Franklin W. Dixon

“ Although Fenton Hardy was weakened by his imprisonment and privation and although the smuggler was strong and wiry, the detective had the advantage of a surprise attack, and Malloy had no time to collect his faculties.
Joe and Frank watched the battle in an agony of suspense. It was, they knew, their last hope.
Fenton Hardy still kept his hand over the other man’s mouth, although Malloy was gasping and gurgling and making frantic efforts to call out for help. The detective dug his knee into Malloy’s stomach and when the smuggler tried to wriggle out of the way he snatched for the revolver. ”

“ They passed the Kane farmhouse, nestling among the trees, and at last came in sight of the gloomy cliff that rose from Barmet Bay and at the summit of which perched the rambling stone house where the miser, Felix Polucca, had met his death.
“Lonely looking place, isn’t it?” remarked Phil, who was sharing Frank’s motorcycle.
“It was an ideal place for a murder. When Felix Polucca lived there, I doubt if he had more than two or three visitors in a year.” ”

“ All the cyclists were boys of about fifteen and sixteen years of age and all five were students at the Bayport high school. They were enjoying their Saturday holiday by this outing, glad of the chance to get away from the torrid warmth of the city for a few hours.
When the foremost motorcycle reached a place where the shore road formed a junction with another highway leading to the north, the rider brought his machine to a stop and waited for the others to draw alongside. He was a tall, dark youth of sixteen, with a clever, good-natured face. His name was Frank Hardy. ”

“ The yellow beam of light revealed the pallid leaves of the bushes by the shore and the naked walls of rock above. But although Frank turned the flashlight in every direction about the cove there was no sign of the rowboat in which the two men had arrived.
It had vanished utterly.
Although the lads were prepared for the disappearance of the smugglers, they were not prepared for the disappearance of the rowboat. But they searched for it in vain. The light revealed nothing of the craft. ”

“ They were in a room that had evidently been used as a kitchen, and although rain came in slanting streaks through the open windows, the glass of which had long since been shattered, they were at least sheltered from the downpour that had assumed redoubled violence. The rain drummed on the roof of the old house and poured from black skies on the near-by wagon shed. Thunder rolled and rumbled threateningly, and every once in a while a sheet of lightning tore a band of lurid light across the gloom. ”

“ The smugglers were returning.
"Quick!" whispered Frank, as he flung the ropes aside.
"I—I can't—hurry!" gasped out Fenton Hardy. "I've been here too—too long." He could hardly utter the words. His face showed his exhaustion.
"But we've got to hurry, dad!" came excitedly from Frank. "See if you can't make it."
"I'll—I'll do my—my best," returned his father.
"If those fellows come back let's fight for it," put in Joe desperately.
"You bet we'll fight," answered Frank in a voice that meant a great deal. ”

“ As for Tony Prito, he was the envy of all the chums of the two lads.
“Tony had all the luck,” bemoaned Chet Morton, as the boys were all sitting in the barn back of the Hardy home next afternoon. This barn, which had been fitted up as a gymnasium, was a meeting place for the lads on occasions of importance.
“We had to have a motorboat,” said Frank. “Believe me, I was wishing more than once that the whole crowd was along.”
“And you’ll get the reward for capturing Snackley?” asked Phil Cohen.
“Not all of it. Dad gets half. Joe and I split the rest.” ”

“ The murder of Felix Polucca had been particularly brutal. He was an old Italian, suspected, as Frank said, of being a miser. He was very eccentric in his ways and most people considered that he was not quite sound mentally.
Be that as it may, Bayport was shocked one morning to learn that the old man had been found dead in the kitchen of his house, his body riddled with bullets. The motive, apparently, was robbery, for although it was popularly believed that the old man possessed a great deal of money that he kept with him in the house, it was never found, in spite of the most diligent search. ”

“ He was pale with fright and it was plain that the strange experiences of the past hour had completely unnerved him.
“That’s the way I feel about it,” agreed Biff Hooper. “I’m not a bit comfortable around here. Let’s beat it.”
“I’d like to find out what is wrong with the place,” persisted Frank doggedly.
“You couldn’t drag me back in there with a team of horses,” objected Chet. “Let’s clear out. I’ve had enough of it.”
“Come on,” urged Jerry. “There’s no use going back. The whole place will cave in on us if we aren’t careful. And, anyway, there’s something fishy about the house.” ”

“ Then, when he learned that Snackley was related to Polucca, he was sure of it. It's as clear as daylight. But what on earth could have happened to him?"
"Let's go up to the Polucca place and find out."
But Mrs. Hardy interposed. Her lips were firm.
"Promise me you won't go alone."
"Why not, mother? We can look after ourselves."
"If anything has happened to your father, I don't want you to run the same risk."
"But we must go up there and look the place over again."
"Get some of the boys to go with you." ”

