The Secret of Skeleton Island

WARNING! Proceed with Caution!

THE AB!E WARNING is "eant for #ou if #ou are of a ner$ous nature% inclined to &ite
#our fin'ernails when "eetin' ad$enture% dan'er and sus(ense) Howe$er% if #ou relish
such in'redients in a stor#% with a dash of "#ster# and detection thrown in for 'ood
"easure% then kee( ri'ht on 'oin')
*or this is the si+th ad$enture that I ha$e introduced for The Three In$esti'ators% and I
can onl# sa# that ne$er ha$e the# &een in an# ti'hter s(ots than the# encounter here) ,ou
don-t ha$e to take "# word for it . read the &ook and see!
/ust in case #ou ha$en-t "et The Three In$esti'ators &efore% the# are /u(iter /ones% Pete
Crenshaw% and Bo& Andrews% all of who" li$e in the town of Rock# Beach% on the
Pacific cean a few "iles fro" Holl#wood% California) So"e ti"e a'o the# for"ed the
fir" of The Three In$esti'ators to sol$e an# riddles% eni'"as or "#steries that "i'ht
co"e their wa#% and so far% the# ha$e done well)
/u(iter /ones% the *irst In$esti'ator% is the &rains of the fir") Pete Crenshaw% the Second
In$esti'ator% is tall and "uscular and e+cels at athletics) Bo& Andrews% the "ost studious
of the three% is in char'e of Records and Research)
Now on with the show! Turn the (a'e and tra$el with the Three In$esti'ators to Skeleton
Island!
A0*RE1 HITCHCC2
3
A Case for The Three In$esti'ators
4HW ARE #ou lads at Scu&a di$in'54 Alfred Hitchcock asked)
Across the &i' desk fro" hi" in his office at World Studios% The Three In$esti'ators .
/u(iter /ones% Pete Crenshaw and Bo& Andrews . looked interested) It was Pete who
answered)
4We-$e 6ust &een checked out on our final tests% sir%4 he said) 4ur instructor took us
down to the &a# da# &efore #esterda# and oka#ed us)4
4We-re not e+actl# e+(erienced% &ut we know what to do and all the rules%4 /u(iter added)
4And we ha$e our own face "asks and fli((ers) When we do an# di$in'% we rent the
tanks and &reathin' a((aratus)4
4E+cellent!4 7r) Hitchcock said) 4Then I think #ou are definitel# the three lads for the
6o&)4
/o&5 1id he "ean a 6o& in$esti'atin' so"e "#ster#5 7r) Hitchcock nodded when Bo&
asked hi" the 8uestion)
4,es% indeed%4 he said% 4and doin' so"e actin'% too)4
4Actin'54 Pete looked dou&tful) 4We-re not actors% sir) Althou'h /u(iter did so"e actin'
on T! when he was a $er# s"all kid)4
4E+(erienced actors aren-t needed%4 7r) Hitchcock assured the") 4Natural &o#s are what
the# want) I-" sure #ou know% Pete% that #our father is at the "o"ent in the East workin'
with director Ro'er 1enton on a sus(ense (icture called Chase 7e *aster)4
4,es% sir)4 Pete-s father was a hi'hl# e+(erienced "o$ie technician and his 6o& took hi"
all o$er the world) 4He-s in Philadel(hia ri'ht now)4
4Wron')4 7r) Hitchcock see"ed (leased at Pete-s astonish"ent) 4Ri'ht now he-s on an
island in Atlantic Ba#% down on the south.east coast of the 9nited States% hel(in' re&uild
an old a"use"ent (ark for the final scene of the (icture) The na"e of the island is
Skeleton Island)4
4Skeleton Island! Wow!4 This ca"e fro" Bo&) 4It sounds like a (irate han'out)4
4It was indeed once a (irate han'out%4 the director told the") 4Skeleton Island . a stran'e
and sinister na"e! A 'host is said to haunt it) Bones are still unco$ered in its sands)
So"eti"es when the sea is stor"#% a 'old dou&loon washes u( on its &eaches) Howe$er%
&efore #ou 'et #our ho(es u(% let "e sa# there is no treasure on the island) That has &een
(ro$ed) There "a# still &e s"all &its of treasure scattered on the &otto" of the &a# &ut
none on Skeleton Island)4
4And #ou want us to 'o there54 /u(iter /ones asked ea'erl#) 4,ou sa# there-s a "#ster# to
&e sol$ed54
4It-s like this)4 7r) Hitchcock (ut the ti(s of his fin'ers to'ether) 4,our father% Pete% and a
cou(le of other "en are ca"(ed there% usin' local work"en to fi+ u( (art of the (ark for
the final scenes of the "o$ie% "ost of which is &ein' shot in Philadel(hia)
4The#-re ha$in' trou&le) Pieces of e8ui("ent ha$e &een stolen% and their &oats ha$e &een
tinkered with at ni'ht) The# ha$e hired a local "an as a 'uard% &ut the nuisance hasn-t
sto((ed% 6ust slowed down)
4Skeleton Island is (ictures8ue and the waters of Atlantic Ba# around it are shallow)
Ro'er 1enton thou'ht that as lon' as he is workin' on the island% his assistant% Harr#
Norris% could direct a short su&6ect a&out three &o#s on a holida# who di$e for (irate
treasure for fun)4
4,es% sir% an e+cellent idea%4 /u(iter said)
4It would cost $er# little "ore% and the co"(an# has a "an% /eff 7orton% who is an e+(ert
di$er and underwater (hoto'ra(her) That-s where #ou co"e in) ,ou &o#s could &e the
three actors% do enou'h Scu&a di$in' to 8ualif#% and on #our ti"e off wander round the
town% huntin' for clues to this "#sterious thie$er#) We will kee( #our identit# as
in$esti'ators secret% so no one will sus(ect #ou)4
4That sounds 'reat!4 Bo& said with enthusias": 4If our fa"ilies will let us 'o)4
4I-" sure the# will% with 7r) Crenshaw there% too%4 7r) Hitchcock said) 4f course% the
"#ster# "a# not a"ount to an#thin'% &ut in $iew of #our (ast record% #ou "a# disco$er
"ore than an# of us sus(ect)4
4When do we start54 Pete asked)
4As soon as I can "ake the arran'e"ents with 7r) 1enton and #our father% Pete%4 Alfred
Hitchcock said) 4Go ho"e and (ack and &e read# to fl# East to"orrow) Here% Bo&% since
#ou are in char'e of Records and Research% #ou "a# want to look at these articles a&out
Skeleton Island . how it was disco$ered% the (irates who once "ade their head8uarters
there% and other interestin' data) *a"iliari;e #ourself with it) The tri( should &e an
interestin' e+(erience for #ou)4
<
An 9ne+(ected 7eetin'
4THERE-S Skeleton Island!4 Bo& Andrews e+clai"ed)
4Where5 ))) 0et "e look!4 /u(iter and Pete e+clai"ed) The# leaned o$er Bo& to (eer out
of the window of the sleek sil$er airliner)
The (lane was 'lidin' down o$er a lon' narrow &a# . Atlantic Ba#) Bo& (ointed to a
s"all island al"ost directl# &elow the") Its sha(e &ore a curious rese"&lance to that of a
skull)
4I reco'ni;e the sha(e fro" the "a(s 7r) Hitchcock 'a$e us%4 Bo& said)
The# stared at the island with ea'er curiosit#) Skeleton Island had once% "ore than three
hundred #ears &efore% &een a (irate han'out) Althou'h 7r) Hitchcock had said there was
no (irate 'old &uried there% "a#&e he was wron') 7a#&e there was still so"e treasure to
&e found) The# ho(ed so) In an# case% the island held a "#ster# which the# would
atte"(t to sol$e)
Another island% "uch s"aller% ca"e into $iew)
4Then that "ust &e The Hand!4 /u(iter said)
4And those are The Bones%4 Pete added% (ointin' to a scatter of narrow reefs &etween
Skeleton Island and The Hand) 4Goll#% think of it! We left Rock# Beach after lunch and
here we are in ti"e for dinner)4
40ook%4 Bo& said) 4The Hand does look sort of like a hand) The fin'ers are rock# reefs
that are under water "ost of the ti"e% &ut fro" u( here the#-re $er# clear)4
4I ho(e we 'et a chance to e+(lore The Hand%4 /u(iter said) 4I-$e ne$er seen an actual
&lowhole &efore) That "a'a;ine article 7r) Hitchcock 'a$e us said that in a stor"% water
s(outs out of the &lowhole 6ust like a whale)4
Now the islands fell &ehind the") So did the s"all $illa'e on the "ainland called
*ishin'(ort which was their i""ediate destination) A roo" was waitin' for the" there at
a &oardin' house)
As the (lane slid down out of the sk#% a fairsi;ed cit# a((eared on their ri'ht) This was
7el$ille% where the air(ort was) A few "o"ents later the &o#s were unfastenin' their seat
&elts as the (lane rolled to a sto( in front of the air ter"inal &uildin')
The# cli"&ed down the stairs and stood lookin' around the" at the s"all crowd which
waited &ehind a wire fence)
4I wonder if #our dad will "eet us% Pete%4 Bo& said)
4He said he-d tr# to% &ut he would send so"eone else if he couldn-t%4 Pete answered) 4I
don-t see hi")4
4Here co"es so"eone who see"s to &e lookin' for us%4 Bo& said in a low $oice as a
short% (ud'# "an with a red nose a((roached the")
4Hi%4 he said) 4,ou "ust &e the three kid detecti$es fro" Holl#wood) I was told to (ick
#ou u()4 He stared at the" with s"all% shrewd e#es) 4,ou don-t look "uch like detecti$es
to "e%4 he said) 4I thou'ht #ou-d &e older)4
Bo& felt /u(iter stiffen) 4We-re su((osed to act in a (icture%4 he said) 4Wh# do #ou think
we-re detecti$es54
The "an 'a$e the" a &road wink)
4There isn-t "uch I don-t know%4 he said with a 'rin) 4Now follow "e) I ha$e a car
waitin') There will &e another car to (ick u( #our &a''a'e . 'ot a lot of stuff co"in' in
fro" Holl#wood on this (lane% too "uch for "# car)4
He turned and led the" out of the 'ate to an old station wa'on)
4Ho( in% &o#s%4 he said) 4It-s a 'ood half hour-s ride and &# the looks of it% we-re in for a
stor")4
Bo& looked u( at the sk#) Althou'h the sun still shone% low on the hori;on% &lack clouds
were whi((in' towards the" fro" the west) A flicker of li'htnin' (la#ed alon' the front
of the clouds) It did look as if a stor" was co"in'% a real who((er) The &o#s cli"&ed into
the &ack seat% the "an 'ot in &ehind the wheel% and the station wa'on started awa# fro"
the air(ort% headin' north) 4E+cuse "e% 7r).4 /u(iter &e'an)
4/ust call "e Sa"%4 the "an said) 4E$er#&od# calls "e Sa")4
As he s(oke% he ste((ed on the 'as and the car hurtled alon' at a hi'h s(eed) The sun had
'one &ehind a cloud% and suddenl# it was al"ost dark)
4E+cuse "e% 7r) Sa"%4 /u(iter asked% 4&ut do #ou work for the "o$ie co"(an#54
4Not re'ularl#% &o#%4 Sa" answered) 4But I a'reed to (ick #ou u( as a fa$our) Sa#% look at
that stor" co"in') This will &e a 'ood ni'ht for the (hanto" of the "err#.'o.round to
show herself) I wouldn-t want to &e out on Skeleton Island toni'ht)4
Bo& felt little (rickles of e+cite"ent 'o u( his s(ine) The (hanto" of the "err#.'o.
round! The "a'a;ine articles the# had studied so carefull# had told the" all a&out the
'host that su((osedl# haunted Skeleton Island) Accordin' to le'end% it was the 'host of
lo$el# &ut headstron' Sall# *arrin'ton% a #oun' wo"an who had &een ridin' the old
"err#.'o.round one ni'ht twent#.fi$e #ears &efore)
A sudden stor" had &lown u( and the "err#.'o.round had sto((ed) E$er#one else had
'ot off% &ut Sall# *arrin'ton refused to cli"& down fro" her wooden horse) Accordin' to
the le'end% she cried out that no stor" was 'oin' to sto( her fro" finishin' her ride)
As the o(erator of the "err#.'o.round was ar'uin' with her% a &olt of li'htnin' had
crackled down fro" the sk# and struck the "etal (ole in the "iddle of the carousel) To
the horror of e$er#one% Sall# *arrin'ton was killed)
Her last words had &een% 4I-" not afraid of an# stor" and I-" 'oin' to finish this ride if
it-s the last thin' I e$er do!4
E$er#one a'reed that the tra'ed# was her own fault) But no one was (re(ared for what
followed) A few weeks later% one stor"# ni'ht when Pleasure Park was closed down and
e"(t#% (eo(le on the "ainland saw the li'hts of the "err#.'o.round &la;e u() The wind
&rou'ht the sound of carousel "usic to their ears)
7r) Wil&ur% the owner of the (ark% had taken so"e "en in a &oat to in$esti'ate) The# 'ot
close enou'h to the island to see the "err#.'o.round s(innin' and a white.clad fi'ure
clin'in' to one of the (ainted horses)
Then the li'hts had a&ru(tl# 'one out and the "usic sto((ed) When the "en reached the
scene a few "inutes later% the# found the (ark utterl# deserted) But l#in' on the 'round
&eside the carousel the# found a soakin' wet handkerchief% tin# and fe"inine% with the
initials 4S)*)4 e"&roidered on it) It was easil# reco'ni;ed as one of Sall# *arrin'ton-s
handkerchiefs)
A wa$e of su(erstitious fear s(read a"on' the towns(eo(le) It was said that Sall#-s 'host
had co"e to finish her interru(ted ride) The a"use"ent (ark soon had a re(utation for
&ein' haunted) 7an# (eo(le sta#ed awa# fro" it% and the followin' #ear it had not
reo(ened) The roller coaster% the *erris wheel% the "err#.'o.round . e$er#thin' had &een
left to rot and deca# as the #ears (assed)
But the le'end of Sall# *arrin'ton-s 'host did not die) *isher"en clai"ed to ha$e seen it%
es(eciall# on stor"# ni'hts% wanderin' a&out the island) In the last few #ears it had &een
re(orted a do;en ti"es% so"eti"es &# two or "ore "en) The (o(ular &elief was that Sall#
*arrin'ton was doo"ed to haunt the island% waitin' to finish her fatal ride on the "err#.
