the three investigators - deadly double

8/13/2019 The Three Investigators - Deadly Double

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The Mystery of the Deadly Double

A Horrifying Message from Alfred Hitchcock

LOVERSOM!STER!" be #arned$

!ou must be %re%ared" in this ne# ad&enture of The Three 'n&estigators" to face a

horror that makes e&en myblood run cold$ ' shudder at the &ery thought of it( )hat" canthere truly be more than one ( ( ( * +ut" no" ' cannot s%eak the dread #ords$ 'nstead" ' #ill

s%eak of other matters in this dramatic ad&enture(

A sim%le outing to a famous amusement %ark turns into a nightmare that at oncechallenges the full resources of our team of young detecti&es( Danger and confusion face

them at e&ery turn as they attem%t to sol&e a diabolical crime(

,idna%%ers$ -ry%tic messages$ 'nternational intrigue$ -lues hidden under the &erynoses of our heroes$ Deadly mistakes$ The de&ious trail of a fugiti&e boy$ An enemy #ho

nearly %enetrates The Three 'n&estigators. o#n head/uarters$ 't.s almost more than the0u&enile %ri&ate eyes can handle(

The case calls forth the reasoning ability of allour boys( The brainy and some#hatstout 1u%iter 1ones2himself the %u33led target of the criminals2is unable to %ro&ide

full4time leadershi% of the detecti&e team( So the tall and muscular 5ete -rensha# must

con/uer his uneasiness and assume a daring role( And +ob Andre#s" the studiousresearch man of the trio" recei&es a chance to %ro&e that he is as cle&er as he is reliable(

rom their hidden house4trailer head/uarters in The 1ones Sal&age !ard to the border

of Me6ico" the boys %ursue and are %ursued" and the final ans#er is2but no$ ' #ill stillnot s%eak of the une6%ected fact that lies at the heart of the ad&enture$ 't is too monstrous

to think of$

' #ill lea&e that kno#ledge to your o#n disco&ery(or#ard" then" to mystery and ad&enture$

ALREDH'T-H-O-,

7

alse Alarms

89O+OD!MOVE$: 5ete -rensha# cried(

+ob Andre#s and 1u%iter 1ones fro3e( The boys #ere in their secret head/uartersinside an old mobile home" #here they ran their 0unior detecti&e firm The Three

'n&estigators( The old house trailer #as carefully hidden under %iles of 0unk in The 1ones

Sal&age !ard" but there #as al#ays danger that someone #ould stumble u%on one of thesecret entrances to it( +ob and 1u%e looked carefully around their small office and

listened intently( Had 5ete heard something threatening*

8)hat ( ( ( #hat.s #rong" 5ete*: +ob #his%ered(5ete glared fiercely at his t#o friends(


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8Somebody": he declared" 8stole my lunch*:

+ob ga%ed( 8!our ( ( ( your lunch* That.s all you2$:

8!our lunch" Second*: 1u%iter echoed" incredulous(The tall Second 'n&estigator laughed( 81ust a 0oke( +esides" my lunch is im%ortant( '.m

getting hungry(:

8A %oor 0oke": 1u%iter said sternly( 8alse alarms are &ery dangerous( !ou kno# thestory of the boy #ho cried #olf( That kind of fun can2:

1u%iter" the brainy leader of The Three 'n&estigators" could become a little stuffy"

es%ecially #hen he ga&e a s%eech( +ob or 5ete often had to bring him do#n to earth(8Talking #on.t get you off the hook": 5ete interru%ted( 8'.ll bet you couldn.t resist a

snack #hen +ob and ' #ere outside in the #orksho%( '.ll bet you s#i%ed my lunch

yourself$:

1u%iter reddened(8' did not$: he e6claimed hotly( A stout boy" if not e6actly fat" the irst 'n&estigator

hated any suggestion that he ate too much(

8)ell": 5ete insisted" 8someone did(:

8Maybe you took it out to the #orksho%" and forgot it": +ob suggested(8)here&er it is" it can #ait": 1u%iter said" reco&ering his self4assurance( 8)e ha&en.t

decided #here to go on our outing tomorro#( 't.s our last chance to do somethinge6citing before school o%ens again( Since no one seems to #ant to hire us for a case right

no#" and #e.&e been #orking around the sal&age yard all summer" ' think #e should take

a real tri%( )e.&e all been to Disneyland a lot" so ' say #e go to Magic Mountain( '.&ene&er been there(:

8Me" neither": 5ete said( 8)hat.s it like*:

8't.s one of the biggest and best amusement %arks in the #orld" that.s all": +ob said

eagerly( 8't doesn.t ha&e the fantasy stuff of Disneyland" but it.s got four roller coasters(One of them loo%s u%side do#n$ There.re t#o #ater chute rides" and do you get soaked$

And there.s a s%ecial kind of erris #heel a mile high" and maybe thirty other great rides

2all for the admission %rice( 9o ticket books or anything( Once you.re inside" you 0ustgo on any ride you #ant(:

8't sounds %retty good": 5ete said(

8Then that.s it": 1u%iter decided( 8And 0ust for some e6tra fun" #e.ll go in style2inthe Rolls4Royce$ '.&e already called )orthington" and the car.s a&ailable tomorro#(:

8)o#": +ob said" laughing" 8they.ll think #e.re millionaires$ ' can.t #ait to see

e&eryone.s face #hen #e dri&e u%(:

8'f ' li&e that long(: 5ete groaned( 8'.m star&ing( -ome on" #here.d you guys hide mylunch*:

8)e didn.t hide it" 5ete": +ob insisted(

89o one touched your lunch" Second": 1u%iter said in an e6as%erated &oice( 8!ou%robably did take it out to the #orksho% #ith you( )e might as #ell find it" or #e.ll

ne&er get our %lans settled(:

Suiting action to #ords" 1u%iter raised the tra%4door in the floor of the trailer ands/uee3ed do#n into Tunnel T#o( This #as the main entrance to Head/uarters" consisting

of a length of #ide metal %i%e running under the trailer and the 0unk that surrounded it(

5ete" tall and athletic" %ractically had to flatten himself on his stomach to get through the

%i%e" but he slid easily along behind the 'n&estigators. %uffing" o&er#eight leader( +ob"


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the smallest of the three boys" had no trouble at all cra#ling s#iftly in the rear(

They emerged in 1u%iter.s outdoor #orksho%" #hich #as in a front corner of The 1ones

Sal&age !ard( The #orksho% #as %rotected by a slo%ing si64foot4#ide roof #hich ranaround the inside of the 0unkyard fence( Mounds of 0unk around the #orksho% hid the

area from &ie#( 'n it the boys had their %rinting %ress and the larger tools that they used to

rebuild 0unk into useful e/ui%ment for their detecti&e #ork( The #orksho% area alsocontained a chair" some old crates" and a #orkbench( 't #as on the #orkbench that +ob

s%otted 5ete.s lunch bag(

8See" you did lea&e it out here": the Records and Research member of the teamdeclared(

5ete %icked u% the torn %a%er bag( 8+ut #ho ate it*:

8!ou %robably ate it yourself" and forgot you did": 1u%iter said in disgust(

8Me*: 5ete cried( 8orget ' ate a good ham sand#ich*:8'.ll bet it #as rats": +ob said" e6amining the bag( 't had been ri%%ed raggedly o%en(

8They eat anything(:

8!ou think Aunt Mathilda lets rats run loose around the sal&age yard* 9o #ay$: 5ete

e6claimed(8She tries" but not e&en Aunt Mathilda can kee% all the rats out of a big 0unkyard":

1u%iter said" laughing" 1u%e.s Aunt Mathilda #as a formidable #oman #ho ran thesal&age yard #ith an iron hand( Her husband" Titus" s%ent most of his time scouting for

ne# 0unk to add to the yard( 1u%e" #ho had been or%haned at an early age" had li&ed #ith

them e&er since he could remember(8-ome on" let.s see if Aunt Mathilda #ill gi&e us all some lunch": said 1u%e" and he

led the #ay to#ards the 0unkyard office( +ut as he neared the main gate of the yard" he

suddenly slo#ed( 8ello#s" ha&e you e&er seen that car before*:

+ob and 5ete looked to#ard the entrance( A green Mercedes sedan #as %arked almostdirectly across the street from the o%en gates( 9o one got out of it(

8't #as mo&ing #hen ' first noticed it": 1u%iter said slo#ly( 81ust cree%ing along" and

then it sto%%ed(:8So #hat" 1u%e*: 5ete said( 8-an.t a car %ark around here* Maybe it.s a customer for

the yard(:

85erha%s": 1u%iter admitted" 8but no one has got out" and ' think ' sa# the same cardri&ing %ast the entrance earlier this morning( ;oing 0ust as slo#ly(:

8Hey": +ob e6claimed" 8' think maybe ' sa# it" too$ On the street outside the back

fence #hen ' #as riding o&er here( Maybe an hour ago(:

8Maybe theystole my lunch$: 5ete said(8Sure" international lunch thie&es$: +ob said dryly(

8orget your lunch": 1u%iter sna%%ed im%atiently( He #as still #atching the motionless

car through the o%en gates( 8'f you didn.t eat it" +ob.s right2rats got it( ' think '.d like totry to find out #hat that car.s u% to(:

+ob grinned( 8Maybe they.re 0ust #aiting for a chance to steal another ham

sand#ich(:8't looks to me as if they.re #aiting forsomething" Records": 1u%iter said( 8Let.s go

and see(:

1u%iter had a #ay of seeing a mystery in almost e&erything" and an uncanny ability to

be right$ +ob and 5ete had long ago gi&en u% /uestioning e&en 1u%e.s #ildest hunches(


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He #as #rong sometimes" but not &ery often(

85ete" you double back in the yard and sneak u% inside the main entrance": 1u%iter

instructed( 8Hide and #atch the car from there( +ob and ' can go out Red ;ate Ro&er inthe back and circle around outside the fence( +ob" you go to the left" and '.ll go to the

right( )e.ll obser&e the car from all sides(:

5ete nodded" and #atched his %artners sli% out of the yard through their secret entrancein the back fence( Then he skirted behind some mounds of 0unk and cre%t along the inside

of the fence to the main gate( He %eered around( The Mercedes #as still there( T#o

%eo%le seemed to be in it( 5ete ducked back hurriedly(Out of sight" he got do#n on his stomach and cra#led back to the o%en entrance( lat

on the ground" he %eered around again(

8Hello$ Lost something* 5erha%s ' can hel%*:

5ete gul%ed( A stocky" sunburned man in a light#eight suit stood directly abo&e him inthe entrance( The man had curly bro#n hair and small blue eyes" and #as smiling

%olitely( He seemed amused at the sight of 5ete cra#ling flat on his stomach in the yard(

8'4'2: 5ete stammered" feeling foolish" 8' lost my ball( ' #as looking ( ( ( for ( ( ( it(:

89o ball came out this #ay": the man said solemnly(8' guess it bounced some#here else": 5ete said lamely" and got u%(

8+ad luck": the sunburned man said" and held out a local road ma%( 85erha%s you canhel% me( )e seem to be lost(:

5ete suddenly sa# that the door of the green Mercedes #as o%en" and only one %erson