“ Beyond the bushes was a dark opening in the rock.
"A cave!" exclaimed Frank, in a suppressed tone.
It was so cleverly concealed that it could not have been seen in the clear light of the day except at close quarters. The glare of the flashlight, however, cast the dark opening into prominence behind the screen of leaves.
This, then, was the explanation of the boat's disappearance. There was a channel in the cove enabling the smugglers to row the boat directly into this cave in the rock. This also probably explained the presence of the motorboat.
"They went in here," said Joe. ”

“ The motorboat went some distance down the shore and then they turned and, keeping well out in the bay, went on up past the cliff once again. They kept a sharp eye on the location of the cove, and in spite of the fact that they knew just where it was they were scarcely able to distinguish the narrow opening in the rocks.
"No wonder the place hasn't been heard of more often!" Frank said. "It looks like an unbroken wall of rock from this far out."
"You've got to be careful around here, Tony," cried Joe. "First thing you know we'll hit the rocks and be smashed." ”

“ Fenton Hardy had also been watching for his chance, and he sprang through the darkness at Snackley. He collided heavily with the chief of the smugglers and they rolled on the floor in a desperate struggle.
It was impossible to distinguish friend from enemy in the darkness. Joe plunged into the midst of the surging figures and his fist smashed against the face of one of the smugglers, who gave a howl of pain.
Then, outside the house, another uproar burst forth.
Some one was banging on the front door. Men could be heard shouting to one another. ”

“ With the farmer giving aid, the boys carried the unconscious man into the house and placed him on a couch in the comfortably furnished living room. The farmer's wife glanced dubiously at the stream of water that dripped from the victim's clothes, for she was a tidy soul and she had just scrubbed the floor that morning, but her better nature overcame her housewifely instincts and she hastened out to the kitchen to prepare a hot drink. ”

“ The cliff jutted up out of very deep water and rose to a great height. From the boat they were unable to see the Polucca place, for it was set in a short distance from the edge of the cliff. The face of the steep rock was uncompromising. There seemed to be no foothold for man or beast. It was just an unscalable, craggy wall.
Suddenly Tony bore down on the wheel. The Napoli swerved swiftly to one side and at the same time the engine roared as the craft leaped ahead. ”

“ The farmer was angry and excited. "But there's time yet. You can catch 'em. They went down the shore road."
"Come on, Joe!" shouted Frank. "Let's chase them. They've kidnapped Jones."
Joe needed no urging. The Hardy boys left the farmer and his wife rubbing their chafed wrists and ankles and hastened out of the house over to their motorcycles. Within a few seconds the staccato roar of the powerful machines broke out on the still air, and then they went rocking and swaying down the lane out on to the shore road. ”

“ Joe called out. "Head toward the right of the cave and you'll be in deep water. A little further! Good!"
As the motorboat drew nearer he saw that it was filled with men and that a rowboat was being towed behind.
"We got 'em," cried Tony exultantly. "They were just getting out of the cove in the boat when we came up."
"Who is with you?" asked Joe.
"Police. The rest of them went up the shore road in a car."
"We've caught the whole gang then. They raided the house and got the rest of the smugglers. We thought these fellows had made a getaway." ”

“ Now they knew, and they knew also that he was a captive of Snackley, the head of the gang of smugglers.
Joe gave a perceptible start, but Frank laid a warning hand upon his brother's arm. Now, of all times, there was need for caution.
They listened.
"I won't sign it," replied Fenton Hardy clearly.
Snackley replied:
"You heard what I said. Sign or starve."
"I'll starve."
"You'll think differently in a day or so. You're pretty hungry now, Hardy, but you'll be a lot hungrier later on. And thirsty, too. You'll be ready to sell your soul for a drop of water or a bite to eat." ”

“ Although they cruised around for more than an hour, they saw not the slightest sign of life either about the base of the cliff or on the Polucca place, which, keeping well out from shore as they did, they could plainly distinguish. As the gloom deepened they felt that it was almost useless to continue, but Frank decided that they should wait a while longer.
“These fellows aren’t likely to move around much in daylight. Night is the time for their operations,” he pointed out. ”

“ Fenton Hardy moved over toward the door.
"We haven't any time to lose," he said. "I have the revolver. If we meet any one—"
He opened the door cautiously and peeped out. There was no one beyond. There was nothing but a flight of steps leading upward into darkness.
The detective went forward, his sons following close at his heels.
Step by step they made their way on up in the darkness, for Joe had closed the door behind them and Frank did not dare make use of the flashlight.
At last Fenton Hardy came to a stop. He was fumbling at something immediately above. ”

“ The sides were steep, although dense bushes grew about the base of the slopes, but there was no path, no trail, no indication that any human being had ever been in the place. Being protected from the wind, the water was calm. The echoes of the motorboat's engine were flung back from every side in a roaring volume.
Suddenly Frank gave a gasp of surprise!
Standing among the thickets at the base of the steepest slope, was a man. ”