'o.round) And now that the "err#.'o.round was no lon'er a&le to run% she would wait
for e$er)
Therefore Skeleton Island had &een deserted for #ears) There was no real reason to 'o
there% with the a"use"ent (ark closed% e+ce(t (erha(s to ha$e a (icnic in the su""er)
And (icnickers were few and far &etween &ecause of the island-s re(utation)
4I hear%4 Sa" called &ack to the three &o#s% 4that these "otion.(icture fellows are fi+in'
u( the old "err#.'o.round a'ain) Sall#-s 'host will &e "i'ht# ha((# a&out that) 7a#&e if
it 'ets runnin' a'ain she can finish her ride)4
He chuckled) Then% as the first wind fro" the a((roachin' stor" struck the"% he de$oted
hi"self to dri$in')
The# were dri$in' throu'h what see"ed to &e "arsh#% e"(t# countr#) After half an hour%
the# ca"e to a fork in the road) The "ain road turned left and in the headli'hts the &o#s
could see a si'n (ointin' in that direction *ishin'(ort: < "iles) To their sur(rise% Sa"
turned the car down the un"arked road to the ri'ht% which soon &eca"e two sand# ruts)
4The si'n said *ishin'(ort was the other wa#%4 Pete s(oke u() 4Wh# are we 'oin' this
wa#% 7r) Sa"54
4Necessar#%4 Sa" said o$er his shoulder) 4Been a crisis) 7r) Crenshaw wants #ou to
co"e strai'ht out to the island instead of 'oin' to 7rs) Barton-s in town toni'ht)4
4h% I see)4 Pete su&sided) The# all wondered what the crisis was) Had so"ethin' $er#
serious ha((ened5
After &u"(in' alon' the sand# road for a cou(le of "iles% the car sto((ed) The headli'hts
showed a ricket# (ier) Tied to the (ier was a s"all% rather dila(idated fishin' &oat) 4ut
#ou 'et% &o#s!4 Sa" cried) 40i$el# now! That stor"-s read# to &ust loose)4
The# cli"&ed out of the car% a little sur(rised that the "o$ie co"(an# didn-t ha$e &etter
trans(ort than this) But (ro&a&l# it was Sa"-s own &oat)
4Will our &a''a'e follow us54 /u(iter asked as Sa" 6oined the")
4,our &a''a'e is safe and sound% &o#s%4 Sa" said) 4Cli"& in now) We-$e 'ot a ride ahead
of us)4
The# cli"&ed into the &oat) Sa" &ent o$er the "otor) He turned a switch and the hea$#
fl#wheel &e'an to s(in) Soon the# were chu''in' out into the cho((# water% all three
&o#s han'in' on for dear life as the s"all craft (itched and (lun'ed)
Then the rain ca"e) *irst it was a fine (eltin' s(ra# "in'led with tin# hailstones) Ne+t
ca"e the &i' dro(s) The &o#s% crouched under a thin can$as co$er% were soon soaked)
4We need raincoats! 4 #elled Pete to Sa") 4We-ll &e the first &o#s to drown a&o$e water
in Atlantic Ba#!4
Sa" nodded and lashed the wheel) He went to a locker and (ulled out four #ellow (lastic
slickers with hoods) He (ut one on hi"self and handed the others to the &o#s)
4Get into these%4 he #elled) 4I kee( -e" for fishin' (arties)4
/u(iter-s was too ti'ht to &utton and Bo&-s was "uch too lon') But the# ke(t out the rain)
Sa" went &ack to steerin') Now the sk# was a &o"&ard"ent of thunder) The tin# &oat
ti((ed dan'erousl# in the hi'h wa$es% and the &o#s were afraid that an# "o"ent the#
would o$erturn)
After what see"ed a lon' ti"e% the# could see land ahead lit &# li'htnin' flashes) The#
saw no dock or (ier% and were sur(rised when Sa" (ulled the &oat alon'side a flat rock
that (ro6ected out into the water)
4/u"( ashore% &o#s!4 he #elled) 40i$el# now!4
Pu;;led% The Three In$esti'ators lea(ed fro" the &oat to the rock)
4Aren-t #ou co"in'% 7r) Sa"54 /u(iter called as the &oat started driftin' awa#)
4Can-t%4 Sa" #elled &ack) 4*ollow the trail to the ca"() ,ou-ll &e all ri'ht)4
He 'unned the "otor) In a "o"ent the &oat had $anished into the stor"# ni'ht)
The &o#s &ent their heads a'ainst the (eltin' rain)
4We &etter tr# to find that (ath! 4 Pete shouted) /u(iter nodded)
Then Bo& heard a stran'e sound% like a 'reat &east &reathin' hoarsel#)
4Whooooo.whisk!4 it went) 4Whooo.whisk!4
4What-s that sound54 he shouted) 40isten!4
A'ain ca"e the stran'e noise) 4Whoo.whisk! Whoo.whisk!4
4So"ethin' on the island%4 /u(iter answered) 40et-s see if we can see it when the ne+t
li'htnin' co"es)4
The# all stared inland) Then ca"e a $i$id &olt of li'htnin') B# its &rilliant li'ht the#
could see the# were on a rather s"all island% certainl# not &i' enou'h to &e Skeleton
Island)
This one was all rocks% with a hu"( in the "iddle and a few stra''l# trees) There was no
(ath% and no ca"() And 6ust &efore the sk# darkened a'ain% the# saw a (lu"e of water
shoot u(ward fro" the centre of the hu"() It went u( like a s(outin' 'e#ser% and as it did
so the# heard the 4Whoo.whisk!4 sound a'ain)
4A s(out!4 /u(iter called) 4It "ust co"e fro" a &lowhole in the rocks) We aren-t on
Skeleton Island at all) We-re on The Hand)4
The# looked at each other in dis"a#)
*or so"e unknown reason% Sa" had "arooned the" on The Hand% at ni'ht in a stor")
And the# had no wa# to 'et off or call for hel()
=
The Phanto" is Seen
/9PITER% Bo& and Pete crouched &eneath an o$erhan'in' rock) It wasn-t co"(letel# dr#%
&ut it (ro$ided so"e shelter fro" the wind and rain) 1urin' the last few "inutes% the#
had scra"&led o$er enou'h of the little island to con$ince the" it had to &e The Hand%
and that there was no one else on it% and no &oat)
The# had taken a close look at the curious s(out% which shot u( fro" the "iddle of a flat
(lace on the rock# hu"() /u(iter% whose scientific curiosit# ne$er fla''ed under an#
circu"stances% e+(lained that there "ust &e a crack in the rock that went dee( under the
island) The wa$es of the stor" forced water into it% to &e e+(elled u( the &lowhole)
Howe$er% the# hadn-t lin'ered to stud# the s(out) The# had to find shelter) After "ore
stu"&lin' around% the# had found the rock# cre$ice that (rotected the" now)
4Sa"-s "arooned us!4 Pete said indi'nantl#% wi(in' rain fro" his face) 4Wh# did he do it%
that-s what I want to know54
47a#&e he "ade a "istake and thou'ht this reall# was Skeleton Island%4 Bo& su''ested)
4No)4 /u(iter shook his head) 4He &rou'ht us here on (ur(ose) I confess I a" &affled as to
his reason) I a" also &affled &# the fact that he knew we were in$esti'ators) There-s
so"ethin' 8ueer 'oin' on)4
4I-ll &u# a dou&le hel(in' of that%4 Pete 'ru"&led) 4I onl# ho(e we don-t star$e to death
on this island &efore so"eone finds us!4
4We-ll &e found in the "ornin'%4 /u(iter said) 4So"e fishin' &oat will s(ot us) We-ll 6ust
ha$e to stick it out toni'ht)4
4But there aren-t an# fishin' &oats u( at this end of Atlantic Ba#%4 Bo& (ut in an+iousl#)
41on-t #ou re"e"&er those articles we read5 So"e tin# red (arasite has 'ot into the
o#sters in this (art of the &a#) All the fishin' &oats ha$e "o$ed down to 7el$ille% at the
south end% where the shellfish are still safe to eat) *ishin'(ort is al"ost a 'host town
&ecause of the sickness of the o#sters)4
4So"eone will s(ot us%4 /u(iter said) 4There will &e a search on for us when it is learned
we ha$e disa((eared) And at least we ha$e seen the s(out actuall# workin')4
There didn-t see" "uch "ore to &e said) *ortunatel# it was not too cold on the island%
and the stor" see"ed to &e lettin' u() The onl# thin' the# could do was wait for
"ornin') When the# had decided that% the# rela+ed) Soon the# found the"sel$es do;in'
off)
Suddenl# Pete awoke) It took hi" a few seconds to re"e"&er where he was and what
had ha((ened) Then he saw that the stor" had (assed) The stars were out) And out on the
water a hundred #ards awa# a li'ht was flashin')
Pete lea(ed u( and started to #ell) In a "o"ent% Bo& and /u(iter were awake and
stru''lin' slee(il# to their feet)
The li'ht turned in their direction% like a (ro&in' fin'er tr#in' to find the") Pete ri((ed
off his #ellow raincoat and wa$ed it "adl#)
4Here% here! 4 he shouted)
The li'ht cau'ht the &illowin' raincoat and held) Whoe$er was out there had seen the"!
The (owerful &ea" of li'ht (ointed u(wards% illu"inatin' the sail of a s"all &oat) Then it
flickered alon' the shore and (icked out a little &each) It held on that s(ot% &o&&in' as the
&oat "o$ed)
4He-ll land there%4 Pete said) 4He wants us to "eet hi" there)4
40uckil# there is so"e starli'ht now)4 /u(iter o&ser$ed) 4E$en so% we-ll (racticall# ha$e
to feel our wa#)4
40ook!4 Bo& e+clai"ed) 4He-s tr#in' to hel( us)4
The flashli'ht was now flickin' o$er the 'round &etween the &o#s and the shoreline%
showin' the" the wa# in &rief 'li"(ses)
The# "ade the &est ti"e the# could) E$en so% the# each fell down and Pete skinned his
knee) B# the ti"e the# reached the &each% a s"all sailin'.&oat was drawn u( in the sand%
the sail down) A &o# in a wind&reaker 6acket and trousers rolled u( to the knees stood on
the sand# shore)
He flashed his li'ht &riefl# o$er their faces% then re$ersed it to shine it on hi"self) The#
saw a tanned% s"ilin' face to((ed &# dark curl# hair) 7err# &lack e#es 'linted at the")
4Aho#!4 he said% in a $oice with a forei'n accent) 4,ou are the three detecti$es% #es54
It see"ed that e$er#one knew who the# were) 4We-re The Three In$esti'ators%4 /u(iter
said) 4We-re certainl# 'lad #ou found us)4
4I think I know where to look for #ou%4 the &o# said) He was al"ost as tall as Pete% &ut
skinnier% thou'h he had (owerful chest and ar" "uscles) 4I a" Chris 7arkos) Christos
7arkos% in full% &ut call "e Chris% oka#54
4ka#% Chris%4 Pete said) The# took an i""ediate likin' to this s"ilin'% cheerful &o# who
had co"e to their rescue) 4How-d #ou know where to look for us54
40on' stor#%4 Chris told the") 4Cli"& in "# &oat% and we will sail to town) 7o$ie (eo(le
are $er# u(set) We will "ake the" feel &etter to see #ou)4
4Aren-t #ou (art of the Chase 7e *aster co"(an#54 Bo& asked as the# cla"&ered into the
tin# &oat)
4No% not "e%4 Chris said% sho$in' the &oat off and wadin' after it) He cli"&ed in the rear
and settled hi"self &# the tiller) Soon the little sail had cau'ht the &ree;e% and the &oat
&e'an to cut throu'h the water) In the distance the &o#s could see the li'hts of the little
town of *ishin'(ort)
nce the &oat was under wa#% Chris 7arkos told the" a&out hi"self) He had 'rown u( in
Greece% on the shores of the 7editerranean% where he had li$ed with his father% a s(on'e
fisher"an) His "other was dead) Greek s(on'e fishers went down 'reat de(ths to 'ather
s(on'es fro" the ocean &otto"% usin' no di$in' a((aratus e+ce(t a hea$# stone to take
the" down swiftl#)
Chris-s father% one of the "ost darin' di$ers% had one da# &een afflicted &# an attack of
the &ends% the dread of e$er# di$er) As a result he was (artiall# disa&led and had &een
una&le to continue di$in') But a cousin who was an o#ster fisher"an in *ishin'(ort had
sent "one# for hi" and Chris to co"e to the 9nited States)
4*or a few #ears% fishin' 'oes well%4 Chris said) 4Then o#sters 'et sick) 0ittle red &u'
'ets into the") #ster fishin' around here is all finished) 7# father-s cousin% he has to
sell his &oat) He 'oes to New ,ork to work in a restaurant) But "# father is not well
enou'h) He 'ets worse fro" worr#in') Now he is in &ed al"ost all the ti"e) I tr# to take
care of hi"% &ut I ha$e trou&le 'ettin' a 6o&) I hear "o$ie co"(an# is co"in' to town%
the# "a#&e need a di$er) I a" a 'ood di$er) When I was a little &o#% I start (ractisin' to
&e a s(on'e fisher like "# father) But "o$ie (eo(le% the# sa# no) The# do not like "e)
E$er#&od# is sus(icious &ecause I a" a forei'ner) h well% "a#&e luck will turn soon)4
The# were sailin' alon' &riskl# now) The &o#s could hear the "utter of &reakin' wa$es%
and see s(lashes of whiteca(s off to their left)
4Where are we now54 Pete asked) 4How can #ou find #our wa# when #ou can-t see what-s
ahead5 ,ou "a# crash on one of those rocks)4
4I tell &# the ears%4 Chris said cheerfull#) 4I hear wa$es &reak% and know reefs are off
there) The# are what so"e (eo(le call The Bones) Skeleton Island is off ahead% to the
left)4
The &o#s all (eered ahead% tr#in' to see Skeleton Island) The# knew its histor# &# heart%
fro" stud#in' the (a(ers Alfred Hitchcock had 'i$en the")
Skeleton Island had &een disco$ered in 3>?> &# an En'lish sea ca(tain% Ca(tain White)
He had e+(lored the island &riefl#% disco$erin' that it was used as a sacred &ur#in'
'round &# Indian tri&es on the "ainland) As the Indians did not &other a&out di''in' $er#
dee( 'ra$es% "an# skeletons had &een found) Because of this% and its skeleton.like sha(e%
Ca(tain White had na"ed it Skeleton Island) At the sa"e ti"e he had $isited The Hand%
noticed the reefs which "ade it see" like a hand% and so 'i$en it its na"e) Then he had
sailed awa#)
In the #ears that followed% (irates had infested the whole south.eastern sea coast) The#
had used the island for winter 8uarters% and co"e to the "ainland to s(end their 'old)
Black&eard hi"self had s(ent one winter there)
But 'raduall# the British authorities &e'an to crack down on the (irates) B# 3@3@% after
Black&eard was dead% the onl# &uccaneer left in the re'ion was the notorious Ca(tain
ne.Ear) ne ni'ht the British troo(s had "ade a sur(rise attack on his 8uarters on
Skeleton Island)
While his crew was &ein' slau'htered% the ca(tain hi"self had esca(ed with his treasure
chests in a lon'&oat) The British co""ander% as an+ious to reco$er the 'old as to
e+ter"inate the (irates% 'a$e chase)
Ca(tain ne.Ear% findin' he could not esca(e% "ade a final stand on The Hand) Here his
re"ainin' "en were killed and he was ca(tured% &adl# wounded) But the chests that the
British had &een so an+ious to reco$er turned out to &e e"(t#) The treasure had
disa((eared) The Hand was too rock# for hi" to ha$e &uried the 'old there% and the
British could find no other hidin' (lace) To all 8uestions% Ca(tain ne.Ear 'a$e onl# one
lau'hin' answer)
41a$# /ones has "# 'old dou&loons in his 'ras( now% and he-ll hold the" ti'ht until he
decides to 'i$e the" &ack) And that won-t &e until the crack o- doo"!4
E$en when he was han'ed% he would sa# no "ore% and the British co""ander was
cheated of his s(oils) It was o&$ious Ca(tain ne.Ear had du"(ed the treasure
o$er&oard% 6ust to disa((oint his (ursuers) It was scattered o$er the sea &otto" now% and
no one could e$er find it a'ain)
The &o#s (eered throu'h the darkness% ho(in' to see the outline of the fa&led Skeleton
Island) It was too dark% howe$er% to see an#thin')
4,ou "ust sail these waters a lot%4 /u(iter said to Chris% 4if #ou can tell where #ou are &#
sound)4
4Sure thin'!4 Chris a'reed) 4I sail all round here) So"eti"es I di$e% too) I look for 'old .
