THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND

THE HARDY BOYS are elated over their good luck when wealthy Elroy Jefferson invites them to spend Christmas vacation at his private retreat on Cabin Island. But when Frank and Joe make a reconnaissance trip in their iceboat the Sea Gull to the island, a belligerent stranger orders them off. Why?

Before twenty-four hours have passed, the Hardys find themselves involved in two mysteries: the first concerns the recent disappearance of Mr. Jeffersonâ€™s grandson, Johnny; the second, the baffling theft of a priceless collection of antique medals which took place two years ago. The young detectives, with their pals Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, pursue both cases on the icebound, snow-covered island.

Sabotage to the Sea Gull, danger to themselves, and a ghostly prowler do not daunt Frank and Joe in their search for Johnny Jefferson and for clues to the stolen antique medals. How the teen-age investigators outwit a ruthless foe and succeed in solving both mysteries makes for mounting suspense in this brisk-paced adventure.

âWeâre going to hit!â yelled Joe

Copyright Â© 1994, 1966, 1957, 1929 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published by Grosset & Dunlap, Inc., a member of The Putnam &
Grosset Group, New York. Published simultaneously in Canada. S.A.
THE HARDY BOYSÂ® is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Grosset & Dunlap, Inc.

eISBN : 978-1-101-07623-1

2008 Printing

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CHAPTER I

Threat on Cabin Island

âWHAT a reward!â Joe Hardy exclaimed. âYou mean we can stay at Cabin Island over the winter vacation?â

âRight. Starting the day after Christmas,â said Frank. âThe whole place is ours, and Mr. Jefferson says heâll throw another mystery our way.â

âAbout what?â

âWouldnât say. Heâll tell us at his home tomorrow when we get the key.â

The Hardy boys were elated over their good luck. The young detectives recently had broken a car theft ring, and in gratitude for the return of his automobile, Elroy Jefferson, a wealthy resident of Bayport, had made the offer of his private retreat near the entrance to Barmet Bay.

Impulsive, blond-haired Joe snapped his fingers. âFrank, letâs call Chet and Biff and take our iceboat over to the island. Iâd like to give it a quick preview.â

âOkay. We can meet âem at our dock.â

Dark-haired Frank, eighteen and a year older than Joe, was just as eager to set foot on Cabin Island and also to skim over the ice, now glossy smooth after a long siege of zero weather.

Joe dashed to the hall telephone and dialed the number of the Morton farmhouse. In a moment he was speaking to Chet Morton, a beefy team-mate on the Bayport High football eleven.

âWhatâs up?â the stout youth asked.

âGet your long johns on,â Joe told him. âWeâre going to whip out to Cabin Island on the Sea Gull. That wind on the bayâll really start your blood circulating!â

Frank and Joe had designed and built the iceboat during the previous summer. They had saved their money to buy materials and had worked slowly and carefully on the project. The craft was made so that it could be taken apart and compactly stored in the boathouse where the brothersâ motorboat, the Sleuth, also was housed.

âSounds great, but I donât know.â Chet hesitated wistfully. âMomâs just mixing a batch of maple fudge.â

âSave it till we get backâthink of the appetite youâll work up!â Joe added with a chuckle, âThink of your waistline, too. Weâll meet you at the boathouse in twenty minutes.â

âWellâokayâas long as you donât go poking into any more mysteries.â

âNo promises, pal!â Grinning, Joe slammed down the receiver before Chet could object.

Moon-faced Chet Morton, who was much fonder of eating and relaxing than he was of dangerous adventures, was constantly bemoaning the Hardysâ habit of becoming involved in crime cases. But the stocky youth was a loyal pal and could always be depended on in a tight spot.

After calling Biff Hooper, who agreed to the trip enthusiastically, Joe dressed warmly and hurried outside. Frank was already backing their convertible out of the garage.

The Hardys drove to the boathouse on Barmet Bay. Chet and Biff were waiting for them. Biff, a muscular youth whose hobby was amateur boxing, was dancing about, attempting to persuade plump Chet to spar with him.

Chet held up his hands to fend off the blows. He grinned as Frank and Joe walked toward them. âGlad youâre here!â he exclaimed. âThis guy is trying to use me for a punching bag!â

âDo you good,â Biff rejoined. âGet you in shape!â

Frank laughed. âIf you keep this up, Cabin Island wonât be big enough for both of youâand us.â He gave them hearty slaps on the back. âLetâs get going!â

Joe opened the doors of the boathouse and led the way inside. The Sea Gull was chocked on boards which lay over the ice between the cat-walks. Suspended above it in a steel cradle was the Sleuth.

From a gear shelf the boys took iron-pointed creepers and attached them to their boots, then donned crash helmets and goggles. As they pulled the iceboat outside, the wind whipped hard at their backs. Joe tilted the brake on the outside of the hull, so that the point dug firmly into the ice.

Ten minutes later the four had fastened the long runner plank crossways under the bow, raised the mast, and set the sail. Quickly they climbed into the sternâs cockpit.

âStrap yourselves in tight,â Frank warned as he took the tiller. âThat windâs strong and the Gullâs rarinâ to go!â

He released the brake and the sleek white craft glided swiftly out into the bay, now solidly frozen except for the channel, which was kept open by the shipping lines and the Coast Guard.

Cold clear air stung the boysâ faces and they were showered with ice chips from the bow runner. They waved to friends who were skating near shore.

âWhere is Cabin Island, anyway?â Biff called to the Hardys.

âIn a cove off the bay,â Frank shouted, as he guided the Sea Gull in a swooping half circle around a hole that had been cut in the ice by a fisherman.

âEver been there before?â Chet asked, straining to get his words out against the cold air that whipped across his face.

Joe shook his head. âWeâve never tried to take our motorboat into that cove. Itâs shallow and youâd rip the hull unless you knew for sure where every rock is. But we shouldnât have any trouble now.â

Presently the iceboat swooped up the inlet. âWeâll go around for a look-see,â said Frank.

Skillfully he circled the heavily wooded island. The shoreline facing the bay dropped off in an icy cliff, but the side opposite the mainland road to Bayport sloped gradually. At the edge of the shore Frank spotted a tall pine.

âLetâs land there,â he said.

He put the speeding craft into a wide semicircle opposite the tree. The sails slackened and the iceboat slowed up, then drifted straight to the pine, where Frank put on the brake and Joe lashed the craft to the tree.

âRight on the nose,â Biff said admiringly as they clambered ashore.

The four started up the hill. Soon they glimpsed the cabin, perched in a clearing on the highest point of the island.

Joe stopped abruptly and pointed to a set of large bootprints in the light snow. âHow can anyone else be here?â he asked. âThereâs no other iceboat around, and itâd be a long, slippery walk from the mainland.â

Frank shrugged. âI doubt that the person is still here. It hasnât snowed for a week, so those prints could have been made several days ago.â

âBut they only lead upward,â Joe observed. âThere are none going back down the hill.â

âMaybe whoever he was went down another way,â Frank suggested.

The boys resumed their ascent. As they approached the cabin, a broad-shouldered figure in a plaid Mackinaw coat appeared from behind a clump of brush and strode toward them.

He was a surly-looking man in his early thirties, who walked with his neck thrust forward. His off-balance, lumbering gait amused Joe, but the manâs words were not funny.

âGet off this island!â he shouted. The Hardys were taken by surprise, but only for seconds.

âWho says?â Joe retorted.

âI say so, and Iâll show you!â came the reply as the man thrust his right hand into the Mackinawâs deep pocket. He strode closer, glaring at the foursome.

âDonât threaten us!â Biff said angrily, cocking his right fist.

âIf itâs a fight you want,â Frank said coolly, âthe odds are one to four. So donât be foolish. Besides, we have permission to be on this island.â

The hostile man hesitated, looking from face to face. âWhat makes you think I donât have permission, too?â he asked. Then the stranger made the mistake of advancing a step farther. Biff feinted with a quick left hand and sent his right fist into the manâs midriff. With an âoofâ the man sat heavily in the snow, then scrambled to his feet, muttering threats.

âAw, knock it off,â said Chet.

âWe wonât get anywhere arguing with him,â Frank said quietly. âCome on!â The boys turned and retraced their steps to the Sea Gull. Frank and Joe kept glancing back, but the hostile stranger did not follow.

Back in the iceboat, Joe said, âI wonder if Mr. Jefferson knows that man and gave him permission to come to Cabin Island.â

âI doubt it,â said Frank. âSay, maybe this has something to do with the mystery.â

âSome welcoming committee!â Chet grumbled.

Joe scowled. âHe sure was eager to chase us away. I have a hunch heâs up to no good.â

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

Suddenly Chet gasped. âLook at that iceboat! Must be a crazy man steering it!â

Heading toward 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.

âWow! Thatâs a tall hike!â exclaimed Frank.

âHeâll capsize!â Biff cried out. Just then the pilot let go the sheet and the runner came down hard, spattering ice.

Joe groaned. âAnybody who gives a boat that slam-bang treatment doesnât deserve to own one.â

An instant later the other craft streaked straight for the Sea Gull.

Frank looked grim. âWeâre in trouble,â he said. âThatâs the Hawk!â

The Hawk was owned by two belligerent youths, Tad Carson and Ike Nash, who had been in the Hardysâ 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.

âIke is steering,â Joe observed. âHeâs even more dangerous on the ice than he is on the road.â

âIf he doesnât change his course, heâll hit us!â Chet said.

Frank set his jaw. âIf Ike wonât turn, I will.â He bore down on the tiller and swung out of the Hawkâs path.

A second later the bigger craft also changed course. It was hurtling toward the Sea Gull, gaining momentum every second!

âThey mean to run us down!â Biff shouted.

âOr else they just want to scare us,â 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 Ikeâs and Tadâs faces. In another few seconds the Hawk would crash into the Sea Gull.

Suddenly Ikeâs 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 maneuver had caused the Hawkâs 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!

CHAPTER II

An Angry Caller

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

The Hawk zoomed past in such a violent rush of wind that Frank thought his craft would surely turn over. But he kept a firm hold on the tiller and Joe eased the sheet. Slowly the craft pulled out of the tall hike and Frank was able to slow to a stop.

For a moment no one spoke. The boys stared at one another, numb with relief. Then Joe glanced over his shoulder and exclaimed, âTheyâve piled up!â

âServes them right,â Biff declared. âThey might have killed us all.â

âStill, weâd better go over and see if theyâre badly injured,â Frank said.

The four got out of the Sea Gull and made their way across the ice to the troublemakers, who were surveying the Hawkâs broken mast.

Ike Nash limped toward the Sea Gullâs crew, his eyes blazing. âYou jerks are going to pay for this damage!â he shouted. âBesides, Iâll have to see a doctor about my ankle. Itâs probably broken. Youâll get all the bills, thatâs for sure!â

âIt was your fault,â Joe declared. âAnd if your ankle were broken, Ike, you couldnât walk.â

âSave that stuff!â Tad snapped back. âIf we wanted to hear a lecture, weâd have stayed in school!â

Biff turned away in disgust. âWe canât tell these idiots a thing,â he muttered. âLetâs go!â

âWe may as well,â Joe agreed. âNobodyâs seriously hurt, so they can make their own way to shore.â

The Hardys and their pals headed back for the Sea Gull, ignoring the threats and angry remarks the bullies shouted after them.

âLetâs go home,â Chet said. âItâs almost sup pertime, and man, Iâm starved!â

The four boarded the craft and sped on toward Bayport. Frankâs face wore a thoughtful frown as they glided over the ice.

âWhatâs the matter?â Joe shouted above the wind. âNot worried about those two blowhards back there, are you?â

Frank shook his head. âNo, just thinking about that fellow in the Mackinaw. Iâd sure like to know who he is and what heâs doing on Cabin Island.â

âSame here.â Joe was about to suggest that the quarrelsome stranger might have something to do with the mystery promised by Elroy Jefferson. But, smothering a grin, Joe decided he had better not alarm Chet unnecessarily!

The stout youth almost seemed to read Joeâs mind. âI just hope that tough guy isnât around to make trouble if weâre going to be spending Christmas vacation on the island,â Chet muttered.

âDonât worry. If he tries anything, we can handle him,â Biff said confidently.

Reaching Bayport harbor, they stowed the Sea Gull in the boathouse. Frank locked up and the boys climbed into the Hardysâ convertible.

On the way to the farm where Chet lived on the outskirts of Bayport, Joe suggested, âWhy not pack our supplies for the trip into the Sea Gull the night before we leave? Then weâll be able to get a quick start.â

âBut thatâs Christmas Day!â Biff objected. âWeâll want to be home.â

âTrue. How about tomorrow?â Frank asked. âWe could pack in the afternoon, in plenty of time for Christmas Eve.â This suggestion was agreed upon.

âWhat shall we bring?â Chet inquired.

âOh, sleeping bags, extra blankets, snowshoes âthat sort of thing,â Joe replied.

âAnd flashlights!â Frank added. âMr. Jefferson did tell me the cabin is primitiveâno electricity, no running water. Weâll be roughing it.â

âI was thinking of the meals,â Chet persisted. âWhoâs in charge of food?â

Frank grinned. âYou! But weâll all bring some.â

âSounds fine to me,â said Biff, and the others nodded assent.

As they pulled up in front of the Mortonsâ farmhouse, Chet asked, âWhat time do we meet tomorrow to pack the Sea Gull?â

âAbout four oâclock,â Joe suggested. âFrank and I ought to be back from our visit with Mr. Jefferson by then.â

âOkay. See you!â

The Hardys next drove Biff to his house. As they headed for their own home, Joe said, âI canât wait to know the details of Mr. Jeffersonâs mystery! Havenât you any idea what itâs about?â

Frank shook his head. The brothers had become fascinated with detective work at an early age, because their father, Fenton Hardy, was a private investigator whose skill had won him fame all over the country.

Mr. Hardy frequently praised Frank and Joe for their ability to recognize significant clues and to make intelligent deductions. The boys had solved their first mystery when they had discovered The Tower Treasure, and, more recently, had uncovered The Secret of the Caves after a series of spine-chilling adventures on a lonely part of the Atlantic coast.

The boys went into the house and found Mr. and Mrs. Hardy in the living room. After greeting their parents, Frank said, âIâm afraid Joe and I have a confession. Weâve made some vacation plans without consulting you.â

âI guess we got excited and forgot,â Joe admitted. âBut it all happened this afternoon.â

Tall, muscular Fenton Hardy, his eyes twinkling, winked at his slender, attractive wife. âLaura, do you have the same hunch I do?â

Mrs. Hardy smiled ruefully. âAnother mystery. Am I right, boys?â

âYes. But we donât know what kind yet,â Frank replied.

The brothers took turns telling of Mr. Jeffersonâs offer. When they had finished, Mr. Hardy said, âI think the trip is a reward you deserve.â

âThen itâs okay, DadâMother?â Joe asked.

âAll right. But I do hope there wonât be any danger.â

âWeâll be careful,â Frank assured her.

âWell,â Mrs. Hardy said, âIâll have to make a trip to the market for your food supplies.â

âYouâll have to take a truck to bring home all that food!â exclaimed a tart voice from the doorway. The boysâ Aunt Gertrude entered the living room and added, âI know what it is to feed Chet Morton.â She sniffed. âI only hope all you boys wonât catch your death of cold!â

Aunt Gertrude was Fenton Hardyâs unmarried sister, a tall, angular woman who often made long visits with the family. She liked to affect strictness, and it provoked her that she often found herself smiling when she had intended to be stern with her nephews.

Underneath her peppery manner, Miss Hardy held a deep affection for the boys. She also was interested in their sleuthing, although always predicting dire results.

Joe could not resist teasing her. âNow, Aunty, how about you coming along as our cook?â

âHumph,â Miss Hardy mumbled, and hastened to the kitchen.

Soon after supper Frank and Joe excused themselves and went upstairs to pack. âWe may as well stow everything aboard the Sea Gull tomorrow except the food,â Frank said. âThat should give us an early start Saturday.â

The boys stuffed their clothes and gear into duffle bags. Next morning everything was placed in the trunk of the convertible.

Shortly after lunch Frank and Joe drove to the Jefferson home, a large colonial dwelling on Shore Road. A housekeeper answered their knock, took their coats, and asked the visitors to be seated in the spacious front hall.

âMr. Jefferson is busy,â the woman said. âHe will be with you shortly.â

After the housekeeper had left, Joe exclaimed in a low voice, âMother and Aunt Gertrude would sure go for this place! Look at that fancy carved table and gilded work. And those paintings on the walls! The whole house must be furnished in antiques.â

âI think it is,â Frank told him. âIâve heard that Mr. Jefferson has a large collection. In fact, heâs regarded as an expert on antiques.â

Suddenly the boys stopped talking. Loud voices came from the living room adjoining the hall. The Hardys exchanged quizzical glances.

âWonder whatâs going on?â Joe muttered.

âTrouble, from the sound of it,â Frank replied.

The speakers seemed to be growing angrier with every sentence. Soon their words were clearly audible.

âI donât understand, Mr. Jefferson, why you wonât sell. Youâll regret this!â

âCabin Island is not for sale, and that is final, Mr. Hanleigh. Now, please leave my home!â

The first voice snapped back, âYou havenât heard the last from me!â

Startled, the Hardys stood up. At the same instant a large man stomped into the hall. Frank and Joe were nearly elbowed aside by the angry caller as he strode toward his coat, which was lying on a chair.

The boys nudged each other in excitement. It was the belligerent young man who had chased them off Cabin Island!

As he shrugged violently into his coat, his eyes fell on Frank and Joe. âYou two again!â he shouted, glaring at the boys. âKeep out of my way!â

Then he flung open the door and was gone.

CHAPTER III

Missing Grandson

âGOOD afternoon, boys.â An elderly man, tall and thin, with shining white hair, stepped into the hall. âIâm sorry to keep you waiting, and also to subject you to Mr. Hanleighâs bad manners.â

âOh, we donât mind,â Frank said, shaking hands, and added, âIâd like to introduce my brother Joe.â

âHow do you do, Joe? Boys, I overheard what Mr. Hanleigh said to you a moment ago. Whatever did he mean?â

âAfter you offered us your cabin,â Frank explained, âJoe and I were eager to look at Cabin Island, so we went over. Mr. Hanleigh was there and ordered us to leave.â

Mr Jeffersonâs smile disappeared and deeper wrinkles formed in his face. He said somberly, âCome in and sit down in the living room. Weâll talk more about this.â

Frank and Joe followed their host into a large room, richly furnished with antiques. Heavy, wine-red draperies muted the afternoon sunlight, and a miniature crystal chandelier sparkled at either side of a marble fireplace.

Mr. Jefferson motioned the Hardys to be seated in velour-upholstered chairs and went on, âIf that fellow Hanleigh shows up while you are staying on the island, youâre to chase him off at once!â

âThen you didnât know Mr. Hanleigh was on your island?â Frank asked.

âNo, indeed,â Mr. Jefferson replied vehemently. âMr. Hanleigh lives some distance from Bayport. He has come here repeatedly, insisting that I sell Cabin Island to him, but I have refused. Unfortunately, the man is persistent.â

âI imagine the island is fairly valuable,â Frank commented.

âIt is,â the elderly man admitted. âBut it is not worth as much as the price Hanleigh offers. Besides, the place means more to me than money. My wife and I spent many happy vacations in that cabin with our orphaned grandson, Johnny âmy sonâs boy. And nowââ He sighed. âMrs. Jefferson has passed away.â

âWeâre very sorry,â said Joe, then added, âItâs really great of you to invite us to vacation on Cabin Island.â

âNot at all,â the old man assured him. âI canât thank you sufficiently for saving my automobile from those thieves. You boys have a great deal of courage.â

The Hardys looked embarrassed, and Frank replied, âWe enjoyed the case. Joe and I seem to thrive on excitement.â

Mr. Jeffersonâs smile changed to an expression of disapproval. âIâm surprised your parents permit you to pursue criminals, however much you appear toâerâthrive on danger,â he declared. âIâd never allow my grandson to do such a thing, although he, too, is fascinated by mysterious crimes.â

The elderly manâs sudden criticism made the Hardys a little uncomfortable. Frank changed the subject and said quickly, âIâd like to hear more about Cabin Island, Mr. Jefferson. We werenât there long enough to see much.â

Their host relaxed as he spoke of his property. âThe cabin itself is well built and cozy, as long as there are logs on the fire. Youâll find a good supply of wood in the shed at the back of the cabin. Use all you need.â

âI suppose we cook with wood?â Joe inquired.

âOh, yes!â Mr. Jefferson declared with gusto. âThe kitchen is warm as toast when the old cookstove is fired up! My wife and I talked of modernizing, but we liked things the way they were, and decided not to. Incidentally, youâll find all the cooking utensils youâll need.â

âThatâs good,â Frank said. He hesitated before adding, âMr. Jefferson, may we invite two of our friends to join us?â

âAll the better,â the old man said with enthusiasm. âThe place is large enough. It has two bedrooms, each with a pair of cots. By the way, how did you fellows get to the island?â

âWe have an iceboat,â Joe explained.

Mr. Jefferson frowned. âIceboats are too risky for youngsters. My Johnny always wanted one, but of course I refused him. Prudence is what young people lack. If my Johnny had learned prudence, things wouldnât be as they are now.â

Frank and Joe exchanged quick glances, sensing that the mystery was about to be revealed.

The old man sighed and passed his hands over his eyes. In a low voice he added, âMy Johnny has disappeared!â

The Hardys were both shocked and sympathetic. âThatâs terrible!â Joe exclaimed, then asked, âHow old is Johnny?â

âFifteen, but heâs a big boy. Youâd take him for older.â

âHow long has your grandson been missing?â Frank questioned.