“ The flashlight illuminated the murky corners of the cave.
“This must be where they store all the stuff,” Joe said, as he inspected one of the boxes.
“There must be another opening that leads to the top of the cliff. They probably bring the stuff up to the house and then dispose of it from there.”
“You’d think they would keep it at the Polucca place instead of down here.”
“Probably they are afraid the house might be raided at some time or another. That’s why they keep the goods hidden in this place. It would be mighty hard for any one to find it here.” ”

“ Chet had told his sister about the affair at the Polucca place on the previous Saturday, and she, in turn, had told Callie.
"Well, how are the ghost-hunters this morning?" asked Callie.
"Fine," replied Frank, with a smile.
"What a brave bunch of boys you all are!" exclaimed the girl. "Running away from an empty house!"
"That house wasn't empty!" put in Joe warmly. "I suppose you think our motorcycle tools walked away!"
"Somebody played a pretty good practical joke on you. Just wait till you get to school. Whoever played that trick will be sure to tell everybody." ”

“ The motorboat threaded its way accurately among the jutting rocks. There was always the chance that a submerged reef might rip through the hull of the craft, but they had to take chances on that.
But luck was with them. The Napoli dodged the last ugly rock, and shot forward into open water.
Tony sank back with a sigh of relief.
“Whew, that was close!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t see those rocks until we were right on top of them. If we’d ever struck one of them we would have been goners.”
The Hardy boys believed him. Angry waves dashed against the base of the cliff. ”

“ The others shook their heads. “No one has lived there since the murder and I don’t think any one ever will,” said Frank Hardy. “The house is too far out of the way, for one thing, and then—the stories that have been going around—”
“Well, I won’t say I believe any place is haunted, but the Polucca place is certainly strange. There have been queer lights seen there at night. On stormy nights, particularly. And once a motorist had a breakdown near there, so he went up to the house for help. He didn’t know anything about the history of the place. He got the scare of his life!” ”

“ Finally he straightened up, with a mutter of satisfaction.
"His heart's beating all right," he told Joe. "He's alive, at any rate. Just all in. He'll come to after a while."
He returned to his oar and the little boat skimmed over the waves on toward the farmhouse in the distance.
The boys rowed until the muscles of their arms were aching, but at last they drew near the shore and finally the pebbles grated underneath the keel. Frank leaped out and dragged the boat part way up on the beach. Then, between them, they carried the unconscious man up the rocky shore toward the farmhouse. ”

“ He didn't order us not to look for him. If he really did write the note he can't say we were disobeying instructions. And then, the absence of the secret sign makes it all different."
"I'll say we'll look for him!" cried Joe. "Vacation starts next week, and we'll have plenty of time to hunt for him."
"Wait until then, at any rate," Mrs. Hardy advised. "Perhaps he will return in the meanwhile."
But as she glanced at the note again and once more regarded the signature, strangely lacking its secret sign, her forebodings that Fenton Hardy had met with foul play increased. ”

“ They know more about the affair than they care to tell."
"The Polucca place!" exclaimed the chief, pursing his lips. "We-ll, you see, it ain't in the city limits."
"But Fenton Hardy is a Bayport citizen."
"What d'you think about it, Smuff?"
"Just a minute—it's my move." Smuff meditated over the checkerboard for a while, made his move, then looked up judicially. "To tell you the truth, chief," he said, "I think we'd be just as well stayin' away from that Polucca place. There's been queer stories about it." ”

“ There was another whispered colloquy and then the smugglers apparently withdrew toward the doorway leading into the kitchen. Then, in a moment, a perfect fusillade of shots broke out.
But Fenton Hardy and the boys had withdrawn past the turn in the staircase and were well protected. They could hear the uproar of gunfire as the smugglers riddled the staircase with bullets.
"That should have finished 'em!" they could hear Snackley saying. "If they're on the stairs at all they're as dead as mutton by now."
"Best be careful," muttered one of the men. "Hardy has a gun." ”

“ The boys were soaked to the skin and water dripped from the peaks of their caps into their eyes. The rain poured down with redoubled violence and the others could scarcely see Chet’s machine through the misty downpour. Chet was making such good time back to Bayport that they found it difficult to keep up with him.
Frank Hardy was still dissatisfied. He had really wanted to remain behind and probe the mystery of the house on the cliff further. He held no stock in the ghost theory. The shrieks and the mocking laugh, he was sure, were of human origin. ”

“ Collig and Smuff looked uncomfortable. To tell the truth they had been so impressed by the fearful stories they had heard of the house on the cliff that they had stayed no longer than was necessary. They had merely asked a few perfunctory questions of Redhead, had received his explanation of the finding of the cap, and had then hastened from the farm as quickly as was consistent with dignity.
"We've done our duty," declared Chief Collig. "No man can do more." ”

“ The Hardy boys were not destined to solve a mystery every week, but it was not long before they were plunged into a maze of events which were fully as exciting as those which led to the finding of the tower treasure and those that followed their first visit to the house on the cliff. ”