The Mystery of the Chinese Junk by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

started to doff his T shirt and slacks in order to swim ashore. Just then a car’s headlight beams swept off the road and blazed between the trees. It was a jeep which plunged across the sandy beach. A moment later it ground to a halt and four masked men leaped out!
    â€œHey, what’s going on?” Tony exclaimed, utterly astounded.
    The crew of the Hai Hau stared dumfounded for a moment as the men raced toward Chet.
    â€œThey must be after the junk!” Frank gasped. “If they’re armed—good night! Chet!” he shouted. “Run!”
    The stout boy did not run away, but he suddenly spun into action and untied the bowline.
    â€œDon’t wait for me!” he yelled, and hurled the line out into the water.
    As the four assailants closed in on Chet, Joe declared he was going to jump overboard and help Chet.
    Biff deterred him. “Those men are after the boat. If they don’t get it, they’ll let Chet go.”
    Although the Hardys were skeptical, they listened to their friend’s advice. Frank immediately began issuing orders.
    â€œWe’ll leave, then sneak back and pick up Chet.”
    While the other boys hauled in the anchor and the dripping bowline, he ran aft and gunned the outboard into life. Two of the masked men plunged into the water and swam swiftly toward the junk. But the Hai Hau was already backing speedily out of the cove, beyond their reach. An unintelligible snarl echoed across the water, and the two swimmers returned to shore.
    â€œPut out the lanterns!” Frank directed Tony.
    Once clear of the cove, he rounded a spit of land, cut the motor gradually, and let the junk drift through the darkness toward a concealing clump of trees and shrubbery.
    â€œNow what?” Jim Foy asked in a whisper.
    â€œYou stay aboard and guard the junk!” said Frank, grabbing a waterproof flashlight. “The rest of us will go over the side and rescue Chet!”
    Swiftly but silently the Hardys, Biff, and Tony lowered themselves into the water. A few quick strokes brought them to shore. Then they plunged through the trees like darting shadows, hoping to circle around and take the masked assailants from the rear, if they were still there.
    As the boys emerged in sight of the beach, they saw the four men dragging Chet, still kicking and squirming, toward their car.
    â€œThey’re kidnaping him to hold as a hostage!” Joe exclaimed.
    â€œMake plenty of noise,” Frank whispered to his companions. Out loud he shouted, “Take ’em, gang!”
    Yelling like Indians on the warpath, the boys burst from cover. Chet’s captors whirled around. The stout lad seized his chance, pulled himself free, and unleashed a flurry of blows.
    A second later Frank, Joe, Biff, and Tony waded in, fists swinging! A brief but wild melee followed. Confused and taken off guard, the masked men turned and fled toward the jeep.
    Biff made a flying tackle and grabbed one by the ankle, but the fellow kicked himself free and went tearing after his companions.
    â€œStop ’em!” Joe yelled as the jeep’s engine roared.
    At that moment a vivid bolt of lightning arced across the cove. Simultaneously a deafening crack split the air. The boys halted in their chase as a single thought struck their mind.
    Had the Hai Hau been struck by lightning?

CHAPTER XI
    A Peculiar Theft
    â€œCOME on!” Frank urged the others. “Let’s check on the Hai Hau!”
    The boys darted back across the beach. They were about to take a short cut through the grove of trees when Frank suddenly halted. He grabbed Joe’s arm and pointed to the water’s edge.
    â€œLook! There’s what was hit!”
    By his flashlight he showed the others where a tree had been split apart by the bolt of lightning.
    Tony shuddered. “Whew! If the lightning had hit just the other side of the cove—no more Hai Hau!”
    Relieved, the five companions made their way across the