âWhen I returned from Europe recently,â Mr. Jefferson replied, âmy housekeeper reported that Johnny had left school two weeks before.â

âWas he living away from home?â Joe inquired.

âYes. Iâve always sent him to boarding school, thinking heâd be safe and in good company. At first I expected that Johnny would return to school, but the headmaster has not heard a word from him.â

âHave you, Mr. Jefferson?â Frank asked.

âYes, recently I received a letter from Johnny, saying that he was on a secret mission. The letter was postmarked Dallas, Texas, but the detectives I retain found no clues to him there.â

âHave you any idea what he meant by a secret mission?â Frank queried.

âNot the slightest.â

âHave you reported Johnnyâs disappearance to the police?â Joe asked.

âOnly the harbor police. My detectives advised me to give the matter as little publicity as possible. And of course I am positive there has been no criminal act. Thatâs why I felt this mystery would be feasible for you boys to work on. There are no dangerous individuals involved.â

âMr. Jefferson, you surely donât want us to delay the search for Johnny,â Frank said. âWeâll postpone our vacation on Cabin Island.â

âNo, I suggest that you go to Cabin Island because I have a strong feeling it may take a boy to find a boy. Johnny loved the place, and knows every nook and cranny of it well.â

Joe nodded. âSounds like a good spot to start.â

Frank asked, âThe detectives you mentioned âdo they work for you all the time?â

âYes, I have engaged these two private investigators for quite a while, but for a different reason. They are searching for a priceless collection of antique medals which were stolen from my wall safe two years ago.â

âAthletic medals?â Joe asked.

âOh, no. These were commemorative medals from many lands, made by the worldâs finest craftsmen. They had been presented by kings and potentates to those who had served with greatness in war and peace.â

âAn odd hobby,â Frank commented.

âAnd expensive. Thatâs why Iâm still continuing the search privately. The police have all but given up.â

Upon further questioning by Frank and Joe, Mr. Jefferson revealed that his collection comprised twelve medals, kept in a handsome rosewood box. âAnd when you open it, what a dazzling sight!â the man went on. âSome are set with gems, which sparkle in the burnished metal. And apart from their great beauty, what stories behind each of those medals!â He sighed deeply.

Joe asked, âCould they have been fenced somewhereâsold to a disreputable coin dealer?â

âI think not,â came the reply. âMy collection was so famous, any dealer would recognize the pieces.â He added that all the important dealers knew about the theft.

The Hardys were more fascinated than ever. âDid anything else unusual happen at the time your medals were taken, Mr. Jefferson?â Frank asked.

âAmazing. How did you guess? As a matter of fact, something odd did occur then. One of my servants, the housemanâJohn Paul Sparewellâdropped out of sight and nothing has been heard of him since.â

âQuite a coincidence,â Joe said. âYou think Sparewell may be the thief?â

âI donât like to suspect anyone without proof,â Mr. Jefferson replied. âBut at this point, the detectives and I feel that he probably is. Indeed, itâs a most baffling crime. However, you boys arenât to concern yourselves with it.â

âBut there may be some connection between the missing medals and your grandsonâs disappearance,â Frank suggested.

âThe only connection is Johnnyâs silly notions,â Mr. Jefferson asserted. âI suppose it was because he heard the detectives discussing the theft of the medals so often at the house here. The boy began to think he could solve the mystery, and started seeing clues everywhere. Ridiculous.â

âThen Johnny may be working on the case right now!â Joe exclaimed. âPerhaps thatâs his secret mission.â

âYou could be right.â Mr. Jefferson looked despondent. âAnd who knows what harm may come to him! Johnny can be stubborn. When he sets his mind on something, he doesnât give up easily.â

The old man sighed wearily and the Hardys felt that further questions might be unwise.

âWe must get back now,â Frank announced. âThanks again for your invitation, Mr. Jefferson.â

Their host smiled wanly, crossed the room, and opened the drawer of a small, ornate table. From it he took a key which he handed to Frank. âHave a fine vacation, all of you!â

âWeâll do our best to find Johnny,â Joe added, âand let you know of our progress.â

They all shook hands, then the boys retrieved their overcoats and said good-by.

As the brothers drove away from the Jefferson home, Joe turned to Frank, his eyes gleaming with excitement. âA big assignment!â he declared.

âJust the kind we like!â Frank grinned. âOne thing I have a hunch aboutâJohnny is not in Texas! At least, not now. If he doesnât want to be found, heâd never let on where he really is.â

âYouâre probably right,â Joe conceded. âWow! I wish it were the day after Christmas!â

Frank drove silently for a few minutes, seemingly intent on threading his way through the pre-holiday traffic. But Joe guessed from his brotherâs expression that the mystery was in Frankâs thoughts.

âGive you a penny for âem,â Joe said with a grin.

Frank smiled. âIâve been thinking about Mr. Jeffersonâs idea that there are no dangerous individuals involved in this case. I donât agree.â

âWhy not?â

âJoe, two years ago a man disappeared, probably because of those medals. Now a boy who was interested in them is gone. Then Hanleigh turns up, trying to force Mr. Jefferson to sell the island.â

âI see what you mean. Sounds like the old case is still plenty hot.â

Frank nodded. âAnd with a priceless treasure at stake, weâd better watch out for danger.â

CHAPTER IV

A Christmas Visitor

As the Hardys drove on toward the bay area, they continued to discuss the missing boy.

âMr. Jefferson appears to be very strict with his grandson,â Joe observed. âIâm not surprised that Johnny wanted to go off and prove heâs old enough to be on his own.â

Frank frowned. âCould be. But heâs also old enough to realize fully the grief heâs causing his grandfather.â

Upon reaching their boathouse, Frank parked behind a green sedan which the Hardys recognized as belonging to the Hoopers. Biff and Chet hopped out to greet their pals.

Joe and Biff unlocked both car trunks, and they all looked over the gear each had brought. âItâll take some engineering to stow all this on the Sea Gull,â Joe said with a groan.

âAnd donât forget, we have to leave some space for food,â Chet reminded him.

Biff scratched his head. âItâs all necessary, including my snowshoes. Chet has his, too.â

âYouâre lucky,â Frank replied. âOurs gave out last winter and we havenât had the money to get new ones.â

The four boys hauled their gear into the boathouse. The streamlined hull of the Sea Gull had been designed with plenty of space for cargo. Nevertheless, they repacked it three times before they found places for everything. When they had finished, there remained only a few niches for boxes of food.

âThat took at least an hour!â Biff exclaimed. âWeâd better get going.â

Joe locked the boathouse. The friends wished one another a Merry Christmas, and Frank called out, âSee you Saturday!â

At dinner Frank and Joe told their family about Mr. Jeffersonâs mysteries. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude expressed concern about Johnny and hoped the missing boy would be found soon.

Frank and Joe went upstairs early in the evening to wrap their gifts before going to bed. In the morning the brothers awakened soon after the sun was up.

âMerry Christmas!â Joe called.

âSame to you!â Frank shouted as he leaped out of bed. The boys dressed and ran downstairs.

âI can smell the turkey roasting already!â Joe exclaimed as he reached the bottom step.

Aunt Gertrude bustled out of the kitchen and scolded cheerfully, âI should hope you do! That gobbler weighs thirty pounds! Now, Iâve made pancakes and sausage, and I want you both to eat properly before the confusion begins. Oh, Merry Christmas!â

The boys ate the tasty breakfast with zest.

Mrs. Hardy looked at her sons. âMr. Jefferson was so kind to make your outing possible,â she mused, âitâs sad to think of him being alone on Christmas. Why donât we invite him to join us at dinner?â

Joe grinned and said, âMother, thatâs a great idea!â

âIâll phone him!â Frank hurried off to make the call.

He returned shortly to announce that Mr. Jefferson had accepted the invitation. âI said Joe and I would pick him up on our way back from church.â

âNow for our presents!â Joe urged impatiently.

The Hardys went into the living room where the lights and ornaments shone brilliantly on the tall balsam. The boys were thrilled to discover that their mother had bought each of them a pair of snowshoes. Mr. Hardy gave his sons a self-developing camera.

The brothers were overjoyed. âItâs terrific! But whatâs this?â Joe asked, holding up an object that resembled a gunstock.

His father explained that the attachment was a gun-type mounting to use in conjunction with the cameraâs high-powered telescopic lens. âYou should find it very useful for long-range shots,â he added. âA number of private investigators have purchased them.â

âThanks!â they chorused, and Frank added, âWeâll take it to Cabin Island.â

From her sons Mrs. Hardy received a colorful skirt and blouse set, Mr. Hardy was the happy recipient of handmade doeskin slippers, and Aunt Gertrude beamed over a tan cardigan sweater presented by her nephews.

As for Frank and Joe, they were amused to discover that each had given the other a handsome leather watchband. âI thought youâd like it, because it appealed to me,â Joe explained.

âSame here,â Frank replied.

âTime for you to open my presents,â said Aunt Gertrude as she handed each nephew a brightly wrapped package. âNow you wonât catch your death of cold on this foolish winter vacation!â

Joe opened his box first and drew out a pair of full-length red ski underwear! âWellâuhâthanks!â he managed to blurt out.

Frankâs gift was a duplicate. âAunty, I canât wait to wear this!â he said, grinning. He unbuttoned the bright crimson suit and pulled it on over his clothes. Joe did the same, and the boys clowned until even Aunt Gertrude was laughing hard.

When Frank and Joe drove up to the Jefferson home later, the elderly man greeted them with âMerry Christmas, boys!â But there was an agitated ring in his voice.

âHas anything happened, Mr. Jefferson?â Frank asked quickly.

The reply was startling. âThis morning I found a package on the doorstep. Itâs a present from Johnny.â The old man held up the gift card bearing his grandsonâs name. âThis is Johnnyâs printing.â

The Hardys were astounded. âIs there any clue to where it came from?â Joe asked.

âThereâs no postmark, so the package wasnât mailed,â Mr. Jefferson answered, âand none of my neighbors lives close enough to have seen the person who left it, but there is a clue in the gift itself.â

From the hall table he took a round box and opened it.

âA can of plum pudding!â exclaimed Joe.

âMy favorite dessert,â said Mr. Jefferson. âBut this is the significant thing,â he added, pointing to a cluster of fir cones tied clumsily onto the can with red ribbon. âThese are blue spruce cones and Cabin Island has many trees of that variety. More than ever, I feel sure my boy isâor wasâthere.â

âPerhaps your housekeeper could tell us when and how the parcel was delivered,â Frank suggested.

âNo,â Mr. Jefferson replied. âMrs. Morley is away on a weekâs vacation.â

Mr. Jefferson donned his coat and locked the house. Then the three got into the car and Frank started for home. On the way he tried to reassure the distraught man. âPerhaps the gift is a sign that Johnny plans to come home soon. He probably wanted to get back into your good graces before returning.â

Mr. Jefferson frowned. âThat boy wonât be back as long as he has the detective bug.â

Mr. and Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude welcomed their guest warmly, and he soon appeared to relax and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

By the time Frank and Joe drove their visitor home that evening, he was smiling. As Frank brought the convertible to a stop in front of the Jefferson house, Joe said, âSir, I have a strong feeling that Johnny is in this area. Will you describe him in detail?â

âIâll do better than that. Come into the house and Iâll give you a recent snapshot.â

The Hardy boys followed Mr. Jefferson up the walk. He unlocked the door, stepped into the hall, turned on the light, then cried out in alarm.

Frank and Joe gasped. Furniture had been overturned and drawers hung open, their contents scrambled and strewn about the floor. The antique wall ornaments had been ruthlessly torn down.

The three hurried into the living room. It, too, was completely disordered. The thick rug was littered with articles that had been in drawers or displayed on shelves. The rich red draperies hung at crazy angles, and one of the crystal chandeliers had been shattered.

Mr. Jeffersonâs face was white and his hands trembled. Frank suggested anxiously, âYouâd better sit down, sir. Joe and I will see if the person who did this is still on the premises.â

âNo, Iâll be all right. I have some valuable antiques I must check on immediately. You boys look about.â

The Hardys soon discovered that entry had been made by jimmying the rear door. They made a thorough tour of the house and circled the grounds. Although the moon shone brilliantly, the young sleuths could find no clue to the marauder.

âThere isnât even a footprint.â Joe sighed as he and Frank entered the house again. âWhoever it was evidently went right around the sidewalk to the back!â

Mr. Jefferson reported that nothing was missing, although many valuable objects had been broken. He handed Frank a snapshot of a tall, well-built boy. âHere is the picture of Johnny.â

Frank placed the photograph in his wallet. âYou had better report this damage to the police, Mr. Jefferson,â he advised.

When the elderly man left the room to telephone, Joe murmured, âI know it sounds crazy, butâdo you think Johnny is mixed up in this?â

âNo,â Frank replied promptly, âI canât believe heâs that kind.â

A short time later Lieutenant Daley of the Bayport Police Department arrived. He inspected the damage, took fingerprints, and then questioned the Hardys and Mr. Jefferson. The officer left, saying headquarters would notify them if any clues to the vandal turned up.

The brothers went to bed as soon as they had told their father about the incident. âWeâd better get to sleep pronto if weâre going to start early tomorrow,â Joe said.

The boysâ alarm clock rang just as the sun was rising. Frank and Joe dressed, ate a quick breakfast and gathered their supplies, among which were the Christmas gifts they had received.

Chet and Biff were waiting outside the Hardysâ boathouse when the brothers drove up. âHey!â Joe exclaimed as he and Frank hopped out to meet them. âWhatâs all that?â He pointed to a pile of packages on the ground.

âOur Christmas presents!â Biff replied.

âI got super binoculars,â Chet crowed. âAnd look! A portable ultraviolet light for identifying rocks and minerals.â

âHow about this?â Biff broke in, holding up a large box. âBarbells! I have the weights, too. And-â

âFellows!â Frank interrupted. âWeâll never fit all this stuff onto the Sea Gull!â

âI see you and Joe brought some of your Christmas loot,â Chet grumbled.

âOnly whatâs really needed,â Frank insisted. âSnowshoes and a camera. Chet, your binoculars will be great! The rest will have to stay in Bayport.â

Biff and Chet gave in grudgingly. âMy father drove us here,â said Biff. âBut youâll have to drive us back to drop these things off.â

âSure. First letâs put the food in the Sea Gull,â Frank said. The boys did so, then Joe locked the boathouse. The four went off in the convertible and the extra items were returned to the Morton and Hooper homes.

As Frank once more reached the bayfront parking area, a startled expression crossed his face. âDidnât you lock up before we left?â he asked Joe.

âSure I did!â Joe gulped. All four boys stared in disbelief at the area between the parked cars and the Hardysâ boathouse.

Their supplies which had been stowed in the Sea Gull were scattered in all directions over the ground!

CHAPTER V

Two Suspects

STUNNED, the boys could only stare at one another. Frank turned to Joe and declared, âThis reminds me of the damage at Mr. Jeffersonâs place last night!â

âItâs too similar to be just coincidence,â Joe agreed. âAnd yet, I canât think of any logical connection between the two break-ins. Whoâs our suspect, in either case?â

âWhat are you two talking about?â Chet asked impatiently.

Joe quickly told of the incident at Mr. Jeffersonâs house.

âGood night! That sounds a lot worse than this mess,â said Chet. âWhoâd do such a thing?â

âSearch me.â Joe frowned thoughtfully. âMaybe someone who wants revenge on Mr. Jefferson ransacked his houseâthen found out Frank and I are going to work on his mystery, so the same creep did this to spite us.â

âBut who?â Chet persisted uneasily.

âWhat about the wise guy we met on Cabin Island?â Biff put in. âThe one who tried to get tough.â

Joe shrugged and threw a glance at his brother. âAny hunches, Frank?â

Frank nodded. âIâve been wondering about that big fellow myself. We found out his name, by the wayâitâs Hanleigh. Heâs been trying to buy the island from Mr. Jefferson.â

Suddenly Joe gave a start. âSay! We ought to check the boathouse! Maybeââ He stopped in midsentence and sprinted off. The others followed, catching up to Joe as he unlocked the door and stepped inside.

A chorus of groans came from the boys as they looked from the broken single window to the iceboat. The sail lay unfurled on the floor and had been slashed. It was completely useless!

âIâd like to get my hands on the skunk who did this!â Biff stormed angrily.

Joe was furious. âSome nerveâsmashing his way in!â

Just then a voice spoke from the doorway. âHi, fellows! Whatâs going on?â

The four turned to see their friend Tony Prito. Tony, a slender, dark-haired youth of Italian descent, stared at the damage with astonishment in his black eyes.

âHi, Tony,â Joe said dejectedly. âWe were gone for a short time and just got back to find this mess!â

Tony shook his head. âTough break! I heard about your trip and came down to see you off.â

âAny chance you could join us?â Frank asked. âWeâd be glad to sail back for you.â

âNo, but thanks,â Tony replied. âI promised Dad Iâd help him out during Christmas vacation and drive one of the trucks.â Mr. Prito was a busy building contractor in Bayport.

Despite the unpleasant situation, Chet could not resist a joke. âWhatâs going on in construction this time of year? You building an igloo?â

The others chuckled, and Tony said, âWhen I pulled up in Dadâs truck, I noticed Ike Nash and Tad Carson running down the road from here.â

âIke and Tad again!â Joe exclaimed.

The Hardysâ minds filled with questions. Were Ike and Tad the malicious visitors? Did they seek revenge for the damage to the Hawk by disabling the Hardysâ iceboat? Or was there a more sinister motive?

âTheyâre not going to stop us,â Joe said deter minedly. âCome on! Weâll just have to stow all our gear onto the Gull again.â

âAnd we need to make repairs,â Frank added. âChet and Biff, will you take our car and pick up the spare sail in our garage? In the meantime, Joe and I will repack.â

âRight,â Chet agreed, taking the ignition key which Frank handed him.

âOn the way,â Joe put in, âwhy not buy us four police whistles? We may need them for signaling on the island.â

âAnd weâd better replace that windowpane,â Frank said.

âDonât worry about the glass,â Tony said. âI have some spare in the truck. Iâll fix the window.â

Frank and Joe resumed packing the Sea Gull, while Tony worked on the boathouse window.

As Frank arranged the supplies, he noticed that the seat belts had been cut.

âThatâs tough,â said Joe. âWe have no spares.â

The boys worked in silence for a while. Then Frank said, âJoe, this case troubles me. I canât help wondering if there may be something more behind Johnny Jeffersonâs disappearance than his grandfather suspects.â

Joe glanced at his brother keenly. âWhat do you mean? Do you have a theory?â

âNo, not yet. But if Johnny is on Cabin Island âor has been thereâhis disappearance may be tied in somehow with Hanleighâs desire to buy the place.â

âCould be,â Joe conceded. âPersonally, Iâd like to get a line on Ike and Tad. I have a feeling those guys are up to something besides getting even with usâbut donât ask me what.â

When the Hardys had finished stowing everything aboard the Sea Gull, Tony was picking out the last bits of jagged glass from the window frame. Joe helped him install the new pane, and the Hardys reimbursed their friend for the glass.

âIâd better go now,â Tony said. âIâm due to meet Dad on a job. Have a swell time!â

âYou bet. Thanks for pitching in,â said Frank. Presently he turned to Joe. âI have a hunch that weâll find a lot of answers to the mystery at Cabin Island.â

âYes, if we ever get there!â Joe grumbled impatiently. âOne more delay and thisâll be a spring vacation!â

Frank grinned. âI think weâre in business. Here come Chet and Biff with the spare sail!â

The boys put on creepers and took the Sea Gull outside, where they began replacing the torn sail. They worked dexterously, though their hands grew red and numb from the cold.

âThis is a rough job,â Biff said grimly.

âIt wouldnât be so bad,â Frank replied, âbut some of the riggingâs been slashed, too.â Joe brought a coil of rope from the boathouse and helped his brother repair the damage. Then they reinforced the ruined seat belts with rope.

âNot only did those troublemakers delay us, theyâve made me wait overtime for my lunch!â Chet complained. âHey! Was any of the food stolen?â

Frank laughed. âAs far as we can tell, Chet, every morsel is intact! Evidently Ike and Tad arenât thieves or gluttons.â

âThatâs the best you can say for them,â Biff said scornfully.

âWell, weâre set for some hard-water sailing!â Joe announced.

The Hardys replaced their tools in a kit. They made sure that the convertible and the boathouse doors were locked. Then the four put on goggles and helmets. Frank took his place at the tiller while Chet and Biff climbed aboard. Joe shoved the Sea Gull before him with short, running steps until the sail caught the wind.

âWow! Some load!â he gasped, jumping in beside Frank.

âFull speed ahead for Cabin Island!â Chet cried out. âIâm starving!â

The Sea Gull swooped downwind near the shore of Barmet Bay. It was a clear, sharp day, and the sparkling sun made the ice gleam like glass.

As the boat passed through the narrow inlet and glided toward Cabin Island, Chet chortled. âIâd like to see Hanleigh try to throw us out this time! We have the key!â

âAnyone who causes troubleâlet me at him!â Biff sang out gaily.

But Frank looked grave. He pointed to the pine tree where they had parked the Sea Gull on their first visit.

An iceboat was outlined against the dark evergreens. âThe Hawk!â

âItâs been repaired,â Frank observed.

âAnd ready for more trouble!â Joe groaned.

