Book 2, Ch. 13

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 13: A Startling Discovery

 

 

 

 

Peeking out from behind the crates, the Hardys are horrified to hear the two smugglers discussing taking the very bolt of silk which conceals them! At the last minute, however, the criminals pick up only a package of drugs and depart. Leaving the cave, Frank and Joe cautiously trek down the dark corridor and up another flight of stairs, across a landing, and up still more endless stone steps. Finally another closed door appears. On the other side, they can hear voices and footsteps. A distant door slams, and several men pass behind the door. Ears pressed to the door, the boys make out a cruel voice taunting an apparent prisoner. The man, evidently the group’s leader, threatens him with starvation unless he writes a note immediately. The captive says no. Could it be their father? Or Jones, or another hostage? Suddenly, they hear the leader shout, “Write that note, Hardy, or you’ll be sorry!”

Book 2, Ch. 12

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 12: The Secret Passage

 

 

 

 

Slippery rocks make climbing along the shore treacherous, but Frank and Joe finally reach the tunnel’s mouth. After wading through the narrow tunnel, they search the edge of the pond for a secret entrance in the vine-covered cliff walls. At last, Frank spies a door concealed by artificial branches! It opens into a long passageway filled with water, with a tiny dock. The rowboat is tied to it! As they reach the other end of the passageway, the boys discover a stone stairway, which leads upward to a heavy door cut into the wall of rock. Forcing open the door, they enter a gloomy cave piled full of boxes, packages, and fabric bolts. Smuggled goods? Their sharp eyes spot an exit door, hidden ingeniously by boxes set on a swinging ledge. Frank opens that door into another stone corridor, only to hear voices approaching! Hurriedly replacing the boxes, the brothers barely have time to dart behind a bolt of silk draped over some cartons before the cave door is opened. A floodlight goes on, and footsteps approach the boxes behind which the Hardys are concealed!

Book 2, Ch. 11

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 11: Cliff Watchers

 

 

 

 

The Hardys are now certain they’re on the right track. They decide to keep surveillance on the house and tunnel from their boat. After another hair-raising incident when barbed wire from a floating log almost destroys the Napoli’s propeller, Tony serves sandwiches for supper. At last, soon after nightfall, they spot a motorboat emerging through the tunnel. After apparently meeting a rowboat, the motor craft races out to sea. Meanwhile, the breathless detectives catch snatches of conversation from the now approaching rowboat. One man is uneasy, but the other reassures him that they’ve taken care of all the squealers, and tonight will be the big get away! Frank quickly decides he and Joe will follow the rowboat on foot through the tunnel, while Chet and Tony hurry back to Bayport and bring the Coast Guard. The Hardys slip into the water and the Napoli speeds away. Swimming to shore, they head for the dark tunnel entrance.

Book 2, Ch. 10

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 10: A Watery Tunnel

 

 

 

 

Early next morning finds the teen sleuths down at the waterfront to get an update from Pretzel Pete. He’s heard that the Marco Polo is docking at 5 am tomorrow, and suspected smuggler Ali Singh is on her crew! More anxious than ever, Frank and Joe are soon out on the ocean with Chet and Tony in the Napoli. Eagerly searching the rocky cliff below the Pollitt house for a secret entrance, the boys fail to notice the dangerous rocks jutting out from below. But Tony’s expert steering narrowly saves them from a collision! Breathing a sigh of relief, Frank suddenly spots an opening in the cliff! The Napoli easily slips through the long narrow tunnel, revealing a large pond surrounded by thicketed cliffs. But they’re not alone! Eyeing them cruelly from the shore, a sinister man shouts “Get out!”, backing up his command with a pistol. Quickly retreating through the tunnel, the detectives question the man’s strong response. Could this have been Snattman himself?

Book 2, Ch. 9

The House on the Cliff

Chapter 9: Plan of Attack

 

 

 

 

Frank slyly asks for a drink and his plan works. He is taken into the kitchen, and he examines the cap as he passes it hanging by the door. On the way back out, the cap is gone. Frank leads the teen detectives away from the house, then tells them he’s sure the cap belongs to his father. Even worse, it is covered with bloodstains! Alarmed, the boys return and confront Red and his two cohorts. Red admits he found the cap on the road, but he knows nothing else about it! Remounting their motorcycles, the detectives speed back to Bayport, where Chief Collig says he will notify the State Police, since the Pollitt place is located outside of Bayport. Later that evening, Frank and Joe reassure their mother that Mr. Hardy will be found. The boy sleuths ponder the clues they have about the smuggling outfit and the house on the cliff. Could the smugglers be connected to the old Pollitt place? How would they reach the house from the harbor below? The boys decide they will get Tony’s motorboat and find out!