"Dixon, Franklin W - Hardy Boys 008 - The Mystery of Cabin Island" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dixon Franklin W)

Joe scowled. "He sure was eager to chase us away. I have a hunch he's up to no good."

Soon Frank guided the Seagull out of the cove and sent her skimming along Barmet Bay.

Suddenly Chet gasped. "Look at that ice-yacht! Must be a crazy man steering it!"

Heading towards them was a large craft which weaved across the ice in a dizzying path. Suddenly it dipped over and one runner plank lifted off the ice into the air.

"Wow! That's a sharp turn!" exclaimed Frank.

"He'll capsize!" Biff cried out. Just then the pilot dropped the sheet and the runner came down hard, spattering ice.

Joe groaned. "Anybody who gives a boat that slambang treatment doesn't deserve to own one."

An instant later the other craft streaked straight for the Seagull.

Frank looked grim. "We're in trouble," he said. "That's the Hawk!"

The Hawk was owned by two belligerent youths, Tad Carson and Ike Nash, who had been in the Hardys' classes at school until they had dropped out early in the term. The two often returned to loiter about the school grounds, bullying younger boys. They were known to be fast, reckless car drivers.

"Ike is steering," Joe observed. "He's even more dangerous on the ice than he is on the road."

"If he doesn't change his course, he'll hit us!" Chet said.

Frank set his jaw. "If Ike won't turn, I will." He bore down on the tiller and swung out of the Hawk's path.

A second later the bigger craft also changed course. It was hurtling towards the Seagull, gaining momentum every second!

"They mean to run us down!" Biff shouted.

"Or else they just want to scare us," Joe said, clenching his fists.

Frank swerved once more. Again the other steersman mimicked him, and the Hawk still came at them. By now it was less than fifty yards away. The boys could see mocking grins on Ike's and Tad's faces. In another few seconds the Hawk would crash into the Seagull.

Suddenly Ike's grin changed to a look of terror. In a flash Frank realized what had happened. The reckless youth had tried to swerve off the collision course. But the manoeuvre had caused the Hawk's tiller to jam. Ike held up his hands to show that he had lost control of his craft.

In a moment the boats would collide!





- 2 -

An Angry Caller



FRANK leaned hard on the tiller, while Joe trimmed sail. The Seagull veered sharply. The other boys held on so tightly to the gunhales that their knuckles were white. The boat careened, and the ice seemed to leap towards them.