital if Dad's a prisoner,” Joe objected.
Frank was about to accede to his brother's urging when both boys heard footsteps on the other side of the door. A chill ran down their spines.
”Shall we run?” Joe said fearfully.
”It wouldn't do us any good. Listen!”
There came a queer shuffling sound and a sigh from somewhere beyond the door. That was all.
”Someone's in there,” Frank breathed. Joe nodded in the darkness.
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