CHAPTER VI

Troublesome Trio

FRANK eased the tiller over and made a deft 90-degree turn to port. As the Sea Gull passed the Hawk, the boys noted that there was no one in the vicinity.

âMaybe Ike and Tad are hiding,â Chet suggested.

âCould be,â said Frank. âIâll circle the island and find a more secluded place to tie up.â

Joe nodded. âThen we can try to find out whatâs going on without being seen.â

Chet and Biff were disgruntled. âWhat are that grubby pair doing on Cabin Island, anyway?â Biff asked.

Frank frowned thoughtfully. âMaybe Ike and Tad have some connection with Hanleigh.â

Joe nodded. âPerhaps they taxi him to the island whenever he wants to come.â

âThatâs right,â Biff agreed. âLast time we were here we wondered how Hanleigh made it without a boat.â

âYes, and he mightâve been behind their trick on us at the boathouse,â Joe said. âI canât figure out, though, how they knew we were heading for Cabin Island today.â

Biff grinned. âOne more puzzle for us to work on. I have a feeling that the mystery is getting hotter by the minute!â

Presently Frank slowed the Sea Gull toward a spot on the islandâs shore where a thick growth of pines and evergreen bushes would conceal the iceboat. Then he braked and Joe slackened the sail.

The boys got out and trudged up a slope toward the rear of the cabin. Their footsteps crunched crisply in the snow, but the four Bayporters were careful to keep their voices down.

Suddenly Joe stopped and pointed toward a clearing on the right. âLook! Footprints!â

A line of tracks could be seen all the way to the cabin. Whoever had made them had evidently come up through the clearing from some point along the shore below. Trees farther down the slope, however, blocked the boysâ view.

âMaybe Ike or Tad,â Chet suggested.

âOr Hanleigh himself,â Joe said quietly. âWhoever he is, he must have come here on the Hawk.â

âProbably,â Frank agreed. âLetâs make sure, though, before we tackle him. We can backtrack on the prints and find out if anyone came with him.â

âGood idea,â said Joe.

With Frank leading, the companions followed the footprints downward to a small, windowless boathouse about a hundred yards from the Sea Gull.

Nearing the building, Frank motioned for silence. Voices could be heard from inside.

The four boys crept closer and soon every word sounded clearly. The speakers were Tad Carson and Ike Nash!

âHanleigh is sure paying us a lot,â Ike was saying. âIâd like to find out what for.â

âWho cares, as long as we get our money?â Tad responded lazily.

âLookâfigure it out. All weâre doing is giving him a boat ride now and then.â

âSo maybe Hanleigh likes our company.â

Ike was evidently becoming impatient with his partnerâs indifference. âIf he likes us so much, why does he make us freeze in this boathouse while heâs inside the cabin? Iâd like to sneak up there and see what cooks.â

âYou worry too much, pal,â Tad drawled. âWe bring him here, we get our money. Itâs simple.â

âWell, stop being simple and maybe weâll learn whatâs so valuable that Hanleighâs after!â Nash exploded. âWe can cash in even more on this deal if we play it right!â

Now his buddy sounded annoyed. âTo me, play it right means follow Hanleighâs orders. Trip up the Hardsy, stay in the boathouse, donât ask questions.â

âYouâll do what I say,â Ike threatened harshly, â-or else!â

âOkay, cool off,â was the quick reply. âHave it your way.â

The Hardys and their pals were excited. So Tad Carson and Ike Nash were working for Hanleigh. That was why they had slashed the Sea Gullâs sails!

Frank beckoned the others away from the boathouse. When the four were out of earshot of the troublemakers, he urged, âWeâll deal with those two later. Letâs go up to the cabin and see what Hanleighâs doing!â

âRight!â Biff declared fiercely. âAnd if that guy gives us trouble, just let me handle him!â

âEasy, Biff,â Frank cautioned. âWeâll never learn anything if we tangle with him.â

Quietly the boys climbed the tree-covered slope. At the edge of the woods they stopped and peered at the cabin. Stealthily the quartet moved to a window and looked into the long living room at the front of the building.

Hanleigh stood with his back to the boys, facing a huge stone fireplace. He held a measuring tape and was apparently determining the dimensions of various sections of the stone chimney. Frequently he paused to write in a small notebook.

The big man began to pace back and forth, then stood still. By the motions of his right forefinger, the watchers could tell that he was counting the stones in the height and width of the fireplace, mantel, and chimney. Finally he got down on hands and knees and explored the interior of the fireplace.

Once Hanleigh shook his head as if baffled. The boys were so intrigued, they unconsciously crowded closer to the window until their faces were pressed against the pane.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew open the door of the cabin, which Hanleigh evidently had left ajar. Startled, the man leaped to his feet and whirled around. He glanced toward the door, then gave a shout of consternation, glimpsing the boys a second before they ducked out of view.

Hanleigh strode across the room and rushed outside. âHold your ground!â Frank advised his companions. âDonât let him bluff us.â

The intruder was red with wrath as he confronted the boys. âCanât you pests mind your own business?â he snarled. âI told you to stay off this island!â

âSo you did,â Frank returned coolly.

Startled, Hanleigh whirled around

âThen what are you doing here?â roared Hanleigh. âYouâre a bunch of meddlers! Now, get out! And if I catch you again, Iâllââ

âYouâll do nothing, Mr. Hanleigh,â Joe interrupted. âYou have no right to be on this island, but we have.â

âProve that!â Hanleigh scoffed.

Joe took the key to the cabin from his pocket and said, âMr. Jefferson gave this to us. Do you have a key, too? Or did you break in?â

âYoung punks!â the man snarled.

Quickly Joe examined the front door and saw that it had not been forced. âMy guess is that Mr. Hanleigh has a skeleton key,â he said. âThe lock is a simple one.â

The intruder flushed but said nothing.

âSuppose you tell us whatâs so interesting about Cabin Island, Mr. Hanleigh,â Frank suggested. âAnd whatâs special about the fireplace?â

Hanleigh licked his lips nervously. âJefferson collects antiques. Maybe I collect fireplaces, thatâs all. I made him a good offer for this place. Heâs a fool to turn it down.â

âWell, stay off this property!â Joe snapped. âMr. Jefferson instructed us to order you to leave if we found you here.â

Hanleigh clenched his fists and glared at the boys. âThink youâre pretty smart! Well, you fellows are going to be sorry! This spooky place is no picnic. Youâll be glad to clear out!â

Before the boys could retort, the man turned on his heel and strode down the hill toward the boathouse. The sleuths watched from outside the cabin until they saw the Hawk glide out of the cove into the open bay with the trio aboard.

âWe made short work of that crew!â Biff said cheerfully.

The Hardys did not comment, but inwardly felt certain they had not seen the last of Hanleigh.

âShort work nothing!â Chet exclaimed. âItâs starting to get dark, and we still havenât had lunch! Come on, have a heart! I need supper.â

âYou wonât be able to eat until we get our supplies unloaded and organized,â Frank reminded him.

Joe grinned. âIâm starved, too. Letâs get the stuff.â

Everyone set to work with a will and plodded back and forth between the Sea Gull and the cabin. Joe noticed that Chet was less talkative than usual. âThinking about your meal?â he asked.

Chet shivered. âNot now. Iâm thinking about Hanleighâs warning. What did he mean about âthis spooky placeâ?â

âProbably meant itâs haunted,â Biff said somberly. âYou wouldnât mind a couple of ghosts for company, would you, Chet?â

âCut it out!â Chet quavered, glancing around into the deepening shadows.

âIf thereâs a ghost here, I wish heâd show himself,â Frank put in, chuckling. âWe could use an extra hand. But this should be the last load.â He unreeved the main sheet completely, so the sail would be free to swing in the wind.

The four were halfway to the cabin, their arms filled with provisions, when suddenly Chet stopped short and gave a startled cry. The provisions he had been carrying fell to the ground.

âWhatâs wrong?â Joe asked.

For a moment Chet could only point. Then he declared in a strange, hollow voice, âThere! In the woods! A ghost!â

CHAPTER VII

Cry for Help

CHET stood rooted to the spot. He kept staring straight ahead. The other boys looked but could see no sign of the ghost.

Finally Joe said, âYou sure talked yourself into that one, Chet.â

âWhat do you mean?â

âMr. Hanleigh planted the idea in your mind and your old brain conjured up a ghost for you,â Joe explained.

Chet looked scornful. âIs that so? Well, youâre wrong, Joe Hardy. I saw a ghost.â

Frank winked at his brother to stop his needling. To Chet he said, âLetâs get to the cabinâand some food.â

The trudge was continued without any further evidence of a ghost. When the boys reached the living room of the cabin, Joe lighted a large oil lamp that stood on the table, and a mellow glow spread over the room.

Chet declared he felt better, but added, âHonest, fellows! I did see this white thingâmoving 1-like a ghost!â

Frank spoke up. âOkay. Biff and I will go out and take a good look around while you and Joe put away our things and start supper.â

âFine idealâ Joe agreed. âI was thinking that we ought to appoint Chet cook, anyway. Then weâll never miss a meal!â

Chet brightened at once. âKitchen, here I come!â he said with enthusiasm.

Frank and Biff rummaged among the gear for flashlights before leaving the cabin.

âThisâll be a good chance to go over the island thoroughly,â Frank remarked to his brother. âI still have a hunch that Johnny Jefferson may have come here.â

âYou could be right,â Joe agreed. âIf weâre lucky, maybe youâll pick up a clue.â

âBe on your guard,â Chet cautioned as Frank and Biff started out the door.

âDonât worry, weâll keep our eyes open-especially for spooks!â Biff called back over his shoulder.

When the two boys had left, Joe went into the kitchen, opened the back door, and discovered the woodshed Mr. Jefferson had mentioned. It was an enclosed lean-to and had a door that locked with an outside bolt.

Joe carried enough wood into the cabin to stoke both the living-room fireplace and the cookstove. Soon the cabin began to warm up and Joe and Chet removed their heavy parkas.

Chet lighted the oil lamp which stood on the kitchen table and unpacked enough of the food for several meals. âIâll leave the rest in the cartons,â he said, and set them on the bottom shelf in the cabinet.

Meanwhile, Frank and Biff had decided to separate in order to scout the whole area more quickly. Each was to search half the island, then meet the other boy at the boathouse.

âWatch out for white things!â Biff warned jokingly.

âYou mean like snowballs?â Frank returned with a grin. âSeriously, Chet may not have imagined that spookâso donât take any chances, Biff. If you spot anything suspicious, give a blast on that police whistle.â

âWilco!â

The two boys started off in different directions. Frank trudged through the crusted snow, playing his flashlight beam ahead of him among the pines and underbrush. The wind had picked up, its icy chill stinging his face to a raw numbness.

As Frank plodded on through the dusk, he stopped to listen as each new sound caught his ear. Once he was sure he had heard someone cough and hurried in its direction. Nobody was in sight. But just then, an owl flew past, and Frank jumped back startled.

âIâm getting as jittery as Chet,â Frank berated himself. He squared his shoulders and went on, beaming his light.

Half an hour later the two searchers met at the boathouse. âAny luck, Biff?â

âNone, Frank. Cabin Island evidently has visitors only in the daytime. How about you?â

âI didnât find a clue, but Iââ Frank stopped speaking as an object on the ground caught his attention. He bent over to pick it up.

âWow!â said Biff. âA model of an iceboat.â

âAnd expertly carved,â Frank remarked, examining the intricately made model.

âDo you think Tad or Ike or Hanleigh lost this?â Biff asked. âOr could it belong to Mr. Jefferson?â

Frank examined the little boat, then declared, âIt probably belongs to some very recent visitor to the island. The wood doesnât look as though it has been exposed to the elements very long. In fact, it seems to be newly carved.â

âAnyway, itâs a beauty,â Biff commented. âWhy donât you take it along and put in on the cabin mantel?â

It was fully dark by the time Frank and Biff reached the cabin and reported that they had found no one on the island.

âWell, Iâm willing to forget the ghost, now that weâre about to eat,â Chet called from the kitchen.

âHow long before chowâs ready?â Frank asked. âThe wind has started to blow pretty hard. Iâd like to take the Sea Gull around to the boathouse.â

âYou have time,â Chet replied. âBut hurry.â

Frank showed Joe and Chet the iceboat model, then set it on the mantel before stepping outside and hurrying to the shore. Quickly he jumped into the iceboat and trimmed the sail. The instant the brake was released, the craft glided off like a phantom and in a short time Frank reached the boathouse. It was unlocked and empty. The boy stored the boat inside, then tramped back to the cabin.

There he found Joe and Biff staring at the massive stone chimney. âWeâre trying to figure out what interested Hanleigh,â Joe remarked.

âBeats me,â Biff added.

Chet interrupted from the kitchen. âChow time!â he called, and ushered his buddies to the table on which stood bowls of steaming beef stew. There was plenty of milk and a big basket of warm, crusty bread.

âDelicious!â exclaimed Biff after tasting the stew. âIâll bet that ghost was just hungry and hoping for an invitation!â

âItâs an old family recipe,â Chet boasted.

âYou mean an old family can opener?â Joe rejoined. âI saw all those cans you brought!â

âI had to add special spices, though, and salt and pepper,â Chet said defensively. âThatâs what makes it taste so good.â

When the meal was finished, Biff was elected dishwasher. âScrub hard and youâll develop your boxing biceps,â Chet teased. Frank volunteered to help, and soon the kitchen was in order.

The wind was howling louder now, but the interior of the cabin was snug. The boys sat in front of the briskly burning logs in the fireplace and listened to the creaking of low branches against the cabin.

âI wish we could learn what Hanleigh hopes to gain by coming to this place,â Joe mused, âor by purchasing it.â

âOne thing Iâm convinced of,â said Frank. âHe wasnât studying the fireplace just for its artistic look.â

âHeâs certainly nervy with other peopleâs property,â Biff remarked.

Frank nodded. âI keep wondering if it was he who ransacked the Jefferson home.â

âAgain, the question is why?â Joe said.

âIâd think you guys would be more worried about that ghost I saw pussyfooting around here,â Chet spoke up plaintively.

âWhatâs more important,â said Frank, âis that we donât forget the mystery weâre supposed to solve, to find Johnny Jefferson. Joe and I believe heâs hiding in this area.â

Joe added, âIâve a hunch this mystery will be solved near Bayport. Johnny is bound to run out of money, and if he looks for a job, somebody will become suspicious because heâs so young.â

âBesides,â Frank said, âif we stick to our theory that Johnny is searching for the stolen medals, we can be pretty sure he hasnât given up. Not if heâs as keen on sleuthing as his grandfather says he is. As far as we know, no one has located Mr. Jeffersonâs collection or the servant suspected of stealing it.â

Biff looked puzzled. âIâm glad weâre going to stay. But whatâs this talk about stolen medals and a suspected servant? Youâve been holding out on us.â

âYes, explain!â Chet gave the Hardys a sideways look. âI have a feeling that once again you two have taken me along to a double-header mystery!â

The brothers related the story of the missing rosewood box and the priceless collection of honorary medals. As Joe told of the suspect, and of Johnny Jeffersonâs desire to be a detective, the storm suddenly grew in violence. Snow hissed against the windows and the sashes rattled ominously.

Then, in the distance, the boys heard a muffled crash.

âA big tree must have gone down!â Joe exclaimed.

Frank looked at the fire. âLetâs each bring in an armload of logs before we go to bed. This is going to be a long, cold night.â

The four donned their parkas and took flashlights. Pushing hard, they managed to open the back door and hurried to the woodshed. Abruptly the boys stopped and listened intently. Through the darkness and the wind-driven sleet and snow came a faint cry.

âHelp!â

CHAPTER VIII

The Mysterious Messenger

STARTLED, the boys stood motionless in the swirling snow, scarcely able to believe that someone was crying for help on that dark, ice-locked island.

Then the faint sound came again above the tearing wind. âHelp!â

âWhereâs it coming from?â Biff asked anxiously.

âHard to tell,â Frank replied. âLetâs fan out and make a search. Hurry!â

Each boy started off in a different direction. When the pleading cry was repeated, Joe shouted as loudly as he could, âFellows! This way! Down by the shore!â

He kept following the call for help, trudging through the blowing snow which stung his face. The flashlightâs beam did not penetrate the dense whiteness, and Joe could barely see a step ahead. Frequently he tripped over roots and nearly went sprawling.

Joe was becoming uncertain of his direction. Perhaps his ears had played tricks on him!

The young sleuth stood still until he heard the desperate voice again. âHelp!â

âThis way!â shouted Joe, moving forward, certain that the cries were coming from somewhere near the boathouse.

Who could the person be? What was he doing on Cabin Island? How could anyone have crossed the ice in the violent storm? Joe beamed his light about in hopes that the other boys would find him.

All at once he realized that the surface had become level and slippery beneath his feet. âI must have stepped onto the ice,â Joe thought, and made his way back to land. Where was the stricken person? He must be close by!

A groan came suddenly from Joeâs left. Moving the flashlight in a slow arc, he called out, âHello? Where are you?â

There was another moan, which trailed off weakly. As the youth moved toward the sound, his foot struck something soft. Joe dropped to his knees and flashed the light downward. The beam revealed a stranger, barely conscious, his legs pinned beneath the limb of a fallen pine tree.

The man had gone face downward and his right cheek was crunched into the snow. Joe scrutinized him, but could not place the man from what he could see of his features.

âFrank! BIS! Chet!â Joe called out again. âHere, by the boathouse!â

Meanwhile, Joe attempted to free the victim, but all his strength could not budge the heavy branch. To lift it, the whole tree would have to be levered.

âIâll just have to wait for the others,â Joe realized, panting. He crouched alongside the man, trying to shield him from the biting wind and the snow.

At last Joe saw the dim glow of flashlights moving down the slope. âOver here!â he called. âHurry!â

âJoe!â came Frankâs voice above the wind. âI can see your beam now! Weâre coming!â

Biff and Chet were close behind Frank, and the three soon reached Joe and the stranger.

âWho is he?â Chet puffed excitedly.

âI never saw him before,â Joe replied. âSee if you fellows can hoist this branch a bit so I can pull his leg free.â

While Joe continued to shelter the man, the others laboriously managed to raise the tree limb.

âOkayâthatâll do it!â Joe said, easing the victim free. âNow letâs get him to the cabin pronto.â

As gently as possible, the Hardy boys lifted the stranger and started up the slopeâJoe supporting the manâs head and shoulders, while Frank carried his legs. Chet and Biff went on ahead to light the way and forge a trail through the drifting, deepening snow.

Inside the cabin, Frank and Joe placed the limp form on the sofa. âThe poor fellow may be in shock from exposure and pain,â Frank declared. âChet, bring some blankets. Noâdonât prop him up, Biff! Keep his head low.â

âShall we try to take off his jacket?â Joe asked.

âNo,â said Frank. We donât want to move him too much. Iâll just loosen the jacket.â

Frank did so and also pulled off the manâs boots and cap. The strangerâs hair was bristly and carrot-colored. His round face was blanched, but its rough, weather-beaten features, thickly peppered with freckles, gave him the look of an outdoorsman.

The boys covered their patient with blankets and took turns rubbing his hands and feet to stimulate the circulation. âHeâs mighty pale!â Chet whispered fearfully.

âWhat do you suppose heâs doing out here on a night like this?â Biff asked.

âWeâll have to wait until heâs able to tell us,â Joe replied, and added, âI wish we knew if there are any bones broken.â

âWe canât get him to Bayport until this storm lets up,â Frank said ruefully.

Presently the man began to stir and attempted to mumble something. âTake it easy. Youâre all right,â Joe said soothingly.

As gently as possible, the Hardys lifted the stranger

The victim began to make weak, convulsive motions, and his mouth twitched. Finally he gasped, âMessageâHardys!â

Frank and Joe exchanged glances of astonishment. Why had the man spoken their name?â

The stranger, with a painful effort, articulated, âMust bringâmessageâtoâHardy boys!â Utterly exhausted, he lapsed into unconsciousness.

âA message!â gulped Chet. âFrom whom?â

Frank shook his head. âIâve never seen this man before.â

âWeâd better learn about the message,â Joe declared. âIt must be urgent!â

The Hardys gently explored the victimâs pockets, but found nothing. âWeâll have to wait until he can tell us,â Frank finally conceded.

âTrying to speak may have been too much for him,â Joe said with concern. The manâs breathing had become irregular, and his pallor had increased.

âHis hands feel so cold!â Chet murmured.

âItâs probably from shock and exposure,â Frank told him. âWeâll just have to keep him quiet and warm until we can get him to a doctor.â

The stranger soon began to mumble again, but what he said was unintelligible. The boys kept an anxious vigil for an hour. At last the man gave a sigh and began to breathe more deeply and regularly. A little color returned to his face.

âI think heâs sleeping normally now,â Frank said. âHeâs worn out.â

âSo am I!â Chet exclaimed with a yawn. âWhat a day! Letâs go to bed.â

âWe canât leave this man alone,â Joe objected. âWeâll have to take turns watching him.â

âYouâre right,â Frank agreed. âBesides, someone should keep an eye on the fire. We canât let it go out tonight! Iâll stand first watch.â

Everyone agreed, and Frank sat by the fire while the others readied their sleeping sacks. Chet and Biff shared the north bedroom. The Hardys were to occupy the one across from it.

The patient continued to sleep soundly, and after two hours, Frank placed a large log on the fire and went to rouse his brother. âYour turn!â he told Joe. âAllâs well!â

Joe put on a bathrobe and took his place near the fire. The snow had stopped, but the wind was still tearing viciously at the trees and cabin.

