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

The vessel lurched suddenly, and heeled without warning. Great sheets of spray swept the decks. The boys huddled together in a sheltered spot, stunned by the violence of the storm and awed by the impenetrable mystery of the fog.
Suddenly, as if from out of nowhere, a tremulous voice close by asked: "Do you think there is any danger"'
With one accord the trio swung around, startled, for they had heard no one approach. Like a ghost a tall figure had materialized out of the darkness. In the dim light they recognized it as that of Samuel Blackstone, an old, white-bearded gentleman who had sat at their table at luncheon that day. He was evidently greatly wrought up and extremely nervous.
"I couldn't stay in my stateroom," he told them. "It's a dreadful night, isn't it' Do you think we'll get through safe?"
"I think there's no cause for alarm, Mr. Blackstone," Frank replied kindly, trying to allay the old man's fears, although he was none too confident himself. "It's a bad storm, and the fog makes it worse. Yet it would take a mighty forceful blow to drive a ship as sturdy as this one off her course."
"I wish morning would come," said Mr. Blackstone. "This is my first trip North. Believe me, if the weather is always like this here it will be my last visit."
"You were just unlucky to run into such a furious tempest," Joe assured him. "Where are you headed for, Mr. Black stone"'
"Boston," he said. "I must meet a man there in order to complete a business deal."
The old gentleman seemed considerably calmer, now that he had someone with whom to talk. He asked the boys about their destination, recalling several friends of his who lived in Bayport. He did not discuss his own affairs, but frankly admitted that much of his concern was due to the fact that he was carrying with him a large sum of money.
If he would confide in them so willingly, Frank reflected, the elderly man might tell others, also. A person of his age, traveling by himself, and with valuables in his possession, would be a likely target for a swindle. From their father the Hardy boys had heard numerous stories of guileless ocean voyagers who had been relieved of every cent they possessed by crooks who were ever on the lookout for just such victims.
"If I were you, Mr. Blackstone," Frank suggested, "I shouldn't carry so much money around with me. If you have a big sum, you should have it locked up in the ship's safe."
"I'm not accustomed to traveling," said Mr. Blackstone, "and didn't know about a place for safekeeping. Dear me, it would have saved me a lot of worry. Where do I go--Whom do I ask--'
"If you like, we'll show you to the purser's office," offered Joe.
"He'll put the funds away for you and give you a receipt. Then, when the ship reaches Boston, you can get your money back again." Chet explained. "It's a lot better than keeping it in your stateroom."
Mr. Blackstone seemed very much relieved at this information. He gratefully accepted the boys' offer, then the four went inside the cabin. By the light the boys saw that he was a man of about seventy, neatly and expensively dressed. He was frail, thin, and very tall.
"It's mighty good of you lads to go to so much trouble for an old man," he said, as they walked down a corridor between staterooms. "Most boys wouldn't bother."
"No trouble at all," Frank assured him. "We're glad to be of service to you."
As the boys approached Cabin 19, which was their stateroom, Joe suddenly halted and grasped Frank by the arm.
"That's queer," he said, and pointed to the sill of the door.
A thin shaft of light was shining from beneath the entrance.
"I was the last one in there," Joe said, "and I distinctly recall turning out the lights."
As he spoke, the beam vanished.
"There's someone in our stateroom !" whispered Chet, excited.
"We'll soon find out who it is," Frank said in a low voice.
Quietly he stole forward and grasped the knob. It turned beneath his hand, and the door yielded to his pressure. It was unlocked. This was enough for Frank. He flung it wide open.
From out of the darkness there loomed the figure of a man.
"Get out of here!" ordered a deep voice.


CHAPTER II

THE SHIPWRECK

"WHAT'S the idea?" chirped Chet flippantly.
"What are you doing in our stateroom?" Frank demanded as he advanced into the darkness.
"Careful," urged Joe, for it flashed across his mind that the intruder might be armed.
Frank was in no mood to be cautioned. His first thought had been for the valuable handwriting specimens hidden in their luggage, and he strode forward. He caught a glimpse of the intruder lunging toward him. Then a fist shot out of the darkness and caught the boy a glancing blow on the side of the face.
Frank, strong and wiry, instantly began to grapple with his attacker, but he was no match for the grown man, who flung him aside so violently that the lad went crashing against the stateroom wall. At the same time Chet and Joe tackled the fellow. Old man Blackstone, in the corridor, was calling out in alarm:
"What's the matter? What's going on here?"
There was a brief tussle of Chet and Joe with the stranger, but he was too strong for them and plunged out into the corridor with a boy clinging to each arm. He shook off Chet, but Joe was not so easy to handle. The two were struggling desperately as Frank recovered himself and came charging from the stateroom to get into the fight again.
At that moment there was a startling interruption. A blinding flash of lightning, which illuminated everything, was followed by a terrific crash of thunder. The ship seemed to come to an abrupt standstill with a jar that sent the boys, Mr. Blackstone, and the unknown intruder tumbling to the floor.
Above the roar of the storm they could hear a grinding, splintering uproar. The ship canted sideways. Then, in the distance, a bell began to ring wildly, mingled with hoarse shouts and wild screams. The lights went out, and the corridor was in total darkness.
"We're wrecked!" shouted Frank, scrambling to his feet.
He forgot the intruder, his chief concern now being for the suitcase which contained the handwriting specimens. He did not know what had happened, but surmised that the Resolute had been driven upon a reef in the fog. Through the darkness could be heard a ship's officer, shouting:
"On deck, everybody! Get your life-preservers! To the lifeboats!"
The corridor was suddenly thronged with passengers who rushed about, frantic with fear. An officer stumbled into the passage with a lantern, and by its stabbing rays Chet caught a fleeting glimpse of old Mr. Blackstone lying on the floor, while a sinister looking figure crouched at his side. Then the scene was blotted out as someone knocked against the feeble light, extinguishing it.
"Give me a hand with the luggage, fellows!" Frank cried out.
Chet and Joe found their way into the stateroom, but in the darkness could locate nothing. The whole ship was now in an uproar, with bells ringing, the crew shouting, and passengers shrieking and screaming.
"The ship is sinking!" snapped Frank. "We must have run smack onto a reef in that fog."
"Let's get out of here and find a lifeboat," returned Joe.