#as still in the car( The stocky man nodded back to#ard the Mercedes(8'.m afraid #e.&e been dri&ing in circles" eh* Rather a bad sho#( Actually" #e.&e been

attem%ting to locate the old mission you cha%s ha&e here(:

5ete reali3ed that the man had an accent( English" and yet not e6actly like any English

accent he.d e&er heard( The car 0ust held some lost tourists$ So much for 1u%iter and hishunches$

8Oh" sure(: 5ete took the ma% and sho#ed the man #here he #as" and #here the

S%anish mission #as u% the -oast High#ay( 8't.s not so easy to find(:8


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=

,idna%%ed$

>5EARL!the ne6t morning" +ob dressed /uickly and hurried do#n to the kitchen( As he

raced through his breakfast" his father %ut do#n his ne#s%a%er and #atched him #ith asmile(

8An im%ortant in&estigation this morning*: Mr Andre#s said(

89ot today" Dad( )e.re going to Magic Mountain2in the gold4%lated Rolls4Royce(

)ith )orthington dri&ing us$:Mr Andre#s #histled admiringly( 8Three elegant young fello#s" eh* '.m afraid that

gro#ing u% is going to be a little dull for you(:

89ot if 1u%e gro#s u% #ith us$:89o": Mr Andre#s said" laughing" 8' guess not(:

8)e.ll %robably be kind of late" Dad" but #e.ll try to be home by dinner time": +ob

called as he ran out the door(He rode his bike through the bright morning streets of Rocky +each to the sal&age

yard and turned in at the main gate( 5ete #as sitting on the &erandah of the yard.s officecabin" looking at a magnificent sight( A Rolls4Royce of some#hat ad&anced age" #ith

huge headlights and a hood as long and black and shining as a grand %iano" stood in thesal&age yard( Lu6urious as the great car #ould ha&e been in 0ust sim%le" lustrous black" it

outdid itself #ith one more touch2all the trimming" e&en the bum%ers" #as %lated in

da33ling gold$8)o#$: +ob said in a#e( 8' al#ays forget #hat a beauty it is until #e see it again(:

A tall" lean man in a chauffeur.s uniform stood beside the car" gently rubbing some of

the gold4%lated trim #ith a soft cloth( His long good4humoured face smiled at +ob(8E&en ' do" Master Andre#s" #hen ' must sometimes dri&e a different machine":

)orthington said(

1u%iter had first #on the use of the fantastic old car in a contest" and later a gratefulclient had arranged for the boys to use the car any time they #anted to( Since no one but

)orthington e&er dro&e the car for the rental agency that o#ned it" he had become a good

friend of the 'n&estigators( He still insisted on treating the boys e6actly as he #ould the

oldest and #ealthiest tycoon( +ut no# his eyes t#inkled(8An im%ortant case this time" Master Andre#s*: he said(

89ot this time" )orthington(: +ob e6%lained( 8)e.re 0ust going on a tri% to Magic

Mountain" and thought it #ould be fun to go in the Rolls(:8An outing* S%lendid$: )orthington declared( 8)ho deser&es a holiday more than

The Three 'n&estigators* ' shall re%ort our destination to the com%any" and fuel the

machine #hile #e #ait for Master 1ones(:

The tall chauffeur got into the Rolls4Royce and dro&e out of the sal&age yard( +obturned /uickly to 5ete(

8S%eaking of 1u%e" #here is he*:

8'n Head/uarters" making some %lans": 5ete said( 8He #ouldn.t tell me about #hat(:8-ome on" let.s find out(:

They cra#led through Tunnel T#o and emerged through the tra%4door into the hidden

trailer( 1u%iter #as hard at #ork at the desk" coloured brochures s%read around him(8)orthington.s here" 1u%e": +ob said ho%efully( 8Ready*:


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8'n a fe# moments" Records(: The stout leader of the trio continued #orking for a

minute" then sat back looking /uite %leased #ith himself( 8There" ' think that does it(:

8Does #hat*: 5ete asked uneasily(8-om%letely %lans our e6cursion$: 1u%iter declared" beaming( 8' ha&e taken a ma% of

Magic Mountain and laid out the o%timum route for co&ering the most rides in the least

time( ' ha&e allo#ed for re%eat rides on attractions #e might find es%ecially %leasing" %lus&arious alternati&es in case of long /ueues at any gi&en ride or %ossible shutdo#ns due to

#ind conditions or mechanical trouble( Then ' ha&e2:

5ete groaned( 8Er" 1u%e" #hy don.t #e 0ust start off to the right or left of the entrance"and hit #hate&er #e come to* ' mean" sort of #ing it*:

81ust" er" follo# our noses*: +ob added(

8)ing it*: 1u%iter fro#ned( 8A highly inefficient means of2:

8Maybe 0ust ha&e fun*: 5ete suggested(8)ell": 1u%iter said stuffily" 8if you don.t #ant my %lan" ' su%%ose you don.t ha&e to

acce%t it(:

Miffed" 1u%iter looked lo&ingly at his %lans" then shrugged and dro%%ed them into the

#astebasket( 5ete and +ob cheered( 1u%iter finally had to grin( The three boys hurrieddo#n through the tra%4door and out into the yard(

)orthington and the Rolls4Royce #ere back( Laughing e6citedly" the boys %iled intothe magnificent car as )orthington held the door o%en(

8To Magic Mountain" my good man$: 1u%iter intoned(

8!es" sir(: )orthington smiled( 8Very good" sir(:Magic Mountain #as some distance to the east of Rocky +each" inland through

southern -alifornia.s coastal mountains( )orthington dro&e the great old car out of to#n

on the back county high#ay( They had reached the first slo%es of the dry" dusty foothills

#hen )orthington suddenly s%oke(8;entlemen" you stated" ' belie&e" that you #ere in&ol&ed in no in&estigation at

%resent*:

8>nfortunately" no": 1u%iter admitted( 8)hy do you2*:8+ecause" unless ' am mistaken" #e are being follo#ed$:

8ollo#ed$: all three boys cried at once" turning to look behind(

8)here" )orthington*: +ob said( 8' don.t see any car(:8't is out of sight around the last cur&e at %resent": )orthington said" 8but ' noticed it

the moment #e left the sal&age yard" and it has been behind us e&er since( A green

Mercedes sedan(:

8A green Mercedes$: 1u%iter e6claimed( 8!ou.re sure*:8Automobiles are my %rofession" Master 1ones": )orthington said firmly( 8There it is

no#$ And coming closer(:

The three 0unior detecti&es stared out the back #indo#( There #as no mistake( Thegreen Mercedes #as directly behind them and #as coming ra%idly closer$

8't.s the same car" all right$: 5ete cried(

8So": 1u%iter said trium%hantly" 8they #eren.t 0ust lost tourists$ ' #as right$:8'4' guess so": 5ete admitted ner&ously( 8)ho could they be* )hat do they #ant*:

8' don.t kno#" Second": 1u%iter said grimly" 8and ' don.t think #e #ant to find out

right no#(:

8Maybe #e.re going to$: +ob cried in alarm( 8They.re mo&ing in" 1u%e$ ;aining on


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us$:

8)orthington$: 1u%iter e6claimed( 8-an you lose them*:

8' shall endea&our to do so": )orthington said /uietly(The gold4%lated Rolls surged for#ard as )orthington %ressed the accelerator to the

floor( They #ere in the mountains no#" and the narro# t#o4lane high#ay snaked abo&e

stee% dro%s into rocky canyons( )orthington gri%%ed the large steering #heel of the car"hurling the gleaming machine in shar% turns at the edges of the %reci%ices(

The green Mercedes lea%ed in %ursuit( The t#o cars s#er&ed and s/uealed around the

cur&es" their #heels %erilously close to the ga%ing chasms belo#( On a straight road the%o#erful old Rolls4Royce might ha&e dra#n a#ay" but it couldn.t match the agility of the

smaller" ne#er Mercedes( 'ne6orably" the green car came closer(

8They.re gaining on us": 5ete cried in dismay(

)orthington.s &oice #as calm( 8't is too dangerous to try to go any faster in themountains(: He coolly scanned the road ahead( 8+ut %erha%s2*:

)orthington leaned for#ard" staring ahead( The Rolls had 0ust come round a shar%

cur&e and the Mercedes #as momentarily out of sight( )orthington suddenly slammed on

the brakes" skidded the big car almost to the edge of a sheer dro% on he right" and s#ungback across the high#ay into a narro# dirt road that led off to the left( S%eeding u% again"

the e6%ert chauffeur dro&e the gleaming machine do#n the dusty side road and into thedense gro#th of li&e oaks and cha%arral(

+ehind them the Mercedes roared on %ast the side road(

8!ou.&e lost them$: +ob and 5ete cried(8or the moment": )orthington said( 8+ut they #ill soon reali3e #e ha&e left the

high#ay( )e must dri&e on s#iftly(:

He %ushed do#n the accelerator" raced the massi&e car along the narro# dirt road2

and screeched to a 0olting sto%(8'.m sorry" boys": )orthington said in dismay(

The dirt road ended in an em%ty bo6 canyon$

8Dri&e back to the high#ay$: 1u%iter ordered( 8


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?

A Deadly Mistake

5ETE)H'RLEDto#ards the Rolls4Royce(8)e.&e got to follo# them$:

89o" 5ete$: )orthington and +ob both cried(

5ete stared( 8+ut #e ha&e to try to hel% 1u%e$:

8)e #ill": )orthington said" %utting his hand on 5ete.s shoulder" 8but #e must notfollo# them( 'n a kidna%%ing you must do e6actly #hat the kidna%%ers say" then call the

%olice immediately(:

8ollo#ing them could be dangerous for 1u%e": +ob e6%lained( 8+ut #e can try to see#hich direction they.re going" and tell the %olice$ The kidna%%ers don.t kno# #e ha&e a

%hone in the Rolls" so they don.t think #e can alert the %olice right a#ay( Hurry" #e.ll

climb that hill #hile )orthington calls -hief Reynolds$:)hile )orthington ran to the car to tele%hone the %olice chief of Rocky +each" +ob

and 5ete scrambled u% the stee% slo%e of a nearby hill( 5anting" they reached a high ledgein seconds" and looked to#ards #here the dirt road met the high#ay(

8' see them$: +ob e6claimed(8;oing south to#ards Rocky +each$: 5ete said( 8And dri&ing %retty slo#ly$:

8They don.t #ant to attract any attention(:

8'f -hief Reynolds mo&es fast": 5ete cried" 8he could get in front of them$ -ome on$:They slid and stumbled do#n the slo%e to the Rolls4Royce( )orthington #as 0ust

gi&ing the licence number of the Mercedes" and a /uick descri%tion of the t#o men(

8Tell the chief they.re dri&ing south on the %ass high#ay to#ards Rocky +each": 5etesaid( 8He might be able to block them before they can turn off any#here(:

)orthington re%eated 5ete.s message" and then listened(

8Very good" -hief( )e.ll remain here until you come(:He hung u%" and looked at the boys( 8)hat could they #ant #ith 1u%iter* !ou.re sure

you ha&e no idea #ho they are*:

8)e ne&er sa# them before yesterday": +ob said(

8)e don.t kno# anything$: 5ete #ailed(The three of them looked at each other ho%elessly(

;agged in the darkness under the hea&y bag" 1u%iter #as scared( The Mercedes seemed tobe dri&ing slo#ly" going do#nhill on #hat 1u%iter guessed #as the county high#ay(

;oing to#ards Rocky +each( )hat did these men #ant #ith him* )ho #ere they*

)here #ere they from #ith their odd English accents*

He s/uirmed under the bag in the back seat of the car" and a %istol %oked hard in hisribs( One of the men #as sitting close beside him(

8Sit still": the man said(

1u%iter tried to s%eak" to %rotest" but #ith the gag tight in his mouth all he could do#as gurgle and grunt( 8>mmmmffff ( ( ( grrruummmm ( ( (:

8,ee% /uiet$


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+ut 1u%iter tried to talk again" to ask #hat they #anted #ith him( >ncle Titus and Aunt

Mathilda didn.t ha&e any money$ 9ot real money$ His grunts and muffled gurglings

made him feel like a fish flo%%ing on a beach(8' said kee% /uiet$ !ou #ouldn.t #ant your father to lose his only son" no# #ould

you*:

>nder the bag" 1u%iter fro3e( His father* +ut he had no father$ His father had died#hen 1u%e #as /uite small( Des%erately he tried to e6%lain that to his ca%tors(

8>mmmmffff ( ( ( ggmmmrnmrrrrrr ( ( ( nnnuuuhhhh ( ( (:

The %istol %oked harder into his ribs(8' #on.t tell you again" boy$:

8>mmmmffff ( ( ( mmmmmdddd ( ( ( mmmmssssstttt ( ( (:

The man beside him laughed again( 8He.s a regular stubborn case 0ust like his dad"

isn.t he" red* High and mighty" too" ' shouldn.t be sur%rised(:8Maybe #e better /uiet him do#n" )alt": the other man said from the front seat(

8Only if #e must( ' don.t much take to carting around a slee%ing fat one like him(:

8Might be best" though( 't.s a long tri% home( )e #ant him all nice and neat #hen #e

brace the big man(:The man beside 1u%iter laughed once more( 8' can hardly #ait to see Sir Roger.s face

#hen #e tell him #e.&e got young 'an and he better change his tune fast(:>nder the bag" 1u%iter slo#ly sat back in the car seat(

Sir Roger* 'an* Suddenly he reali3ed #hat had ha%%ened2these men thought he #as

someone else$ Someone #hose father #as an im%ortant man$ 't #asn.t a kidna%%ing formoney2it #as some kind of blackmail( To make this Sir Roger" #hoe&er he #as" do

something these men #anted him to do( +ut they had made a mistake( They had

kidna%%ed the #rong boy$ He tried to tell them(

8>mmmmfffff ( ( ( $ Msssstttttkkkk ( ( ( nnnnnoooo ( ( (:This time the man beside him didn.t %oke the %istol or tell him to be /uiet( The

Mercedes seemed to s%eed u% as it reached le&el ground belo# the mountains( 't turned

shar%ly" #heels s/uealing" and the force of the turn %ushed 1u%iter against the corner ofthe seat( Then he heard the sirens$ 5olice cars$ The #ailing gre# louder( >nder the bag

1u%iter held his breath( They #ould sa&e him$ ( ( ( The sirens began to fade a#ay behind"

and #ere gone(8That #as a near thing$: the man beside him e6claimed(

8!ou think they #ere after us*: the dri&er said(

8Had to be( They #ere heading for the mountains( Ho# the de&il did they learn about

us so fast*:1u%iter kne# at once2the tele%hone in the Rolls4Royce( His friends had alerted the

%olice immediately( +ut the kidna%%ers had esca%ed( Ho# #ould the %olice find him

no#* He had to tell the kidna%%ers that they had made a terrible mistake$8Something #ent #rong" )alt": the dri&er said grimly( 89othing else better go #rong(

' #on.t be caught(:

>nder the dark bag 1u%iter felt suddenly cold( Some( thing else had already gone#rong$ The men had taken the #rong boy" but they didn.t kno# that yet( 1u%e couldn.t

tell them #ith the gag in his mouth( And did he #ant them to kno# their mistake after

all* )hat #ould they do if they kne#*

They #anted some boy named 'an as a #ea%on against his father" so 'an #ould be safe


10/63

#ith them( +ut #ould 1u%iter 1ones be safe*

A %olice car and a sheriff.s car roared do#n the dirt road and skidded to a sto% in a cloudof dust( -hief Reynolds and the county sheriff ran u% to )orthington and the boys beside

the gleaming Rolls4Royce(

8Did you see them*: +ob cried(8Did you sto% them*: 5ete added(

-hief Reynolds shook his head( 8)e blocked the high#ay at the first crossroad" and

then came straight on here( +ut #e didn.t %ass them" and they didn.t come to theroadblock(:

8They must ha&e sli%%ed through before #e set u% the block": the sheriff said( 8Turned

off on some crossroad( +ut they can.t ha&e gone far yet" and #e.&e got e&ery a&ailable

man and car out searching for them(:8This area is in the county" boys" so it.s the sheriff.s 0urisdiction": -hief Reynolds

e6%lained" 8but in a case like this #e all #ork together( )e.&e already alerted the Los

Angeles 5olice De%artment also(:

89o#": the sheriff said" 8#e.ll search for clues here(:+ob #as glum( 8' don.t think you.ll find anything" sir( The kidna%%ers #eren.t here

long enough to lea&e any clues(:+ob #as right( The %olice and de%uties searched e&ery inch of the dirt road in the

&icinity of the kidna%%ing( They found nothing(

8All right" #e.ll go back to head/uarters": -hief Reynolds decided( 8't.s time #einformed the +' too(:

8At least": the sheriff said" 8#e ha&e one big ad&antage this time" thanks to you folks

and that Rolls4Royce( )e.re right on to% of the kidna%%ers" and e&eryone is searching

already(:8!es" sir": +ob said" de0ected" 8but searching isn.t finding( One car isn.t so easy to

s%ot" is it*:

89o" but #e.&e got the #hole county co&ered" and all the roads out blocked( There.sno #ay they can get out of the county$:

+ob and 5ete climbed into the Rolls4Royce( 9either of them s%oke as )orthington

follo#ed -hief Reynolds. car to#ard Rocky +each" but they looked at each otheruneasily" and kne# that they #ere both thinking the same thing(

The kidna%%ers must ha&e had some %lan in case of roadblocks( Some #ay to esca%e"

and take 1u%iter #ith them(

@

On the Trail of the Villains

THEMER-EDESsto%%ed(

1u%iter" in the dark under the hea&y bag" had tried to follo# the %rogress of the car" butit had made too many t#ists and turns( 9o# he listened for any familiar sounds that

might tell him #here he #as( +ut there #as only an em%ty silence( 9o mo&ement

any#here" no sounds of traffic" or %eo%le" or the sea(8;et him out": the dri&er gro#led from the front seat(


11/63

1u%iter heard the car door o%en" and hands %ushed him on to his feet( He felt hard

ground" and lea&es" and grass under his shoes(

8Take the bag off so he can see to #alk(:The bag #as %ulled roughly from o&er his chest and head( The glare of light through

thick trees almost blinded him( He o%ened and closed his eyes to ad0ust to the light #hile

the gag #as remo&ed from his mouth( 't #as untied by the stocky man #ith the curly hair#ho had first talked to 5ete at the sal&age yard2the man named )alt #ho had sat beside

him in the car and %oked him #ith a %istol(

89o# be good" eh*: )alt said( 89ice and /uiet(: He #a&ed his %istol to sho# hemeant business(

1u%iter nodded" but said nothing( E&er since he had reali3ed that he could be in far

more danger if the kidna%%ers disco&ered their mistake" he had ho%ed they #ouldn.t

remo&e the gag( The boy they thought they had #as from their country" #hate&er it #as"and #ould %robably ha&e the same odd English accent( 'f 1u%e s%oke" they #ould kno#

at once that he #as the #rong boy2unless he tried to mimic their accent( 1u%e thought he

could" but it #as risky( The slightest mistake could gi&e him a#ay(

The stocky kidna%%er #atched him for a moment" then turned to the dri&er(8;et the bags" red(:

1u%iter breathed a little more easily( He #as safe for the moment( He glanced /uicklyaround( They #ere at the side of another dirt road" dee% among li&e oaks and thick

cha%arral" close to the mountains( 9othing #as familiar or unfamiliar( They could be

any#here in the back country #ithin a hundred miles of Rocky +each$8All right" boy" mo&e": the dri&er said( 8That #ay(:

He #as a taller and thinner man than )alt" #ith dark hair and small eyes sunk dee% in

#eather creases" but he had the same dee% sunburn( A%%arently both men came from a

country #here the sun #as fierce and constant(They #alked on the grass alongside the road for no more than fifty yards" and turned

straight to#ards the mountains( 1u%iter could see no %ath2only the dense" almost

im%enetrable brush(8!ou go first" red" set the %ace(: )alt said( 8!ou.&e got the bags(:

The dri&er nodded set the bags do#n and %ulled aside a thick bush to re&eal the entry

to a narro# trail( He %ushed the t#o bags through and &anished into the cha%arral(8!ou ne6t" boy": )alt ordered(

1u%iter searched for the right bush" %ulled it aside" and started through( The tough

cha%arral suddenly sli%%ed out of his gras%( He thre# u% his hands to %rotect his face

from the thorny branches" 0um%ed back and flo%%ed s%ra#ling outside the entrance to thehidden trail( )alt grabbed him and hauled him u%" %ushing him ahead through the

cha%arral #ith a curse(

8)atch that" boy" ' might get ner&ous$:1u%iter gul%ed" and hurried along the narro# trail( )alt #as close behind #ith his

%istol( The tangled brush closed again" lea&ing no sign of the hidden %ath(

Hurrying after the dri&er" 1u%iter failed to see a treacherous root" caught his foot" ands%ra#led on the ground( He lay %anting for a moment" but managed to scramble u%

before )alt reached him(

The t#o kidna%%ers #alked ra%idly through the dense brush as if they had been there

before and kne# 0ust #here they #ere going( 1u%iter tried to kee% %ace on the barely


12/63

&isible %ath" but stumbled and fell t#ice more before he #as %ushed out into a narro#

bo6 canyon dee% in the shado# of the mountains(

A small stone cabin stood close under the to#ering cliff #alls of the canyon( Thekidna%%ers unlocked the cabin door" sho&ed 1u%iter inside" and closed the door(

Alone in the cabin" 1u%iter heard the door lock behind him(

At %olice head/uarters" +ob" 5ete" >ncle Titus" and Aunt Mathilda sat on a bench against

the #all(

8'f only #e.d taken our emergency signals": 5ete moaned(8They.re being re%aired" remember*: +ob said( 8+ut 1u%e #ill think of some #ay to

get in touch #ith us" Second(:

Aunt Mathilda glared at the sheriff and -hief Reynolds(

8Are #e going to sit around here all day*: she demanded( 8Those kidna%%ers aren.tgoing to 0ust #alk in and gi&e u%$:

-hief Reynolds shook his head( 8)e ha&e e&ery area of the to#n and county co&ered"

Mrs 1ones" and chasing shado#s #on.t hel%( 'n a kidna%%ing all efforts must be co4

ordinated(8E&ery %olice de%artment in -alifornia" 9e&ada" Oregon" and Ari3ona has been

alerted": the sheriff added( 8The +' has been contacted" and so ha&e the Me6icanauthorities( The licence number of the Mercedes is on the telety%e to all the %olice" and to

the De%artment of Motor Vehicles(

8A team of laboratory e6%erts has gone back to the scene of the abduction to searchagain": -hief Reynolds said( 8)e can.t do more until #e ha&e a lead(:

8Then there.s nothing to sto% you from going out and doing some #ork yoursel&es$:

Aunt Mathilda declared(

8There.s a better chance of catching them /uickly": the sheriff said" 8by ha&ing acentral control ready to direct the search the moment a lead is disco&ered(:

Aunt Mathilda #as ob&iously uncon&inced" and she glared at the sheriff and -hief

Reynolds as they left the room( Her tem%er #asn.t im%ro&ed by the return of thelaboratory team #ith no results( There #ere still no clues to the #hereabouts of the

kidna%%ers and 1u%iter(

8)hat on earth do they #ant #ith 1u%iter*: Aunt Mathilda fumed( 8Are you boys sureyou aren.t in&ol&ed in one of your ridiculous in&estigations* 5oking in other %eo%le.s

business*:

89o" ma.am": +ob declared( 8)e #ere 0ust going on an outing to Magic Mountain(:

>ncle Titus said" 89either of you t#o can think of any reason for this*:8' #ish #e could": 5ete said(

8'f ' could 0ust get my hands on those criminals$: Aunt Mathilda raged(

'n s%ite of themsel&es" +ob and 5ete couldn.t hel% smiling at each other( They #ouldhate to be the kidna%%ers if Aunt Mathilda got to them$ Then their smiles faded2it didn.t

look as if anyone #as going to get to the kidna%%ers$

8'f #e 0ust had some#here to start from": +ob said( 8' kno# 1u%e #ould find a #ay tolead us to him(:

8'f he can": 5ete said( 8Those kidna%%ers seem %retty smart" Records(:

-hief Reynolds stood o&er them( 8)e.ll find out soon ho# smart they are": he

announced( 8The sheriff.s helico%ter men ha&e s%otted the Mercedes %arked back on old


13/63

Rattlesnake Road" not three miles from to#n$:

8Let.s go$: The sheriff cried as he a%%eared from a back room( 8)e.&e got them$:

At first" alone in the mountain cabin" 1u%iter listened for some time at the locked door( He

tried to hear #hat the kidna%%ers #ere saying outside" and #ondered ho# long it #ould

be before they disco&ered their mistake(He could hear their &oices clearly but could make out only scattered #ords( They

seemed to be talking about %lans for a tri%" and about someone #ho #asn.t there( 1u%iter

suddenly reali3ed that they #ere #aiting for someone( or someone to come" and forsomething to ha%%en(

+ut #ho and #hat out here in a remote canyon*

He strained to hear better" but it #as no use( His stomach sank( )hat if the %erson they

#ere #aiting for kne# the real 'an better than they did* 1u%e had to find some #ay toesca%e from the cabin" and from the kidna%%ers$

He looked around the tiny cabin( 't #as a single bare room #ithout any furniture at all(

There #ere no closets" and only the one door" locked from the outside( The single narro#

#indo# #as barred" as if the cabin had once been used to store something &aluable ordangerous( 5erha%s it had held dynamite for rock /uarrying" or e6%ensi&e oil4%ros%ecting

tools(+ut there #as nothing stored in the cabin no#" and nothing 1u%e could use to esca%e(

He #alked slo#ly around the stone #alls" looking for any #eak %oints( There #ere

none( The #alls #ere at least a foot thick and in good re%air( 1u%e had nothing to breakthrough the #alls #ith" and that #ould ha&e made too much noise any#ay( There #as no

#ay out through the #alls" so he turned to the floor(

't #as made of #ide" rough boards at least an inch thick( They #ere solid boards #ith

no cracks bet#een them" but they #ere s%ringy( They bent #hen 1u%iter %ut his #eight onthem( He reali3ed that the boards #ere not on the ground" but #ere laid across su%%orts(

There #as a s%ace under the cabin$

On his hands and knees" 1u%iter cra#led o&er the #hole floor( He found a loose boardat the rear" close to the #all$ +y %utting a foot hea&ily on one end of the short board" he

#as able to raise the other end far enough to get his hands under it and %ull it loose( or

once he #as glad he #as a little o&er#eight$He raised the board all the #ay" and sa# o%en s%ace underneath( Silently managing to

free one more board" he s/uee3ed do#n through the o%ening and began to cra#l around

the lo# s%ace on his belly( The ground slo%ed u%#ard on one side" and he could mo&e

under only half the cabin( 't #as enough( The cabin #as built on a raised stone foundation#ith a fe# &entilation o%enings much too small for anyone to cra#l through( There #as

no #ay out(

1u%iter slo#ly climbed back u% into the cabin(There #as no #ay out at all(

The %olice cars %arked a short distance belo# the Mercedes on Rattlesnake Road( The%olice searched e&ery inch of the silent car(

89othing": -hief Reynolds said unha%%ily( 89ot a hint to #here they.&e gone from

here(:

85eo%le can.t 0ust disa%%ear": Aunt Mathilda insisted(


14/63

+ob" 5ete" and >ncle Titus searched all around the abandoned car( 't had been %ulled

on to a grassy &erge at the side of the road(

89othing looks like a sign from 1u%iter": +ob said glumly(8There isn.t e&en a foot%rint": >ncle Titus said(

8They.&e sim%ly &anished": -hief Reynolds said" staring all around at the thick brush

and looming mountains( 8They could ha&e taken 1u%iter any#here(:89o": 5ete declared suddenly( 8' don.t think so" -hief( ' don.t think they could ha&e

gone far$:

Esca%e$

8HO)-A9!O>kno# that" young man*: the sheriff demanded(

8!ou.&e found a clue" 5ete*: -hief Reynolds e6claimed(5ete stood near the Mercedes" staring do#n at the dirt road( He crouched and touched

the dirt lightly #ith his hand(8Look" sir$: the tall Second 'n&estigator said" and %ointed to the ground in front of

him( 8There.s a big %atch of soft sand across the #hole road here( !ou can see the tyremarks of the Mercedes clearly" but there are no other recent tyre tracks or foot%rints$ 9o

other car has come this #ay today" so they couldn.t ha&e left in a car( And they didn.t

#alk a#ay on the road" as far as ' can see(:The sheriff nodded as he e6amined the road around the Mercedes( 8The road is %retty

dry and dusty e&ery#here" and there.re no foot%rints(:

8!ou mean": +ob e6claimed" 8that they must still be some#here around here*:8!es" Records": 5ete said" sounding almost like 1u%iter himself( 8't.s my guess they

ne&er crossed the road at all" but #ent off through the cha%arral to#ards the mountains$:

8Hold on": said -hief Reynolds( 8There.s grass along this side of the road( They mightha&e #alked a#ay on that(:

85ossibly": said the sheriff( He turned to t#o of his de%uties( 8!ou" +illings and

Rodrigue3" #alk along the grass in each direction and see ho# far it goes" and if any

foot%rints emerge on to the road( The rest of us #ill s%read out and look for signs of entryinto the brush( E&eryone ste% carefully$:

8And look for anything that looks like a /uestion mark": +ob added( 8Or a %ile of

stones" or a branch broken in a funny #ay$ 1u%e and 5ete and ' lea&e signs like that foreach other #hen #e ha&e to s%lit u% on a case(:

The %olice and de%uties s%read out and mo&ed slo#ly u% and do#n the road on the

side nearest the mountains( The t#o de%uties #ho #ere checking the e6tent of the grass

soon re%orted that it didn.t go far" and that there #ere no foot%rints on the road #here itended( One searcher found a %ile of small stones that could ha&e been a sign from 1u%iter(

+ut #hen the sheriff e6amined the stones" he sa# there #as dried mud holding them

together( They had ob&iously been there for some time( Another %oliceman found abroken branch that seemed to %oint into the dense brush( +ut a search of the immediate

area re&ealed no break in the cha%arral" and no %ath(

8-hief*: a %oliceman called( 8's that anything*:He %ointed to something small and #hite" lo# in a bush( 't seemed to be a %iece of


15/63

litter( +ob and 5ete ran u%(

8't looks like2: +ob began(

8One of our cards$: 5ete finished( He reached in and took it out( 8't is one of ourcards$ 1u%e must ha&e sli%%ed it into the bush #hen the kidna%%ers #eren.t looking$:

85ull back that brush$: the sheriff ordered(

The de%uties and %olicemen %ulled and tore at the cha%arral" and /uickly disco&eredthe hidden trail(

8't.s a %ath all right": -hief Reynolds declared( 8And someone.s been along it &ery

recently( Look #here the small brush has been broken and flattened$:E&eryone hurried along the narro# trail(

8There$: +ob cried( He %ointed to some cha%arral that #as torn u%" as if someone had

stumbled and fallen( 9earby" on a small rock" #as a tiny #hite /uestion mark$

8't.s 1u%e.s sign$ He #as carrying his chalk$: 5ete e6claimed(8Hurry$: >ncle Titus urged( 8He must be some#here ahead" closer to the moun2:

>ncle Titus sto%%ed #ith his mouth still o%en( He #as listening to something( Then

e&eryone else heard it( A noise like a %o#erful motor gre# louder and louder until it

seemed to be right on to% of them( Aunt Mathilda %ointed to the sky(8't.s a helico%ter$:

8's it one of ours*: the sheriff shouted abo&e the roaring noise of the aircraft as it%assed less than a hundred yards abo&e them and s#e%t on to#ards the mountains(

89o": -hief Reynolds shouted back( 8't must be theirs$ That.s ho# they intend to

esca%e" Sheriff$ 't.s going to %ick u% the kidna%%ers and 1u%iter$:They all stared u% at the helico%ter until it &anished behind the dense gro#th of trees

abo&e them" its noise slo#ly fading a#ay into the distance ahead(

8And you said there #as no #ay they could get out of the county" Sheriff$: Aunt

Matilda cried furiously(8,ee% going": the Sheriff said grimly( 8They must be some#here ahead on this trail(:

8'f #e can get there in time": 5ete moaned( 8+efore that cho%%er %icks them u%(:

'n the bo6 canyon" the t#o kidna%%ers #atched the helico%ter land in a s#irl of dust( The

rush of the air from the #hirling blades #hi%%ed their hair and clothing( )ith the rotors

idling" the %ilot 0um%ed out of the clear %le6i4glass bubble( Muffled in a flying suit"helmet and goggles" the %ilot ran to the kidna%%ers(

8Right on time": the stocky one" )alt" said(

8)e.&e got him$: red added" grinning(

The %ilot didn.t grin in re%ly( 8There.re %olice cars all o&er the road back there #hereyou left the Mercedes$ ' think ' sa# %olice already coming through the brush$:

8On the %ath*: )alt sco#led( 8Ho# did they find it so fast*:

8The kid$: red cried( 8Those times he fell$ '.ll bet he left them a trail$:)alt laughed( 89e&er mind" eh* 't.ll take them at least half an hour to get here from

the road( +y then #e.ll be u% #ith the birds(:

8Don.t %lay games" )alter": the %ilot sna%%ed( 8;et the boy no#( This is too im%ortantto our country to make any mistakes(:

8Okay": )alt agreed" 8let.s get him(:

8)here is he*:

8'n that cabin" locked u% tight(:


16/63

8;ood": the %ilot said" 8but make it fast no#(:

The three of them trotted across the hard floor of the canyon( )alt unlocked the cabin

door(8All right" boy" rise and shine": he called(

8)alt$: red cried( 8He.s not in here$:

The dim room of the cabin #as em%ty$8!ou.&e let him esca%e$: the %ilot raged(

8'm%ossible": )alt said( 8There.s no #ay out(:

They all stared around the deserted cabin(8Maybe not": red said sa&agely" 8but there.s no %lace to hide in here" either" and he.s

not here$:

8He.s got out someho#$: the %ilot cried(

8All right" don.t %anic": )alt ordered( 8He may ha&e got out of the cabin" but he.s stillin the canyon( That one %ath is the only #ay out" and #e.&e had it in full &ie# the #hole

time( He couldn.t ha&e gotten %ast us" red" so he.s still some#here in the canyon behind

the cabin( Let.s get him$:

The three kidna%%ers hurried out into the barren canyon" and s%read out(

5anting" the boys" the %olice" and 1u%iter.s aunt and uncle emerged from the %ath into thelong narro# canyon( 't #as more than t#enty minutes since the helico%ter had %assed

o&erhead" and they scanned the canyon a%%rehensi&ely(

8't.s here$: +ob e6claimed(The helico%ter stood far u% the canyon #ith its rotors idling" but e&en as they #atched"

the %ilot 0um%ed inside and the aircraft began to %ut on full %o#er for take4off$

8+ut it #on.t be for long$: 5ete cried( 8Run$:

As they began to run to#ards the roaring machine" t#o men a%%eared from behind asmall stone cabin( They each carried a suitcase" and raced to the helico%ter(

8They.re too far ahead of us$: -hief Reynolds cried(

8!ou$ Sto%$ 5olice$: the sheriff shouted as he ran(+ut the kidna%%ers had reached the helico%ter( They scrambled into the bubble" and as

the search %arty #atched hel%lessly" the cho%%er roared full throttle and lifted straight u%

into the air in a cloud of dust( 't ho&ered for a moment" then s#e%t u% and a#ay" barelyclearing the edge of the canyon as it &anished to#ards the south$

On the ground" the searchers stared dumbfounded at the sky(

8They ( ( ( they.re gone": >ncle Titus said in disbelief(

8!ou let them esca%e again$: Aunt Mathilda raged( 8Men$ 9o# ho# do you %lan torescue my ne%he#*:

8+ack to the cars$: the sheriff shouted( 8;et #ord out on the radio( The helico%ter #as

heading south(:The de%uties headed back to the trail at a run(

8)ait" sir": +ob cried( 8' didn.t see 1u%iter #ith them$ 1ust the t#o kidna%%ers and a

%ilot$:8Maybe #e scared them$: 5ete e6claimed( 8Maybe they left 1u%e in that cabin$:

-hief Reynolds turned and led the rush to the cabin( He flung the door o%en" and

e&eryone hurried inside( They looked all round the single bare room(

8He.s not here$: 5ete groaned(


17/63

8He must ha&e been in the helico%ter already": +ob said in dismay( 8)e #ere 0ust too

late(:

8No, Records": a ghostly &oice from no#here said" 8as a matter of fact, you were justin time(:

T#o floor boards rose u% at the rear of the cabin" and a grinning 1u%iter emerged from

under the floor$81u%iter$: e&eryone cried at once(

8Of course": the stout boy said blandly( 8)ere you e6%ecting someone else*:

B

1u%iter inds a -lue

8( ( ( SO THERE )AS no #ay out of that cabin": 1u%iter e6%lained to the ne#s%a%er

re%orters clustered around him at %olice head/uarters( 8+ut ' reali3ed that since there #asno#here in the cabin to hide" ' might make them think'.d managed to esca%e if ' 0ust hid

under the floor$ And it #orked$ Of course" they might ha&e guessed the truth in time" but#hen e&eryone else arri&ed they had to run(:

85retty smart for a kid": a re%orter said(81u%iter 1ones": -hief Reynolds %ointed out" 8isn.t an ordinary boy( 9one of The

Three 'n&estigators is ordinary( They are authentic 0unior detecti&es" and often hel% us in

our #ork(:8That.s a great story" -hief": the re%orter said" and nodded to his %hotogra%her( 8;et

some good %ictures" 1oe( )e.ll make the late edition(:

)hile the re%orters inter&ie#ed him" 1u%iter studied the %olice file" #hich contained%hotogra%hs of all the %eo%le that the Rocky +each %olice had e&er arrested( He also ga&e

a descri%tion of the t#o kidna%%ers to a %olice artist" #ho made a dra#ing of each

sus%ect(8The kidna%%ers ne&er said #hat they #anted*: a re%orter asked(

8That is %olice business": -hief Reynolds ans#ered( 8+ut ' can tell you this muchC Mr

Titus 1ones is not a rich man" and neither he nor his ne%he# kno#s of any definite reason

for the abduction at this time( )e e6%ect to learn the reason and ca%ture the kidna%%ersshortly(:

;rudgingly" the re%orters finished taking their %ictures and left( 1u%iter failed to find

the kidna%%ers in the file" and he #asn.t satisfied #ith the dra#ings(8They.re not really much like the kidna%%ers": +ob agreed(

8Ha&e you learned something ne#" -hief*: 5ete asked eagerly( 8!ou said you

e6%ected to catch them soon(:

8'.m afraid not" 5ete": the chief admitted( 8That #as 0ust for the ne#s%a%ers( 'n akidna%%ing it.s im%ortant not to let the media re&eal #hat you are actually doing(:

8That.s #hy you didn.t tell them that '.m con&inced it #as no ordinary kidna%%ing*:

1u%iter #anted to kno#(8!es" 1u%iter": the chief said( 8The less the kidna%%ers think #e kno#" the better(:

8' see": 1u%iter said" and %ondered( 8or some reason" though" they mistook me for the

son of someone im%ortant in their country" #here&er that is" and ' think it.s all some kindof re&enge" or %olitics" or e&en #ar( They #ere after a hostage$:


18/63

85erha%s": the chief ackno#ledged" 8but you.re safe no#" and #e.ll handle it( The

helico%ter is being traced" and those dra#ings #ill be circulated( ' #ant you to be careful

for a fe# days( +y then" '.m sure #e.ll ha&e those &illains( 9o#" since your aunt anduncle ha&e already left" #e.ll send you all home in a %olice car(:

Outside in front of %olice head/uarters" #hile #aiting for the %olice car" 1u%iter looked

at his #atch( He fro#ned(8't.s getting late" but %erha%s #e can get someone to take us in the yard truck": the

stout leader said almost to himself(

8)here" 1u%e*: 5ete asked" and then gul%ed( 89o don.t tell me( ' don.t think ' #ant tokno#(:

81u%e$: +ob cried( 8Look it.s )orthington$:

The tall chauffeur stood beside the gold4%lated Rolls4Royce %arked at the kerb some

four cars u% the street( The three boys hurried to him(8!ou.re still here" )orthington$: 1u%iter e6claimed(

8' #as not %ro%erly dismissed" Master 1ones": the chauffeur said" 8and ' #ished to be

sure you #ere safe and in good health(: His eyes t#inkled( 8+esides" it occurred to me

that there is still more than an hour before fi&e o.clock" and you might %ossibly #ishtrans%ortation some#here(:

8)e do$: 1u%iter declared( He ran o&er to the %olice car that had 0ust %ulled u% for theboys and e6%lained they didn.t need a ride after all( Then he ran cheerfully back to the

Rolls4Royce( 8'nside" fello#s$:

The boys %iled into the gleaming &ehicle" and )orthington looked back solemnly fromthe dri&er.s seat( 8)here to" sir*:

8)hy" back to that bo6 canyon near Rattlesnake Road" of course(:

8Oh" no": 5ete moaned( 8The chief said #e #ere su%%osed to be careful(:

8And #e #ill be": 1u%iter said #ith a grin( 8Dri&e on" )orthington$:The summer sun #as still high #hen they reached the hidden trail off Rattlesnake

Road( )orthington locked the Rolls4Royce" and some t#enty4fi&e minutes later they all

emerged into the canyon #here 1u%e had been held ca%ti&e(8Since ' #as in the cabin and #ouldn.t ha&e a fresh eye for any clues that might be

there" ' think 5ete and )orthington should search in and around it": 1u%iter decided( 8+ob

and ' #ill search the area #here the helico%ter landed(:8)hat e6actly are #e looking for" irst*: +ob asked(

8+esides trouble" that is": 5ete muttered(

8Any clue at all" Records": 1u%iter said" ignoring 5ete( 8A clue to #ho the kidna%%ers

are" or #here they come from" or #hat they really #ant" or #here they might be no#(:As the sun slo#ly #ent do#n behind the mountain cliffs and %lunged the narro#

canyon into long shado#s" 5ete and )orthington searched all around the cabin" #ithout

results( +ob and 1u%iter did no better out #here the helico%ter had been( Then 1u%iterremembered that the kidna%%ers had searched for him beyond the cabin( The

'n&estigators and )orthington fanned out and started to #ork their #ay do#n to the end

of the canyon( They #ere gro#ing more and more discouraged #hen 1u%iter suddenlybent o&er( He %icked u% something and stared at it( The others ran to him(

8)hat.s that*: +ob asked(

8'.m not sure": 1u%iter re%lied slo#ly( 8Look(:

The tiny ob0ect glittered in his hand in the final light of the canyon sun( 't #as a


19/63

miniature ele%hant tusk made of #hat looked like real i&ory" set in a gold mesh" and

attached to a small gold loo%(

8An earring" maybe*: 5ete suggested(8A #atch charm or amulet*: +ob s%eculated 85ossibly some kind of lucky %iece"

irst*:

8)hate&er it is": 1u%iter said" 8the setting is /uite crude and looks handmade( ' thinkit.s some kind of foreign handicraft" and not anything you #ould e6%ect to find in this

canyon(:

8Do you think that the kidna%%ers dro%%ed it" irst*: 5ete asked()orthington took the tiny tusk and studied it for a moment( 89o# that ' think of it"

boys" the accents of those kidna%%ers sounded much like those of %eo%le from former

+ritish colonies in Africa" and this tusk looks &ery much like nati&e 0e#ellery made in

%arts of Africa( So ' should &enture the o%inion that the kidna%%ers did indeed dro% ithere(:

1u%iter #as e6cited( 8Then ' think #e can find out #here they came from$:

8>h" 1u%e": 5ete said uneasily" 8' thought #e #ere off this case*:

8)e can.t fool #ith kidna%%ers" irst": +ob #arned(89o" the %olice must %ursue the kidna%%ers": the stout irst 'n&estigator conceded(

8+ut some#here ' belie&e there is a boy in danger" and ' am con&inced that he is inRocky +each( 't.s u% to us to find him and hel% him(:

8' should ha&e kno#n you.d find an angle$: 5ete said #ith a sigh(

8He may not e&en be a#are of his danger" Second( At least #e can #arn him": 1u%itersaid firmly" and turned to )orthington( 8!ou may dri&e us home no#" )orthington" and

then you may return the car to the agency(:

8Very good" Master 1ones": the chauffeur said(

As they returned to the narro# trail and #alked in the fading light to#ards RattlesnakeRoad" 5ete fro#ned(

81ust ho# do #e find this kid*: he #anted to kno#(

8There are many #ays" Second": 1u%iter declared confidently( 8+ut before #e can findhim" #e must kno# more about him( Tonight ' #ill do some research" and #e.ll meet at

Head/uarters tomorro# to %lan our strategy$:

riends or Enemies*

85ETER$ Don.t gobble your breakfast": Mrs -rensha# said the ne6t morning(

8Sorry" Mom( '.m in kind of a hurry(:

Mr -rensha# looked u% o&er his ne#s%a%er(89othing to do #ith the kidna%%ing of your friend 1u%iter" ' ho%e": Mr -rensha# said

seriously( 8That.s nothing for you boys to mess #ith(:

89o" sir" #e kno# that( )e aren.t going any#here near those kidna%%ers if #e canhel% it(:

Mrs -rensha# smiled( 8't.s hard to imagine anyone mistaking 1u%iter 1ones for

someone else( ' #ouldn.t ha&e thought there could be anyone else /uite like 1u%iter(:8)ell" 1u%e didn.t say anything to them" Mom( ' mean" he ke%t his mouth shut(:


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8Oh" ' see(: Mrs -rensha# laughed( 8That #ould make a difference #ith 1u%iter"

#ouldn.t it*:

5ete grinned in res%onse( He finished his breakfast" then rushed out to his bike( The air#as still cool as he rode to the sal&age yard and sto%%ed by the back fence fifty yards

from the corner( The entire fence had been decorated by Rocky +each artists" and here in

the rear #as a dramatic scene of the San rancisco fire of 7FB( 5ete remo&ed the eye ofa little dog %ainted into the scene2the eye #as a knot of #ood2and reached inside the

fence( He released a catch" three boards s#ung u%" and #ent into the yard through Red

;ate Ro&er(He #ent on across the sal&age yard through the mounds of 0unk" and found 1u%iter at

#ork in his outdoor #orksho%( The leader of the detecti&e team had %arts of three small

instruments s%read all o&er the #orkbench(

8Our emergency signals need a lot of ad0ustments": 1u%iter said( 8!ou can hel% me#hile #e #ait for +ob(:

8)hat about your research" and the %lans to find that 'an kid*: 5ete asked as he bent

o&er the scattered %arts of the emergency signals" #hich 1u%iter had built for their #ork

many years ago( 8Didn.t you find out anything*:8' #ouldn.t say that": 1u%iter said" grinning( 8As a matter of fact" ' found out a great

deal last night( ' don.t think it #ill be too difficult a task to locate 'an -are#$:8Tell me$: 5ete cried(

8)e.ll #ait for +ob": 1u%iter said maddeningly( 89o sense in going o&er it t#ice(:

5ete fumed in frustration" but 1u%iter only grinned and continued to #ork on theemergency signals( The t#o boys had all the %arts cleaned and read0usted and ready for

reassembly by the time +ob arri&ed( He came bursting into the #orksho% through ;reen

;ate One2t#o loose green boards in the front fence of the 0unkyard(

8Sorry": he said" out of breath from riding his bike so fast" 8Mom grabbed me forsome 0obs around the house( )hat are our %lans" 1u%e* Ha&e you heard anything more

from -hief Reynolds*:

8!es": 1u%iter re%lied" 8' called the chief earlier this morning( They found thehelico%ter abandoned in a field u% near Ventura(:

8!ou mean they fooled us* Turned north after heading south*: +ob e6claimed(

1u%iter nodded( 8A logical mo&e once they kne# they had been s%otted by the %olice(-hief Reynolds said there #ere no clues in the aircraft" and it had been rented and %aid

for by mail( )hen the %ilot arri&ed at the airfield" he #as already #earing those flying

clothes and goggles so no one could describe him( Of course" his %ilot.s %a%ers #ere

fakes" and the name and address he ga&e turned out to be %hony(:8So that.s a lot of hel%": 5ete grumbled(

8)hat about the kidna%%ers*: +ob asked(

89o one.s e&en been able to identify them yet" much less a%%rehend them": 1u%itersaid( 8The finger%rints that the %olice found in the helico%ter and the Mercedes aren.t on

file #ith the +' in )ashington( And the Mercedes turned out to be rented" too(:

8!ou mean #e.re getting no#here": 5ete said bluntly(89ot e6actly" Second(: 1u%iter smiled( 8As ' said" ' s%ent last night doing research" and

' think #e can2:

+efore he could finish #hat he #as going to say" a forceful &oice boomed out behind

him(


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8So there you are" 1u%iter 1ones$: Aunt Mathilda stood in the #orksho% entrance"

glaring at 1u%iter #ith her hands on her hi%s( 8!ou did %romise to finish cleaning out the

small storeroom t#o days ago" didn.t you* ' did let you off yesterday against my better0udgement" didn.t '* Then you did %romise faithfully to get to #ork first thing this

morning" didn.t you*:

8'.m sorry" Aunt Mathilda": 1u%iter said shee%ishly(8!ou should be$ ' su%%ose it.s all because it.s the last #eek before school o%ens(

Running off" la3ing around" eating e&erything in sight( My refrigerator looks like the

bu33ards ha&e been at it$:8'4' ha&en.t touched2: 1u%iter stammered(

8Stuff and nonsense( Look at you" getting fatter all the time( Some #ork #ill do you

good$:

8+ut": 5ete and +ob %rotested" 8#e.&e got something2:8)hate&er it is" it can #ait" and you t#o can 0ust %ut this #orksho% into some order

#hile 1u%iter finishes the 0ob he started( 9o# march" young man$:

1u%iter sighed( 85ut the signals back together" fello#s( ' #on.t be too long(:

8'f he doesn.t sto% for too many snacks": Aunt Mathilda said sarcastically(+ob and 5ete nodded glumly as 1u%iter marched a#ay to#ards the yard office" #ith

Aunt Mathilda ste%%ing behind him like a Marine -or%s drill sergeant( +urning #ithcuriosity about #hat 1u%iter had been going to say" they #ent back to #ork reassembling

the three emergency signals( 't #as slo#" delicate #ork" and 5ete #as all thumbs( +ut

#ith the hel% of the defter +ob" they finally got the small instruments back together(After that they straightened u% the #orksho%(

)hen 1u%iter still hadn.t returned" they started to cra#l into Tunnel T#o to #ait inside

Head/uarters(

8Hold it" fello#s$:Red4faced and s#eating from his e6ertions in the small storeroom" 1u%iter hurried into

the #orksho%( +ob and 5ete clambered back out of the tunnel(

8)hat about last night" 1u%e*: 5ete demanded eagerly(8)hat did you find out*: +ob asked(

8)ell" ' looked u%2:

81>5'TER 1O9ES$:'t #as Aunt Mathilda calling again from near the office(

8Oh" no$: 5ete groaned(

8Let.s hide$: +ob urged(

8'.m afraid that #ouldn.t hel%": 1u%iter said(81u%e.s right": 5ete agreed ho%elessly( 8!ou can.t hide from Aunt Mathilda( She.s

Scotland !ard" the +'" and the -anadian Mounties combined$ )e might as #ell go out(:

They left the #orksho% and started across the sal&age yard" threading their #ay %astthe mounds of 0unk( +ob suddenly %ointed ahead to Aunt Mathilda" #ho stood outside the

yard office(

81u%e$ There.re t#o men #ith her$:894not the kidna%%ers$: 5ete stammered(

89o": +ob said" 8one of them.s black(:

8+lack*: 1u%iter e6claimed( 8Of course" that #ould be logical( -ome on" fello#s(:

8Logical*: 5ete said( 8)hat do you mean" logical*:


22/63

+ut 1u%iter #as already #alking ahead( +ob and 5ete caught u% to him as they reached

the office( Aunt Mathilda eyed the boys sus%iciously(

8These men say they #ant to talk to you three": she said( 8Something about hiringyou( ' ho%e it.s not some scheme you all cooked u% to get out of #ork the rest of the

#eek$:

89o" madam": the #hite stranger said( He #as tall and blond and as sunburned as thekidna%%ers( 8)e ha&e a small in&estigation for the boys(:

The Three 'n&estigators stared at the tall" blond man2he had the same odd +ritish

accent as the kidna%%ers$8't had better be small": Aunt Mathilda sna%%ed( 8They start school ne6t #eek" and

about time too(:

)ith that %arting shot" Aunt Mathilda strode off into the office" lea&ing the boys #ith

the t#o strangers( 1u%iter looked /uickly around" then motioned for the t#o men tofollo# the boys back to the #orksho%( Once there" 1u%iter turned eagerly to the t#o men(

8't.s about the kidna%%ing" isn.t it*: he said( 8)ho are you gentlemen*:

8' am ;ordon Mac,en3ie": the blond man said" 8and this:2he nodded to the black

man28is Adam 9dula( And" yes" it.s about your kidna%%ing(:8)e need the hel% of good local detecti&es": Adam 9dula said( 8)e can tell you #hy

you #ere kidna%%ed" and #hat the kidna%%ers #ere really after(:8)e.ll be glad to hel%" Mr 9dula": 1u%iter said( 8+ut #e already kno# #hy ' #as

kidna%%ed" and #hat the kidna%%ers really #ant$:

8)e do*: 5ete said(8!es" Second" #e do": 1u%iter declared smugly( 8' #as kidna%%ed because ' look a lot

like a boy named 'an -are#( 'an is the son of Sir Roger -are#( Sir Roger is %rime

minister of the small +ritish colony of 9anda in Africa" and is %re%aring 9anda to

become an inde%endent country ne6t year #ith go&ernment by the black ma0ority and the9anda4born moderate #hites( +ut he is o%%osed both by the underground +lack 9andan

Alliance" #hose members #ant to e6%el all #hites from the country" and the #hite

e6tremists of the 9ational 5arty" #ho #ant an all4#hite go&ernment and army to kee% theblack ma0ority #ithout a say in the running of the country.s affairs(:

8;osh" 1u%e" ho# do you kno# all that*: +ob #ondered(

8)hat.s it got to do #ith the kidna%%ing*: 5ete added(8't.s the reason for the kidna%%ing" Second": the stout leader declared( 8The

kidna%%ers belong to the #hite e6tremist 9ational 5arty( They %lanned to kidna% 'an

-are# to hold him as a hostage and force Sir Roger to change his %lans and kee% 9anda

under all4#hite rule( Mr Mac,en3ie and Mr 9dula are members of Sir Roger.s moderate%arty #ho ha&e come to try to sa&e 'an(:

The #orksho% became suddenly /uiet(

8!ou kno# much": Adam 9dula said( 8' think too much$:He held an enormous %istol in his dark hand(

G

8'n D0anga.s 5lace:

9D>LA.SE!ESburned in his dark face( He held the %istol aimed straight at 1u%iter(


23/63

8There is only one #ay you could kno# all that": the grim 9andan said( 8Only one

#ay you could kno# #ho #e are( !ou are #orking #ith those kidna%%ers$ !ou are a

s%y$:8Easy" Adam": Mac,en3ie said( His &oice #as /uiet" but his eyes #ere as deadly as

9dula.s( 8)ell" young man" #hat do you ha&e to say* Ho# do you kno# so much about

us*:8't.s really all /uite sim%le" Mr Mac,en3ie": 1u%iter said in his most dignified &oice(

8' am neither a s%y nor a tool( 'f ' had been #orking #ith the kidna%%ers" ' #ouldn.t ha&e

been so foolish as to re&eal myself(:9dula #atched him closely( 8;o on boy(:

8E6%lain ho# it is all so sim%le": Mac,en3ie said(

8Very #ell": 1u%iter re%lied( 8'n the first %lace" #hile ' #as a %risoner ' listenedto the

kidna%%ers( They had strange accents" and had ob&iously mistaken me for a boy named'an #ho #as the son of an im%ortant man named Sir Roger( After ' esca%ed" #e #ent

back to #here ' had been held( )e found this2: He held u% the tiny i&ory tusk #ith its

gold setting( 8Our chauffeur" )orthington" #as sure it #as from Africa" and #as also

con&inced that the accent of the kidna%%ers #as that of %eo%le from some +ritish colonyin Africa(:

Mac,en3ie took the tiny tusk and studied it( He held it u% for 9dula to see( 9dulashook his head(

8)e ha&e an e6cellent library in Rocky +each": 1u%iter continued( 8't didn.t take me

long to disco&er that the +ritish colony of 9anda has a %rime minister named Sir Roger-are#" and is in the middle of a struggle for inde%endence( The kidna%%ers #ere clearly

enemies of Sir Roger %lanning to hold 'an as a #ea%on against him" so they had to be

#hite e6tremists o%%osed to his %lans for 9anda.s future( Since you t#o ha&e the same

accents" and since you are each of a different race but #orking together" 't #as a sim%lededuction that you are follo#ers of Sir Roger -are#$:

8;ee": 5ete e6claimed" 8it is%retty sim%le(:

8)hen young 1ones e6%lains it": Mac,en3ie said" smiling( He glanced at 9dula(8Satisfied" Adam*:

8!es": 9dula said" and %ut his %istol back into its shoulder holster( 8The boys seem to

be honest(:8And good detecti&es": Mac,en3ie said( 8)hich ' think #as #hat young 1ones

intended to sho# us" eh*:

1u%iter flushed and grinned( 8' thought maybe a demonstration of our #ork #ould

hel%(:8!es" &ery good": Mac,en3ie said( 8)e arri&ed in Rocky +each only yesterday" and

read of your kidna%%ing in the e&ening ne#s%a%er( )hen #e sa# your %icture" #e kne#

at once #hat had ha%%ened( The %a%er mentioned your connection #ith The Three'n&estigators" so this morning #e made in/uiries and found that you boys truly are

detecti&es( +ut a demonstration is better than #ords" eh*:

1u%iter nodded" and %resented the 'n&estigators. business card #ith a flourish( The t#o9andans studied it( 't readC

THE THREE INVESTIGATORS


24/63

We Investigate Anything* * *

First Investigator

!econd Investigator

Records and Research

1>5'TER1O9ES

5ETER-RE9SHA)

+O+A9DRE)S

8Very %rofessional": commented Mac,en3ie(8Then you.ll hire us$: 5ete cried(

Mac,en3ie nodded to 9dula( 8)hat do you think" Adam* Are these resourceful young

men #hat #e need*:8' think they #ill do" ;ordon": 9dula said #ith a grin(

+ob and 5ete beamed" and 1u%iter looked thoughtful(

8Sir" 0ust ho# much do ' resemble 'an -are#*: he asked(8-all me Mac" and '.ll call you 1u%iter" eh* !ou.re Tan.s double2the resemblance is

uncanny( 9ot %erfect to someone #ho kno#s 'an #ell" but ama3ingly similar( Then" 'an

has been in the >nited States for the last t#o years" and a boy changes /uite a lot in thatamount of time" so those kidna%%ers could easily mistake you for him( Of course" 'an has

a 9andan accent( '.m a bit sur%rised2:

8' guessed that" Mac": 1u%iter e6%lained" 8so ' made sure that ' said nothing( ' #as

afraid that if the kidna%%ers disco&ered their mistake" ' #ould be in greater danger(:8So you #ould ha&e been": 9dula said grimly( 8rom their names and their

descri%tions #e don.t kno# them" but all those e6tremists are &ery dangerous(:

8)e think they dro%%ed that little tusk": +ob said( 8Does it mean anything to you*:89o": 9dula said" 8but it is definitely from 9anda(:

8Then there.s no doubt that the kidna%%ers are 9andan e6tremists*: 1u%iter said(

89one at all": Mac,en3ie declared( 8'an has been going to school in Los Angeles to

%re&ent 0ust such an attem%t to use him to blackmail Sir Roger( Someho# the e6tremistsdisco&ered 'an.s #hereabouts" and tried to abduct him in Los Angeles a #eek ago( He

esca%ed" but &anished( At home Sir Roger #as frantic until 'an sent a message through

the 9andan Trade Mission in Los Angeles(:8)hat message*: 1u%iter said(

8)hat.s a trade mission*: 5ete #anted to kno#(

8A trade mission is an official grou% that tries to increase business bet#een t#ocountries": 9dula e6%lained(

8And the message #as short and %u33ling": Mac,en3ie said( 8Almost meaningless to

us" e6ce%t that it mentioned Rocky +each( 'an must ha&e been afraid that our enemies#ould see the message" and ob&iously they did or they #ouldn.t ha&e come here

looking(:8!ou #ant us to try to deci%her it$: 5ete e6claimed(

8Let.s see it$: +ob cried(8't is at our hotel" in the hotel safe for security": 9dula said( 8)e #ill take you there at

once(:

The three boys follo#ed the 9andans out of the sal&age yard to a long" black -adillac(As they all climbed inside" 5ete suddenly sto%%ed(

81u%e$: the tall Second 'n&estigator said urgently( 8The &acant lot$:


25/63

He %ointed across the street to the &acant lot ne6t to Aunt Mathilda and >ncle Titus.s

house(

8Someone #as there by the front clum% of bushes$: 5ete said( 8'.m sure of it$:8Shall #e see*: Mac,en3ie said(

They a%%roached the lot #arily( 't #as #ell screened by bushes near the street" but

looking %ast the shrubbery they could see all the #ay through to the ne6t block( There#as no one in the lot( 5ete searched around the bushes #here he thought he.d seen

someone" and %ointed to the ground( A discarded cigarette butt lay there" still

smouldering(8Someone washere$: 5ete cried(

85ossibly 0ust a #orkman taking a smoking break": 1u%iter said uneasily(

85erha%s": Mac,en3ie said(

8After all": added 1u%e" as if trying to con&ince himself" 8#hy #ould anyone bes%ying on the sal&age yard* 'f the kidna%%ers are still in the area" they must ha&e seen the

ne#s%a%er and reali3ed their mistake(:

They returned to the -adillac( 9dula dro&e" and Mac,en3ie turned to the boys(

8)e must find 'an" and /uickly": he said( 85erha%s no one #as #atching you from that&acant lot" but ' fear the kidna%%ers are still near Rocky +each( They #on.t gi&e u%

easily( They ha&e too much at stake in 9anda to be scared off by the %olice(:85eo%le #ill do almost anything for #hat they belie&e in": 1u%iter agreed ominously(

8!es" 1u%iter": Mac,en3ie said( 8And not 0ust %olitical e6tremists( Sir Roger lo&es 'an"

boys" but his country comes first( E&en if the e6tremists ca%ture 'an" Sir Roger #ill not do#hat they #ant( 9ot e&en for 'an.s life(:

The three boys gul%ed" but said nothing( Soon the big car turned into the dri&e of the

Miramar Hotel on the beach( Mac,en3ie took the boys u% to the 9andans. room #hile

9dula got the message from the hotel safe( Mac,en3ie locked the door behind 9dula"and they all cro#ded around as 1u%iter read the message aloud(

8 Attacked in "#A# !cared# Rocky $each# %janga&s 'lace(. :

The boys looked at each other in dismay(5ete e6claimed" 8He hardly says anything$:

8And there.s nothing that seems to be in code": +ob added(

89o": 1u%iter agreed" staring at the cry%tic message( 8E6ce%t %erha%s that last %hrase2%janga&s 'lace( )hat does that mean*:

8)e ho%ed you could tell us": Mac,en3ie said( 8)e.&e looked in e&ery guidebook on

Rocky +each" but there.s no reference to D0anga( )e thought it must be something &ery

local" kno#n only to %eo%le #ho li&e here(:8' ne&er heard of it": +ob said(

8Me neither": 5ete agreed(

1u%iter only shook his head(8't is ho%eless" ;ordon": 9dula said" his shoulders sagging( 8These boys cannot hel%

us after all(:

1u%iter Stands irm


26/63

89OTH'9;": 1u%iter said firmly" 8is e&er ho%eless(:

8!ou ha&e an idea" 1u%iter*: Mac,en3ie said /uickly(

8)hat is it" irst*: +ob asked(1u%iter %ondered the brief and %u33ling message(

8'an #as scared by the attem%t to abduct him in Los Angeles": the stocky leader said(

8He ran a#ay" and came u% here( )hy did he %ick Rocky +each to hide out in*:8He.d come here on &acations from school": 9dula said( 8)hen Sir Roger &isited him

last year" they s%ent a #eek u% here(:

8Then he knewRocky +each": 1u%iter e6claimed(8Sure he did" he came here": 5ete said( 8)hy is that anything s%ecial*:

8't.s s%ecial" 5ete" because it %robably means that he had some definite %lace #here he

%lanned to hide" and #anted to tell Sir Roger #here he.d be( That.s #hat he must ha&e

been trying to do #hen he used the #ords%janga&s 'lace(:8+ut": 9dula ob0ected" 8Sir Roger has no idea #hat 'an meant by that(:

89e&ertheless": 1u%iter insisted" 8it must be the clue to #here he.s hiding( He #as

frightened and running" and he #ouldn.t ha&e #asted #ords in his message( There must

be a good reason #hy he used %janga&s 'lace" and since there doesn.t seem to be any%lace in Rocky +each #ith that name" and #e.d ne&er heard of anything like it" it must

ha&e some indirectmeaning$ 't must be intended to gi&e a clueto his location(:8So the e6tremists #ouldn.t understand it if they sa# his message": 5ete e6claimed(