As time passed, questions again filled Joeâs mind. Where was Johnny? What was Hanleighâs interest in Cabin Island? Did the two have any connection? Who was the injured man and what did his cryptic utterance mean? Who had sent the message?

âLots of questions but no answers,â Joe thought with a feeling of frustration. He scowled intently into the fire burning steadily in the grate.

Gradually the warmth radiating from the fireplace, together with the comforting hiss and crackle of the logs, had a soothing effect. The mystery continued to nag at Joeâs brain, but he found it harder and harder to focus his thoughts.

âBoy, Chet can sure saw wood!â he said to himself with a grin as a faint sound of snoring drifted from the north bedroom. At last Joeâs own eyelids began to droop.

Suddenly the young sleuth gave a start and leaped to his feet. Somewhere in the cabin an eerie noise was shrilling. âOwoooooo!â

Joe did not move, but tensely looked around the room. The weird sound began again with a plaintive quality that was almost human. What could it be?

The boy sternly told himself, âIâm imagining things! It must be one of the fellows. Biffâs playing a practical joke on poor old Chet!â

âOwoooooo!â came the wail once more.

Joe walked softly into the bedroom, resolved to surprise the prankster. To his astonishment, he found both Chet and Biff wide awake in their bunks, worried looks on their faces. The two youths were sitting upright and listening to the sound which moaned and then rose to a howl.

âW-what did I t-t-tell you?â Chet quavered. âTh-the ghostâitâs right here in the cabin!â He burrowed into his sleeping bag like a woodchuck diving for its hole.

The noise came again just as Frank strode in to join them from the Hardysâ bedroom across the hall.

âSure is unnerving!â Biff admitted, glancing about uneasily.

âWeâre going to find out whatâs happening,â Frank declared. âIf this is somebodyâs idea of a joke, I want to get my hands on him.â

âYou said it!â Biffâs momentary apprehension vanished. âWeâll rout out that phony spook and really give him something to joke about!â

As the lanky youth hopped out of bed, Chet spoke up fearfully, âBe careful, you guys! You may be asking for all kinds of trouble!â

Frank and Biff donned bathrobes. Then with Joe they took up flashlights and searched the cabin for the source of the sound.

In the kitchen Joe cast his light on the ceiling beams. âI think itâs coming from somewhere up in the rafters!â he said.

The sinister shriek seemed to grow louder with every gust of wind.

âYouâre right!â Biff agreed.

The boys moved their flashlights slowly over the ceiling. Suddenly Frank exclaimed, âYes, look!â He pointed out thin lines forming a rectangle across the boards.

âIt must be a trap door!â Joe said excitedly.

âTo the attic, I suppose,â Frank reasoned.

He grabbed a chair, stood on it, and pushed the trap door open. âIâll need a boost,â he said.

Biff gave him a lift. Frank scrambled into the dark opening, then disappeared. His footsteps made the boards creak ominously above Joe and Biff.

The wailing noise came again with a kind of taunting quality. âOwoooooo-oo!â

âHey, whatâs going on?â Joe called out.

There was no response.

CHAPTER IX

Warning by Code

JoE broke out in gooseflesh as the wailing abruptly ceased. The attic floor creaked again and Frank looked down through the opening into the kitchen. âIâve captured the ghost!â

âNo kidding. Show me,â Biff said.

âHere!â Frank replied. He handed down an empty soda bottle.

âWhat do you mean?â Joe asked as Frank swung himself through the open trap door and dropped to the floor.

âListen,â Frank said.

He held the neck of the bottle to his lips and blew hard. The others heard a low, thin version of the doleful sound that had terrified Chet.

âWhere did you find this?â Biff asked.

âThe bottle was being used to plug a hole in the roof,â Frank explained. âWhen the wind blew across it in a certain wayâit hooted!â

Joe laughed. âI wonder if Hanleigh heard that sound and thatâs why he said the place has spooks!â

Frank took a piece of wood from the box beside the stove. âThisâll do to plug the opening,â he said. With a boost from Joe, he went into the attic again. After plugging the hole, he lowered himself onto Joeâs shoulders and closed the trap door before jumping down.

The three returned to the north bedroom. Biff pulled Chet from his cocoon of blankets. âHereâs your wailing ghost,â he said, handing the soda bottle to his friend. Then he explained how the wind had produced the noise.

Chet placed the bottle on the floor and gave the others a scornful look. âMaybe this is what we heard,â he said, âbut itâs not what I saw running through the woods in a white sheet!â

âNow that youâre awake, Chet, why donât you take your turn standing guard?â Joe suggested.

âOh, all right!â Chet grumbled, crawling from bed. When he reached the living room, he called out, âHey, everybody! Come here! Our patient is waking up!â

The three rushed to the sofa. âW-where am I?â the stranger asked, blinking his eyes and staring in bewilderment at the boysâ faces hovering above him.

Joe took a match and lighted the kerosene lanterns, then sat on the floor beside the sofa.

âEasy,â he cautioned. âYou had a close call!â

âThe sudden storm!â the man muttered. âThe wind and the snowâI couldnât seeââ

âWe know,â Joe said soothingly. âBut youâre safe now, and the storm is over.â The boys realized for the first time that the wind had stilled.

âHow do you feel?â Frank asked.

âIâm all right,â the man insisted, as he started to rise.

âBe careful!â Chet warned, but the stranger chuckled and sat upright. They noticed that the manâs eyes were bright blue, and had a merry twinkle.

âYou may be injured,â Frank said. âPlease lie down. We can take you to see a doctor.â

âI donât need any doctor!â the red-haired man declared cheerfully. âI feel a little sore and I must have bumped my head, but thatâll do no damage!â He moved his arms and legs. âSee? Iâm okay.â

âWho are you?â Frank inquired again.

âMy name is Mack Malone. Call me Mack.â

The boys introduced themselves and the manâs face crinkled into a big grin. âSo youâre the Hardys!â he said to Frank and Joe. âI came out to give you a message.â

âWho sent you?â Joe asked excitedly.

âYour father,â Mack replied. âYou see, I often do errands for the Bayport police. Fenton Hardy asked me to bring his sons a message. I drove my car to the mainland road across the cove from here and walked over on the ice.â

âDidnât you realize the danger?â Joe asked.

âThe storm hit suddenly. For a while I nearly gave up. But then I thought Iâd finally reached Cabin Island. The ground was so slippery I couldnât get out of the way of that falling tree.â

âLucky we found you,â said Joe. âAnd the messageâ?â

Mack Malone chuckled. âItâs a funny oneâdoesnât seem worth the trouble weâve all been through! Well, here it is: âThe alley cat is after the mice, but feed him well!â â

âVery strange!â Joe commented.

âIâll say!â Frank agreed.

âBoy! Itâs a riddle to me!â Chet declared, then added, âItâs almost daylight, and you Hardys will probably puzzle your brains over that message, anyway. How about some breakfast?â

âGood idea!â Biff agreed.

The boys dressed and a short time later Mack Malone joined them for a hearty meal of fried eggs, bacon, and toast. When they had finished, the man stood up and said, âWell, fellows, the sun is rising. Iâd better be on my way.â

âWeâd be happy to take you to Bayport for a checkup,â Frank reminded him.

âNo, thanks. Iâm fit as a fiddle, except for a few bruises,â the red-haired man assured him. âIâll stroll over to my car and be home in no time!â

âWatch your step crossing the ice,â Joe cautioned.

âYou bet your boots I will!â Malone gave a wry laugh and added, âOne accident is enoughâand besides, Iâd sure hate to spend New Yearâs Day on crutches!â

âThank you for bringing the message,â Frank said as their visitor left the cabin. Malone responded with a parting wave.

When he was out of sight, Biff turned to the Hardys. âWhat about that double-talk?â he questioned. âDo you really believe your father would send a man to tell you some nonsense about cats and mice?â

âSomebodyâs pulling your leg!â Chet put in.

âNo, itâs on the level,â Frank assured them. âJoe and I were pretending we didnât understand while Mack was here. Dad sent the message in code because he wanted it to be kept secret.â

âThen what does it mean?â Chet asked impatiently.

âThat someone is out to get Frank and meâweâre the âmice,â â Joe explained. âWeâre to play along with the personâheâs the âcatââand trap him. In other words, âfeedâ him and avoid being âeatenâ by him!â

âFine!â declared Biff. âBut who is this cat? How will you find out?â

âWe already know,â Frank said.

âYou do!â Chet exclaimed.

âDad frequently uses the phrase about the cat in secret communications to us,â Joe explained. âThe clue is in the adjective. Here, itâs âalley catâ âthe second syllable, âley,â could stand for the âleighâ in Hanleigh!â

âWow!â Chet was wide-eyed. âSo Hanleigh is out to get you!â

âHow does your dad know?â Biff asked.

Joe shrugged. âHe must suspect the fellow is after something in the cabin or on the island.â

âHanleighâs a rough customer,â Frank said grimly. âThatâs probably why Dad used code. He was afraid Hanleigh might intercept Mack and force the message from him.â

Chet groaned. âMaybe we ought to pack up and go home while we can!â

âWe canât leave,â Frank insisted. âIf Hanleigh is trying to steal something from Mr. Jefferson, we must stop him.â

âBut arenât you supposed to keep looking for Johnny?â Biff asked. âAnd he doesnât seem to be on Cabin Island. So what do you do next?â

âFirst, Iâd like to search more thoroughly,â Frank replied, âto make sure Johnny hasnât come here since yesterday.â

The boys donned their outdoor clothes and spread out over the whole island. Each examined a separate area, searching among bushes, trees, and rocks. Then they combed the entire shoreline. When they finally rejoined each other, none had any clues to report.

After they returned to the cabin, Chet asked, âNow what?â

âWe could investigate the mainland near here, and inquire if anyone has seen Johnny,â Frank proposed.

âBut Iâm leery of leaving the place unguarded, especially after getting Dadâs message,â Joe said with a look of concern.

âWe can use my binoculars from the main-Iand,â Chet reminded him, âto keep an eye on the island while weâre away.â

âGood idea!â Joe exclaimed. âAnd Iâll bring the camera Dad gave us. Maybe weâll get some good photos with the telescopic lens.â

Frank remarked, âOur going away might lure Hanleigh here, and that may be what Dad wants.â

âLetâs have lunch before going off on this wild-goose chase.â Chet urged. âIâll make some sandwiches.â

âGood and thick, please,â Biff begged. âAll that tramping around has really given me an appetite!â

âSame here,â said Joe.

The boys ate quickly, then set off in the Sea Gull. The strong wind of the previous evening had blown most of the snow to the land, so the iceboat tacked across the surface at a fast clip.

Looking back at the island, Chet remarked, âItâs sure a pretty place.â

Tall pines looked like white pyramids, and bare branches were coated with ice which glittered in rainbow colors.

On the mainland directly opposite, the four boys spotted a shack built of sun-bleached boards. Smoke was drifting upward from its rickety stove-pipe chimney.

Frank slackened sail and let the Sea Gull drift to a complete stop.

âLetâs talk to the person who lives here,â he suggested, putting down the brake.

A bearded man came out and called, âWhat can I do for you?â

âWeâre looking for a boy who is missing from his home in Bayport,â Joe replied. âHis name is Johnny Jefferson. Heâs fifteen, and big for his age.â

The shack owner shook his head. âI havenât seen a soul as long as Iâve been here this winter. Say, have you asked Pete Hagan? He lives in a fishing hut just about a mile down shore.â

Frank thanked the man and sailed the Sea Gull in that direction. The boys found Hagan fishing through the ice just beyond his home. He had seen no boy of Johnnyâs description.

As the four companions glided away, Joe said, âThis is discouraging. Only thing we can do is cruise up and down the coast.â

Frank tacked skillfully to keep the Sea Gull close to shore while Biff scanned the woods with his binoculars. âNo oneâs in there,â he reported.

âLetâs hike up that hill,â Joe finally suggested, pointing to a section where pine trees grew down to the shoreline of the inlet. âFrom the top we can see Cabin Island and keep an eye on it.â

Frank brought the Sea Gull in and braked it. The boys strapped on snowshoes and made their way up the densely wooded slope. At the top, they found themselves in the back yard of a weathered log cabin which perched on the edge of the precipice.

âWonder who lives here,â Biff said.

âNo one, from the looks of it,â Frank replied. âBut letâs go see.â

The four approached the cabin. It was small and crudely built, with large chinks between the logs. The place had a desolate appearance.

The boys knocked several times at the door, then Joe went to look through a window. âI think the place has been abandoned,â he reported. âThereâs not much furniture, and everything is covered with dust.â

âLetâs go in!â Chet urged. âMy feet hurt and Iâm freezing!â

âI suppose if nobodyâs living here, itâs all right,â said Frank. He tried the door, which opened creakily.

The boys took off their snowshoes and went inside. At once Chet plopped into a sagging easy chair. A cloud of dust spewed up from the faded cushions. He coughed and the others laughed.

âWhat a view!â exclaimed Biff, looking out the front window. Below, the curve of Barmet Bay lay like an ice-blue jewel, with Cabin Island a white pearl in the distance. Biff focused the binoculars on the spot. Suddenly he cried out, âHey, fellows! An iceboatâs pulling up to the island! Itâs the Hawk!

CHAPTER X

Puzzling Theft

BIFFâS report on the iceboat sent a thrill of excitement through the Bayporters.

âWhoâs aboard?â Frank asked eagerly.

âHanleigh and his two stooges,â Biff replied. âHeâs climbing out now, but Ike and Tad are staying in the boat.â

Biff handed the binoculars to Frank. Clamping them to his eyes, he saw Hanleigh moving alone up the slope toward the cabin. A sudden inspiration struck Frank.

âLetâs get the goods on him, Joe. How about using your self-developing camera? You can photograph Hanleigh from here with the telescopic lens.â

âGreat idea!â Joe exclaimed. âHeâd probably deny he was on this island. If we have proof he was there, we may be able to bluff him into telling us what heâs after.â

Joe, too, took a hasty look through the binoculars before passing them on to Chet, then removed the camera from its case, focused it, and clicked the shutter. âIâll leave the print in the camera until we get back. Letâs go!â

âWait a second!â exclaimed Frank, who had taken over the glasses again.

âWhatâs Hanleigh doing now?â Biff asked as Frank shifted the binoculars slightly.

âHeâs circling the cabinâhey! Heâs stopping at the chimney! Looks as if heâs examining it.â

Hanleigh had a stick with which he tapped and poked at the stonework. Presently he stopped and disappeared among the trees.

âBet heâs leaving,â said Frank. âCome on, fellows!â

The boys hurried from the cabin, donned their snowshoes again, and made their way down the slope. Soon they reached the Sea Gull. All climbed aboard except Biff who pushed the iceboat to a running start.

As the Gull swooped across the cove to Cabin Island, Joe pointed toward the entrance to the bay. âHanleighâs leaving. There goes the Hawk!â

Biff turned the binoculars on the speeding craft and shook his head. âHanleigh isnât aboard. Ike and Tad are alone.â

âHanleigh must still be on the island!â Joe cried out. âHurry, Frank!â

âRight!â His brother skillfully maneuvered the Sea Gull, taking full advantage of every gust of wind. âNo doubt Ike and Tad will come back for Hanleigh later,â Frank added as he steered for the boathouse.

âLater? Itâs nearly evening already!â Chet observed. âIâll bet that guy plans to stay all night!â

Biff hooted. âWhere would he sleep? Under a rock?â

Joe looked thoughtful. âMaybe you have something, Chet. Hanleigh may know of a secret shelter on the islandâperhaps a cave somewhere along the shore.â

Frank brought the Sea Gull to the boathouse, and as he put it inside, the boys discussed the strange action of Ike and Tad.

âI wonder why they took off,â Joe said. âWe heard them agreeing to spy on Hanleigh, but now for some reason they seem to have changed their minds.â

âMaybe those two have deliberately stranded Hanleigh!â Frank exclaimed.

âYou mean,â said his brother, âIke and Tad tried to cash in on Hanleighâs deal, and he told them to get lost.â

âRight,â said Frank. âSo now theyâre getting even by leaving him marooned here.â

Carrying their snowshoes, the four strode through the deep snowdrifts toward the cabin. Darkness was coming on rapidly, and they moved like stealthy Indians, keeping a wary lookout for the intruder. However, they saw no sign of their enemy either on the way or near the cabin.

Cautiously Frank opened the door, entered, and lit the lamp. The place looked untouched. Everyone crowded in.

âBrr-r!â Chet shivered. âItâs icy in here. Letâs get a fire going.â

Soon a cheerful blaze was crackling in the fireplace, and a woodstove fire added its warmth.

âBoy, that heat sure feels good,â Chet said gratefully, rubbing his hands together over the potbellied stove. âNow for some chow!â

âHold it!â Frank said. âWe still havenât located Hanleigh. If heâs not here in the cabinââ

âWe donât know that for certain,â Joe cut in. âThereâs one place we still havenât looked.â

âWhere?â Biff asked.

âThe attic.â

Frank snapped his fingers. âYouâre rightâI forgot that. Weâd better check.â

âGive me a boost,â Joe said, âand Iâll soon find out.â

Frank and Biff each took one of Joeâs legs and hoisted him toward the ceiling. Pushing open the trap door, Joe clambered up into the attic and shone his flashlight all around through the chilly, musty darkness.

âHow about it?â Frank called impatiently from below.

âNo sign of him.â

The others were uneasily silent as Joe lowered himself through the ceiling opening again and dropped to the floor, letting the trap door fall shut behind him.

Then Biff voiced what each boy was thinking. âHanleighâs got to be somewhere on this islandâunless he hiked back to the mainland.â

âWell, thereâs only one way to make sure,â said Joe.

Chet gave a groan. âGood grief! Donât tell me we have to go out and beat the bushes again. Iâm starved!â

âGuess we all are,â Frank said with a wry grin. âBut I agree with Joe. If Hanleighâs skulking around the island anywhere, weâd better find him âand the sooner the better.â

âCheck! We sure donât want that creep coming back in the middle of the night to play any dirty tricks on us,â Biff pointed out.

Chetâs plump, ruddy cheeks turned a shade paler at the prospect of another night of ghostly episodes. âOkay, okay,â he said hastily. âLetâs get it over with.â

Pulling on their heavy jackets again, the boys went outdoors to make a thorough search. Flashlight beams probed behind trees and into clumps of bushes. An hour later they met inside the cabin, tired and cold. They had not found their quarry, nor any hiding place where he might take shelter overnight.

Frowning, Joe flung off his outdoor clothes and sat down cross-legged on the braided rug in front of the hearth.

âHanleigh must have sneaked across the ice,â he concluded, poking the fire.

Frank thrust his fists into his pockets. âIâm going to find out what that guy was doing here!â he declared.

âWell, Iâve had enough mystery for a while,â Chet spoke up. âIâm starting dinner!â The plump boy headed for the kitchen. A moment later he came running back to the living room. âItâs gone!â he wailed.

âWhatâs gone?â Frank asked.

âThe food! Thereâs not a bit left!â

âHanleigh, Iâll bet!â Biff declared angrily.

âChet,â Joe queried, âare you sure the food is not there?â

âYes! Last night I put the cartons of grub we didnât use in the cabinets. You fellows saw me!â

For a moment the four hungry boys stared at one another in dismay. Then Frank said, âI canât believe Hanleigh came here to steal our food. Probably he hid the supplies just to inconvenience us so weâd leave. Letâs check to see if theyâre stashed somewhere in the cabin.â

The food could not be found. âWeâll have to go to town for more groceries,â Chet urged.

âItâs too dark to take the Sea Gull out,â Frank reminded him.

âWe could always go home for supplies,â said Chet.

âNot me!â exclaimed Joe. âNo sirree!â He grinned wryly. âI can hear Aunt Gertrude saying, âI told you so.ââ

âWeâd look like great detectives,â his brother agreed, âwhen somebody can steal the food right out from under our noses.â

âThatâs right,â said Biff. âBesides, itâs a long cold walk to the car.â

âOh, no!â Chet moaned as he sank down on the sofa, his hands on his ample stomach. âIâll starve!â

âNot for a month or two,â Biff assured him.

âHanleighâs mighty eager to have us give up this vacation,â Joe said thoughtfully. âI wish we knew why.â

âOf course we donât know for sure he did steal the food,â Frank stated. âMaybe somebody else was here and took it.â

âWell, at least we have proof Hanleigh was on the island while we were away,â Joe reminded the others. âIâll get that photo!â

He opened the camera and removed the snapshot. The young detective studied the picture, then gave a low whistle of surprise.

âWhat is it?â Frank asked as he, Chet, and Biff hurried over.

âHanleighâs not alone!â Joe exclaimed.

The photograph showed him standing by the chimney, holding the stout stick with which he had been tapping and poking. Some distance behind him, partially hidden among the trees, was another figure. The stranger was dark and slim and was dressed in a long, flowing white robe. A turban covered his head!

CHAPTER XI

A Cryptic Notation

âTHE ghost that Chet saw!â Frank exclaimed as he stared at the snapshot of the white-robed man.

âY-you think so?â Chet asked incredulously.

âIt could be!â Joe declared. âI wonder who this person is, how he got here, and where he is now.â

âPerhaps he came with Hanleigh,â Biff suggested.

âI doubt it,â Frank replied. âLook at the way the fellowâs standing back in the shadow of the trees, almost as if he was spying on Hanleigh.â

Frank paused, then added, âFirst thing tomorrow Joe and I will go to the mainland and phone Ike and Tad. If theyâre sore at Hanleigh, maybe theyâll give us a lead on what his game is.â

âYes, and weâll ask if theyâre running taxi service for a ghost!â Joe grinned.

