"Dixon, Franklin W - Hardy Boys 014 - The Hidden Harbor Mystery (original)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dixon Franklin W)

"Hey, fellows! What's up! Someone just ran past the window."
His brother and Chet rushed out of the hall. "After him !" shouted Frank. "He must be the fellow who left that note."
Joe did not understand what was meant, but nevertheless he bolted for the kitchen.
"I just saw a figure dash by the living room window," he called out, as he wrenched open the kitchen door and rushed into the back yard. "There it goes! Into the barn !"
In his excitement Joe slammed the door be hind him, thus delaying Frank and Chet for a moment. By the time they had opened it and raced outside Joe was disappearing into the barn. As the two behind ran toward the structure, an old building which the boys used as a gymnasium, they could hear clattering footsteps.
They were within a few feet of the doorway when suddenly there came a crash of glass from above. Instantly the two boys were caught in a shower of broken fragments that came tumbling from a shattered window overhead.


CHAPTER VIII

ON THE DERELICT


FORTUNATELY neither boy was cut by the falling glass, nor injured by a heavy piece of wood that came hurtling through the window and went spinning to the ground.
"Come on, Chet!" shouted Frank, rushing into the barn.
He and Chet then heard the thud of running footsteps in the upper part of the building, which was reached by a ladder attached to the wall.
Frank scrambled up, with Chet puffing and panting close behind him. When they emerged into what had once been the haymow they saw Joe at the far end, leaning out of a window. The lad was disheveled looking. His clothes were torn, and he was covered with dust.
"The fellow got away," he said, turning around. "He climbed out here, jumped onto the roof of the shed, and ran down the driveway. We '11 never catch him now. Tried to brain me with a stick of wood, too. It just missed my head and went through the windowpane."
"Did you get a good look at him?" asked Frank.
I shouldn't swear to it, but I think he was colored," returned Joe. "I just caught a glimpse of him when I climbed up the ladder and he let fly with the block of wood. By the time I saw him again he was going through the window. What's it all about, anyhow? What did he do?"
"He scared Chet into convulsions and left a note for us."
"He didn't frighten me!" protested Chet indignantly. "But gosh, when you see a snake writhing into the house
Frank chuckled.
"A snake !" Joe exclaimed.
His brother told him about the rope that had been attached to the door. "It did look like the real thing for a minute," he admitted. "But I can't understand this note-'Keep out of the Rand-Blackstone Feud.' It's a warning to us."
Joe was impressed.
"It looks as if we're mixed up in something big," he said. "It's clear now why Rand called old Mr. Blackstone a scoundrel. Probably there has been a real old-time southern feud between their families."
"But why should this colored fellow warn us to stay out of it? We're not attempting to interfere in their business, anyway," said Chet.
"It may be only a bluff," Frank observed. "Rand might have sent the man here to try to frighten us out of investigating him too closely on account of the robbery."
"Well, I've had enough excitement for one day," said Chet. "I'm going home."
"Better come back in the house and have a little chat with Aunt Gertrude before you go," suggested Joe with a grin. "You might get her to tell you some more stories about lynching."
"Not on your life! She'11 blame me for making her faint. But how did I know the chair was going to fall to pieces? You should have stronger furniture."
A week passed in which the Hardy boys heard no more about Ruel Rand or Mr. Blackstone. They were awaiting their father's return before taking any further action in regard to either man. Now that they had the former's address they could afford to be patient. Besides, they wanted advice as to the proper course to take.
While scanning the newspaper early one morning, Frank came upon an item that ex cited and Interested him. It read as follows:
"Croston, September 20: The steamer Resolute, wrecked on a reef off the coast near here ten days ago, broke from its towlines yesterday when an attempt was being made to bring the salvaged vessel to Croston, and is now adrift. Coastal shipping has been warned of the presence of the derelict. The Resolute had been floated and taken off the reef by salvage tugs."
Frank called Joe at once and showed him the newspaper paragraph.
"Why, this means that we still have a chance of getting those handwriting specimens for Dad!" exclaimed Joe.
"We can take the Sleuth and run down the coast until we find the derelict. According to this item the ship is still afloat. If we can get aboard her we should have no trouble finding our luggage. It will be water-soaked, of course, but the specimens were well protected.''
The adventure appealed to Joe. He was all for starting without further delay. Frank suggested that they ask Chet to go along with them.
"After all, he has been in this affair since the beginning, and will be hopping mad if we go on a jaunt and leave him at home."
They telephoned their fat friend and outlined the plan to him. The boy was highly enthusiastic.
"Now you're talking!" he exclaimed. "Will I go? Just try to get away without me. I'll be ready in an hour."
Mrs. Hardy readily gave her consent to the jaunt, for she knew by now that the boys were well able to take care of themselves. Aunt Gertrude, however, expressed her opposition to the scheme with her characteristic vigor and forcefulness.
"Hare-brained notion !" she declared. "I never heard the like. Going out to sea in a motorboat to look for a sinking ship! You boys have gone off on a lot of silly trips but this one beats them all. Mark my words, it's the last we'll see of you, for you'll all be drowned. I feel it in my bones."
Aunt Gertrude's bones apparently were continually giving her warnings of dreadful catastrophes that never happened.
"I know we're not meant to be drowned, Aunt Gertrude," said Joe with a wink at his brother. "We escaped the Resolute disaster, didn't we?"
"More by good luck than good judgment, I'll be bound," sniffed the irate lady. "You'll tempt Fate once too often."
The lads were forced to endure a great deal more of their relative's opinions and prophecies while they were preparing for their trip. Moreover, when Chet appeared he received a lecture as well. All three finally managed to escape, their ears ringing with Aunt Gertrude's solemn prediction that she would never see them alive again.
Having made many outings in the Sleuth, the boys packed sufficient provisions to last them for several days, as well as blankets, cooking utensils, and a small tent. These they carried to the boathouse at the foot of High Street.
The Sleuth was in excellent trim-a neat, fast, handsome motorboat that could show its wake to nearly every other craft on Barmet Bay. It was the most prized possession of the Hardy boys and they had enjoyed many happy hours in it. While Frank checked the engine and filled up the gas tanks, Joe and Chet stowed away the tent and supplies.