85recisely" Second": 1u%iter said( 8Mac" the #ord is ob&iously African( )hat does it

mean in 9andan*:8That.s 0ust the trouble": Mac,en3ie said unha%%ily( 8't doesn.t mean anything

hel%ful( D0anga is the name of the last great leader of the 9anda tribe #ho make u% the

ma0ority of our nati&e %eo%le( Adam is a member of the tribe himself(:

8D0anga #as the last chief #ho battled against the Euro%ean in&aders and settlers" inthe early 7GGFs": 9dula e6%lained( 8His name means something like thunder cloud. or

rain noise." de%ending on ho# it is translated(:

8That.s all*: 1u%iter said" disa%%ointed( 8All right" is there some s%ecial 'lacehe had*Or some %articular e&ent" or action" or %erson associated #ith him*:

8There must be hundreds" 1u%iter": Mac,en3ie said( 8D0anga is a legend in 9anda(

There are endless myths" stories" battles" %eo%le" and e&ents associated #ith him( 't couldtake #eeks to try to research them all(:

8And #e #on.t ha&e #eeks": 9dula said( 8Time is &ital( )e may not ha&e e&en days(:

8;osh" 1u%e" it looks %retty ho%eless": +ob said(

8There must be a #ay$: 1u%iter fumed( 8'an #as des%erate" so he #ould ha&e used anassociation that #as #ell kno#n( Something that he #as sure #ould come to mind almost

at once( Mac" can you tell us the most im%ortant %laces" e&ents" or actions connected #ith

D0anga* Something most %eo%le from 9anda #ould kno#*:8)ell2: Mac,en3ie thought hard( 8There.s his great &ictory o&er the +ritish Army at

'mbala" and his final defeat at Iing#ala( The general he defeated #as Lord ern#ood"

and the one #ho beat him in the end #as ;eneral Audley(:+ob #hi%%ed out his %ocket notebook and began #riting do#n all the names(

8D0anga.s ca%ital #as >laga": 9dula added( 8After he #as defeated the +ritish

im%risoned him at ort ;eorge(:

8He esca%ed and tried to fight again": Mac,en3ie continued( 8His head/uarters then


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#as the remote ,arga Valley(:

8And he died in a final little skirmish near a &illage named Smith.s ord": 9dula

concluded(1u%iter nodded( 8)hat #e must do is take all the names connected #ith him" and2:

A loud knocking on the door made them all #hirl( The knocking #as shar% and urgent(

A #oman.s &oice called out(8Mr Mac,en3ie* Mr 9dula* Are you there*:

Mac,en3ie strode to the door( 8't.s Miss Lessing from the trade mission( She.s our

contact #ith Sir Roger(:85erha%s Sir Roger has found 'an$: 9dula cried(

Mac,en3ie unlocked the door" and a tall" dark4haired #oman in a na&y s#eater and

grey slacks #alked in hastily(

8Ha&e you found him*: she asked /uickly( 8!ou told me not to use the tele%hone" andthere.s an urgent secret communi/uJ from Sir Roger saying2:

Miss Lessing suddenly sa# the boys" and sto%%ed s%eaking( She stared at them

sus%iciously(

8' didn.t reali3e you #eren.t alone" Mr Mac,en3ie": she said stiffly( 8'.m afraid SirRoger.s message is official state business( ' can.t re&eal it to strangers(:

8's it about 'an" Miss Lessing*: Mac,en3ie asked(8Has Sir Roger found him* Or heard from him again*: 9dula added(

89o" neither" '.m afraid(:

8All right": Mac,en3ie said( 8+oys" ' think you can begin your research at once(Remember" #e must find 'an as soon as %ossible( -ontact us here the instant you come u%

#ith anything at all(:

The boys nodded" and left the hotel room( Once outside they hurried do#n the hotel

dri&e#ay to a bus sto%(8)here do #e start in&estigating" irst*: +ob asked eagerly(

8)e com%are e&erything #e kno# about D0anga against the tele%hone book" city

directory" city ma%s" and any other references to %laces in Rocky +each #here 'an mighthide": 1u%iter instructed( 8He #rote D0anga.s 'lace" so #e.ll start #ith the %laces" and

#e.ll s%lit u%( 5ete can go to -ity Hall to check ma%s" +ob can study the city directory

and tele%hone book" and '.ll try the Historical Society(:8-an ' go home for lunch first*: 5ete asked #ith a grin(

8,nock it off" Second": 1u%iter said" sighing( 8;rab a hot dog some#here" and then

start on the ma%s( )e.ll all meet at Head/uarters later this afternoon(:

The bus came" and they got on( )hile they rode into do#nto#n Rocky +each" +obtook out his %ocket notebook and made three lists of all the %laces D0anga had been

associated #ith( Armed #ith the lists" the boys s%lit u% for their se%arate in&estigations(

't #as after three4thirty #hen 1u%iter left the Historical Society and headed for the

'n&estigators. secret head/uarters( He had found nothing in any local guidebooks or

recent histories of the Rocky +each area that sounded anything like 'mbala" or Iing#ala"or >laga" or ort ;eorge" or the ,arga Valley" or Smith.s ord" or e&en ern#ood or

Audley(

9either +ob nor 5ete #as at Head/uarters( 1u%e %ut ne# batteries into the emergency

signals on the outdoor #orkbench" and did some fine tuning on the instruments( Then he


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cra#led into the trailer room and sat trying to think ofsome connection bet#een -hief

D0anga and Rocky +each(

There had to be an ans#er" and 1u%iter #as sure it #as in one of the famous %lacesassociated #ith the old chief( 'an #ouldn.t ha&e #anted his clue to be toohard to figure

out(

't #as nearly fi&e o.clock before +ob and 5ete finally arri&ed( Their glum faces toldthe story(

89othing at all": +ob said" sighing(

8They.re mostly all African names" irst": 5ete added( 8Rocky +each 0ust doesn.tha&e anything African in it(:

8)e ha&en.t tried e&ery#here": 1u%iter said( 8After dinner #e.ll go to the library and

look u% D0anga( Maybe there are some other im%ortant %lace names that Mac and 9dula

forgot to tell us about(:8'.m going out #ith my folks tonight": +ob told him(

8And '.&e got chores after dinner": 5ete said(

8Very #ell": 1u%iter re%lied( 8' shall continue alone(:

81u%e*: 5ete said unha%%ily( 8'.&e got this feeling that #e.re on the #rong track(:8Maybe he.s right" 1u%e": +ob said(

89o$ '.m con&inced 'an #as telling us #here he is(:+ut 1u%iter didn.t look so confident no#(

7F

1u%iter Misses Something

1>5'TERTO!ED#ith his breakfast the ne6t morning( He didn.t feel &ery hungry(

8My stars$ Are you sick" boy*: Aunt Mathilda boomed(

89o" ma.am": 1u%iter said" and sighed(He had sle%t little" a#akened early" and had lain in bed in the cool da#n #ondering if

5ete #as %erha%s right this time( He had found a #hole book about 9anda in the library"

had checked it out" and had s%ent half the night reading it in Head/uarters( 't had added

nothing im%ortant that he could see to the names and %laces Mac,en3ie and 9dula hadgi&en the 'n&estigators(

8)hat about some bacon* A slice of toast*: Aunt Mathilda suggested" suddenly

concerned" as 1u%iter finally finished his cereal(8)ell" maybe one slice": he agreed( 8And 0ust a little bacon( our or fi&e rashers"

that.s all(:

8The boy.s going to star&e a#ay": >ncle Titus said(

1u%iter #as still certain that 'an -are# had been trying to re&eal #here he #as hiding"but either 'an had been too careful" or 1u%e #as missing something( or once he had to

admit he #as stum%ed( And #orse2as he finished his breakfast he couldn.t think of

anything to do ne6t$1ust then the tele%hone rang( 1u%iter didn.t e&en look u% from his last %iece of bacon(

He #as brooding about his failure( He hated the thought that he could e&er be beaten(

8't.s +ob for you": Aunt Mathilda said(1u%iter took the recei&er #earily( 8!es" Records*:


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8!ou found it" irst$ )hy didn.t you call us*:

8)hat*: 1u%iter said" blinking( 8)hat did ' find*:

8)hy" the ans#er$ )here 'an is hiding$:8Don.t 0oke" Records": 1u%iter said angrily( 8'.m not feeling &ery humorous this

morning( )e.ll 0ust ha&e to go to Mac,en3ie and 9dula and try some other #ay( Maybe

2:8!ou mean you didn.t s%ot it*: +ob sounded ama3ed(

8S%ot it* S%ot #hat* )here*:

8'n the book you got from the library last night(:8)hat are you talking about* There.s nothing ne# in that book( ' read it thoroughly(:

8Then you missed it$ )e.re both o&er here in Head/uarters( Hurry$:

8+ob* )hat2*:

+ut +ob had hung u%( 1u%iter gul%ed the last bite of toast" and hurried out of the houseand across the street to the sal&age yard( )hen he emerged through the tra%door into

Head/uarters" 5ete and +ob grinned maddeningly at him(

8A detecti&e has to kee% his eyes o%en at all times": 5ete said #ith mock seriousness(

8Did you really miss it" irst*: +ob chortled(8'f there #as really anything to miss": 1u%iter muttered(

8Tell him" Records": 5ete urged(8)ell": +ob began" 8you #eren.t here #hen #e arri&ed" and #hile #e #aited 5ete

noticed the book you got last night( So #e looked at the %art about -hief D0anga" and

there it #as$:8There what#as*: 1u%iter demanded( 8;et to the %oint" Records(:

+ob %icked u% the book and began to read( 8 or D0anga" the last of the great 9andan

chiefs" the great moment of ho%e came #hen his su%erb regiments defeated and #i%ed

out a %oorly commanded +ritish force of si6 hundred regulars and one thousand nati&etroo%s at 'mbala" the Hill of the Red Lion" thus halting the Euro%ean ad&ance for at least

three years(. :

+ob sto%%ed( +oth he and 5ete smiled eagerly at 1u%iter( The stocky leader of the teamblinked at them(

8So*: he said" #aiting( 8)e already kne# about 'mbala2:

81u%e$: +ob cried( 8The Hill of the Red Lion$ The meaning of 'mbala in English$Don.t you remember* The Red Lion Ranch$ The famous old hotel #here all the

Holly#ood stars used to come to &acation in %ri&acy$:

or a moment 1u%iter seemed stunned( Then he laughed aloud" and cla%%ed +ob on the

back(8!ou.&e done it" Records$: he e6claimed( 8The Red Lion Ranch$ 't.s not so #ell

kno#n today" but it.s still /uiet and secluded" and 0ust the sort of %lace #here Sir Roger

-are# #ould take his son on &acation$ ' missed that meaning of 'mbala com%letely$:8)e all make mistakes": 5ete said innocently(

He and +ob burst out laughing" and 1u%iter finally 0oined in(

8All right" all right": 1u%iter said ruefully( 89o# let.s call Mac,en3ie and 9dula$:+ut no one ans#ered in the 9andan.s room #hen 1u%e called their hotel(

8They.re %robably ha&ing breakfast": announced 1u%e( 8Let.s go o&er there and find

them(:

8)e.d better take the bus": +ob said( 8They.ll %robably dri&e us u% to the Red Lion"

the three investigators - deadly double

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