âMaybe this turbaned fellow stole our food,â Chet remarked. âSay, what are we going to do about that?â

Frank laughed. âTomorrow Joe and I will buy supplies. But you and Biff will have to stay and guard the island.â

âIâll admit Iâm hungry as a bear, too,â Joe said.

âLikewise!â Biff put in.

âWell, fellows,â Chet began sheepishly, âIâerâforgot about this until now, butâerâwe can have a snack.â

The others stared at the rotund youth, who reddened as he explained. âWhen I made sandwiches for lunch, I put some awayâin case of emergency!â

âWhere are they?â asked Joe. âWe searched all over this place!â

Chet went into the bedroom he and Biff shared and returned with five thick sandwiches in a large plastic bag.

âCome on! Whereâd you hide them?â Biff asked.

âIn the bottom of my sleeping bag.â

âYou werenât thinking of an emergency!â Joe scoffed. âThis was to be your midnight snack!â

âArenât you glad!â Chet countered.

âYou win,â Frank said, and they devoured the sandwiches.

Early the next morning Frank and Joe felt insistent fingers tapping them awake. âGet up!â Chet implored. âYou have to go after groceries.â

The Hardys dressed hurriedly. Frank told Biff and Chet, âWhile weâre away, you might search the island for our stolen grub. Chances are that Hanleigh hid it all in one place not far from the cabin.â

Frank and Joe glided off in the iceboat, steered out of the cove, and soon were tying up at a nearby coastal summer resort named Surfside. The boys walked to the deserted main street. âPlace is really hopping, isnât it?â Frank chuckled, surveying the tiny, weatherworn houses, many of them boarded up.

âAnyway, hereâs a phone.â Joe pointed to an outside booth. He stood by and listened while his brother dialed Ike Nashâs number.

âNo answer,â Frank reported. âIâll try Tad.â

The Carson boy was home, but his responses to Frankâs queries were rude and uncooperative.

âI donât know anything,â Tad insisted. âHanleigh told us to scram and not to snoop around. So we left.â

âHow about a man wearing a white robe? Did you taxi him to Cabin Island too?â

âWhite robe? Youâre nuts!â Tad guffawed and hung up abruptly.

âThat didnât accomplish much,â Frank said wryly as he and Joe walked away from the booth. âLetâs see if we can find a place to buy food.â

Presently the boys stopped at a small frame building. A sign above the door proclaimed:

GENERAL STORE, AMOS GRICE, PROP.

As the boys entered, a short, elderly man with a bald crown and skinny wattled neck eyed them intently from his chair beside a black potbellied stove.

âAnd what might you lads be after?â he chirped.

âHello,â said Frank. âWeâre here for some groceries. Are you Mr. Grice?â

âYep. Odd to see strange faces around these parts here this time oâ year,â the storekeeper remarked.

âWeâre roughing it near here,â Joe told the man.

Amos Grice clucked. âMost folks prefer sittinâ by a fire when winter comes on. Well, youâre out early this morninâ!â

âNecessity,â Joe replied. âSomebody stole our supplies.â

âI declare!â The old man looked startled. âDonât tell me thereâs more folks trekkinâ about in all this cold and snow!â

âSeems that way.â Joe grinned as he and Frank began to pick out canned goods and other food items.

âWhereâd you boys say youâre stayinâ?â the storekeeper asked when the Hardys brought their purchases to the counter.

âOn Cabin Island,â Joe replied.

âCabin Island!â Mr. Grice repeated in surprise. âHas Elroy Jefferson sold the place?â

âNo,â Frank told him. âMr. Jefferson is letting us use his cabin during our Christmas vacation.â

Frank paid the storekeeper, who then commented, âElroy Jeffersonâs a fine sort. Havenât seen him in a while. Whatâs he doinâ?â

âHe seems to keep busy traveling and collecting antiques,â Joe replied.

Mr. Grice propped his elbows on the counter and said thoughtfully, âElroy Jefferson used to come in here every Tuesday for supplies, and the little fellow with him. He loved Johnny like his own son. And whereâs the youngster nowadays?â

âWe donât know, Mr. Grice,â Frank answered, not wishing to reveal anything about their case to the friendly but gossipy proprietor.

âMr. Jefferson was always crazy about antiques,â the storekeeper went on. âI recall how upset he was when his medal collection disappeared.â

âHave you any idea what happened to it?â Joe asked.

âNope. All I know is the medals disappeared and so did John Sparewell.â

âDo people believe he stole the medals?â Frank asked.

âNot that Iâve heard. But it was odd he van ished at the same time.â

The Hardys exchanged glances but did not comment, and Grice went on:

âYou know, boys, just about a week ago a fellow was in here askinâ about Jeffersonâs medals. I hadnât thought of âem in years, before this fellow came by. Somehow I didnât feel right to tell him a thing, so I didnât.â

âWho was this man?â Frank asked.

âDonât know. Never seen him before. He was a scary sortâdressed up like Halloween. He had somethinâ wrapped around his head.â

The Hardysâ thoughts flew to the âghost.â Joe asked, âDo you remember anything else about the person? Did he tell you why he was interested in the medals?â

Amos Grice wrinkled his brow. âI got rid of that spooky fellow soonâs I could.â

After a few more minutes of conversation, the boys said good-by and left. They walked quickly toward the Sea Gull.

âWhat do you think of Mr. Griceâs âscaryâ visitor?â Joe asked his brother.

Frank replied, âIâm sure it was the man in the turban and the white robe. And heâs apparently interested in the medals, too.â

âSay!â Joe exclaimed. âMaybe he is in league with Hanleigh. Iâll bet theyâre both after the collection and think thereâs some clue to it on the island.â

The boys climbed into the Sea Gull with their bags of groceries. âIâll concentrate on your hunch while you take a turn at the tiller,â Frank told Joe.

âSwell with me!â Joe grinned.

Out on the bay, the Sea Gull swerved and dipped like a live thing. âThe windâs picked up!â Joe called out.

âIâll say!â

Joe deftly guided the iceboat toward the narrow inlet, the wind pushing them faster every moment. But suddenly it changed direction sharply. A wild gust whacked the Sea Gullâs sail. The craft hiked crazily and streaked straight for the rocky shore !

âLean!â Joe shouted. The boys shifted their weight, and Joe threw all his strength against the tiller while Frank trimmed the sail. The boat began to turn, but the jagged rocks loomed close.

âWeâre going to hit!â yelled Joe, bracing himself for the splintering crash.

But the iceboat skimmed pastâsafe by no more than two inches.

âWhew!â Frank said with a big sigh of relief.

Joe looked grim. âWeâre not out of trouble yet. This wind is tricky!â

Strong gusts continued to buffet the craft, but the boys were able to control it. At last the wind moderated and Joe steered the iceboat through the narrow inlet to the island.

When the Sea Gull was safe inside the boathouse, Chet and Biff came bounding through the snow to meet the Hardys.

âThat was great sailing!â Biff exclaimed. âWe were watching you.â

âIt was rough,â Joe admitted, handing the groceries to Chet, who reached out eagerly for the bags. âIâm afraid the eggs are scrambled!â

âIf they arenât now, they will be!â the cook replied, and headed straight for the kitchen. A short time later the four sat down to a delicious breakfast.

After the Hardys had reported on the trip to Surfside, Biff and Chet told of their failure to locate the stolen supplies.

âLetâs look once more,â Frank suggested, and explained that Tad and his pal knew nothing of Hanleighâs departure from the island.

âAnd he certainly didnât carry those heavy cartons across the ice!â Joe stated. All footprints had been obliterated by the wind-drifted snow, so their task was more difficult.

âChances are theyâre hidden nearby,â Frank said. âWeâll go without snowshoes this time so we can kick up the drifts.â

As soon as breakfast was over, they set out. First they searched in the snow which had piled against the cabin, but found nothing.

âHanleigh probably carried the boxes out the back,â said Frank, leading the way to the kitchen door. âWhere is the nearest big drift?â

The boys looked around. Joe pointed to a mound of snow banked high against a large spruce at the edge of the clearing.

The four hurried over and began kicking into the drift. Suddenly Biff cried, âOuch!â

âWhatâs wrong?â asked Joe.

âStubbed my toe on the tree!â Biff answered. âHey-no! Itâs a can of fruit!â

Chet dug eagerly into the snow and gave a whoop of joy. âHereâs the chow!â

The boys carried the containers of food to the kitchen. âThis time we unpack everything,â Chet declared. âThen it wonât be so easy for someone to cart off!â

As Frank helped to remove the contents, his hand came upon a small brown notebook lying askew between two cans of beans. He plucked it out.

âLook at this!â

âWhose is it?â

Frank thumbed through the damp pages, most of which were torn loose.

âCould this be the notebook we saw Hanleigh using?â asked Joe.

Frank examined a few more pages and gave a low whistle of surprise. âI doubt it. See here. The name on the inside cover is John Paul Sparewell!â

âSparewell!â Joe exclaimed.

Biff shook his head, bewildered. âWhat was Sparewell doing here? Did he take our stuff? How many people are wandering around this island, anyway?â

Frank placed the notebook on the table where they all could examine it and began turning more pages.

âWow! See this!â Biff exclaimed.

One of the loose pages contained a crudely drawn map. âThatâs Cabin Island!â the boys cried out In unison.

Another entry concerned rental of a boat.

âWhether or not Sparewell has been here recently, it looks as though he was coming to Cabin Island regularly at one time,â Joe remarked. âJust like Hanleigh is now!â

On a page near the back of the notebook, the boys found a list of receipts for small sums. âSparewell evidently had very little money,â Frank commented.

âHe had problems, though,â Joe observed. âRead the next item.â

The scrawled script said, âAppointment with Dr. Bordan on Sat. My condition worse. Would appeal to J but am afraid.â

âI wonder if J is for Jefferson,â Frank mused. âIt sounds as though Sparewell was very ill. Perhaps he didnât live long after making these notes.â

âI donât believe Sparewell was the one who dropped this notebook,â Joe reasoned. âHeâd have frozen to death over here.â The boy frowned in perplexity as he turned to the last page. All four stared at it in astonishment.

âWhat kind of lingo is that?â Biff gulped.

The letters at the bottom of the page were:

HJOSW SHRJWN HLSEWPA RPAO A, EWO WSWP APPO LSUL

âA coded message!â Frank exclaimed.

CHAPTER XII

An Iceboat Clue

âITâs a coded message, all right!â Joe declared as the four boys continued to stare at the mysterious letters in the tattered notebook.

âHow will we ever figure it out?â Chet asked.

âThere are several methods of deciphering,â Frank replied. âDad has told Joe and me something about it, and weâve read a few of his books on cryptography.â

âCan you make anything out of this message?â Biff asked.

âNot right off,â Frank replied. âItâs some kind of substitution system, at any rate.â

âThe first thing to look for is transposition,â Joe explained. âAll the letters of the actual text âwhatâs really meantâmay be present, but reversed or scrambled.â

âThere must be countless possibilities,â remarked Biff, âonce you start putting one letter in place of another.â

âYes, which makes deciphering very difficult,â Frank agreed. âBut I remember several of the standard patterns. Iâll use some of the blank pages in the notebook and try them.â

Frank worked for more than half an hour, while the others looked on and made various combinations of the letters he jotted down.

âIâm stymied,â Frank admitted finally.

Biff frowned. âHow did Hanleigh get hold of this notebook? Does he know Sparewell?â

âHanleigh might have swiped it,â Joe said.

The Hardys pondered their next move. Joe suggested they take the iceboat model and the photo of the turbaned prowler to Mr. Jefferson for possible identification.

âAnd on the way show Amos Grice the picture, too,â Frank added.

A stop at the Hardy home also was included in the dayâs plans, in case the boysâ father had any more information on the âalley cat.â

Chet heaved a huge sigh. âWhich means Biff and I stand guard here.â

Joe grinned. âHowâd you guess?â

After a quick lunch the Hardys put on their parkas and boots. Iâm taking the camera along,â Joe said. âIt may come in handy again.â

The Hardys climbed into the Sea Gull and headed for Surfside. At the dock, Joe tied up while Frank braked and slackened sail. Then they strode off to the general store.

Amos Grice, seated by the stove, slapped his knee when Frank and Joe walked in. âGlad to see you two. Thief steal your food again?â

âNo, sir,â Frank said. âWe came to show you this.â He handed the snapshot to Mr. Grice. The storekeeper stared at it, then handed the picture back without comment.

âMr. Grice,â Joe inquired, âis this the man who asked you about Mr. Jeffersonâs medals?â

Amos Grice drew his lips into a thin, firm line.

âYep. Itâs him. But thereâs some spooky busi ness goinâ on, and I donât want any part of it.â

âDid this man say something to frighten you?â Joe persisted. âDid he threaten you?â

Mr. Grice looked grim. âNo. But Iâm not mixinâ in with any scary masqueraders.â

The Hardys could see that the storekeeper would say no more on the subject. They thanked him and returned to the Sea Gull. A brisk wind sped them toward Bayport. They tied up outside their boathouse and drove home.

Mrs. Hardy greeted her red-cheeked sons with big hugs, while Aunt Gertrude looked on apprehensively, as if trying to find something wrong with her nephews. Noting their excellent health, she turned her worrries to their companions.

âHas something terrible happened to Chet or Biff?â

âNo. Why, Aunty?â Joe asked.

âThat sudden snowstorm. I was scared stiff for you boys. Some trees blew down over here.â

Frank grinned. âWe weathered itâhowling banshee and all.â

âA what?â Mrs. Hardy asked, and her sons told of the whistling bottle.

âWell, Iâm relieved to know thatâs all the trouble you ran into,â Mrs. Hardy said.

âOh, there was more,â Joe said. âBy the way, whereâs Dad?â

âOut of town. But he left a message. Itâs in a sealed envelope on his desk.â

Frank and Joe hastened to their fatherâs study, found the envelope addressed to them, and tore it open. Inside was a terse note telling his sons that fingerprints found by the police in Mr. Jeffersonâs ransacked house were those of Hanleigh. They had been identified by the FBI in Washington, where the federal agency had a record of interstate frauds involving Hanleigh several years before. The local police were looking for him.

âAha! A con man. We might have known,â mumbled Joe.

The message went on to warn the boys again to be cautious and ended, âJust as in fishing through the ice, you have to be patient. Iâm confident that youâll land this big one.â

Frank and Joe were more excited about the case than ever. With a quick âgood-byâ to their mother and Aunt Gertrude, they hastened into their car and drove directly to Mr. Jeffersonâs place.

âFrank and Joe!â the elderly gentleman exclaimed when he answered the doorbell. âNice to see you! Let me take your jacketsâmy housekeeper is still away. Come right in. I hope you are enjoying your trip.â

âWeâre having a fine vacation,â said Frank as they took seats. âWe wanted to ask you about a few things.â Frank handed over the snapshot. âHave you ever seen this fellow?â

Mr. Jefferson stared at it in perplexity. âWhat in the world!â he exclaimed. âIâve never seen any such individual! Did you take this photograph on Cabin Island?â

âYes, sir,â Joe replied, and explained about the camera with the telescopic lens. The Hardys also told how they had observed Hanleigh examining the fireplace, and of overhearing Ike and Tadâs conversation in the boathouse.

âThe police informed me it was he who broke into my house,â Mr. Jefferson said indignantly. âThe rascal! He should be punished.â

The boys promised to do their utmost to apprehend him, and Frank told Mr. Jefferson of finding the carved iceboat.

Their hostâs voice trembled with excitement. âJohnny used to make iceboat models!â he exclaimed.

âOh, oh!â Joe said s eepishly. âFrank, I forgot to bring the model. Itâs still on the mantel.â

âI must see it,â Mr. Jefferson said.

âCan you come to the island with us?â Frank asked.

âBy all means!â

The three set off in the convertible for the boathouse. When he saw the Sea Gull, Mr. Jefferson looked apprehensive. âIâve never been in one of these contraptions. I understand they move rather swiftly.â

âWeâll put a rope seat belt on you and weâll be careful,â Joe assured him. He gave the elderly gentleman a spare helmet and goggles from the boathouse, then helped him aboard.

After a few moments of uneasiness at the speed of the Sea Gull and the nearness of the ice which flew beneath them, Mr. Jefferson appeared to relax and enjoy his ride. By the time they swept up to Cabin Island he was almost enthusiastic. âI never made better time in a motorboat!â He laughed.

When the three entered the cabin, Frank introduced Chet and Biff. Mr. Jefferson took a long, slow look around the room, then spotted the carved iceboat on the mantel. At once he hurried over to see it.

âJohnny made this!â he said with certainty, lifting the boat and running his fingers over its polished surface. âIâm convinced he did this carving recently. Itâs by far his finest.â

âDid Johnny teach himself woodworking?â Chet asked in admiration.

âYes,â Mr. Jefferson replied proudly. âThe boy became intrigued with iceboats when he was very small. He used to spend hours watching them on the bay, and frequently went to the local boat shop to see how the iceboats were made. Johnny would come home and carve until late at night.â

Next, the Hardys showed Mr. Jefferson the notebook containing the mysterious code and explained how they had found it. The man studied the book, shaking his head in amazement. âThis is the first Iâve heard of Sparewell in two years!â he declared. âThe cipher is a complete puzzle to me, but the book is exactly like himâmethodical to the last detail.â

âWhy would Sparewell make a map of Cabin Island?â Frank queried.

âI canât imagine what interest he might have had in the island.â With a sigh the old man pushed the book away. âIâm weary,â he said. âIâd better return.â

Once more the Hardys and Mr. Jefferson set off in the Sea Gull toward Bayport.

Suddenly Joe shouted, âLook out!â Frank glanced about and saw another iceboat skimming straight for them. Its two occupants wore woolen face masks, giving them a grotesque appearance.

With swift teamwork the Hardys swung the Sea Gull out of the collision path.

âItâs the Hawk!â Joe gasped.

Mr. Jefferson gave a hoarse cry. âHere they come again!â

As the other iceboat swooped alongside, one of the men lifted a short stout log from his lap and hurled it at the speeding Sea Gull.

Thud! It was a square hit on the bow. With a sickening swerve, the Sea Gull capsized. The temporary seat belts gave way. The Hardys and their passenger were flung across the ice!

CHAPTER XIII

The Fleeing Ghost

THE trio skidded across the glassy surface, with arms and legs flailing, until they came to a halt several yards from the overturned Sea Gull.

The Hardys had the breath knocked out of them but had suffered no injuries. Mr. Jefferson, however, lay motionless. Greatly concerned, the boys jumped up and hurried to the elderly manâs side.

âHeâs unconscious!â Frank said, and pointed to a swelling lump on Mr. Jeffersonâs temple.

Joe ran to the Sea Gull and returned with a blanket, in which they quickly wrapped the man. Frank chafed his wrists until Mr. Jefferson began to stir and moan. âWeâre going to crash!â he whispered.

âNo, Mr. Jefferson,â Frank said in a reassuring tone. âThe iceboat turned over, but weâre all safe.â

Their passenger raised his head and looked around. âWill you help me up, boys?â he asked. âIâm sure I havenât broken anything.â

Carefully the brothers assisted him to stand. âTake it easy,â Joe cautioned. âYou had a bad spill.â

âIâm all right. Just a bit shaky.â

âWeâll get you back to the cabin where itâs warm just as fast as we can,â Frank promised. âYouâre in no shape for a run to Bayport.â He and Joe righted the Sea Gull and saw with relief that the mast was not damaged.

âThe runner plankâs a little out of alignment,â Frank noted.

âThat wonât delay us,â Joe said. âThe bowâs scraped, too, but thereâs nothing we canât fix.â

Frank eyed the improvised seat belts which had torn loose. âThey couldnât take the strain,â he remarked. The boys retied the ropes.

âThatâll have to do for now,â Joe said. âWe were lucky this accident wasnât worse,â he added as the boys helped Mr. Jefferson into the cockpit.

âIâd like to report those ruffians,â the elderly man fumed, âbut we couldnât see their faces.â

Frank said grimly, âWe know the owners of the boat. They covered up the name, but Iâd recognize the Hawk anywhere.â

âThatâs no help, though,â Joe added glumly. âWe still canât prove Ike and Tad were the ones who attacked us.â

In a few moments the Sea Gull was skimming toward Cabin Island. As they approached the boathouse, Joe suddenly pointed. âFrank!â he cried out. âDo you see what I see?â

âYes! The ghost!â

The mysterious white-robed figure was halfway up to the cabin. It was proceeding stealthily through the bushes and pines that grew thickly on the incline. As Mr. Jefferson stared ahead startled, Joe grasped the camera to which the telescopic lens was still attached. âIâm going to take another shot of that fellow.â

His brother restrained him. âWait! Youâll only get his back. Letâs sneak up close to him and see if we can snap him face view.â

âGood idea,â Mr. Jefferson said approvingly. âYou boys go ahead. Iâll wait in the boat.â

A moment later the Hardys braked the craft and tied it to a tree alongside the boathouse. Silently they hurried up the wooded slope until they were a short distance behind the ghostlike figure.

A sudden idea struck Frank. He took out his police whistle and showed it to his brother. âMaybe thisâll help us nab him,â he whispered.

Joe nodded. âGot you.â Cautiously the two advanced toward the prowler, who had now stopped and was peering out at the cabin from behind a tree. When the boys were a couple of yards away they paused also. Frank gave a signal, and as Joe raised the camera, blew a shrill blast on the whistle.