#ou know 'old scattered o$er the &otto" of &a#)4
4,es% we know%4 Bo& said) 4$er the #ears 8uite a few dou&loons ha$e &een found that
wa#) Pro&a&l# fro" the treasure Ca(tain ne.Ear du"(ed o$er&oard)4
4Ha$e #ou found an#thin'54 Pete asked)
Chris hesitated) Then he said% 4,es% I find so"ethin') Not a &i' so"ethin') But
so"ethin')4
4How did #ou find it% Chris54 asked /u(iter)
4I find it 6ust last week%4 Chris said) 4nl# a little so"ethin'% &ut who knows% "a#&e I
will find "ore) Can-t tell #ou where% thou'h) Secret one (erson knows is a secret) Secret
two (ersons know is no secret% Secret three (ersons know is knowled'e shouted to the
world) That is an old sa#in') 1uck #our heads% we co"e a&out on a new tack)4
The# ducked) The sail swun' fro" one side to the other) The &oat heeled the o((osite
wa# and started on its new tack% strai'ht towards the li'hts of *ishin'(ort)
4Skeleton Island is ri'ht &ehind us now%4 Chris said) 4But we head for town)4
A'ain the &o#s (eered throu'h the darkness% tr#in' to see the island) Then Bo& 'as(ed)
40ook!4 he #elled) 40i'hts!4
Suddenl# in the darkness li'hts had a((eared) The# "ade a circular (attern% like the li'hts
on a "err#.'o.round) 7usic . carousel "usic! . floated o$er the water) The li'hts started
to re$ol$e% slowl#% then faster and faster) A "o"ent later% a (ale fi'ure a((eared% "o$in'
a"on' the "err#.'o.round-s (ainted horses)
4The (hanto" of the "err#.'o.round!4 Pete cried) 4It has to &e . it-s a 'irl in a white
dress!4
4Chris% turn round!4 /u(iter &e''ed) 4We ha$e to in$esti'ate this)4
4Not "e!4 Chris e+clai"ed) 4That is the 'host all ri'ht) She is &ack to take her ride on the
"err#.'o.round now the "o$ie (eo(le ha$e it fi+ed) We 'et awa# fro" here) Wish I had
a "otor% so we 'o faster! 4
He ke(t the &oat headed strai'ht for *ishin'(ort) Bo& and Pete were rather 'lad% &ut /u(e
was o&$iousl# disa((ointed) He itched to see a real (hanto" at close ran'e)
Behind the" the "err#.'o.round ke(t s(innin'% a &la;e of li'hts in the darkness) Sall#
*arrin'ton tr#in' to finish her last ride% twent#fi$e #ears after she had died! Bo& shi$ered
at the thou'ht)
Then% une+(ectedl#% the "usic sto((ed) The li'hts went out) The carousel and the white
fi'ure were 'one) *or so"e reason (oor Sall# *arrin'ton had &een una&le to finish her
last ride)
/u(iter si'hed in disa((oint"ent) Half an hour later the# were safe at 7rs) Barton-s
&oardin' house in *ishin'(ort% and 7rs) Barton was s(readin' the news &# tele(hone of
their &ein' found) She "ade Pete% Bo& and /u(e take hot &aths and 'et strai'ht into &ed)
The# were 'lad to do so) But% 6ust &efore he do;ed off% /u(e "ur"ured out loud% 4I wish I
could ha$e 'ot closer to the (hanto"!4
4That re"ark%4 re(lied Pete slee(il#% 4does not reflect the senti"ents of the rest of The
Three In$esti'ators!4
A
Skeleton Island at 0ast
As BB AW2E% he was (u;;led to see a slantin' ceilin' with stri(ed wall(a(er o$er
his head) Then he re"e"&ered) He wasn-t at ho"e) He was three thousand "iles fro"
Rock# Beach% in a town called *ishin'(ort% on Atlantic Ba#)
He sat u( and looked round) He was in the u((er half of a dou&le &unk) Below hi" Pete
was fast aslee() In a &ed a few feet awa# /u(iter /ones was also slee(in')
Bo& la# &ack a'ain% thinkin' o$er the stran'e e$ents of the (re$ious ni'ht)
There was a ra( on the door) 4Bo#s!4 It was 7rs) Barton% the (lu"(% cheerful landlad#)
4Breakfast is waitin'% and 7r) Crenshaw is downstairs) Be down in fi$e "inutes or we-ll
throw it out! 4
4We-ll &e there!4 Bo& lea(ed down to the floor) Pete and /u(iter% awakened &# the $oices%
were soon dressed% and the# all hurried downstairs) In a &ri'ht #ellow dinin' roo"%
decorated with $arious nautical o&6ects% &reakfast was waitin') Two "en sat at the ta&le%
con$ersin' in low tones a nd drinkin' coffee)
Pete-s father% a lar'e% ru''edl# &uilt "an% 6u"(ed u( as the &o#s entered) 4Pete!4 he
e+clai"ed% (uttin' an ar" round his son) He shook hands with Bo& and /u(iter) 4I
certainl# was 'lad last ni'ht to hear #ou-d &een found and were safe) B# then #ou were
aslee(% so I hurried &ack to Skeleton Island) We ha$e to 'uard our su((lies and e8ui("ent
e$er# "inute these da#s) But we-ll co"e to that later) Ri'ht now I want #our stor#)4
As The Three In$esti'ators ate% the# took turns tellin' what had ha((ened the ni'ht
&efore) The other "an% who was introduced as Police Chief Nosti'on% nodded and (uffed
on a stu&&# (i(e as he listened) While the &o#s 'ot to the (art a&out the "an na"ed Sa"%
7r) Crenshaw turned to the (olice chief)
4This fellow Sa"54 he asked) 4Can #ou (lace hi"54
4Sounds like Sa" Ro&inson to "e%4 the chief said% a trifle 'ri"l#) 42now hi" well) Been
in 6ail a few ti"es) 1o an#thin' for "one#% and likes to (la# (ractical 6okes) Wonder if he
could ha$e &een tr#in' so"e cra;# 6oke last ni'ht5 E+(ect I-ll ha$e to ask hi" a few
8uestions)4
4That was no (ractical 6oke!4 7r) Crenshaw e+(loded) 4I want to ask that fellow so"e
8uestions "#self) ne% how he knew the &o#s were co"in') Two% how he knew the#
were a"ateur in$esti'ators) And three% wh# he "arooned the" on that island) Wh#% we
"i'ht not ha$e found the" until toda# or to"orrow il that &o# Chris hadn-t rescued the"!
4
4That-s a fact%4 the chief a'reed) 4When we learned #ou lads had 'ot off the (lane and
then $anished into thin air% we were lookin' on lane for #ou) Sto((ed cars for "iles
around to ask 8uestions)4
4What I want to know%4 said 7r) Crenshaw% 4is how this kid Chris was a&le to find #ou so
easil#) What-s his stor#54
The three &o#s were forced to confess the# had for'otten to ask hi") The# had "eant to
then the# had seen the "err#.'o.round and the 'hostl# fi'ure of a wo"an on it% and in the
e+cite"ent the 8uestion had sli((ed their "inds)
4,ou saw the 'host54 7r) Crenshaw e+clai"ed) 4But that-s i"(ossi&le) The (hanto" of
the "err#.'o.round is 6ust a local su(erstition! 4
4Now hold on a "inute%4 Chief Nosti'on said) 4*olks around here &elie$e in that
(hanto" (rett# stron'l#) The last few #ears% "ore-n one fisher"an has seen it on a stor"#
ni'ht out on Skeleton Island) Hardl# a soul will 'o near that island now)
4What-s "ore% the whole town is &u;;in' a&out the (hanto" ridin' the "err#.'o.round
last ni'ht) 0ots of folks heard the "usic% and a few 'ot out s(#'lasses and could see a
white fi'ure 6ust like these &o#s descri&e it) I-" not sa#in' I &elie$e in 'hosts% &ut #ou
can-t 'et a soul in these (arts to &elie$e (oor 7iss Sall# *arrin'ton-s s(irit wasn-t tr#in' to
ride that "err#.'o.round last ni'ht)4
Pete-s father shook his head) 4This whole (art of the (icture is 6in+ed! I-ll &et not a sin'le
work"an shows u( toda#)4
4And "a#&e not to"orrow either%4 a'reed Chief Nosti'on) 4Well% 7r) Crenshaw% I-ll (ick
u( Sa" Ro&inson and ask hi" so"e 8uestions) But we still don-t know 6ust how the &o#
Chris found these lads last ni'ht)4
4It-s darned sus(icious% if #ou ask "e%4 7r) Crenshaw said) 4That kid has &een (esterin'
"e for a 6o&% &ut he-s 'ot a &ad re(utation locall#) Plent# of (eo(le sa# he-s a cle$er little
thief) I wouldn-t &e sur(rised if he had a hand in all the trou&le we-$e &een ha$in')4
4Chris didn-t see" like a thief to us% 1ad%4 Pete (ut in) 4He see"ed like an all.ri'ht kid)
He has a sick father to hel(% and he sails round lookin' for washed.u( treasure% &ut that-s
nothin' a'ainst hi")4
4The &o#-s ri'ht%4 Chief Nosti'on a'reed) 4I know Chris has a &ad re(utation% &ut he-s a
forei'ner and "ost folks in this town are (rett# clannish) The#-re read# to &elie$e
an#thin' &ad of a forei'ner)4
4/ust the sa"e% I ha$e "# sus(icions of hi"%4 7r) Crenshaw declared) 4Now that I think
of it% it could easil# &e a &o# stealin' our e8ui("ent) 7a#&e he-s ho(in' to sell it to hel(
his father)4
He stood u() 4All ri'ht% &o#s% let-s 'et 'oin') 7r) 1enton hi"self is waitin' out on the
island for us) Chief% I-ll &e seein' #ou later) 7eanwhile% I ho(e #ou can find this Sa"
Ro&inson and cla( hi" in 6ail)4
A few "inutes later% /u(iter% Pete and Bo& were in a fast "otor.&oat s(eedin' to Skeleton
Island) The# would ha$e liked to look round *ishin'(ort "ore% &ut the# didn-t ha$e ti"e)
The# saw "an# docks and (iers% &ut few &oats . the# understood that "ost fisher"en had
'one to the south end of Atlantic Ba# where o#sterin' was still safe and le'al) All in all%
*ishin'(ort looked like a s"all and $er# (oor fishin' $illa'e)
Now% as the s(eed&oat raced throu'h the water% the# e#ed the island ahead with interest) It
was a "ile lon'% well wooded% and had a s"all hill towards the north end) The# could
&arel# see the re"ains of Pleasure Park throu'h the trees) Across this "ile of water% &oats
had once ferried 'a# crowds of "err#"akers% &ut that da# was far in the (ast)
The# coasted in to an old (ier at the south end of Skeleton Island% and Pete "ade a line
fast) Another "otor.&oat was tied u( there% a wide craft with s(ecial ste(s o$er the side .
the kind of &oat often used for Scu&a di$in')
7r) Crenshaw led the &o#s u( a well."arked trail) The# soon reached a clearin' where
two trailers and se$eral lar'e% ar"#.st#le tents had &een set u()
4There-s 7r) 1enton%4 Pete-s father said) 4He dro$e down fro" Philadel(hia #esterda# for
a conference and is 'oin' ri'ht &ack)4
A #oun' "an wearin' horn.ri" 'lasses ca"e towards the") Behind hi" three other "en
waited% one with 're#in' hair who the &o#s soon learned was Harr# Norris% the assistant
directorB a &lond #oun' "an with a crew cut% who was /eff 7ortonB and a &i'% &arrel.
