"Arthur, Robert - The Three Investigators 010 - The Mystery of the Moaning Cave" - читать интересную книгу автора (Arthur Robert)

"Oh, no you don't!" Pete cried. "We don't believe in ghosts--do we?"

Jupiter grinned. "Who said anything about ghosts?"

"But El Diablo's been dead almost a hundred years," Bob objected, "If you don't mean a ghost, Jupe what do you mean?"

Jupiter did not get a chance to answer, for at that moment the sky beyond the valley was suddenly lit up by bright red flashes. The boys' eyes widened as explosions seemed to shake the whole valley.

"What is it, Jupe?" asked Bob.

Jupiter shook his head. "I don't know."

The flashes stopped and the echo of the explosions faded away. The three boys looked at each other. Then Bob snapped his fingers.

"I know, it's the Navy! Remember when we were coming up on the truck, Jupe, we saw all those Navy ships on practice manoeuvres? I'll bet they're having target practice out in the Channel Islands."

Pete laughed with relief. "Sure, they do that a couple of times a year. I read about it in the newspapers. They fire at some uninhabited island out there."

Jupiter nodded. "It was even in the papers yesterday. Night firing practice. Come on, I want to get back to the ranch and find out more about this valley."

Bob and Pete needed no urging for the valley had grown completely dark now. The three boys walked to their bikes, which were parked on the dirt road behind them.

Suddenly, from across the valley, they heard a loud rumbling sound, followed by a long wail.





2

The Old One



THE wail died away across Moaning Valley.

"That wasn't the moan from the cave!" cried Pete.

"No," Jupiter agreed. "That was a man!"

"In trouble," added Bob. "Come on, fellows!"

The sound had come from the base of the mountain that stood between the valley and the ocean--Devil Mountain, so called because of its jagged twin peaks shaped like horns.

The boys raced across the valley to the foot of Devil Mountain, where a pile of newly fallen rocks lay strewn across the slope. Dust still filled the air.

"Help!" a voice called feebly.

Pete knelt down beside the grey-haired man who lay there, his leg twisted at a strange angle beneath the rocks, his face contorted with pain. "Just lie quietly," Pete told him. "We'll get you out of here right away."