The Secret of Wildcat Swamp by Franklin W. Dixon

decision. Even though he was scared, Chet would never run out on a friend in distress.
    He had recently learned some elementary judo. As a flashlight suddenly beamed in the passageway, Chet poised himself. Seconds later a man of medium height emerged from the inner cave.
    As Chet had been taught, he let out a blood-curdling scream and shouted some unintelligible gibberish. His amazed adversary stopped in his tracks. The boy backed away a few inches. If he could keep this up until he reached the entrance—
    The man, though, was not to be fooled a second time. He lunged savagely at Chet. Instantly Chet grabbed his outstretched arms and pulled his attacker sharply forward. Off balance, the man stumbled toward him.
    With split-second timing, Chet brought his knee up sharply against the man’s chin. He went down like a sack of lead sinkers.
    Not knowing there was a second enemy, Chet relaxed. Suddenly his hands were locked behind him in a firm grip. He tried to break free, but the attacker twisted his arms painfully.
    Resistance was futile.

CHAPTER XII
    Ambush
    WHILE Chet was struggling with his new enemy, the man he had knocked down began slowly to get to his feet. Holding his jaw, he shone a big flashlight on the boy and glowered.
    â€œWise guy, eh? Break his arm, boss.”
    â€œCan the cracks! Get on with this job!”
    The injured man’s companion collared Chet and shoved him deeper into the cavern, where the other fellow stuck a candle into a crevice and lighted it.
    In the eerie glow Chet saw Cap lying prone on the ground. Then, for the first time, he got a good look at the second assailant, a small, wiry man wearing a badly fitting green uniform and holding a short rifle.
    As Chet stared, Cap came to and staggered to his feet.
    â€œYou’re the rangers who ordered us out of this area!” he charged.
    â€œVery clever!” the scrawny man said sarcastically. “But since you weren’t smart enough to take a friendly warning, we’re going to teach you a lesson!”
    â€œListen here,” Cap retorted angrily, “I demand that this boy and I be treated according to law. You have no right to hold us without valid complaint.”
    â€œNo? Well, we’re taking the right.”
    â€œYou can’t get away with this!” Chet said hotly. “We know who you are, and we know what you’re after! You’re impostors, and you’re trying to steal Mrs. Sanderson’s land!”
    â€œAnd you,” Cap added, pointing at the wiry man, “you’re Willie the Penman!”
    The other man looked startled. “They know we’re—”
    â€œShut up!” the small fellow ordered. He turned to Cap and Chet. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. If you have any sense at all, you’ll keep your mouths shut.” He turned back to his companion. “Give me the wire.”
    The captives were led deeper underground, back into the dim recesses of the cave. Then the men, using lengths of tough copper wire, tied their prisoners’ hands behind their backs and bound their ankles.
    â€œAre we being kidnapped?”
    The little man said with an ugly laugh,” I wouldn’t call it that. We’re not taking you anywhere. You’re just going to lie right here in this cave and have a good rest.”
    â€œYeah, and when we get around to it,” his henchman added, “we’ll send the sheriff to pick you up.”
    With that, the two men left the cave. When the sound of their footsteps had died away in the gloomy vault, Chet spoke up. “Do you think they really will send the sheriff to get us?”
    â€œI wouldn’t count on it,” Cap replied. “I can’t picture those two criminals helping the law.”
    â€œDo you suppose Frank and Joe will ever find us?” Chet quavered.
    Meanwhile, the Hardys had altered their plans. Since they did not have to meet their father until midnight, they