The âghostâ whirled about, and Joe snapped the picture. Frank blew several more blasts in rapid succession, and the robed figure bolted across the slope. At the same instant, Chet and Biff burst from the cabin and looked around wildly.

âCatch him!â Frank cried as he and Joe broke into a run.

All four boys bounded after the ghostly form, who darted nimbly in and out of the trees like a frightened deer. Dusk was beginning to fall and it was not long before the boys lost sight of the white robe against the snow.

They paused for breath, straining their eyes to pierce the gathering gloom. Then Frank barely made out the fleeing figure at the bottom of the hill. The pursuers plunged downward, but by the time they reached the spot, the âghostâ had vanished. There was not a sign of him on the ice.

Doggedly the boys continued to search along the shoreline, but had no luck. At last Joe said glumly, âNo use going any farther. Itâs too dark to see.â

Frank agreed. âWeâd better get back and pick up Mr. Jefferson.â

On the way to the boathouse, the Hardys told Biff and Chet of the accident to the Sea Gull, deliberately caused by the Hawk.

Biff knotted his fists angrily. âIâd sure like to give those two guys a good stiff wallop.â

âOf course we donât know for sure that they were Ike and Tad,â Joe pointed out.

âWho else?â Chet groaned. âSome relaxing vacation this is!â

The young sleuths reached the Sea Gull and found Mr. Jefferson waiting anxiously for news. âAfraid the âghostâ escaped again, sir,â Frank said regretfully, helping the old gentleman from the boat.

As the group walked slowly up the hill, Mr. Jefferson shook his head, plainly disturbed. âSomething very sinister is happening here. I certainly want to find out who is responsible, and what his motive is, but I do not want you boys getting into danger on my account.â

âWeâll keep on our guard,â Joe assured him. âBut weâre all determined to see this mystery through.â

âYou can bet on that!â Biff declared stoutly.

Inside the cabin, Chet added logs to the fire as Joe eagerly took the picture from the self-developing camera. âNow weâll get a look at our ghost,â he said.

The others crowded around and Joe held up the photograph of a young, dark-skinned man with startled eyes.

âWe must catch him!â Frank cried out

âSeems to be the same as the one in the first picture I took,â Joe observed.

âAt least weâll recognize his features if we spot him again,â Frank said.

Mr. Jefferson sank down on the sofa and sighed wearily. âI give up. This mystery is too much for me.â

Frank urged him to rest for a while. The elderly man, smiling wanly, stretched out.

âYouâd better plan to stay overnight, Mr. Jefferson,â Joe advised.

âIâd like to. I havenât spent a night on Cabin Island in years.â

Meanwhile, Chet had gone into the kitchen and in a short time announced that supper was ready. Everyone did full justice to the hearty meal of fried chicken and hot biscuits. Afterward Frank offered their host the use of his sleeping sack.

âThanks a lot, but I donât like to put you out.â

âI insist, Mr. Jefferson,â Frank said. âWe fellows will take turns standing guard tonight, anyhow, so only three of us will be sleeping at a time.â

A nervous look crossed Chetâs face. âAnd I can guess why! Youâre expecting another visit from that ghost!â

Biff could not resist needling his chunky pal. âJust think, Chet. You might even have the honor of nabbing him.â

âOh swell! I can hardly wait!â Chet rolled his eyes dramatically and the others laughed.

âOr,â Joe remarked, growing serious, âHanleigh may return for the notebook, if heâs the person who lost it.â

When Mr. Jefferson had retired, Frank said, âLetâs try to decipher the message!â

The boys sat down with pencils and paper. The Hardys told their friends more about solving substitution ciphers, and they all worked diligently for nearly two hours.

Finally Joe declared, âThis code is a tough one. Iâve tried a number of combinations, but so far no luck.â

Biff stretched and yawned. âMy brain wonât work any more. Letâs get some sleep.â

Joe offered to take the first watch, and Frank the second.

âIâll put in for last!â Chet requested wearily. Everyone laughed, and the plump boy protested. âWell, Iâve been doing all the hard work in the kitchen!â

Biff grinned. âOkay. Iâm third.â

âWeâd better be ready for action,â Frank advised. âDonât get undressed.â

But hours later when Biff finished his watch, the place was still quiet. He awakened Chet, who wandered drowsily into the living room. Yawning, he stared into the steadily burning fire.

âI have to keep alert!â he told himself with determination.

Chet began to pace around the room, trying to shake off his sleepiness. At last, when night was beginning to lift in the east, he sat down in a big soft chair near the fireplace.

The cabinâs stillness and the warmth from the crackling logs was lulling. Chetâs lids grew heavy, his head dropped, and he dozed.

Suddenly a loud bang jolted him awake. For a moment he was speechless, then a yell of fright burst from his lips. Before his chair hulked a dark figure!

CHAPTER XIV

Chimney-top Discovery

As Chet shouted, the intruder streaked across the cabin and out the door, which was swinging wide open.

âHelp! Fellows!â Chet bounced out of his chair, heart thumping with excitement, and dashed wildly in pursuit. But by the time he reached the doorway, the figure was already disappearing into the woods.

âWhatâs up?â cried Frank as he burst into the room. Joe and Biff were close at his heels.

âSomebody was in here!â Chet said, shivering as the wind whipped into the cabin. âI drowsed off, and when I woke up, the guy was standing right in front of me! He ran down the hill!â

âIt may be a ruse to get us out of the house,â Frank said. He and Joe hastily pulled on their parkas and boots. âChet, you and Biff stay on guardâhe may try to circle back!â

Rushing outside, the Hardys quickly spotted the intruderâs tracksâclear bootprints in the thin layer of fresh snow that had fallen during the night. They followed the trail down the wooded slope.

âHe headed across the ice!â Joe exclaimed as they reached the shore. Pressing forward, the Hardy boys strained their eyes to peer through the gray dawn mist, but it was not light enough for them to see the fugitive.

âHis tracks lead toward the mainland,â Frank observed. âCome on!â

As the young sleuths crossed the frozen cove, they found that the snowy prints were more widely spaced.

âOh, oh,â said Joe. âHe started running here.â When the brothers reached the mainland, breathing heavily, they exchanged looks of disappointment. The trail ended at a place where tire prints showed a car had been parked.

âThat fellow didnât waste any time!â Frank exclaimed in chagrin. âHe must have had a big lead on us, or weâd have heard the motor.â

âI guess we may as well go back,â Joe said.

The two trudged across the ice. The sun was rising as they hiked up the slope to the cabin. Inside, a fire was blazing and Chet, Biff, and Mr. Jefferson sat in front of it drinking hot cocoa.

âNo luck,â Joe said, and reported what they had found.

âFellows, Iâm sorry I let you down,â Chet said sheepishly. âI dozed off and never knew the guy was in here until the door banged against the wall. He must have left it unlatched and the wind blew it open.â

âThatâs okay, Chet,â said Frank. âWhat did he look like?â

âI was too scared to notice, except that he was big. Besides, he was facing the fireplace. I donât think it was the ghost, though,â Chet added, âbecause he didnât have on white.â

âCould have been Hanleigh,â Frank remarked.

âIt must have been,â Chet admitted.

âHe still is interested in the fireplace,â Frank observed.

âBut why?â Mr. Jefferson asked. âI built this place. Nothingâs in the fireplace.â

Frank hesitated, unwilling to raise the old gentlemanâs hopes. âThat remains to be seen. Is there a chisel here?â

âYes,â Chet replied, âin the toolbox in the kitchen.â He hastened out and returned at once with the tool.

Despite the heat, Frank stepped close to the fireplace with the chisel and pried at the stones, hoping to find one that moved. Meanwhile, Joe brought a ladder from the kitchen and climbed up to test the chimney rocks which Frank could not reach.

âNo use,â Joe finally admitted. âTheyâre cemented in tight.â

Frank agreed. âIf there is a loose stone, it might be outside. Letâs take a look!â

Chet cooked breakfast while the other boys were gone. The wind was blowing hard as the trio carried the ladder around the end of the cabin to the chimney.

âLetâs check the bottom first,â Frank said. This time Joe used the chisel as they poked and pushed at each of the large stones.

Biff shook his head. âNo luck there.â

âIâll go up on the roof and examine the chimney,â Joe said.

Biff and Frank lifted the ladder and placed it beside the chimney. The legs sank into the snow and slid on the ice beneath, so that the boys had to brace the ladder with their feet to keep it from falling.

âYou twoâll have to be my anchor man,â Joe said. He put the chisel into his pocket, and as Biff and Frank leaned their weight against the ladder, he climbed to the roof. Joe crawled onto the edge and stood up gingerly. The heat from the fire below had melted the surrounding snow and the wet shingles were slippery. Joe made his way around the chimney, testing each stone patiently with his chisel, but none was loose.

As he rested a moment Joe noticed a fragment of yellow material caught between two stones just inside the chimney top.

Squinting against the smoke, Joe reached in and worked the material loose. With watering eyes, he stuffed it into his pocket and turned his face away. After a few moments his vision cleared and he could see the entire island belowâblanketed in white.

Suddenly his glance was caught by a dark patch ringed by tall rocks on the brow of the cliff. As he stared hard at it, the wind suddenly cut sharp across his face and showered him with snow from the roof. Half-blinded, he felt his way around the chimney to the ladder.

âBe careful!â Frank called, but the wind whipped the words away. The next moment Joe slipped and he fell with a cry. Instinctively he grabbed for a rung and caught it. The ladder skidded at the jolt and the boys below struggled to hold it steady. Shakily Joe climbed down.

âThanks,â he gasped, reaching the ground.

Buffeted by the wind, the three boys made their way into the cabin.

âAny luck?â Mr. Jefferson asked as they took off their parkas.

âI found this inside the chimney,â said Joe, and took the piece of yellow material from his pocket.

âItâs a piece of a tape measure!â Frank exclaimed. âSee, itâs marked one inch.â

âIt was stuck tight,â Joe said. âSomeone must have torn the tape trying to pull it lose.â

âBut why measure the inside of the chimney?â Chet asked.

âMaybe the person thinks the loose stone is in the chimney lining,â Mr. Jefferson suggested.

âYou mean there are two layers?â Biff asked, surprised.

âYes. My stone mason insisted on a lined chimney as a safety measure.â Then he added, âWhat makes you so sure there is something hidden in the chimney?â

âWeâre not certain,â Frank confessed. âWe suspect it because of Hanleighâs interest in the fireplace. But for all we know, he may be on the wrong track.â

âWe must crack the code,â Joe declared. âThat will probably give us the answer.â

âNot before breakfast,â Chet said firmly. âIâm about to make the pancakes.â He hurried to the kitchen and a short time later served stacks of golden-brown cakes, with a pitcher of hot maple syrup and a platter of spicy sausages.

âChet, youâve redeemed yourself!â Joe exclaimed, between mouthfuls. âThis hits the spot after our early-morning exercise!â

Mr. Jefferson was quiet during most of the meal. Finally he said, âDo you know? It has just occurred to me that Sparewell mentioned a relative named Hanleigh.â

Frank asked eagerly, âWhat did he say about him?â

âIt was so long agoâI canât remember,â Mr. Jefferson replied.

âThat may be an important clue!â Joe exclaimed. âPerhaps Johnny stumbled onto the connection somehow and decided to start trailing Hanleigh.â

âYes,â Frank went on, âif Johnny was determined to solve the puzzle of your missing medals, he may have dug up information about Sparewellâs past and learned the names of relatives. Then, when Hanleigh showed up at your home, Johnny had his chance to follow him.â

âItâs all supposition,â Mr. Jefferson said with a sigh. âWhat we need are facts.â

âWell, speaking of facts,â said Joe, âare there hot springs on this island, Mr. Jefferson?â

The man looked at him in amazement. âHot springs! Certainly not! My goodness, Joe, whatever made you ask that?â

âOh,â Joe mumbled vaguely, ânothingâjust an idea.â But his eyes met Frankâs and the older boy bit back a grin.

âNothing, my foot!â he said to himself. âJoeâs found a clue!â

CHAPTER XV

The Shahâs Prize

âWHAT can Joeâs lead be?â Frank wondered. He knew his brother was not ready to talk about it in front of the others.

Frank turned to Mr. Jefferson, who seemed sunk in despair. âDonât give up hope,â the boy said kindly. âWeâll keep trying to find Johnny and your medals, too.â

âIf anyone can locate âem, the Hardys can,â Chet put in.

âI know that. Youâre all fine lads, and will do your best,â Mr. Jefferson said, brightening somewhat. âI think Iâd better return home now.â

âAre you sure you feel strong enough, sir?â Biff asked anxiously.

âYes, indeed,â the man assured him. âIâm warm now, too. And if you donât mind, Iâll take along this iceboat model. It will give me reassurance that Johnny will come home.â

âCertainly, Mr. Jefferson,â Frank said, taking the boat from the mantle.

âAnd Sparewellâs notebook,â Mr. Jefferson added suddenly. âIt may contain clues for my detectives.â

Frank spoke up. âWeâd like to keep the notebook a little longer. Joe and I want to study it carefully and crack that code.â

Mr. Jefferson nodded. âOf course. Youâve certainly earned the right to examine it first. But please be careful, boys. Possession of the notebook may be dangerous, if someone else wants it badly enough.â

Joe offered to stand guard on the island while the others accompanied Mr. Jefferson to the mainland.

A short time later the Sea Gull went whizzing out of the cove, with Frank at the tiller. They made a quick trip to the Hardysâ boathouse, then drove to the Jefferson home.

As Frank parked the convertible, Chet suddenly gave a gasp of disbelief. He pointed a quivering finger at the wide front porch and cried out, âItâsâitâs the ghost!â

Frank leaped from the car, with Chet and Biff close behind him and Mr. Jefferson following slowly.

The white-robed, turbaned figure darted away from the door as the boys dashed up the front walk. He jumped off the far end of the porch and disappeared around the side of the house. The three youths sprinted in pursuit, but soon stopped short, scanning the landscape. Their eyes roved over the snow-covered walks and flower beds, the birdbaths capped with ice, and the bare bushes and trees. The âghostâ could not be seen.

âThat white robe is great camouflage against the snow,â Biff commented glumly.

âLetâs split up and search!â Frank directed quickly.

The boys hunted while Mr. Jefferson stood and watched in tense silence. Suddenly Frank noticed a blur of whiteness moving behind a hedge of low junipers.

The young sleuth stepped backward, took a running start, and vaulted the shrubs. A loud cry split the air as he landed on top of a crouching figure. The two rolled over, struggling.

âHold âim, Frank!â yelled Biff. He and Chet sprinted up and yanked the slender, white-robed man to his feet. The boys gasped as they got a clear look at the prisonerâs dark-skinned, frightened face. No doubt about it, he was the man in the photo!

âOkay, Mister Ghostâwhatâs your story?â Biff blurted angrily. âYou have a lot of explaining to do.â

âTake it easy,â Frank told his friend. âLetâs get him inside first.â

Panting, the captive was led into the house.

âNow then,â said Mr. Jefferson when they had all gathered in the living room, âwho are you? And why have you been prowling on my property?â

The swarthy man replied in a soft, slightly accented voice, âI apologize for my seeming intrusions. I ran because I was startled, and also these young men have pursued me previously. The last time one of them was carrying a firearm.â

The Hardys grinned and Frank said, âMy brother Joe was holding a camera with a telescopic lens. From a distance it does resemble a rifle.â

âAh,â said the man, âI see.â He smiled faintly. âI am seeking Mr. Elroy Jefferson.â

âI am he,â said Mr. Jefferson. âJust what is it you want?â

The stranger now stood up and took an official-looking red-and-gold diplomatic passport from inside his robe. With a slight bow, he showed it to Mr. Jefferson.

âI am Yussef ben Karim. I represent the ruler of my countryâour great Shah Ali. I understand that among your valuable medals is one that was given many years ago to the Shahâs grandfather. This medal is most prized by my master and he has authorized me to pay whatever sum is required to obtain it.â

Mr. Jefferson shook his head. âIâm sorry to say that I donât have your medal. I once owned it, but unfortunately my collection was stolen. Iâm still searching for it.â

Yussef looked bewildered. âBut I was given to understand that Mr. Hanleigh would have the medal for me.â

The boys and Mr. Jefferson exchanged startled looks. âWhat do you mean?â Mr. Jefferson asked.

âMr. Hanleigh sent word to the Shah last summer saying that you had appointed him to act as your agent, and I was instructed to meet him here, which I did. You, sir, were not at home. Mr. Hanleigh first told me that he had the medal, but later he declared it was not in his handsâthat he would have it soon. I beg you, what is the truth?â

âThatâs what weâre trying to find out,â Frank interjected. âYussef, that man Hanleigh was lying to you. For one thing, Iâm quite sure he had no right to pose as Mr. Jeffersonâs agentââ

âHe most certainly did not,â the elderly man stated emphatically as Frank turned to him for confirmation. âHanleigh is the last man in the world whom I would entrust with such a matter, even if I still had the medals and wished to sell them.â

âWhatâs more,â Frank added, âHanleigh probably doesnât have the medals, either, and never did have them.â

Yussefâs face registered concern. âI was afraid of that. The Shah will be grievously angered.â

Frank told Yussef that the boys were working on the mystery, and added, âMy theory is that Hanleighâs scheme in contacting the Shah was to set up channels through which he could sell the medalsâif he found themâwithout being prosecuted. We suspect Hanleigh has been searching for the collection on Cabin Island.â

âTell me, Yussef,â Biff put in, âwhat were you doing on the island?â

The man said apologetically, âI am sorry. I did not intend to trespass. I had begun to suspect Mr. Hanleighâs story about the medal, and followed him there on two occasions. Like you, I could not escape the impression that he was seeking something hidden and wondered if it might be the Shahâs medal.â

âAnd you looked for it yourself?â Frank asked.

âThat is correct. But I had no success, and finally I deemed it wise to come directly to Mr. Jefferson.â

âHow did you get to Cabin Island?â Chet asked.

âBut of course, I walked,â Yussef replied with a smile. âI overheard Mr. Hanleigh talking with the two young men whom I have seen transporting him to the island in an ice-going craft.â

âNow you understand the whole situation, Yussef,â said Mr. Jefferson. âI agree with my young detective friends that Mr. Hanleigh evidently hopes to locate the medals for his own gainâincluding the one desired by your ruler.â

âIt is a great misfortune to have lost so fine a treasure,â Yussef declared sympathetically, âand to be persecuted by an unscrupulous person such as Mr. Hanleigh.â

âAt least we wonât be off chasing ghosts!â Chet added a little sheepishly. âWhen I first saw you, I thought you were a spook!â

The foreign visitor laughed along with the others, then Frank said, âWeâd better get back to the island and see how Joeâs making out.â

Yussefâs expression became somber. Gravely he said to Frank, âIf your brother is alone there, you must hurry to him. I have a feeling he is in danger. Mr. Hanleigh can be violent.â

âWe know it,â said Frank. âWeâll leave right away.â

Meanwhile, Joe had left the cabin with the binoculars and was trudging toward the cliff, eager to test the theory that had been forming in his mind.

As he stepped from the shelter of the woods, the sunlight was dazzling on the snowy ground which led to the cliff edge. Beyond lay the frozen bay.

Joeâs eyes sought the circle of tall stones he had seen from the roof. They stood near the edge of the cliff about fifty yards to his right. With a surge of excitement, he strode toward them. âNowââ he said to himself, âweâll see!â

Suddenly Joe stopped. Below, an iceboat was skimming across the inlet. He swung his binoculars up and trained them on the craft. Joe stiffened.

âThe Hawk!â he muttered. âIke, Tad, and Hanleigh!â

Quickly Joe made his way downhill and hid in a clump of bushes near the dock. He watched as the craft was guided ashore and tied up. The three paused close enough for Joe to hear Hanleigh say:

âYou punks keep an eye out for the Hardys and their pals. Give a shout if you see anyone coming.â Then the man started toward the cabin.

Joe waited until Ike and Tad had walked off down the shore, then returned noiselessly up the slope. Cautiously he peered into the living room of the cabinâno one was there. Joe hurried to the rear and crouched among some bushes below the window of the Hardysâ bedroom. He raised his head and peered in.

Hanleigh was rummaging through the brothersâ belongings! âBet heâs looking for the notebook,â Joe thought. âGood thing Frank has it with him.â

Suddenly Hanleigh spun around and Joe ducked. He heard the manâs outraged bellow. âSpying again, are you!â

CHAPTER XVI

The Intruderâs Revenge

âHow did Hanleigh spot me?â Joe thought desperately, crouched low amidst the bushes. Moments later, the kitchen door opened and footsteps scrunched toward him on the snow.

To Joeâs surprised relief, the big man strode past his hiding place and disappeared around the side of the cabin. Before Joe could move, Hanleighâs angry voice rang out.

âCouldnât resist snooping, could you?â he snarled. âI havenât paid you two just for taxi serviceâIâve been paying you to mind your own business.â

Ike Nash and Tad Carson!

Joe smiled wryly. âThey must have been looking through that little end window in my bedroom.â

Ikeâs whining voice came to his ears. âWe were freezing! Thereâs a fierce wind off the ice.â

âThatâs a real shame!â Hanleigh retorted. âYou fellows come with me. Iâll show you a place to keep warm!â

The three rounded the corner and Joe held his breath as they plodded past him. He poked his head from the bushes in time to see Hanleigh open the woodshed. âWait in there!â he ordered.

Unsuspecting, the two roughnecks stepped inside. Hanleigh pushed the door shut and bolted it. âIâll take good care of the Hawk for you!â he sang out tauntingly.