chested "an with a stiff left ar" and a 'un stra((ed to his waist who was To" *arrada#%
the 'uard)
4This is our ca"( for now%4 7r) Crenshaw went on) 4We ferried the trailers and
e8ui("ent o$er on a &ar'e) The tents are all ri'ht until the "ain co"(an# 'ets here% then
we-ll need "ore trailers)4
He (ointed out and identified the other "en% then s(oke to Ro'er 1enton% the director)
4Sorr# to &e a little late% 7r) 1enton%4 he said) 4I sto((ed to 'et the &o#s)4
4Good%4 Ro'er 1enton said) He looked rather u(set) 4Harr# Norris has 6ust &een tellin'
"e a&out all the dela#s and I-" not ha((# a&out the") If #ou find #ou can-t 'et the roller
coaster workin' in a week% we-ll for'et Skeleton Island alto'ether) It-s a 'reat (lace for
the scener# we want% &ut we "a# &e a&le to sa$e "one# &# rentin' a roller coaster &ack
in California and artificiall# a'ein' it) We can take &ack 'roundshots here that will 'i$e
us the wonderful old% dila(idated effect)4
4I-" (ositi$e we can 'et the roller coaster fi+ed%4 7r) Crenshaw said) 4I-$e 'ot a call out
for car(enters now)4
4I dou&t if #ou-ll 'et the"%4 Ro'er 1enton said 'ri"l#) 4Not since the whole town knows
the 'host was seen ridin' the "err#.'o.round last ni'ht)4
4That 'host!4 Pete-s father e+clai"ed) 4I wish I could fi'ure that out)4
To" *arrada#% standin' a few feet awa#% cou'hed a(olo'eticall#)
4I-" $er# sorr#% 7r) Crenshaw%4 he said) 4I 'uess . well% I-" afraid I was the 'host folks
saw last ni'ht)4
>
The Skull Talks
4IT-S 0I2E THIS%4 the 'uard e+(lained as e$er#one stared at hi") 40ast ni'ht% I was here
alone on 'uard when #ou all went to the "ainland to look for the &o#s) When the stor"
hit% I took co$er in a trailer) After the stor" I heard a "otor.&oat% and I went out to see if
"a#&e so"e thief had landed) I thou'ht I saw a dark fi'ure lurkin' &ehind the "err#.'o.
round) As I started that wa#% I saw so"eone run awa#)
4I was worried that he-d &een foolin' with the "otor% ri'ht after #ou 'ot it fi+ed) So I
turned on the li'hts and started it u() f course the "usic started (la#in' and the "err#.
'o.round started turnin') I walked round it% "akin' sure there was no da"a'e% then I
turned it off)4
4But the 'host%"an% the 'host!4 7r) Crenshaw e+clai"ed)
4Well% sir.4 To" *arrada# see"ed e"&arrassed. 4I was wearin' a #ellow stor" slicker)
And fro" a distance "e in a #ellow slicker (ro&a&l# looked enou'h like so"e&od# in a
white dress so that folks thou'ht . well% #ou know)4
4h% no!4 Pete-s father 'roaned) 4To"% #ou-$e 'ot to 'o ashore later and tell e$er#&od#
e+actl# what ha((ened)4
4,es% sir%4 the 'uard said)
4As if we didn-t ha$e enou'h trou&les alread#%4 si'hed 7r) Crenshaw) 4Well% we-ll hire
two "ore 'uards) To"% look for two 'ood "en) None of these no.'ood fisher"en who-ll
(retend to 'uard our e8ui("ent and then steal it . 'et honest "en)4
4,es% sir)4
4The idea of these &o#s doin' a little (ri$ate sleuthin' for us on the 8uiet is no 'ood
now%4 7r) Crenshaw said to Ro'er 1enton) 4E$er#&od# in town see"s to know the#-re
&o# detecti$es) That fellow Sa" Ro&inson for one% thou'h I-" &la"ed if I can fi'ure out
how)4
4I think I can e+(lain that% too% sir%4 To" *arrada# s(oke u() 4,ou see% when #ou and 7r)
1enton were discussin' the whole idea on the tele(hone with 7r) Hitchcock in
Holl#wood .well% "ost (hones in this town are still on (art# lines) ther (eo(le can listen
in) ,ou know how it is in s"all towns) Peo(le snoo() It was (ro&a&l# all o$er town as
soon as #ou hun' u()
7r) Crenshaw 'roaned) 4That-s what we-re u( a'ainst!4 he said) 4I-ll &e ha((# to 'et &ack
to Holl#wood) This Skeleton Island idea is turnin' into a 6in+)4
4We can 'et so"e &eautiful shots here%4 Ro'er 1enton said% 4if #ou can 'et the roller
coaster fi+ed u() Well% I ha$e to 'et &ack to the "ainland and start for Philadel(hia) /eff%
su((ose #ou ferr# "e o$er)4
4Sure thin'% 7r) 1enton%4 the #oun'er "an said% and the# started for the (ier)
7r) Crenshaw turned to the &o#s)
4Wh# don-t I show #ou round while /eff is 'one54 he said) 4As soon as he 'ets &ack% he-ll
see how well #ou &o#s can di$e)4
4Great% 1ad!4 said Pete)
A short walk &rou'ht the" to a tu"&ledown fence) The# walked o$er it and were in the
a&andoned a"use"ent (ark) Pleasure Park reall# did look deca#ed) Refresh"ent stands
were half ca$ed in) The rides were rust# and fallin' a(art) The *erris wheel had to((led
o$er in a stor" and la# in (ieces on the 'round) An ancient roller coaster still stood
u(ri'ht% &ut with so"e ti"&ers of its foundation dan'lin' loose)
But the &o#s were "ost interested in the hu'e% old "err#.'o.round) E$en in da#li'ht% it
had a s(ook# look% its (aint (eelin' and new wood showin' where 7r) Crenshaw-s "en
had re(aired it)
7r) Crenshaw told the &o#s how it was to &e used in the "o$ie) 4The wa# the (icture is
'oin' to end is this: It-s a&out a "an who is falsel# accused of a cri"e and is tr#in' to
find the true cri"inal) That-s where the title co"es fro" Chase 7e *aster) *inall# the
cri"inal hides on Skeleton Island here) So"e #oun' (eo(le row out for a (icnic) The# tr#
the old "err#.'o.round% while the cri"inal secretl# watches the")4
4Goll#% that sounds (rett# e+citin'%4 Pete said) 4Where does the roller coaster co"e into
it% sir54 /u(iter asked)
4The hero tracks the cri"inal here and starts to close in on hi") The cri"inal a&ducts two
'irls fro" the (icnic (art# and forces the" into a car of the roller coaster) As the (olice
surround hi"% he threatens to throw the 'irls o$er the side) The hero "ana'es to 'et into
the sa"e car and there is a terrific fi'ht at the end% as the old roller coaster swoo(s u( and
down and around)4
4Terrific! 4 Bo& said) 4And in this s(ook# old (ark it-ll &e the "ost! I can hardl# wait to
see it)4
4If we shoot it here%4 7r) Crenshaw said 'loo"il#) 4Well% we-ll see) ,ou &o#s can look
round) Co"e &ack in half an hour) /eff 7orton ou'ht to &e &ack fro" the "ainland &#
then)4
He started awa#% then (aused)
4Whate$er #ou do%4 he said% with a look half worried and half hu"orous% 4(lease don-t
find an# treasure! Re(eat% don-t find an# treasure! This was once a (irate han'out% #ou
know)4
4,es% sir%4 Bo& answered) 4We-$e read all a&out the (irates and the treasure and the
ca(ture of Ca(tain ne.Ear)4
4Peo(le ne$er see" to 'i$e u(%4 7r) Crenshaw shook his head) 4This island "ust ha$e
&een du' u( &# lar'e e+(editions at least twent# ti"es since then) 0uckil#% durin' the last
fift# #ears not a dou&loon has &een found% so the treasure fe$er has died out) But knowin'
#ou &o#s% nothin' would sur(rise "e . not e$en #our findin' treasure where there isn-t
an#!4
4Will it &e all ri'ht% sir% if we e+(lore the ca$e54 Bo& asked) He (ointed to the one hill on
the island) 4The old "a(s show a ca$e u( at the to( of that hill) The stories sa# it was
used &# the (irates to hold (risoners for ranso"% &ut no treasure was e$er found there)4
4,es% #ou can e+(lore the ca$e%4 7r) Crenshaw a'reed) 4But &e &ack in half an hour)4 He
turned and walked awa#) The &o#s stood starin' round the" at the ruins of Pleasure Park)
4It sure is cree(# here all ri'ht%4 Pete said) 4But that roller coaster scene will &e terrific)
It-s scar# 6ust to think a&out)4
4/u(e% #ou ha$en-t said "uch%4 Bo& said) 4What-re #ou thinkin' a&out54
The *irst In$esti'ator was lookin' $er# thou'htful)
4,our dad% Pete% and the others%4 he said% 4see" to think that so"e of the fisher"en are
res(onsi&le for the thefts that ha$e &een 'oin' on% either for "ischief or to steal
so"ethin' $alua&le) But I don-t think so)4
4,ou don-t5 What do #ou think54 Pete asked)
4The sa&ota'e of the &oats and the thefts of e8ui("ent%4 /u(iter said% 4see" desi'ned to
'et the "o$ie co"(an# so fed u( with Skeleton Island the#-ll "o$e awa# and shoot the
end of the (icture so"ewhere else) This island has &een deserted for twent#.fi$e #ears
and it is "# deduction that so"eone wants it to sta# deserted% and is deli&eratel# tr#in' to
anno# 7r) 1enton into a&andonin' the (ro6ect)4
4Want the "o$ie co"(an# to lea$e!4 Pete said &lankl#) 4Wh# would an#&od# care if the#
left or not54
4That is the "#ster#%4 /u(iter acknowled'ed) 4Now let-s 'o and see the old ca$e)4
Ten "inutes trud'in' u(hill throu'h scra''l# trees &rou'ht the" to a ca$e near the to( of
the rock# hill) The entrance was s"all% and the interior dark) Howe$er% once the# were
inside% there was li'ht enou'h to see that the# were in a roo"# ca$e that went &ack 8uite
a distance% narrowin' towards the rear)
The soil of the ca$e was loose) It looked as if it had &een du' u( "an# ti"es) /u(iter
(icked u( a little of the sand# dirt and nodded)
47an# (eo(le ha$e du' here for treasure%4 he said) 4I daresa# e$er# inch of this ca$e was
e+a"ined se$eral ti"es in the (ast hundred #ears) Howe$er% no sensi&le (irate would e$er
hide his treasure here) He-d look for a (lace less noticea&le)4
4,eah%4 Pete a'reed) 4Wish we-d &rou'ht our flashli'hts) I-d like to look around in the
&ack there)4
4,ou-re not as "uch of an in$esti'ator as I thou'ht% Pete%4 /u(iter said% 'rinnin') 4,ou
either% Bo&) 0ook at "e)4
The# looked with sur(rise as /u(iter uncli((ed a flashli'ht that was han'in' fro" his
&elt)
4Pri"ar# e8ui("ent for an# in$esti'ator%4 /u(iter said loftil#) 4Howe$er% I-ll ad"it I
re"e"&ered the ca$e% too% and (lanned on lookin' into it if we 'ot the chance) therwise
I "i'ht not ha$e thou'ht of it either)4
He &ea"ed the li'ht towards the low &ack (art of the ca$e) So"e fiat rocks looked worn
s"ooth% as if i"(risoned "en had once lain on the" as $er# hard &eds) /u(iter-s flashli'ht
flicked o$er other rock# cre$ices and led'es until% at a (oint a&out si+ feet a&o$e the
'round% it sto((ed suddenl#)
So"ethin' white rested there on the led'e of a rock# shelf) So"ethin' white and round)
Bo& 'ul(ed) It was a hu"an skull)
It see"ed to 'rin at the") And then% 6ust as Bo& was re"indin' hi"self that it was onl# a
&on# "e"ento of the &ad old (irate da#s of lon' a'o% the skull s(oke to the")
4Go -wa#%4 it si'hed% with a stron' accent that sounded S(anish to Bo&) 40et "e -a$e "#
rest) No treasure is here) nl# "# tired old &ones)4
?
Gold 1ou&loons
BB *9N1 that his feet had auto"aticall# turned to take hi" out of the ca$e) In
another "o"ent he and Pete were racin' each other for the outside% with /u(iter not far
&ehind) Bo& and Pete collided and s(rawled headlon' at the entrance)
/u(iter% howe$er% had turned &ack) He (icked u( the flashli'ht he had dro((ed and shone
it on the skull)
4Skulls can-t talk%4 he infor"ed the a'ed death-s head% 4&ecause to talk #ou need a ton'ue
and lar#n+) Therefore lo'ic tells "e #ou did not s(eak)4
Bo& and Pete% (ickin' the"sel$es u( outside the ca$e% suddenl# heard whoo(s of
lau'hter) Pu;;led and a little e"&arrassed% the# went &ack inside)
Chris 7arkos% the &o# of the ni'ht &efore% was cli"&in' down fro" a niche in the rick#
wall)
4Hi%4 he said% tossin' the old skull &ehind hi") 4Re"e"&er "e54
4f course we re"e"&er #ou%4 /u(iter said) In fact% I had alread# deduced it was #ou
&ecause earlier I saw a sailin'.&oat ahead of us that looked like #ours) Besides% the $oice
that s(oke was too #outhful to &e an#thin' &ut a &o#-s)4
4I scare #ou% #es54 Chris 'rinned) 4,ou think dead (irate is talkin' to #ou)4
4,ou startled "e%4 /u(iter corrected hi") 4,ou scared Pete and Bo&% thou'h)4
Bo& and Pete looked shee(ish)
4,ou didn-t scare "e%4 Bo& said) 4,ou scared "# le's) I didn-t know the# were 'oin' to
run until the# did)4
47e% too%4 Pete a'reed) 4When a skull starts talkin'% "# le's want to &e so"e (lace else)4
4Good 6oke!4 Chris still radiated "erri"ent)
4I ho(e #ou will not &e "ad% thou'h) It is 6ust for fun)4
4No% we-re not "ad) We-$e &een wantin' to talk to #ou) 0et-s 'o outside in the sun)4
/u(iter led the wa# outside and all four &o#s stretched out% their &acks a'ainst a rock)
4How did #ou ha((en to &e here54 /u(iter asked the Greek &o#) 4I "ean in the ca$e and
e$er#thin'% waitin' for us54
4Eas#%4 Chris said) 4I a" sailin'% and I see &oat take #ou to the (ier) I sail round the island
and (ull u( "# &oat on the &each) I sli( throu'h trees% and see #ou at the old "err#.'o.
