The Hidden Harbor Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

where we’ll have a better view. The Blackstones could have done all the smuggling mentioned in the newspapers by means of such a secret harbor. That would explain their sudden prosperity, and also why Rand and Blackstone, despite their differences, are so hush-hush over everything.”
    â€œYou fellows go on,” Chet said. “I’ll take this stuff back to camp. What’ll you do for a plane?”
    â€œEngage Al West,” Joe answered. “I’ll check with the airport.”
    The boy made his call from a booth in a store. He learned that the young pilot would be glad to take them up. “Come right over,” Al said.
    When Joe left, he spotted Mr. Stewart seated in the adjoining booth! “Did he overhear me?” Joe wondered.
    Chet drove the convertible back to camp with the supplies, while Frank and Joe hailed the rather antiquated yellow-and-black town taxi. Soon they were heading along the main road to the airport. Frank watched carefully, but nobody seemed to be following them.
    At the airport Al greeted the Hardys affably and invited them to lunch in the airport cafeteria. Afterward, the three boarded Al’s trim amphibian. Frank sat beside the pilot, Joe behind him in a comfortable leather seat. After getting clearance from the tower, Al gunned the plane down the runway, eased back on the wheel, and they were air-borne. For some minutes the ship gained altitude. Then, without warning, it lurched violently to portside and nosed down.
    Frank was thrown against the pilot, who slammed sideways against the cockpit window.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Joe shouted.
    â€œDon’t know,” Frank replied, then suddenly he said, “Al’s out coldl We’ll crash!”

CHAPTER XII
    Alligator!
    WITH engines roaring, the amphibian was heading toward the ground at a steep angle.
    â€œGood night!” Joe yelled.
    Frank sprang into action. He pushed Al back into the seat with his left arm, seized the wheel with his right hand, and pulled back. No response !
    Joe reached forward, grasped Al’s shoulders, and straightened the limp pilot in his seat. Frank, with both hands on the wheel now, strained to level the faltering plane. Sweat stood out on his forehead as the wooded swamp beneath them seemed to rush upward.
    Barely at treetop level, the craft recovered from its sickening dive.
    Al’s eyes fluttered open. He shook his head, then he came fully alert as several branches scraped the bottom of his craft. He grasped the wheel from Frank, and with his jaw set grimly, fought for altitude.
    Nobody spoke until Al banked toward the airport.
    â€œThanks,” he said, “I think we’ll make it.”
    â€œWhat happened?” Joe asked.
    â€œControl failure. Something went haywire.”
    Al radioed for emergency clearance.. and brought the plane in for a rough landing. When they climbed out, shaken by their close brush with death, Al summoned the maintenance crew. Together they went over the controls.
    â€œHere’s your trouble,” one of the mechanics said finally. “A stabilizer cable has been cutl”
    â€œSabotage!” Joe exclaimed.
    Frank nodded understandingly. “Stewart must’ve heard you telephone the airport. But how did he have time to get here and cut the cable before we arrived?”
    Joe, seeing a puzzled look on Al’s face, told him of Cutter’s and Stewart’s apparent attempts on the boys’ lives.
    The pilot frowned. “What road did you take out here?” he asked.
    â€œThe main highway from Larchmont.”
    â€œThere’s a shorter way, over back roads. That old taxi probably crawled like a snail, too. Stewart could easily have beaten you here, and tampered with the ship while we ate lunch.”
    Al brought out his tool kit and quickly fixed the damaged cable. He threw a calculating glance at the sky, where dark clouds were forming in the west.
    â€œStorm’s coming up,”