From within the shed came angry yells as Ike and Tad pounded violently on the door. Chortling, Hanleigh turned toward the kitchen.

âLet us out of here!â Ike screamed.

âYou donât know how to run the iceboat!â Tad cried frantically.

âOh, stop your chatter!â Hanleigh shouted. âI wonât wreck it! Do you think Iâd take a chance with my own skin?â

Again the two prisoners pounded and kicked at the door. âYou got no right to hold us!â Ike yelled. Hanleigh paid no attention.

Joe came to a sudden decision. âI must hold Hanleigh here until the others get back!â

The young sleuth stood up resolutely and called out, âSo youâre trespassing again, Mr. Hanleigh!â

The man gave a start. Upon seeing Joe, his face contorted in rage. âYou meddling spy!â he shouted. âIâm not trespassing. I came after my own property! Get out of my way!â

Joe walked up to Hanleigh and asked calmly, âDid you lose a notebook? One that has John Sparewellâs name inside?â

Again Hanleigh started guiltily. âI donât know anything about a notebook,â he replied sullenly. âI came for my wallet. I lost it last time I was here. You probably found it, and youâd better turn it over or Iâll have the law on you!â

âDid the message in code tell you to come looking for something valuable on Cabin Island?â Joe persisted.

Hanleigh swung his fist. Joe ducked and butted the man hard in the chest. With a grunt Hanleigh staggered back against the cabin.

âYouâre a scrapper, eh?â he panted.

âAnything you start, Iâll finish,â Joe said. He watched the man warily, but Hanleigh only gave an ugly smile. âIâll fix you later,â he said softly. âNo use hanging around now.â

He turned and plunged down the hill. Joe followed, keeping an eye on him. At the dock Hanleigh untied the Hawk and sped for the inlet.

âToo bad I couldnât hold him here,â Joe thought. Then he remembered Ike and Tad in the woodshed, and grinned. âBut I still have his buddies!â

He headed quickly up the hill toward the cliff. At the top Joe looked down, but could see no sign of the Hawk. âHanleigh made good time,â he said to himself, then the young detectiveâs thoughts returned to the cluster of stones he wanted to investigate.

When Joe reached the spot, he quickly circled the tall rocks and spotted a narrow opening between two of them. He stepped through and found himself on a small patch of rocky ground, damp with melted snow. He knelt and felt the stones. They were warm! From several crevices arose wisps of smoke.

âSomebody has built a fire below,â he murmured. âClever! Nobodyâd ever notice the smoke.â

The thin streams drifting to the top disappeared in the wind.

The next moment Joe heard a noise and a soft laugh behind him. For an instant he froze. Hanleigh! Too late the boy flung himself sideways. A hard blow landed on the back of his head. He sank into darkness!

When Joe regained consciousness, he was first aware of the intense cold and of a throbbing sensation in the back of his head. His aching eyes saw a low roof of snow above him. Then he realized his wrists and ankles were tightly bound.

âHanleigh!â Joe thought. âWhere is he?â

The big man was nowhere in sight. Joe struggled to free himself, but every movement tightened the stout cords.

âBoy, what a mess!â Joe muttered in disgust. âIâll just have to wait until Frank and the others come back.â He noticed that his feet and hands were growing numb, but managed to wiggle his toes and fingers. âIâll have a swell case of frostbite if they donât show up soon.â

At that moment Frank, Chet, and Biff were streaking toward the inlet in the Sea Gull. Suddenly Chet pointed. âLook!â

Out of the narrow channel sped an iceboat with a lone occupant at the tiller.

âHanleigh!â Frank exclaimed. âI wonder what happened to Ike and Tad!â A chill went through him. âAnd what about Joe?â

âLetâs go after Hanleigh!â Biff cried out.

Frank shook his head. âWe should get to the island pronto. Somethingâs fishy about this whole business. Joe may be in danger.â

In a short time the Sea Gull was tied up, and the three boys hurried straight up the slope to the cabin.

Frank threw open the door. âJoe!â he called anxiously. âHey, Joe!â

There was no answer.

âListen!â Chet exclaimed. Loud bangings and scufflings could be heard.

âJoe might be locked in the attic!â Biff said. They all rushed into the kitchen, then paused in confusion.

âNot the attic,â Frank said. âThose sounds are coming from the woodshed!â

The others followed as he dashed outside and unbolted the door of the lean-to. âJoeââ he began, then stopped abruptly as Ike and Tad half stumbled into the open.

âWhat are you two doing here?â Biff demanded in amazement.

âWhereâs Joe?â Chet asked.

âJoe?â Tad snapped. âWhereâs Hanleigh? And the Hawk?â

âYeah!â Ike put in. âThat guyâs a dirty double crosser. He tricked us into this icebox and locked us up.â

âRight now Hanleighâs taking off in your boat,â Frank told them, then added sternly, âNever mind about him. What happened to my brother?â

âDonât look at usâwe never saw him!â Tad replied. âWe thought you were all away from the island.â

âAfter Hanleigh trapped us in that shed, we donât know what he did,â Ike added, whining. âWe just kept banging and yelling.â

âMaybe youâll be more careful what kind of people you take up with after this,â Chet said. âAnd think twice about causing boat accidents, too.â

âAw, cut the lecture, fatso,â Ike sneered.

Frank turned to Biff and Chet. âIâm going to find Joe. Somethingâs happened to him. You take those two inside, and donât let them go. I want to question them later.â

âYou think Joe is in danger?â Chet asked fearfully.

Frank looked worried. âIâm afraid so. Itâs a big island,â he added grimly. âI hope weâre not too late.â

CHAPTER XVII

The Dangerous Climb

âJOE!â Frank called repeatedly as he slowly circled the island searching for his brother. The young sleuth had nearly reached the cliff when his shouts were answered by a faint cry.

âHere! Over here!â Then silence.

Frank thought the sounds had come from a clump of tangled underbrush and hastened to it. Pulling aside the snowy branches, he saw Joe. The blond boy was so numb that he could barely move his lips. Quickly Frank untied the cords on his brotherâs ankles and wrists.

âThink you can walk?â

âIâll try,â came the faint reply.

Joe leaned heavily on his brother and the pair made their way haltingly toward the cabin. When they drew near, Frank shouted, âBiff! Hurry!â

The muscular youth came sprinting outside and together he and Frank carried Joe into the living room and placed him on the sofa. Chet, heaving a sigh of relief, rushed to get a blanket.

After a few minutes, Joe felt stronger. Presently he drank a cup of hot cocoa, then said, âIâm okay.â

Just then he noticed Ike and Tad, standing glumly next to the fireplace. Joe grinned. âDid you have a nice warm wait in the woodshed, fellows?â As they scowled, Joe told his story without mentioning why he had gone to the cliff or what he had found there.

When Joe had finished, Biff strode over angrily to Ike and Tad. âWhatâs Hanleigh after on Cabin Island?â

âThatâs what we wanted to find out,â Ike answered. âSay, wonât you guys give us a lift to Bayport so we can find the Hawk?â

âAre you kidding?â Chet retorted scornfully. âYou expect a ride in the Hardysâ iceboat after you tried twice to wreck it?â

âHow did Hanleigh find out we were going to stay on Cabin Island?â Joe queried.

âWe were picking him up down the road when he spotted you packing the Sea Gull,â Tad explained. âHanleigh eavesdropped on you near the boathouse and heard your plans.â

âWeâve just been doing his dirty work,â Ike said sourly.

âYou could have injured someone seriously throwing that log at the Sea Gull,â Frank said. âMr. Jefferson was knocked out.â

âDonât blame me. I wasnât there!â Ike whined.

âItâs true,â Tad admitted. âHanleigh and I wore masks. It was his idea to disable your boat.â

âBut how could you be sure we would be coming out in the Sea Gull at that time?â Joe asked.

âWe were on our way to the island when we saw you,â Tad replied. âHanleigh changed his mind about the trip and decided to ram you. He made me take him ashore to pick up a log. Then we lay in wait near the inlet. We didnât realize you had the old man until too late.â

Despite further intensive questioning, Ike and Tad stuck to their statement that they knew nothing of Hanleighâs quest on Cabin Island, nor had they seen a boy answering Johnny Jeffersonâs description. Finally the troublemakers departed, grumbling, to walk home.

As soon as the door had closed behind them, Joe swung off the couch. âFellows,â he said, âIâve something to tell you.â

âAnd about time!â exclaimed Frank. âIâve been burning with curiosity. Why did you ask Mr. Jefferson about the hot springs?â

âAnd what were you doing on the cliff?â Chet put in.

Joe interrupted. âTake it easy. Let me explain. I think I know where Johnny Jefferson is.â

âWhere?â chorused the others.

âIn a cave in the cliff.â

âHow do you figure that?â Biff asked.

Joe told about spotting the patch of dark ground from the cabin roof. âAt first I figured there was a hot spring melting the snow. Later it occurred to me that, instead, there might be a cave under the spot. If someone built a fire in it and there were crevices in the roof leading to the surface, the smoke would come up and the heat would melt the snow.â

Frankâs eyes flashed with excitement. âGreat deduction, Joe!â

âI got only as far as the circle of stones,â Joe went on. âSmoke was coming up, so Iâm sure somebody was in the caveâprobably Johnny. But Hanleigh knocked me out before I could look for the entrance.â

âThen he dragged you to a place where you could freeze waiting to be rescued,â Biff put in grimly.

âThe mouth of the cave is probably in the cliff face!â Frank declared. He jumped up and started pulling on his parka. âCome on! Weâll surprise Johnny and bring him back here!â

âWait!â exclaimed Chet. âFirst lunch!â

After a quick snack, the boys headed for the cliff. On the way, Frank told his brother about the meeting with Yussef.

Joe whistled. âHanleighâs a sharp operator, all right. I wish I couldâve made him admit he was after the medals. He was plenty upset when he found out we had the book and the coded message. Iâm sure he hasnât solved the cipher yet,â Joe added.

When the boys reached open ground at the top of the cliff, they were met by an icy blast from the bay. Frank glanced anxiously at the leaden sky.

âStorm coming,â he muttered.

Joe showed them the sheltered spot in the circle of stones. No smoke was rising.

âThe fire must have gone out,â Frank commented.

âSince the cave is right under here,â said Chet, âthe way down may be nearby.â

âLetâs look for footprints leading to the edge of the cliff,â Biff suggested.

âIt wonât be much use,â Frank said, shaking his head. âThis wind will have swept them away.â

The boys walked to the rim and looked down at the jumble of ice-coated crags which jutted out, hiding the sheer wall below.

Biff shivered. âOne slip and good-by!â

âMaybe weâd better forget about it,â Chet said hopefully.

âNo,â Frank answered. âIf Johnny Jefferson can get down there, so can we. But we need our creepers and flashlights.â

âIâll go back and get them,â Chet volunteered quickly, and started toward the cabin.

âHurry!â Frank called after him. âItâll be dark soon.â

âItâs dark in here already,â Chet muttered as he entered the woods. He plowed along the trail the boys had made earlier, wishing he had not come alone. The white woods was eerie and the pines moaned and tossed in the wind, showering him with snow.

Once Chet put up an arm to protect his face and stumbled off the trail into a clump of brush. He fought clear, found the path again, and went on.

Suddenly the wind stopped. Startled by the silence, Chet paused.

Why did he feel he was not alone?

As he stood, breathing heavily, he heard a low moan behind him. It rose into a weird cry and trailed off into silence.

Chetâs lips opened and closed, but he made no sound. With effort he forced himself to look back. Was there something tall and white standing against a snowy bush? As he strained to see, the thing vanished among the trees. With a hoarse cry Chet plunged down the trail and did not stop until he was in the cabin. Gasping, he locked the door and leaned against it.

âCanât be sure I saw anything,â he had to admit, a little ashamed. âBut I heard that weird cry, I know.â

The thought of his companions waiting on the cold cliff top forced Chet to gather up the creepers and flashlights and go out again. By the time he came to the end of the woods, he was red-faced from running.

âOver here!â Frank called, and Chet hastened along the cliff top to where his friends were waiting.

âFellows,â he burst out, âthereâs another ghost here! I saw it in the woods!â

Joe grinned and took the equipment from his plump friend. âGreat joke, Chet, but weâve heard it before.â

âIâm not kidding! It gave a terribleââ

âWeâve no time to waste,â Frank broke in, hanging a flashlight on his belt. âGet your gear on.â Grumbling, Chet obeyed.

âWe think this is the best place to start down,â Frank told him.

He walked to a crevice in the cliff edge about six feet deep, and lowered himself to the bottom. From there he stepped to a flat icy ledge, digging in hard. Beyond it stood another jutting stone. Frank moved ahead, and, one by one, the others followed him on rough footholds across the cliff.

Occasionally they stopped and examined the rocky wall for an opening, but saw none. Once Chet glanced toward the inlet and froze at the sight of the drop-off.

âDonât look down!â Joe shouted.

Frank, making his way along a ledge, stopped to look back at his companions. Just behind him was a narrow opening between the cliff and a slab of rock which angled out from it. About twenty feet above, Frank could see the circle of stones.

âThis may be the cave!â he thought, and signaled to the others.

As they stood in a line on the ledge, he indicated the opening and gestured for silence. Then Frank led the way into a dark passage which opened into a rock chamber, dimly lit by a pile of glowing embers.

âNobody here!â exclaimed Joe, his voice sounding hollow.

Against one wall was a stack of cans, food boxes, and pots. Nearby lay a sleeping bag, a carton of tumbled clothes, and an unlit kerosene lantern.

âThis is the hideout, all right,â Frank said. âWeâll settle down and wait for Johnny.â

âIt might take a long time,â Biff remarked.

âI doubt it,â said Frank. âWith a storm coming up, heâs probably heading for here right now.â

For a while the boys sat in silence, then suddenly they tensed. A footstep in the passage!

As they scrambled to their feet, Biff stumbled over the lantern. It turned over and clattered across the stone floor. Instantly the footsteps in the passage stopped, then hurried away.

âChet! Donât look down!â Joe shouted

âAfter him!â Frank cried out. âJohnny!â he called. âCome back! Weâre friends!â

As the boys emerged from the passage they were met by roaring wind and swirling snow. Frank shouted again, but the words were lost. Daylight was nearly gone. The boys peered back across the cliff, but there was no sign of anyone.

Anxiously the Hardys looked upward. Had the boy tried to climb to the crags above the cave mouth?

âNo one there!â said Joe.

âDonât see him anywhere!â shouted Biff.

With sinking hearts the four looked around the drop-off, each with the same unspoken fear.

Chet suggested, âMaybe heâs hiding behind a rock.â

âLetâs hope so,â Frank thought grimly, then said aloud, âNo one could survive a storm on this cliff. If Johnnyâs hurt or hiding, we must find him.â

It was decided that Joe and Biff would examine the cliff from above. Frank and Chet clambered down toward the drop-off. Now and then they stopped and shouted, and looked for a figure among the crags. But Johnny was not in sight nor did he reply.

When they reached the jutting rocks at the drop-off, the boys lay down and peered over the ledge. With a gasp Frank pointed. Something white lay among the jagged rocks at the base of the cliff.

âA wreck!â Chet said. âAn iceboat!â

âAnd thereâs somebody in it!â exclaimed Frank.

CHAPTER XVIII

The Crash

âSOMEBODYâS hurt!â said Frank. âCome on! Letâs get Joe and Biff.â

He and Chet climbed to the top of the cliff, where their companions were waiting.

âAny sign of Johnny?â Joe asked anxiously.

Frank shook his head and breathlessly told about the wrecked iceboat.

âWeâll find the nearest spot we can to climb down,â said Joe.

Frank took the lead. The foursome, their flashlights turned on, plodded through the deepening dusk and wind-whipped snow. Finally Frank stopped at the far end of the cliff, where the terrain sloped more gently. âI think we can make it here.â

The descent seemed interminable, since the boys had to wind their way around boulders, high drifts, and in and out of thickly growing pines. At last they reached the shore and stepped onto the ice. Facing into the screaming wind, they headed toward the cracked-up boat.

As the boys drew near the scene, Joe shone his beam on the tilted hull and yelled, âItâs the Hawk!â

âWhoâs the man?â Biff called as the others rushed up.

âHanleigh!â Frank exclaimed.

As the Hardys and their friends carefully freed the man, he regained consciousness. Groaning loudly, he clutched his right leg. It did not appear broken, so the Hardys helped him to his feet. Hanleigh took a few steps, then insisted he was in too much pain to walk.

âI think itâs just a wrenched muscle,â Frank muttered to Joe. âBut give me a hand and weâll carry him.â

Making a chair of their hands, Frank and Joe transported their heavy burden to the cabin, where they settled him on the sofa. Hanleigh grimaced with pain as Biff pulled off his boot. âI know my leg is broken,â he complained bitterly. âAnd I nearly froze to death out there!â

âYou had no qualms about leaving Joe to freeze in the snow this afternoon,â Frank said.

Hanleighâs only response was a prolonged groan.

âWhyâd you take the Hawk out in this storm?â Joe asked. âYou must have been desperate to pay us another visit! And in a stolen boat at that.â

âI only borrowed that old boat,â Hanleigh growled.

âWe know that isnât true,â Frank retorted.

Hanleigh raised his head to glare at the boys. âCut it out!â he snarled. âCanât you see Iâm in terrible pain? Youâd better get me to a doctor fast!â

âThatâs out of the question,â Frank said, âuntil the storm lets up.â

The boys exchanged uneasy glances. They realized that the violence of the storm also made it impossible to search for Johnny Jefferson.

âHanleigh,â Joe said sharply, âitâs high time you leveled with us. Have you seen Johnny Jefferson on this island?â

âI donât know what youâre talking about.â

Frank described the boy. âNow what about it? Have you seen him?â

âNo,â barked Hanleigh. âIâve seen nobody, butââ He broke off and looked uneasy.

âBut ghosts?â Joe asked with a grin.

âYou think itâs funny? Youâll find out!â

âWeâve already caught the spook in the attic,â said Biff. âIt was the wind blowing over a soda bottle.â

At the look of astonishment on Hanleighâs face, the boys laughed. âLet me alone!â he burst out. âI donât want to talk.â

He would say no more, but ate greedily of the hearty supper which Chet prepared. He maintained a stubborn silence, refusing to answer further questions put to him by the young sleuths.

The Hardys learned nothing from him about his interest in the fireplace or his meetings with Yussef. The boys noticed, however, that his eyes traveled frequently to the chimney.

Finally the injured man fell into a deep sleep. âAt least he canât escape,â Joe remarked. âToo bad we canât get some information out of him.â

âThereâs one thing we can do,â Frank said in a low tone. âBreak that code.â

The boys hurried into the kitchen, and Joe closed the door. They settled down at the table with pencil and paper, the notebook turned open to the page bearing the cryptic letters. Soon all four became oblivious to the stormâs increasing fury as they concentrated on the task.

Suddenly Frank exclaimed, âI think the first and second words are âCabin Islandâ!â

âHow can you tell?â Chet asked.

âThe number of letters are the same,â Frank pointed to the HJOSW and SHRJWN of the code.

âLook. The words cabin and island both contain A, I, and N. So, the letter J stands for A, S for I, and W is N.â

âTerrific!â Joe exclaimed. âThen, H is C, O is B, R equals L, and W stands for N.â

âLetâs try to find the key,â said Frank. âIâll set up the alphabet.â The others watched intently as he wrote:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ JOHN SRW H

âJohn Sparewell! Joe burst out. âBut what does H stand for?â

âHouseman, maybe,â Frank replied. âTry that. Thereâs a comma in the cipher,â he added. âIt may stand for R.â

âJohn Paul Sparewell, Houseman,â Joe read. âThatâs the key. Now substitute those letters for the ones in the code.â

Frank printed rapidly and held up the result:

HJOSW SHRJWN HLSEWPA RPAO
CABIN ISLAND CHIMNEY LEFT
A, EWO WSWP APPO L SUL
FRONT NINE FEET HIGH

âWeâve got it!â Joe exulted.

âBut,â said Biff, âweâve gone over all the chimney stones.â

âRemember, thereâs an inner lining,â Frank pointed out. âAs soon as the fire dies down, weâll check.â

âYou think Hanleigh deciphered the code?â Chet asked.

âNo,â Frank replied. âOtherwise he wouldnât have been so eager to recover the notebook.â

âIâd still like to know how he got his hands on it,â said Biff. âDid he steal it from John Sparewell?â

âI donât know,â Joe replied, âbut I vote we zero in on the medals pronto.â

The boysâ discussion was broken off by a signal for silence from Frank, who pointed to the door.

From the other side came the sound of creaking of floorboards. Swiftly the Hardys scooped up the notebook and the papers and hid them in a cupboard. Then Frank and Joe went over and pushed open the door a crack.

They peered out and saw Hanleigh limping to the fireplace. He pulled aside the screen from the fire, now burning low, took a poker and thrust it up inside the chimney.

âBet he was eavesdropping,â Joe muttered.

âWell, the code directions wonât do him much good without tools,â said Frank, and stepped into the living room.

âLooking for something, Mr. Hanleigh? Glad to see your leg is better.â

The big blond man wheeled, his face purple with rage. âIâm sick of being hounded by you pests. Iâll fix you-â

Hanleigh lunged forward, brandishing the poker, but tripped on a rug and went sprawling. The poker flew from his hands. Quickly Frank retrieved it.

âI wouldnât try that again,â Joe said in warning tones as Chet and Biff rushed in.