round) I hear #ou sa# #ou are 'oin' to e+(lore the ca$e) I know a short.cut% so I 'et there
first) Then I think of this 'ood 6oke with an old skull I know is u( on one of the rocks) I
cli"& u( and hide and wait for #ou)4
That e+(lained e$er#thin'% &ut Bo& wanted to know wh# Chris had hidden) Wh# hadn-t
he co"e out and said hello earlier5
4The 'uard%4 Chris said si"(l#) 4That To" *arrada# alwa#s chases "e awa#) E$er#&od#
chases "e awa#)4
His cheerful 'rin was suddenl# 'one)
4I ha$e a &ad na"e in town%4 he said slowl#) 4Peo(le think I a" a thief% &ecause "#
father and I are (oor) And different) *ro" a forei'n countr#) In town are so"e (eo(le who
are not 'ood) The# steal thin's and sa# Chris the Greek does it) But I do not do it! 4
The# &elie$ed hi") It was an old trick% the# knew% to &la"e thin's on an outsider)
4We &elie$e #ou-re honest% Chris%4 Pete said) 4ne thin' (u;;les us% thou'h) How did #ou
find us so 8uickl# last ni'ht54
4h% that%4 Chris said% 'rinnin' a'ain) 4I do so"e work in a (lace called Bill-s Ta$ern) I
swee(% wash dishes% 'et two dollars a da#) 7# father and "e% we li$e on that) 7r) Bill is a
nice "an)4
4Two dollars a da#!4 Bo& e+clai"ed) 4How can #ou li$e on that54
40i$e in an old% a&andoned fishin' shack% no tent%4 Chris e+(lained so&erl#) 4We eat
&eans and &read and I catch "an# fish) But father% he is sick) He needs 'ood food) So all
the e+tra ti"e I ha$e% I sail around the &a#% ho(in' to find &i' treasure) But I a" foolish% I
'uess) So"e treasure lies on the &otto" of the &a#) But what chance has Chris 7arkos to
find lots of it54
4,ou ha$e as "uch chance as an#&od#!4 Pete said) 4But #ou were 'oin' to tell us how
#ou knew where to look for us)4
4h% sure) ,esterda# I a" washin' dishes) I hear "en talkin' in the last &ooth of ta$ern)
ne sa#s% -Three kid detecti$es% huh5 Well% I-ll hand the" a sur(rise) I-ll hand the"
so"ethin' the# won-t for'et!- Then the# all lau'h)4
/u(iter (inched his li( thou'htfull#) 4Tell "e% Chris% when this "an s(oke the word -hand-
did he do it with s(ecial e"(hasis54 he asked)
4He "eans did he sa# Chand- in so"e s(ecial wa#54 Bo& inter(reted as the Greek &o#
looked (u;;led)
4h% #es he does!4 Chris e+clai"ed) 4Each ti"e he sa#s -hand- he "akes the $oice dee(er
and louder) So when I hear three &o#s are "issin'% I think to "#self% where could an#one
hide three &o#s5 Then I re"e"&er the funn# wa# that "an sa#s -hand-)4
4And #ou deduced that he was referrin' to the island called The Hand!4 /u(iter
e+clai"ed) 4That is 6ust what I think) So I sail out as soon as the stor" is o$er) And I find
#ou ri'ht there% on The Hand) nl#.4 and Chris-s face clouded a'ain . 4now "o$ie (eo(le
think that I had so"ethin' to do with it) No&od# &elie$es 'ood of "e)4
4We &elie$e in #ou% Chris!4 Bo& said stoutl#) Chris s"iled) 4,ou &elie$e in "e% I show
#ou so"ethin')4
His hand went &eneath his (ullo$er and out ca"e a little well.oiled leather sack) Chris
loosened the draw strin')
4Hold #our hands out%4 he said) 4Close #our e#es) 1o not look until I sa#)4
The# o&e#ed) So"ethin' war" and hea$# was (laced in each &o#-s (al") When the#
o(ened their e#es% each was holdin' an anti8ue 'old (iece!
Bo& e+a"ined the worn% &ut still shin# coin) 4Si+teen fifteen! 4 he e+clai"ed)
4S(anish dou&loons!4 /u(iter said% his e#es shinin') 4Real (irate treasure!4
4Goll#!4 Pete said in awe) 4Where-d #ou find the"54
4In the water% l#in' on sand) There is (lent# of treasure in &a# . Ca(tain ne.Ear% he
du"(ed his whole treasure o$er&oard a lon' ti"e a'o) But now it-s all scattered% a little
here% a little there) !er# hard to find an#) I di$e and di$e) ne (iece I find off the other
end of Skeleton Island% near wreck of nice #acht) But I find two ri'ht to'ether in one
s(ecial little &a# where I think "a#&e.4
At that "o"ent a loud% an'r# $oice interru(ted the")
4He#! ,ou% Chris! What-re #ou doin' here54 Startled% the# looked u() To" *arrada#% the
nor"all# 'ood.natured 'uard% was (uffin' u( the (ath towards the"% his face dark with
an'er) 4I told #ou if I cau'ht #ou han'in' round an# "ore% I-d 'i$e #ou a whalin'!4 To"
*arrada# cried) 4Those are "# orders and.4
He sto((ed) The &o#s turned and followed his 'a;e) But Chris 7arkos had disa((eared
&ehind a rock as silentl# as a shadow)
@
1an'er 9nderwater
4WHAT 1I1 that kid want54 To" *arrada# de"anded) 4Wh# did he &rin' #ou &o#s u(
here54
4He didn-t want an#thin' s(ecial%4 /u(iter told hi") 4And he didn-t &rin' us u( here) We
ca"e u( to look at the ca$e)4
4Well% let "e tell #ou% that Chris is no 'ood!4 the 'uard said) 4If no&od#-s actuall# cau'ht
hi" stealin' an#thin' #et% it-s &ecause he-s too s"art) Take "# ad$ice and sta# awa# fro"
hi") Now co"e alon') /eff 7orton is &ack and wants to do so"e di$in' with #ou)4
As the# started down the trail% To"-s "anner &eca"e "ore friendl#)
4I su((ose #ou were ho(in' to find so"e treasure in that ca$e%4 he said) 4Well% there isn-t
an# and ne$er was) What-s left is scattered o$er the &otto" of the &a#) nce in a lon'
while a (iece turns u( on a &each% &ut (eo(le ha$e 'ot tired of e$en huntin' for it an#
"ore% it ha((ens so seldo")4
He chuckled)
4When 1a$# /ones takes so"ethin'% he doesn-t often 'i$e it &ack) 1id #ou know that he
took a hundred thousand dollars in 'ood A"erican cash onl# ten #ears a'o5 ,es sir% he
took it and ke(t it) And &ecause of that hundred thousand dollars "# left ar" 'ot cri((led
and I-$e &een this wa# e$er since% onl# a&le to do odd 6o&s)4
He "o$ed his stiff left ar" to show what he "eant) The &o#s cla"oured for the stor#% and
To" willin'l# o&li'ed)
4Well% &o#s%4 he said% 4I used to &e a 'uard on an ar"oured car for the 1ollar 1eli$er#
Co"(an#) ne of our 6o&s was to (ick u( cash fro" the local &anks and take it to the &i'
national &ank in 7el$ille)
4Ne$er had an# trou&le and didn-t e+(ect an#) ,ou see% we ne$er followed the sa"e route
twice or went to the &anks at e+actl# the sa"e ti"e) /ust the sa"e% one da#.4
What had ha((ened was that one da#% a&out ten #ears &efore% the# had sto((ed to (ick u(
"one# fro" the &ank in *ishin'(ort) Then the# had (arked the ar"oured car to eat lunch)
Naturall# it was ti'htl# locked% and the# sat where the# could see it)
Howe$er% as To" and the dri$er left the restaurant% two "en wearin' Hallowe-en "asks
had ste((ed out of an old sedan and shot the dri$er in the le') To" had lun'ed at the "en%
&ut the# had s"ashed hi" o$er the head and shoulder with the &arrel of the 'un%
knockin' hi" unconscious)
Then the# had taken the ke#s of the ar"oured car fro" his (ocket% and dri$en off) But
Chief of Police Nosti'on% then a (atrol"an% had heard the shot and ca"e runnin' in ti"e
to fire at the two as the# cli"&ed into the stolen truck) He hit one of the ro&&ers in the
ar")
The alar" went out (ro"(tl#% of course% and all near&# roads were &ottled u() At ni'htfall
the ar"oured car% &loodstained and e"(t#% was found in an a&andoned &oat.house so"e
"iles awa#) It &eca"e a((arent that the thie$es had "ade their esca(e &# water)
1urin' the ni'ht a Coast Guard (atrol &oat si'hted an old "otor.&oat driftin' hel(lessl#
in the &a#) As the# closed in on it% two "en were seen to du"( se$eral &undles
o$er&oard) The# sank i""ediatel#)
When the Coast Guard &oarded the &oat% the# found two "en% Bill and /i" Ballin'er%
read# to 'i$e u() Their en'ine had &roken down% and one of the"% /i"% had a &ullet
wound in his ar") But not a scra( of "one# fro" the hold.u( was found% then or later)
4,ou see% &o#s%4 To" *arrada# said% 4the# 6ust chucked it o$er&oard) Sa"e thin' old
neEar did hundreds of #ears a'o when he saw the British were 'oin' to catch hi") It
went to the &otto"% sank in the "ud% and no one could find it) Bein' (a(er "one#% it
rotted awa# "i'ht# fast)4
4Goll#! 4 Pete said) 4That was 8uite an e+(erience% 7r) *arrada#) 1id the Ballin'ers 'o to
6ail54
4h% sure%4 the 'uard re(lied) 4With the &ullet fro" Chief Nosti'on-s 'un in /i"-s ar"%
the# ne$er had a chance) The# went u( for twent# #ears% &ut it was reduced to ten for
'ood &eha$iour) The# 6ust 'ot out a cou(le of weeks a'o) I-d certainl# like to (a# the"
&ack for cri((lin' "# left win'% &o#s%4 To" said fer$entl#) 4Ha$en-t &een "uch use since
then . 6ust odd 6o&s for "e) Well% here we are and there-s 7r) Crenshaw)4
Pete-s father and /eff 7orton were on the (ier% stowin' so"e 'ear into the &i' "otor.&oat)
7r) Crenshaw strai'htened as the &o#s ca"e u()
4Hi% &o#s%4 he said) 4/eff is read# to check #ou out on #our skin.di$in') He-s an e+(ert
di$er and we ha$e the $er# latest e8ui("ent here) He-ll e+(lain e$er#thin')4
With that% 7r) Crenshaw left the"% and the three &o#s cli"&ed into the &road% roo"#
"otor.&oat)
4ka#% fellows%4 /eff said) 4Tell "e what di$in' #ou-$e done)4
Pete descri&ed the lessons the# had had at a local swi""in' (ool at ho"e) The# had
&eco"e $er# fa"iliar with snorkellin'% and had &een checked out &# their instructor in
Scu&a di$in' 6ust &efore co"in' East)
4So far% so 'ood%4 /eff said with an encoura'in' 'rin) 4Now let-s see how "uch #ou
know)4
He started the "otor and ran the &oat well out into the &a#) Near a s"all #ellow &uo#% he
dro((ed anchor)
4There-s a wreck underneath us%4 he said) 4No% it-s not a treasure shi() An# old S(anish
shi( would lon' a'o ha$e disinte'rated in these waters) This is a s"all #acht that went
down in a stor" se$eral #ears a'o) It lies in twent#.fi$e feet of water% which "eans we
can di$e down to it without worr#in' a&out deco"(ression (ro&le"s)4
He ins(ected and a((ro$ed their face "asks and fli((ers) Then% fro" a well.stocked
e8ui("ent locker% he 'ot out tanks of air% hose connections% and wei'hted di$in' &elts)
4This is the latest e8ui("ent% and as nearl# fool(roof as it can &e%4 he said) 4We won-t use
wet suits &ecause the water here is nice and war") Get into #our trunks% Bo&% #ou-ll take
the first test di$e with "e) Re"e"&er% we-ll &e usin' the &udd# s#ste" at all ti"es .
alwa#s two di$ers to'ether)4
The &o#s 'ot into their swi""in' trunks% and Bo& carefull# (ut on the e8ui("ent /eff
handed hi") 0ast of all he &uckled on the wei'hted &elt that would co"e off if he had to
"ake a fast ascent)
/eff ins(ected hi" criticall#% nodded his a((ro$al% and 'ot read# to 'o o$er the side) Bo&
followed% usin' the s(ecial ste(s)
In the water% Bo& kicked his fli((ered feet and shot downwards) He liked swi""in')
$er the #ears he had done a lot of it to &uild u( stren'th in the le' he had &roken as a
s"all &o#) Now% a&le to 'o down like a fish and &reathe without difficult#% he felt
wonderfull# li'ht and free% (art of a new uni$erse)
Below hi" a dark sha(e loo"ed u() It was the sunken #acht% and with /eff at his side he
swa" slowl# towards it)
The #acht la# on its side% a 'a(in' hole near the &ow) As the# 'ot closer% Bo& could see
that it was co$ered with seaweed) S"all fish swa" around it in swar"s)
/eff swa" ahead) 9sin' onl# his fli((ers to (ro(el hi"% as he had &een tau'ht% Bo&
followed) /eff swooned 'racefull# o$er the stern of the sunken #acht)
As Bo& started to follow% his attention was cau'ht &# two lar'e lo&sters retreatin' &eneath
the stern) He swa" closer to the sunken $essel) Suddenl# he was 6erked to a sto()
So"ethin' had hi" fir"l# &# his ri'ht ankle!
D
41on-t Tell An#one!4
IT WAS the first ti"e Bo& had run into an# trou&le underwater) A (an' of alar" shot
throu'h hi" and he kicked his le' to free it) The 'ri( on his ankle ti'htened) He was sure
he could feel hi"self &ein' (ulled &ackwards)
He turned franticall# to see what had 'ra&&ed hi"% and as he did so% his ar" &rushed his
face "ask) The ne+t thin' he knew he was &linded) Water had fo''ed the "ask and for a
second he couldn-t re"e"&er how to clear it)
Then so"ethin' 'ri((ed his shoulder) *or a "o"ent he was sure the "onster% whate$er it
was% was attackin' hi") But three li'ht ra(s on his air tank told hi" /eff 7orton had
co"e &ack to his rescue)
/eff-s hand 'ri((ed his shoulder% cal"in' hi") Graduall# Bo& rela+ed% thou'h it did not
release hi")
*orcin' hi"self to &reathe cal"l#% he turned his head to the ri'ht% reached u(% and
cracked the left side of his "ask e$er so sli'htl#) Then he &reathed out throu'h his nose)
The air was forced out of the "ask% takin' the water with it% and he could see a'ain)
The first thin' he saw was /eff 7orton% shakin' his head) He (ointed% and Bo& looked
down to see what had cau'ht hi") A loo( of ro(e!
He dou&led o$er and eased the ro(e off his fli((ered foot) An'r# at hi"self for (anickin'%
he shot ahead a few feet and waited for /eff% e+(ectin' hi" to end the di$e i""ediatel#)
Howe$er% /eff for"ed a circle with his thu"& and forefin'er% a si'n e$er#thin' was oka#)
Then he swa" ahead a'ain and Bo& followed% carefull# kee(in' clear of the wrecked
shi()
The# swa" the len'th of the shi(% then all round it% the fish "o$in' aside for the" as if
the# were 6ust two har"less lar'er fish)
Bo& saw "ore lo&sters shelterin' the"sel$es under the #acht) If he had &rou'ht a s(ear
'un% he was sure he could ha$e &a''ed a lo&ster or two)
The# swa" until Bo& was rela+ed a'ain and en6o#in' hi"self% then /eff headed for the
surface at an unhurried (ace) The# could see the &otto" of the anchored "otor.&oat) A
"o"ent later the# ca"e u( &eside it% their "asked faces (o((in' fro" the water like the
snouts of so"e stran'e "onsters)
/eff swa" to the ste(s at the side of the &oat and cli"&ed it) Bo& followed)
4How was it54 Pete said ea'erl#% hel(in' hi" in the &oat) Bo& shook his head)
4I didn-t do so well%4 he said) 4I 'ot sna''ed on a ro(e% and 'ot (anick#)4
/eff 7orton a'reed that he hadn-t done so well) He 'a$e the" all a &rief lecture on 'ettin'
too close to tan'led wrecka'e% and followed it with one on losin' #our head in an
une+(ected situation . the "ost dan'erous thin' a di$er could do) Then he relented and
s"iled)
47a#&e it was a 'ood thin' it ha((ened now%4 he said) 4A har"less &ut hel(ful lesson)
Bo& reco$ered hi"self well and ne+t ti"e I-" sure he-ll kee( cal") All ri'ht% Pete% now
it-s #our turn)4
Pete 'ot read# swiftl#) In a "o"ent the two di$ers were 'one &eneath the water% lea$in'
Bo& and /u(iter alone in the 'entl# &o&&in' "otor&oat)
Bo& told /u(iter of his e+(erience in "ore detail% addin'% 4I think ne+t ti"e I 'o down I-ll
ha$e "ore confidence) Now I know I can "ake "#self act cal" and clear "# face "ask
if I ha$e to)4
/u(iter was a&out to re(l# when the# heard a $oice hailin' the") A hundred #ards awa#%
the tin# sailin'.&oat owned &# Chris 7arkos was 'lidin' silentl# towards the")
Chris ca"e u( &eside the" and swun' round% lettin' his sail flutter down) His white teeth
'lea"ed a'ainst his tanned face as he 'rinned at the")
4That fellow To" *arrada# tells #ou &ad thin's a&out "e% I 'uess%4 he said% his s"ile
$anishin') 4I ho(e #ou don-t &elie$e hi")4
4No%4 Bo& said stoutl#% 4we don-t &elie$e hi") We think #ou-re all ri'ht% Chris)4
4I a" 'lad to hear that%4 Chris declared) He reached out and cau'ht the side of the
"otor&oat to stead# his craft)
He looked at the $ariet# of di$in' 'ear in the "otor.&oat with so"e lon'in'% &ut said
airil#% 4Wh# do #ou need all that stuff to di$e down to sunken #acht5 I can 'o down that
far 6ust in "# own skin) I-" a real skin.di$er! 4
4Is it true that Greek s(on'e fishers can 'o down "ore than a hundred feet without an#
di$in' a((aratus54 Bo& asked)
4Sure% eas#%4 Chris &oasted) 47# father when he is a #oun' "an% he 'oes down two
hundred feet with 6ust a stone to "ake hi" sink fast% and a ro(e to (ull hi" u( a'ain) He
sta#s% under three whole "inutes without &reathin')4
Chris-s face clouded) 4But he di$es too lon'%4 he said) 4And he 'ets sick) But so"e da# I
find treasure% take "# father ho"e% 'et a little &oat in Greece and &e a fisher"an "#self)4
Chris-s s"ile ca"e &ack) 4Got to 'et &us#) 2ee( lookin' if I wish to find treasure%4 he
said) He hesitated% then added% 47a#&e I take #ou with "e to"orrow if #ou like to 'o5
Nice fun e$en if we find nothin')4
4That would &e 'reat!4 Bo& said) 4If we aren-t needed% that is)4
4We "i'ht ha$e to do so"ethin' for the "o$ie co"(an#%4 /u(iter added) 4r (ractise
di$in' so"e "ore)4
Then he sur(rised the"% and hi"self% &# 'i$in' a "i'ht# snee;e)
4Are #ou catchin' cold% /u(e54 Bo& asked) 41o not di$e if #ou ha$e cold!4 Chris warned)
4Ears hurt fierce) Well% so lon'% I "ust 'et &us#) See #ou to"orrow% "a#&e)4
He let 'o% hoisted his sail% and in a "o"ent the little &oat was ski""in' across the sunlit
surface of the &a#)
A few "inutes later% Pete and /eff 7orton surfaced and cli"&ed a&oard) Pete shucked off
his 'ear% 'rinnin' widel#)
4It was terrific%4 he said) 4Had a little trou&le clearin' "# eustachian tu&es% &ut I
swallowed hard and that fi+ed the" u() Now it-s #our turn% /u(e)4
/u(e 'ot read# a little less ea'erl# than the others) /u(e was not naturall# athletic% and
thou'h he liked swi""in' all ri'ht% he was not reall# keen on it) When he was read# and
had (assed /eff 7orton-s ins(ection% he and /eff sli((ed o$er the side)
4Bo&!4 Pete said e+citedl# as the other two $anished under the water) 4Guess what54
4What54 Bo& asked)
4I think I saw so"ethin') /ust as we were turnin' to co"e u(% I saw so"ethin' 'lea"in'
on the sand a&out fift# feet fro" the sunken #acht) I &et it-s a 'old dou&loon) If we di$e
a'ain I-" 'oin' to tr# to find it!4
4Wow% are #ou sure54
4Not (ositi$e) I 6ust 'ot a 'li"(se of so"ethin' &ri'ht) But it could &e) E$er#&od# sa#s
there-s treasure scattered loose all o$er the &otto" of this &a#)4
Bo& started to re(l#% then sto((ed) /eff 7orton and /u(iter were alread# co"in' &ack u(!
In fact% /eff was hel(in' /u(iter% who was swi""in' &lindl#% his face "ask twisted to one
side of his face)
4What ha((ened54 Bo& asked)
4Nothin' to &e alar"ed at%4 /eff said) 4So"ehow /u(iter knocked his face "ask loose) I
don-t know how &ut we weren-t down far and he didn-t lose his air hose)4
The two cli"&ed a&oard% /u(iter lookin' "isera&le)
47# ears hurt as we went down%4 he said) 4I tried to swallow to o(en the eustachian
tu&es) Then I had to snee;e) I (ulled out "# "outh(iece and held it% &ut I had to "o$e "#
face "ask to snee;e and I couldn-t (ut it &ack a'ain and . well% I 'uess I didn-t do too
well%4 he finished "isera&l#)
He snee;ed a'ain)
4,ou-re catchin' a cold%4 /eff said sternl#) 4,ou should ne$er ha$e tried to di$e toda#)
0uck# we were onl# down a few feet) No "ore di$in' for #ou% "# &o#% for the ne+t few
da#s!4
4No sir% I 'uess not%4 /u(iter said hu"&l#) 4The air conditionin' on the (lane #esterda#
was (rett# chill# and then &ein' out in the stor" last ni'ht . well% I 'uess I-" catchin' a
cold all ri'ht)4
4Ne$er di$e unless #ou-re in e+cellent health%4 /eff said) 4Es(eciall# not if #ou ha$e a
cold or cou'h) Well% I-" su((osed to 'i$e #ou kids (ractice in di$in' and I-ll 'o ahead
with Bo& and Pete% &ut if #ou-re 'oin' to &e laid u(% we "a# ha$e to chan'e our (lans)4
*or the ne+t cou(le of hours% Bo& and Pete alternated in lon'er and lon'er di$es) B# the
end of the afternoon the# felt wear#% &ut were sure the# could handle an# si"(le
underwater di$in' that "i'ht &e re8uired of the")
n each di$e% Bo& ke(t his e#es o(en for the shin# thin' Pete said he-d seen% &ut he didn-t
s(ot it) n the last di$e of the da#% thou'h% Pete ca"e u( with his ri'ht hand ti'htl#
clenched) He scra"&led a&oard and hastil# re"o$ed his face "ask and "outh(iece)
40ook!4 he said e+ultantl#)
He o(ened his fist) n his (al" la# a worn &ut shin# round coin% lar'e and hea$#)
4Hol# cats!4 /eff e+clai"ed) 4A dou&loon!4 He e+a"ined it carefull#) 41ated 3@3<% and
S(anish% all ri'ht) Pete% whate$er #ou do% don-t let an#&od# know a&out this) I "ean%
&esides us and #our father)4
4Wh# not54 Pete asked% (u;;led) 4,ou "ean so"eone would tr# to take it awa# fro"
"e54 4No% it-s #ours all ri'ht% #ou found it on the o(en sea &otto") But the (eo(le around
here are treasure ha((#! The# know in their hearts that there isn-t an# 'old on Skeleton
Island% &ut if word 'ot round that #ou-d found so"ethin'% the treasure hunters would &e
swar"in' o$er the island in no ti"e) The#-d ruin an# chance we ha$e of e$er 'ettin' that
"o$ie finished!4
E
7rs) Barton has Sus(icions
THE B,S were read# for &ed earl# that ni'ht) Pete and Bo& were wear# fro" their
di$in'% and /u(e was feelin' $er# droo(# &ecause of the cold he was catchin')
7r) Crenshaw ca"e to 7rs) Barton-s ho"e and had dinner with the") He was worried
a&out the (ro'ress of the work on Skeleton Island)
4That stor# of the (hanto" of the "err#.'o.round is all around town!4 he e+clai"ed
an'ril#) 4To" *arrada# has &een tellin' (eo(le the truth% &ut the#-d rather &elie$e in a
'host than the truth) h% well% we-ll "ake out so"ehow) I-ll see #ou &o#s in the "ornin')
Ha$e to 'o now and tr# to line u( a eou(le of new car(enters)4
After he had left% the# went to their roo") The# e+a"ined the 'old dou&loon re(eatedl#)
It was $er# e+citin' to ha$e a (iece of (irate treasure in their hands% e$en knowin' the#-d
(ro&a&l# not see an# "ore) Then Pete (ut it under his (illow and the# turned in)
The# all sle(t soundl# until 7rs) Barton called the" for &reakfast)
4Co"e and 'et it% &o#s!4 she san' out u( the stairs) 4Pete% #our father is here) He wants to
see #ou all &efore he 'ets started)4
The# scra"&led into their clothes and hurried downstairs) 7r) Crenshaw was waitin'%
lookin' rushed)
4Bo#s%4 he said% 4#ou-ll ha$e to &e on #our own toda#) I ha$e so"e work"en co"in' so
I-ll &e $er# &us#) And there can-t &e an# "ore di$in' until we 'et our (lans strai'htened
out) An#wa#% /eff tells "e #ou ha$e a cold% /u(iter% and can-t di$e for se$eral da#s)4
4,es% sir%4 said /u(iter and snee;ed e+(losi$el#) 4I-" sorr#% sir)4 He &lew his nose% which
was red) 4I couldn-t hel( it)4
4No% of course not)4 7r) Crenshaw e+a"ined hi" keenl#) 4Bo#%4 he said% 4#ou sta# 8uiet
for a da# or so) Go o$er this "ornin' and see the doctor) Na"e-s 1octor Wil&ur) *ine
fellow) In fact% he-s the owner of Skeleton Island) While #ou-re eatin'% I-ll (hone hi")4
The &o#s sat down at the ta&le% and 7rs) Barton &ustled in with (ancakes and sausa'es)
7r) Crenshaw went off to the (hone and ca"e &ack to tell /u(iter that 1octor Wil&ur
would see hi" at lunch.ti"e% when he-d ha$e a few "inutes free) He wrote down the
address of 1octor Wil&ur-s office and hurried off)
4Gosh% /u(e% it-s too &ad #ou-re 'oin' to &e laid u(%4 Pete s#"(athi;ed) 4I was thinkin'
"a#&e we could &orrow the "otor.&oat and 'o e+(lorin')4
4It will 'i$e "e ti"e to think%4 /u(iter said% tr#in' not to act sorr# for hi"self) 4There is
"uch to think a&out) The secret of Skeleton Island% for instance) I-" sure it does ha$e a
secret% &ut I cannot 8uite fatho" what it is)4
4Skeleton Island!4 7rs) Barton e+clai"ed% as she ca"e in with "ore (ancakes) 4That
horri&le (lace! 1id #ou know the 'host was seen ridin' the "err#.'o.round a'ain 6ust
ni'ht &efore last54