Scowling, Hanleigh dragged himself over to the sofa and sank down heavily. âAll right, all right. I was just going to stir up the fire,â he mumbled. âItâs cold as an iceberg in here.â

The boys had to agree, because the wind had risen to great velocity and gusts shook the cabin. Chill drafts seeped beneath the outside door and the windows were half covered by driving snow.

âMaybe Iâd better stoke the fire,â Chet said.

Joe nudged him. âLater. We have something to do first.â

Chet grinned. âThatâs right. Well, I can turn out a snack, anyway. Thatâll warm us.â

The stout boy headed for the kitchen, but the next instant stopped in his tracks as a shrieking blast of wind struck the front window full force.

With a loud crash the entire pane shattered inward. The frigid wind roared inside, knocking over all the oil lamps. Fire flared along the spilled fuel and Joe leaped forward, flailing at the flames with his parka.

Hanleigh rolled off the couch as his terror-stricken voice shrilled through the darkness. âGet me out of here! The whole place is going to collapse. Iâll be killed!â

CHAPTER XIX

A Frightened Thief

âQUICK! Into the kitchen!â Frank ordered. âGrab the parkas!â Hanleigh limped out hastily and the others followed. Having smothered the flames, Joe entered last and locked the door.

Their prisoner sprawled onto a chair and listened apprehensively to the roaring wind. âI never heard anything so bad before. Whatâre we going to do?â

âStick it out,â Frank replied coolly. He eyed the rattling window over the sink. âWeâd better board that up,â he said, âand the ones in the bedrooms, too. Come on! We can rip up some of this flooring.â

Chet brought two hammers, some nails, and a pinch bar from the toolbox. For half an hour the sound of ripping boards and hammering could be heard through the noise of the storm.

As the four boys worked, they saw that the snow had drifted almost to the tops of the windows. Their thoughts went again to Johnny Jefferson.

Frank visualized the boy lying injured behind a crag on the icy cliff. âJoe,â he said quietly, âas soon as the wind lets up we must go looking for him again.â

His brother nodded. âI know.â

When everyone gathered in the kitchen once more, Chet said, âI think weâd better fill the wood box and bring in some extra logs. If the drifts get any higher, we wonât be able to open the back door.â

He put on his parka, took a flashlight, and plunged outside.

Suddenly there was loud pounding on the door. Joe looked surprised. âWhatâs he doing back so soon?â

Biff opened the door and Chet fairly fell inside.

âThe ghost!â he gasped. âIn the woodshed!â The boys stared at their trembling chum in amazement.

âI guess heâs not kidding,â said Frank. âThereâs something out there. Come on, Joe!â

The Hardys stepped out and trudged through Chetâs tracks to the woodshed.

Frank pulled the door open and flashed his light inside. Cowering in the corner was a white turbaned figure!

âYussef!â Joe exclaimed.

But a moment later he saw that he was mistaken, as Frank pulled the white-robed figure of a young boy to his feet. Johnny Jefferson!

The Hardys knew him instantly from the photograph Mr. Jefferson had given them. But he was more sturdy and better looking than they had imagined.

âGood grief!â Joe exclaimed. âWhat are you doing here?â

âQuick, into the cabin!â Frank commanded.

Wordlessly, the boy stumbled ahead of them toward the kitchen. Biff, Chet, and Hanleigh looked up in astonishment as the trio entered.

âHereâs your ghost, Chet,â said Joe. âJohnny Jefferson. Thatâs right, isnât it?â

Johnny nodded, a frightened look on his face.

Chet found his voice. âYou must be frozen, Johnny. Iâll get some soup.â

âThanks,â The boy removed the turban and the white robe. Underneath he wore a heavy jacket, ski pants, and boots with creepers.

âWho are you?â he asked the boys, then nodded toward Hanleigh. âFriends of his?â

âCertainly not,â said Frank. He introduced everyone and explained why they were on the island.

Johnny looked at them anxiously for a moment, then said, âOkay. Iâll buy that.â

âGood. Mr. Jefferson sure will be relieved to hear youâre okay,â Frank said.

Then Johnny turned to Hanleigh. âYou lied to me,â he burst out. âYou promised to teach me to be a detective, so I could find my grandfatherâs medals. But I know now you wanted them for yourself.â

Hanleigh pretended he was not listening.

âSit down and eat, Johnny,â said Chet, serving a steaming bowl of soup. âCheese sandwiches coming up.â

The lad broke into a smile. âGee, thanks.â He began eating hungrily. âI thought you fellows were working with Hanleigh,â he said, between bites. âSo I decided to play ghost and scare you off. I got the idea from somebody else in a white robe and turban who was prowling around here and scared Chet.â He glanced at Chet. âIâm sorry. That howl in the woods really shook you!â

As Chet grinned, Johnny could not repress a chuckle. âThe trick worked so well that I decided to scare Hanleigh, but I couldnât find him. When I got back to my cave I heard a noise inside, so I ran away.â

âWhere did you hide?â Frank asked.

âIn a crevice I knew about in the rocks above the passage. Later I saw you hunting for me, but I kept out of sight.â

âSuppose you start from the beginning,â Frank said. âHow did you get mixed up with Hanleigh?â

âWell, one day last summer when Gramp was in Europe, Hanleigh came to the house to see him about buying Cabin Island. Our housekeeper sent Hanleigh away, but some loose pages fell out of a notebook he was carrying.â

âAnd you found them?â Frank asked.

âThatâs right. There was a map of this island and a plan of the cabin. Next time he came to the house I gave him the papers he had lost. I questioned him, too.â

Hanleigh looked up. âI thought he knew something about the value of the medals so I kidded him along. Turned out he didnât know anything.â

After a few more bites Johnny continued:

âAt first I believed Mr. Hanleigh was a detective and when I got back to school I wrote to him several times, but he didnât answer. I began to suspect that he was trying to find the medals for himself. About two weeks before Christmas I ran away from school and came to Cabin Island to see if Hanleigh was here. I hoped I could find Grampâs medals myself.â

âHeâs worried about you,â Frank said. âYou should have seen his face when we gave him that iceboat you carved. We found it by the boathouse.â

Johnny looked concerned. âI didnât mean to worry Gramp. Iâm glad he liked the iceboat. I carved it to pass time in the cave. I wondered where Iâd lost it.â

âYouâve been living in that cave all this time?â Chet asked.

âNo. At first I lived here in the cabin, but when Hanleigh started coming around, I moved out fast. I had a key and came back for a couple of blankets.â As to the cave, Johnny said he had played in it for years, but had kept its location a secret.

âWhat about the letter from Texas you wrote your grandfather?â Joe asked.

Johnny smiled. âI read about that trick in a detective story. I sent the letter to a friend of mine in Texas and asked him to mail itâand not to tell anyone. I was afraid Gramp might suspect I was here at Cabin Island and would send his detectives after me.â

As Johnny finished, the wind suddenly shrieked and a strong draft made the oil lamp flicker. Hanleigh turned pale.

âIf this keeps up,â Frank said, âweâll have to dig our way out. Itâs going to be rough.â

âBut I canât do that!â Hanleigh exclaimed. âIâm hurt! And Iâll die if you leave me here alone!â

Joe looked disgusted. âWeâd send somebody back for you, of course.â

Hanleighâs eyes filled with suspicion. âNo you wonât. Why should you? Whatâs in it for you?â

As Biff was about to retort, Frank winked at him and shook his head. âIâll tell you whatâs in it for us, Hanleigh,â he said, assuming a hard tone. âInformation! You tell us your whole story and I promise youâll be rescued.â

The man looked up in relief. âNow youâre talking my language. Itâs a deal. Here!â With trembling fingers he pulled a long envelope from his pocket and shoved it across the table. âRead this.â

Frank reached into the envelope and took out a document and a letter. He scanned the document first.

âGood night! This is John Sparewellâs last will and testament!â Frank exclaimed. âHanleigh is his nephew and sole heir.â

âSparewell dead!â Johnny said sadly. âWhen did that happen?â

âLast spring,â Hanleigh volunteered. âNow read the letter from my uncleâs lawyer.â

Frank did so. âThis letter,â he told his companions, âwhich is dated last April, explains that Sparewell stole the medal collection when he was pressed for funds. Then he realized that no dealer would touch it.â

Hanleigh interrupted. âUncle John never tried to find a private outlet for the medals, the way I did.â

âOn his deathbed,â Frank went on, âhe requested that his nephew return the collection to Mr. Jefferson.â

âWhy didnât he do it himself, earlier?â Chet asked Hanleigh.

âBecause he was chicken, thatâs why. Uncle John was afraid old man Jefferson would try to bring him to justice. He wanted the medals to be in an absolutely secret place, so he thought of this cabin. On one of Jeffersonâs trips my uncle spent a weekend hiding the collection out here in the chimney lining. But at the time he didnât tell me where,â Hanleigh complained. âThe next I heard about the collection was when he died and I came into possession of the notebook with a clue to this island and the secret code.â

âWas it part of your tape measure we found in the chimney?â Frank asked.

Hanleigh nodded. âI guessed the medals were in there or the fireplace, but I couldnât crack the code.â

âWe know it was you who ransacked Mr. Jeffersonâs house at Christmas,â Joe said. âYouâre wanted by the Bayport police.â

âI was a fool!â Hanleigh confessed. âI thought maybe the old man had found the medals and was keeping them in the house.â

âAfter you stole our food,â Biff said, âwhere did you go? We scoured the island for you.â

âI walked back to the mainland road and hitched a ride to Bayport. Those two young punks with the iceboat ran out on me.â

âI guess it was you who came in here the other night,â Chet spoke up. âYou knew we were here. Why did you risk it?â

âI had a feeling you were getting close to where the treasure was hidden,â Hanleigh replied. âI wanted to find out if you were searching the chimney, and also to retrieve the notebook. Itâs rightfully mine. I figured youâd all be asleep.â

Johnny sighed. Joe flung a quizzical look at the boy. âWhatâs the matter?â

âWe still havenât solved the main part of the mystery. Nobody knows for sure where the medals are.â Johnny added wistfully, âAnd I did so want to find them for Gramp.â

Joe grinned. âIâve got news for you, Johnny-weâ ve cracked the code.â

As the boy exclaimed in delight, Hanleigh groaned and put his head on the table.

âAs soon as the storm dies down, weâll start hunting,â Frank said. âIf the collection is here, weâll find it.â

They remained in the kitchen for warmth and managed to snatch a couple hoursâ sleep. The rest of the night passed fitfully.

Shortly after daybreak, Frank awoke and stretched his aching muscles. Noticing that the wind had abated, he opened the door to the big room. Things were topsy-turvy and under a blanket of snow. âThe fireplace of the chimney first,â he thought. Returning to the kitchen, he awakened the others. âRise and shine, fellows! We have some treasure hunting to do, remember?â

After a quick breakfast, Frank said, âJoe-Biff, how about giving me a boost up the fireplace chimney?â

Frank turned on his flashlight and started to crawl into the fireplace.

At that moment the front door burst open. Two men stepped in.

âHold it!â said a sharp voice. âYouâre under arrest! All of you!â

CHAPTER XX

The Hazardous Search

WHIRLING in astonishment, the boys saw two stern-faced harbor policemen striding toward them through the debris in the living room.

The Hardys recognized them as Lieutenant Daley and Officer Thorne.

âWeâre taking you all into custody!â barked Daley. âWhereâs the stolen iceboat?â

At that moment Hanleigh appeared at the kitchen door. âWhatâs going on?â he asked, then gasped at the sight of the policemen. Despite his injured leg, he bolted for the back door.

Frank and Joe dashed forward and seized him. âHereâs your thief, Lieutenant Daley,â Joe said as they hustled the big man into the living room.

The officer stared, astonished, upon recognizing the brothers. âThe Hardys!â Daley exclaimed. âDidnât know you at first. You all look a little beat up.â

Joe introduced the others. âWeâve been roughing it and trying to solve a couple of mysteries.â

âThey solved them, too,â Chet put in proudly.

Johnny Jefferson stepped forward. âThatâs true,â he said. âFrank and Joe and their pals have been working on a case for my grandfather, Elroy Jefferson.â

âThen you must be Johnny Jefferson!â Lieutenant Daley exclaimed.

âYes, the Hardys found me.â

âWell, Iâll be a frozen rookie!â Officer Thorne burst out. âWeâve been on the lookout for you!â

âLeave it to the Hardys,â said Daley, tilting back his hat and scratching his head. âA couple of chips off the old block. Howâs your dad?â

âFine,â Frank replied, then told their story which included the wrecking of the Hawk. Hand-cuffs were snapped on Hanleigh.

âYou canât take me to jail,â he argued. âIâm a sick man.â

âYouâll be taken care of,â Daley said firmly.

âBy the way,â Joe spoke up, âwho accused us of stealing the iceboat?â

Lieutenant Daley explained that an anonymous phone call to headquarters had reported the theft, and revealed that the culprits were hiding on Cabin Island.

âIke or Tad made that call, no doubt,â Frank said.

Biff grinned. âThose two would be burned up if they knew theyâd done us a favor tipping off the police.â

Chet gave a wry chuckle. âThose guys will have a real surprise when they see the Hawk.â

Daley added, âWe didnât want to bother Mr. Jefferson until we found out what was going on here, so we came straight over.â

Hanleigh declared he was unable to walk. The police were unsympathetic. âYou seemed to manage okay when you were trying to get away,â Daley said. âSo you certainly can hike across the cove to where our squad car is parked.â

The lieutenant smiled at Johnny. âWeâll tell your grandfather youâre safe and in good hands.â

Johnny pleaded that he himself wished to surprise his grandfather. âBesides, I want to take him his medals. I know the Hardys can find them.â

âWeâll give it a good try,â Frank promised.

The two policemen agreed to keep the secret, and left with their prisoner, who complained bitterly as he was escorted from the cabin.

Without further delay the boys gathered around the hearth. âNow for the rosewood box!â exclaimed Joe, and went for a flexible tape measure he had seen in the toolbox.

âWhat do you look for first?â Biff asked.

âA loose stone, nine feet up the front,â Frank replied. He ducked into the soot-blackened fireplace and stood up. âLucky itâs a wide chimney,â he remarked, picking up his flashlight. âWell, here goes. Give me a boost, somebody.â

Biff crouched down in the fireplace and Frank sat astride his broad shoulders. Slowly Biff stood up, grasping his friendâs legs. Frank unwound the tape, and with the aid of his flashlight, found the nine-foot level. He marked this off with chalk and handed the tape to Biff.

Then Frank began testing the stones in order from right to left. All felt tightly in place, but suddenly Frank touched a joint of mortar which crumbled beneath his fingers.

âThis looks much lighter in color,â he observed, âas if too much sand was used in the mix.â

âAny luck?â came Joeâs eager voice from below.

âNot yet. But Iâve come across something I want to investigate.â

âNeed help?â

âYou can hold this light.â

Joe squirmed in beside Biff and took the flashlight from his brother. Frank drew out his pen-knife and inserted the blade tip into the mortar, which surrounded a large oblong stone. The substance fell off readily. Frank then grasped the rock and pulled hard. It gave a little.

âHey!â exclaimed Joe. âWhatâs cooking?â

âIâm not sure,â Frank replied, âbut Iâve just dug out some mortar I think was mixed by an amateur.â

âSparewell?â

âYes. He must have mortared the back of this rock, though. I need a lever.â

âHold on. Iâll get something.â

Joe hurried to bring the chisel. Frank placed it beneath the rock and worked the tool up and down. Finally the big stone moved. Now Frank used the chisel on both sides, prying the rock loose still more. Again he pulled hard on it. This time the stone came out in his hands. Quickly he gave it to Joe, who beamed the light upward into the space. Frank saw that his guess had been correct! Working carefully, he succeeded in extracting a long, flat box.

âIâve found it!â he gasped.

Frank scrambled down from Biffs shoulders and the trio emerged from the fireplace with sooty grins of triumph. Breathless, Frank flipped open the catch and raised the lid. Set in velvet was an array of handsome, gleaming medals!

For a moment all the boys stared at the treasure, then Chet exclaimed, âWow! Theyâre real beauties!â

Biff pounded the Hardys on the back while Johnny burst out, âFrank and Joe, youâre the worldâs greatest detectives!â

His face shining with joy, he urged that they return to Bayport immediately. âI canât wait to give the medals to Gramp.â

âWe ought to clean up some of this damage before we go,â Frank said.

âChet and I will take care of that,â Biff volunteered. âWeâll board up the broken window and sweep out the snow and debris.â

Frank grinned. âOkay, then. As soon as Joe and I wash this chimney dirt off and change clothes, weâll hit the road.â

âI wish we could whiz home in your iceboat,â Johnny said, âbut itâs impossible with all that snow.â

âWeâll come back for the Sea Gull when the ice is clear,â said Joe. âYou can ride in it then.â

In a short time the Hardys were trudging across the cove with Johnny between them, clutching the rosewood box.

On the main road they hitched a ride to the Hardy boathouse. The trio were just about to climb into the convertible when Joe spotted a familiar sedan pulling into the parking area.

âItâs Dad!â he exclaimed. The boys hurried to meet Mr. Hardy.

The investigator smiled broadly upon being introduced to Johnny Jefferson and learning of the successful outcome of the Cabin Island mystery. âGreat work!â he praised his sons, and added, âIâll confess Iâve been uneasy ever since I sent that message and left you the note at home. So when I returned today I decided to go to the island, even if I had to hike!â

âYou were right, Dad, about Hanleigh. He was out to get us,â Frank declared. âWhere did you learn about him?â

âI asked Chief Collig to brief me on the Christmas night break-in at Mr. Jeffersonâs,â Mr. Hardy explained. âShortly after you boys had left on your camping trip, the fingerprint report came back. So I hurried to the dock here, hoping one of your friends would give me a lift.

âJust then I saw an iceboat put in near our boathouse. I recognized the Nash and Carson boys aboard and soon realized the big blond man with them was Hanleigh. They were talking loudly about you and made some pretty nasty threats. They were gone before I could nab Hanleigh myself.â

âSo you sent Mack Malone to warn us!â Joe said.

âRight,â his father replied. He had alerted Chief Collig and the Bayport squad had been on the lookout for Hanleigh. âHe was a crafty customer with that iceboat taxi,â Mr. Hardy said, âand gave everybody the slip until you fellows nailed him.â

The famous detective also told the boys that just before leaving home he had received directly from Collig word of Hanleighâs arrest. The prisoner had made a formal confession-to taking the Hawk, breaking into Mr. Jeffersonâs house, and scheming to steal the medals. âHe also admitted the attack on Joe,â Mr. Hardy concluded.

âWhat about Ike and Tad?â Frank asked.

âThey wonât be charged as accomplices, since they did not know what Hanleigh was up to,â Mr. Hardy replied.

âBut twice those two tried to wreck our boat,â Joe said hotly. âAnd they accused us of stealing the Hawk!â

âI know,â said Mr. Hardy. âBut both say they were only joking. Donât worry,â the detective added with a grin, âChief Collig gave them a stiff lecture. They wonât dare get out of line for a long time.â

Frank smiled. âAnyway, theyâll be too busy repairing their iceboat to make any more trouble.â

A short time later the Hardys and Johnny stood at the front door of the Jefferson home.

As Frank reached toward the doorbell, Johnny cried out, âWait! IâI canât go in! Gramp will be angry!â

âNo, heâll be happy to see you,â Frank reassured the younger boy. âBesides, you have a surprise for him, remember?â

Johnny gazed at the rosewood box he held tightly and smiled. âYouâre right.â

Frank rang the bell. When Mr. Jefferson answered, he stared at his grandson incredulously. âJohnny!â The old manâs voice rang with joy.

The Hardys stood by beaming as they witnessed the happy reunion. It was not until they were seated that Mr. Jefferson became aware of the box Johnny carried.

Mr. Jefferson was so overcome with emotion that it was several moments before he could speak. He turned to Frank and Joe.

âHow has all this happened?â he asked, taking the box and opening the lid.

As the young sleuths and Johnny rapidly recited the amazing events, Mr. Jefferson sat back in the crimson velvet chair, stroking the medals and looking affectionately at Johnny. âWait until my detectives hear of your success, Frank and Joe. Theyâll be thunderstruck!â

Johnny said admiringly, âIâd sure like to learn from the Hardys how to solve mysteries!â

Mr. Jefferson eyed his grandson proudly. âI underestimated you, my boy. Youâve proved you can take care of yourself very well.â

Johnny beamed, then said worriedly, âYou should see the cabin, Gramp. The storm did a lot of damage.â

âNo matter,â replied the old man. âWeâll start repairs and improvements this spring.â He turned to the Hardys. âI want you both to feel free to stay on the island any time you wish to. Johnny and I are going there as soon as possible together âthat is, if heâll take me along when he gets his new iceboat.â

âGramp! Do you mean it?â

âIndeed I do! Since my ride in the Sea Gull, Iâve been looking forward to another spin on the ice.â

Frank and Joe exchanged smiles. Mr. Jefferson was not so old-fashioned after all! Their sleuthing had done something to change his attitude. The young detectives did not know that events were already occurring which would soon involve them in another challenging case, The Great Airport Mystery.

Mr. Jefferson added, âI intend to present the Shahâs medal to Yussef. But firstââ He lifted two handsome pieces from the box and said to the Hardys, âI wish to give you each a remembrance, in gratitude.â

âThank you, sir, but we canât accept,â Frank protested. âTheyâre too valuable.â

âBesides, weâve had our reward returning Johnny and the medals to you,â Joe added.

Mr. Jefferson smilingly insisted, âThese are rightfully yours. Remember, their purpose is to reward exceptional merit and courage. No one ever earned them more than you Hardy boys!â