4,es% "a-a"%4 /u(iter answered) 4E+ce(t that there is a (erfectl# natural e+(lanation)4 He
told 7rs) Barton what had reall# ha((ened)
4Well) "a#&e%4 she conceded% &ut she didn-t look con$inced) 4But e$er#&od# sa#s there-s
a 'host and I sa# where there-s so "uch s"oke% there-s &ound to &e so"e fire)4
With that she went out a'ain) /u(iter si'hed) 47rs) Barton is a 'ood e+a"(le of the
difficult# of con$incin' (eo(le to 'i$e u( a cherished &elief%4 he said)
/ust then there was a ta( at the window) The# turned) A tanned face was (eerin' in at
the") 4It-s Chris!4 Bo& e+clai"ed) He hurried to the door)
4I-" 'ettin' read# to 'o huntin' a'ain%4 Chris said) 4,ou want to co"e with "e54
4,ou &et!4 Bo& e+clai"ed) 4Pete and I can) /u(iter has a &ad cold)4
4Too &ad%4 Chris said) 4But &oat is (rett# s"all for four an#wa#) I see #ou down at the
waterfront) Brin' swi" trunks!4
He hurried off) When Bo& told the others what Chris had wanted% Pete-s face lit u()
4Great!4 he said) 47a#&e I-ll find another dou&loon! 0et-s 'o and 'et our trunks% Bo&)4
4Sure%4 Bo& answered) 4Goll#% /u(e% it-s too &ad #ou can-t 'o)4
/u(e-s face said he thou'ht so% too% &ut the *irst In$esti'ator 6ust said stoicall#% 4Well% if I
can-t% I can-t) ,ou two 'o on) I-ll see #ou later)4 4We-ll &e &ack for lunch)4
Bo& and Pete 'ot their swi""in' trunks fro" their roo") Then the# hurried down to the
waterfront where Chris had his sailin'.&oat tied to an old sa''in' (ier) The# 6u"(ed in%
and the# were off on their first hunt for (irate treasure! 0eft alone% /u(iter si'hed a cou(le
of ti"es) Then% decidin' to "ake the &est of it% he went u( to look a'ain at Bo&-s notes
and the "a'a;ine articles a&out Skeleton Island)
7rs) Barton was in their roo" "akin' the &eds)
4/ust thou'ht I-d sli( u( and strai'hten #our roo" while #ou &o#s were eatin'%4 she said)
4I . land-s sake% what-s this54
She had (icked u( Pete-s (illow% and there was the 'old dou&loon)
40and-s ali$e!4 the wo"an e+clai"ed) 4It-s an old S(anish 'old (iece) Treasure!4
She looked at /u(iter with wide e#es) 4,ou &o#s found it out on Skeleton Island
#esterda#% I-ll &e &ound) 1idn-t #ou% now54
4Pete found it%4 /u(iter said) He re"e"&ered that /eff 7orton had warned the" not to let
an#one know of the find) But now the cat was out of the &a')
4He didn-t find it on the island% thou'h% &ut in the water) Fuite a wa# fro" the island%4
/u(iter added)
47#% "#!4 7rs) Barton clucked% finishin' the &ed) 4n his $er# first da# here% too)4
She 'a$e /u(iter a shrewd 'lance)
4,ou know%4 she said% 4lots of folks are sa#in' this &usiness a&out "akin' a "o$ie out on
Skeleton Island is 6ust . well% 6ust a &i' stor#) The# sa# #ou folks are reall# huntin' for
old Ca(tain ne.Ear-s treasure that was ne$er found) The# sa# #ou ha$e a new "a( and
e$er#thin')4
4That "i'ht e+(lain wh# the co"(an# is &ein' &othered%4 /u(iter said thou'htfull#) 4If
(eo(le think there is a treasure "a(% the# "i'ht &e (rowlin' around ho(in' to find it) And
the# "i'ht &e tr#in' to dri$e the "o$ie co"(an# awa# in order to look for the treasure
the"sel$es)
4But reall#% 7rs) Barton% we don-t know a thin' a&out an# treasure) All we want to do is
'et a few scenes of a new "o$ie shot) ,ou can tell e$er#&od# that)4
4Well% I-ll do that%4 7rs) Barton answered) 4But I don-t know as the#-ll &elie$e "e) nce
the# 'et an idea in their heads it-s a si'htl# 6o& to shake it out a'ain)4
4,es%4 /u(iter a'reed) 40ike the# kee( on &elie$in' in the 'host) 1o #ou "ind if I ask #ou
so"e 8uestions% 7rs) Barton5 ,ou-$e li$ed here all #our life% and #ou can (ro&a&l# tell
"e a lot)4
40ands% I don-t "ind)4 The wo"an lau'hed) 40et "e finish this roo"% then I-ll co"e
downstairs and ha$e a cu( of coffee and #ou can ask "e an# 8uestions #ou like)4
/u(e took Bo&-s &undle of notes downstairs and read the" until 7rs) Barton 6oined hi"%
si((in' a cu( of &lack coffee)
4Now ask awa#% &o#%4 she said)
4Tell "e how Skeleton Island ca"e to &e haunted in the first (lace% 7rs) Barton%4 he
re8uested% &# wa# of 'ettin' started) f course% he had read the stor# alread#% &ut he
wanted to see if the local $ersion a'reed)
With 'reat ani"ation 7rs) Barton started talkin') What she said tallied closel# with what
/u(e had read) Howe$er% the wo"an had "ore to add) After Pleasure Park had &een
a&andoned% she said% the 'host sto((ed a((earin') Then suddenl#% so"e #ears &ack% it had
a((eared a'ain . not 6ust once% &ut se$eral ti"es a #ear)
4These fisher"en who saw it%4 /u(iter asked% (inchin' his li(% 4were the# relia&le "en5
Peo(le #ou could &elie$e54
4Well% now)4 7rs) Barton frowned sli'htl#) 4I don-t know as the# were e+actl# that) We
ha$e so"e (rett# rou'h ele"ents a"on' our fisher"en) But lands% wh# would an#one
"ake u( stories a&out seein' a 'host54
/u(iter had no idea) ,et he couldn-t hel( wonderin' if so"eone hadn-t done 6ust that .
"ade u( stories)
4A&out when did this ha((en54 he asked) 7rs) Barton couldn-t re"e"&er e+actl#) Ten
#ears a'o% or "a#&e fifteen) So"ewhere alon' there) She onl# knew that e$er since% the
island had had a $er# &ad re(utation% and (eo(le rarel# went there)
49ntil #ou Holl#wood folks turned u(% ri'ht out of the &lue%4 7rs) Barton finished%
e#ein' /u(iter shrewdl#) 4And the (hanto" rides the "err#.'o.round a'ain and one of
#ou &o#s finds a 'old (iece and #our (eo(le talk of thie$es takin' their e8ui("ent and
e$er#thin') If #ou ask "e% there-s so"ethin' "i'ht# stran'e 'oin' on that we don-t know
a&out)4
/u(iter a'reed with that) All his instincts as an in$esti'ator told hi" so"ethin' stran'e
was 'oin' on) But for the life of hi" he couldn-t fi'ure out what)
3G
1isaster!
THE 0ITT0E sailin'.&oat "o$ed &riskl# alon'% heelin' o$er under a nice &ree;e) The
&o#s had the &a# to the"sel$es% with no other &oats in si'ht e+ce(t far to the south)
Soon the# were dockin' at the (ier on Skeleton Island) It was Pete-s idea to ask /eff
7orton for (er"ission to &orrow two sets of Scu&a e8ui("ent) The# would ha$e
&orrowed a set for Chris% too% &ut the# knew /eff wouldn-t ha$e a'reed) Besides% Chris
wasn-t e+(erienced in usin' Scu&a e8ui("ent)
/eff said the# could take so"e e8ui("ent for (ractice di$in'% warned the" not to tr#
an#thin' dan'erous% and hurried off in the direction of Pleasure Park)
Pete and Bo& 'ot their face "asks% fli((ers and other e8ui("ent fro" the locker in the
"otor.&oat) As an afterthou'ht the# added two underwater flashli'hts) Then the# re6oined
Chris in the sailin'.&oat) Chris had his own face "ask and was confident he could di$e as
well with it as the# could with all their a8ualun' e8ui("ent)
The &o#s rela+ed in the war" sunshine% lulled &# the 'entle &o&&in' of the &oat) After a
ti"e Bo& saw the# were headin' towards the s"all island known as The Hand% where
the# had &een so "#steriousl# "arooned on their first ni'ht)
The Hand was a&out a 8uarter of a "ile lon' and se$eral hundred #ards across) Now &#
da#li'ht the# could see that it was rock# and &arren% uninha&ita&le) Bo& looked for the
s(out of water the# had seen that first ni'ht% &ut there was no si'n of it)
He "entioned it to Chris) The Greek &o# e+(lained that the water was too 8uiet toda#) It
onl# ha((ened when the wind was &lowin' and the wa$es were rollin' across the &a#)
4So"e kind of hole under island%4 he said) 4Wa$es rush in there% &low out s(out) 0ike
whale)4
He sailed u( to within a hundred #ards of the "id.(art of the island) Then he dro((ed sail
and flun' a s"all anchor o$er&oard)
4Ha$e to anchor out here%4 he said) 40ow tide now% rocks are too close to surface) nl# at
hi'h tide &oat can sail ri'ht u( to the island)4
With the &oat &o&&in' at anchor% Pete and Bo& (ut on their Scu&a e8ui("ent and Chris
(roduced an old &ut ser$icea&le face "ask) The# eased the"sel$es into the water) Chris
swa" a&out fift# feet% then stood u() The water was onl# knee.dee()
4See54 he said) 4Rock# reef here) Co"e on)4 The# swa" o$er% found rock under the"%
and stood on a led'e a&out fi$e #ards wide) n the island side was a little &a# with a
sand# &otto"% a&out twent# feet dee( where the# were) The &ri'ht sun showed the
&otto" 8uite clearl#)
4In this &a# I find two dou&loons at one ti"e last week%4 Chris said) 4The other one I find
near where #ou di$e #esterda#) 7a#&e we are $er# luck# toda#% find so"e "ore here)4
The# lowered the"sel$es off the reef and Bo& and Pete ins(ected the &otto"% while Chris
swa" on the surface% (eerin' down) The# saw seaweed.co$ered rocks% starfish% and
schools of s"all fish) There were lots of cra&s 'oin' a&out their &usiness in curious
sidewa#s "otion) But nothin' that looked like an# treasure)
Pete si'nalled and he and Bo& rose to the surface)
4This water isn-t $er# dee(%4 Pete said% re"o$in' his "outh(iece) 4I don-t think we should
waste our air here) We "a# want to tr# so"ewhere else later) 0et-s take off the tanks and
6ust use face "asks% like Chris)4
Bo& a'reed) The# (addled to shore% stowed their Scu&a e8ui("ent a"on' the rocks% and
swa" &ack out to Chris) Then the three of the" co$ered the entire len'th of the s"all
&a#% (eerin' shar(l# down for the 'lint of 'old)
The# were not rewarded &# an# e+citin' disco$er#% howe$er% and after a ti"e the#
(addled in to shore to rest% war" the"sel$es in the sun% and talk)
4Toda# no luck% I 'uess%4 Chris said% a &it disheartened) 4I sure ho(e we find so"ethin')
*ather% he is "ore sick% needs care) Well% I know another (lace% I find 'old (iece once a
lon' ti"e a'o) We 'o there and.4
He (aused% starin' at so"ethin' offshore) Then all three of the" &eca"e aware of the
sound of a (owerful "otor in the distance)
A lar'e dark.'re# "otor.&oat% old and rather sha&&#% was headin' towards the little co$e
at hi'h s(eed)
4So"e&od# sees us% the# co"e to hunt% too%4 Chris said)
Then% as the &oat did not slacken s(eed% he lea(ed to his feet)
4The# crash on the reef! 4 he cried) 4Hi!4 he shouted% wa$in' his hands) 4Sheer off! ,ou
hit the rocks!4 Bo& and Pete 6oined hi"% wa$in' and #ellin')
The# could see a "an in the stern of the &oat% an old hat (ulled down o$er his face)
Whether he understood their warnin' or not% the# couldn-t tell) But a&ru(tl# the roar of
the "otor chan'ed) The &oat slowed as if the "otor had &een thrown into re$erse)
At the sa"e ti"e the &ow swun' round) Still with (lent# of s(eed% the turnin' &oat
crunched into the side of Chris-s anchored sailin'.&oat)
The hea$# (row of the "otor.&oat cut into the s"aller &oat as if it were "ade of
card&oard) *or an instant the two &oats were locked to'ether) Then the "an in the "otor.
&oat 'a$e his en'ine a sur'e of (ower) It re$ersed and (ulled free)
The ne+t thin' the# knew the "otor.&oat was headin' &ack into o(en water)
The three &o#s sto((ed #ellin') With sinkin' hearts the# watched Chris-s sailin'.&oat
settle dee( into the water and 'o under% disa((earin' fro" si'ht)
4Goll#! 4 Pete 'roaned) 4There 'o our clothes% our watches% e$er#thin'!4
4There 'oes our ride ho"e!4 Bo& said in dis"a#) 4We-re stranded here) Stranded a'ain!4
Chris said nothin') nl# his clenched hands and an'uished face said what it "eant to
ha$e lost the onl# thin' he owned% the little sailin'&oat with which he had &een
des(eratel# huntin' for treasure to hel( his father)
33
A Warnin' to /u(iter
/9PITER was still en'rossed in Bo&-s notes a&out Skeleton Island when 7rs) Barton
ca"e to tell hi" lunch was read#)
47# 'racious% where are Pete and Bo&54 she asked) 4I-$e fi+ed lunch for the"% too% and
the# aren-t an#where in si'ht!4
/u(iter &linked) Bo& and Pete had said the#-d &e &ack for lunch) But the#-d (ro&a&l# 'ot
interested in searchin' for dou&loons and for'otten the ti"e)
4The#-ll &e alon' an# "inute%4 he said) 4I-ll eat now) I ha$e to 'o and see 1octor Wil&ur
soon)4
/u(iter had a sandwich and a 'lass of "ilk at a scru&&ed (ine ta&le in the kitchen) His
nose was runnin' &adl# and he still wasn-t $er# hun'r#) 7rs) Barton told hi" how to 'et
to 1octor Wil&ur-s clinic% which was onl# a few &locks awa#)
Not "an# (eo(le were on the streets) He walked (ast rows of colonial.st#le houses% "an#
of which needed (aint &adl#) He also (assed a nu"&er of $acant stores with 4*or Rent4
si'ns in the windows) E"(t# stores are usuall# a 'ood si'n that a town is ha$in' hard
ti"es% and &usiness in *ishin'(ort see"ed $er# &ad indeed)
1octor Wil&ur-s clinic was a neat &rick &uildin'% fairl# new) In the waitin' roo" was a
wo"an with two s"all children% and two elderl# "en who sat (atientl# lookin' ahead of
the" at nothin')
The nurse &ehind the desk sent /u(iter strai'ht in) He found hi"self in a co"&ination
office and e+a"ination roo"% with a desk at one end% and an e+a"inin' ta&le and white
ca&inet full of "edicines at the other)
1octor Wil&ur% a tall "an with 're#in' hair% sat at his desk eatin' a sandwich)
4Hello% /u(iter%4 he said% e#ein' the stock# *irst In$esti'ator keenl#) 4I-ll &e ri'ht with
#ou)4
He took a swallow of coffee fro" a ther"os and stood u() Ra(idl# and efficientl#% he
e+a"ined /u(iter-s nose% throat and ears% listened to his heart&eat% ta((ed his chest% and
took his &lood (ressure)
47""%4 he said a few "inutes later) 4,ou see" to ha$e a &ad cold) Pro&a&l# the sudden
chan'e of cli"ate fro" California)4
He 'ot so"e white (ills fro" the "edicine ca&inet% (ut the" in an en$elo(e and handed
the" to /u(iter)
4Take two of these e$er# four hours for the ne+t two da#s%4 he said)4 Get (lent# of rest
and sta# out of the water) I-" sure #ou-ll feel a lot &etter soon)4
4E+cuse "e% sir%4 /u(iter said% 4can #ou s(are "e enou'h ti"e for a few "inutes talk5 I
"ean% if #ou-re not too &us#.4
4Ha$e to finish "# lunch%4 the doctor said% 'i$in' hi" another shar( look) 4We can talk
until then)4 He crossed to his desk and sat down a'ain)
4All ri'ht% shoot%4 he said) 4What do #ou want to talk a&out54
4Well% I-" 6ust tr#in' to 'et all the infor"ation I can%4 /u(iter said) 4Since #ou own
Skeleton Island% where the "o$ie co"(an# has &een ha$in' so "uch trou&le .4
4Skeleton Island!4 1octor Wil&ur e+clai"ed) 4I-" 'ettin' sick of hearin' the na"e! That
(oor Sall# *arrin'ton was too nice a 'irl e$er to &eco"e a 'host!4
4Then #ou don-t &elie$e in the 'host these fisher"en sa# the#-$e seen54 /u(iter asked)
4I do not) Those fisher"en are an i'norant% su(erstitious lot) The 'host was seen 6ust
e+actl# once% and I can tell #ou the truth of that occasion) It was a sill# (ractical 6oke &#
so"e $er# foolish (ranksters) I was a #oun' "an at the ti"e . the island &elon'ed to "#
father and I "ade it "# &usiness to find out) I know who it was . three &o#s who ha$e
since "o$ed awa#)
4The# rowed out to the island% started u( the "err#.'o.round% and one of the" (ut on a
white sheet) The# waited until the li'hts and "usic had attracted in$esti'ators fro" town%
then the# left% rowin' awa# in the darkness on the far side of the island)
4Howe$er% the# ne$er would ad"it it and I couldn-t (ro$e it) I told (eo(le it had &een a
(rank% &ut e$er#one (referred to &elie$e in the (hanto") Ghosts are "uch "ore e+citin'
to &elie$e in than (ractical 6okers!4
/u(iter nodded) 1octor Wil&ur-s stor# sounded like the truth)
4nce a wild stor# like that 'ets started%4 the doctor said% 4#ou can ne$er kill it) *ro"
ti"e to ti"e thereafter (eo(le clai"ed to ha$e seen the (hanto") The stor# was (artl#
res(onsi&le for Pleasure Park-s closin'% &ut onl# (artl#) The truth is% another a"use"ent
(ark was &uilt near 7el$ille% and it was newer and "ore con$enient) 7# father didn-t
ha$e the "one# to co"(ete with it% so e$entuall# he had to close)
4When he died% I inherited the island I couldn-t sell it and there was no (oint in reo(enin'
the (ark% so I-$e si"(l# let it sit there)
4It-s ne$er "ade "e a cent% all these #ears% until #ou (eo(le ca"e alon' and offered to
rent it for #our "o$ie) If.4 and 1octor Wil&ur looked at /u(iter fro" &eneath &ush#
e#e&rows . 4#ou reall# are "akin' a "o$ie) Peo(le see" to think #ou ha$e a clue to a
$ast (irate treasure hidden on the island% and are huntin' for it)4
4No% sir)4 /u(iter shook his head) 4That-s 6ust a stor#% like the stor# a&out the 'host)4
4H"(h! I rather ho(ed it was true% &ecause if #ou found an# treasure it would (ro&a&l#
&elon' to "e% &ein' on "# island)4
4No% sir) We-re not lookin' for treasure) E$er#&od# sa#s an# treasure hidden there was
found #ears a'o)4
4f course it was) And I &elie$e #ou) But (eo(le aren-t rational a&out treasure) The#-ll
&elie$e an#thin')4
41octor Wil&ur%4 /u(iter asked% 4wh# do #ou think so"e of the local (eo(le are tr#in' to
kee( us fro" "akin' a "o$ie on #our island5 Because that-s what I think is ha((enin')4
4H"(h!4 the doctor said a'ain and (oured hi"self so"e "ore coffee) 4If the# think
there-s treasure% the#-re tr#in' to chase #ou awa# &efore #ou find it) r the# "a# 6ust &e
tr#in' to steal so"e of #our e8ui("ent . #ou know% "an# folks around here are terri&l#
(oor since the o#ster fishin' went &ad) r% it "i'ht &e the "ean streak so"e of the
fishin' (eo(le ha$e) The# "a# think it fun to (la'ue #ou Holl#wood (eo(le) Three
(ossi&le reasons . take #our choice)4
4It see"s hard to understand%4 /u(iter said% frownin')
4Tr#in' to sol$e the "#ster#% eh54 The doctor s"iled) 49nderstand #ou-re sort of a whi;
of a &o# detecti$e)4
4I wouldn-t sa# that% sir%4 /u(iter answered "odestl#% thou'h he did ha$e a (rett# 'ood
o(inion of hi"self) 47# friends and I ha$e done so"e detection) Here-s our card)4
He handed 1octor Wil&ur one of The Three In$esti'ators- &usiness cards) It read
THE THREE IN!ESTIGATRS
4We In$esti'ate An#thin'4
5 5 5
*irst In$esti'ator . /9PITER /NES
Second In$esti'ator . PETER CRENSHAW
Records and Research . BB AN1REWS
4The 8uestion "arks%4 /u(iter e+(lained% 4are our s#"&ol) The# stand for 8uestions
unanswered% "#steries unsol$ed% eni'"as of all sorts that we atte"(t to unra$el)4
1octor Wil&ur s"iled)
4Prett# hi'hfalutin-%4 he re"arked) 4But I like to see a &o# with confidence in hi"self)
Tell "e% wh# do #ou su((ose Sa" Ro&inson deli&eratel# "arooned #ou on The Hand
when #ou 'ot here54
4To scare us% I think%4 /u(iter said) 4To "ake us want to 'o &ack to Holl#wood) Because
so"e&od# is afraid we "i'ht find out the reason wh# the "o$ie co"(an# is &ein'
&othered so) That "akes the "#ster# e$en &i''er% sir) It can-t &e "ere "ischief)4
47"")4 1octor Wil&ur shot hi" another keen 'lance) 4,ou ha$e a (oint there% son)
,ou-re s"arter than #ou look)4
4Thank #ou) Tell "e% sir% I understand that stories a&out the 'host of the "err#.'o.round
died out for "an# #ears% then suddenl# &e'an a'ain ten or fifteen #ears a'o) Can #ou tell
"e 6ust when54
40et "e see now.4 the doctor stroked his chin. 4I &e'an to hear the" 6ust after I "o$ed
into this &uildin') That was a&out ten #ears a'o) ,es% that would &e it) The 'host stories
started u( ten #ears a'o and ha$e &een (rett# thick e$er since% at least a"on' the "ore
uneducated (eo(le in town) Wh# do #ou want to know54
4I-" not sure%4 /u(iter confessed% 4&ut an#thin' "i'ht &e i"(ortant% sir) Thank #ou $er#
"uch) I 'uess I-$e taken u( enou'h of #our ti"e)4
4Not at all)4 The doctor stood u() 4Goin' to &e $er# interested if #ou find an# answers)
And%4 he called after /u(iter% 4if there-s an# treasure on that island% re"e"&er it &elon's
to "e!4
/u(iter went out in a thou'htful "ood) He had learned so"e thin's &ut he wasn-t sure #et
6ust what the# "eant) It would take a lot of thinkin')
As he ste((ed out on the street% a (assin' car sto((ed and &acked u() Chief Nosti'on was
dri$in' it)
4Hello% &o#%4 the chief said) 4-Thou'ht #ou-d like to know we traced that scoundrel Sa"
Ro&inson) He-s ski((ed)4
4Ski((ed54 /u(iter asked)
4Got a 6o& as a deck hand on a frei'hter% sailed out this "ornin') Won-t &e &ack for
"onths% if e$er) 1id sa#% thou'h% one friend re(orts% he did it 6ust for a 6oke) Because #ou
lads ca"e here with such &i' re(utations) Can-t sa# I swallow that)4
4I don-t either%4 /u(iter answered)
4Well% that-s all we-$e learned%4 the chief said) 4I-ll &e in touch with #ou folks if we 'et
an#thin' "ore)4 And he dro$e off)
/u(iter continued towards 7rs) Barton-s &oardin' house in a thou'htful fra"e of "ind)
He felt sure he should &e a&le to 'uess the answer to the curious "#ster# of Skeleton
Island% &ut so far it eluded hi")
He hardl# noticed his surroundin's until% as he was (assin' a ta$ern% a tall% thin "an
ste((ed out in front of hi" and &arred his wa#) /u(iter had to sto( to a$oid &u"(in' into
hi")
4Hold on a second there% kid%4 the thin "an said% his face twistin' in an u'l# 'rin) 4I want
to 'i$e #ou so"e ad$ice)4
4h5 ,es% sir54 /u(iter reco'ni;ed that the "an was unfriendl#% and he let his round face
'o slack so that he looked . as he could when he wanted to . $er# stu(id)
4/ust take a ti( fro" "e) Go &ack to Holl#wood where #ou &elon' if #ou want to kee( a
whole skin) And take the rest of those "o$ie fellows alon' with #ou) None of #ou are
wanted here in *ishin'(ort)4
The "an continued to 'rin nastil# and /u(iter saw a tattoo "ark on the &ack of his hand)
It wasn-t too clear% &ut it looked like a "er"aid) He felt a little shi$er of fear run down his
s(ine)
4,es% sir%4 he said% kee(in' a dull e+(ression) 4I-ll tell the" that) Who shall I sa# 'a$e "e
the "essa'e54
4Ne$er "ind the wise stuff% kid!4 the "an sna((ed) 4/ust $a"oose if #ou know what-s
'ood for #ou) That-s "# hel(ful hint for toda#!4
A&ru(tl# he ste((ed &ack into the ta$ern) /u(iter-s heart sto((ed &eatin' 8uite so fast)
Slowl#% he walked on towards 7rs) Barton-s) It certainl# see"ed he-d &een ri'ht a&out
one thin') So"eone was $er# deter"ined to dri$e the "o$ie co"(an# awa# fro"
Skeleton Island)
3<
An E+citin' 1isco$er#
47, BAT!4 Chris was fi'htin' hard to kee( &ack tears) 4It is 'one) No "ore &oat) No
"ore chance to find treasure)4
4Gosh% #es%4 Bo& said% reali;in' Chris-s loss was "uch 'reater than theirs) 4What 'ot into
that 'u# an#wa#5 Was it an accident or did he do it on (ur(ose54
4n (ur(ose! 4 Chris said an'ril#) 4r else he would sto(% see who owned &oat% sa# he is
sorr#!4
4I su((ose so%4 Bo& said) 4But wh# on earth would an#&od# want to wreck #our &oat%
Chris54
42ee( "e fro" huntin' treasure%4 Chris said) 40ots of fisher"en don-t like "e) 1on-t like
an# stran'ers) Think the &a#% the whole (lace &elon's to the")4
The# stood there a "o"ent lon'er% una&le to decide what to do) The# were hun'r#% there
were no other &oats in si'ht% and no wa# to si'nal) How lon' would the# ha$e to sta#
there5
4Well% an#wa#%4 Bo& said at last% 4we didn-t lose the Scu&a e8ui("ent) It-s (rett# $alua&le
and I-d hate to ha$e to (a# for it)4
4Gosh% #es!4 Pete said) 4This kind of e8ui("ent costs hundreds of dollars and . wait a
"inute!4
He and Bo& looked at each other% the sa"e idea co"in' to the" in the sa"e instant)
4Wh#% we can di$e down for our clothes!4 the# e+clai"ed to'ether)
Chris 'rinned% shakin' off his 'loo")
4We all can di$e!4 he said) 4I a" the son of Greek s(on'e fisher"an) I &et I can di$e
&etter than #ou% e$en if I don-t sta# down so lon')4 Now e+cite"ent s(urred the" on) Bo&
and Pete 'ot swiftl# into their Scu&a di$in' 'ear% and the# all waded out into the &a#)
The# swa" to the reef and walked o$er it% then lowered the"sel$es into the dee( water
&e#ond)
The sunken sailin'.&oat was a 'li""er of white on the &otto"% see"in' to swa# 'entl#
as s"all wa$es washed the surface) Bo& and Pete &e'an to (ro(el the"sel$es downwards
with their fli((ered feet)
Chris had (icked u( a rock fro" the shore and% clutchin' it in his ar"s% he sank ra(idl#
(ast the") He reached the sand &eside the wrecked sailin'.&oat &efore the# were halfwa#
down) He ru""a'ed inside the &oat% which la# on its side% for the clothes the# had
stowed neatl# under the seat) With his ar"s full% he shot u(wards) The# could see hi"
'rin as he went (ast)
In the (eacefulness of the ocean de(ths% Bo& and Pete for a "o"ent for'ot their (li'ht)
The# were Scu&a di$ers doin' a real sal$a'e 6o&% e$en if onl# on a tin# sailin'.&oat)
Close to'ether% the# kicked down to the &oat and 'ras(ed the side) The sail ri((led in the
water and the# had to take care to a$oid &ein' cau'ht in it) The# e+a"ined the interior of
the &oat) Chris had "issed a (air of (ants.Bo&-s (ants.and Bo& swa" a few feet to rescue
the")
Pete had to di$e for one of Chris-s shoes that sli((ed awa# fro" hi" and &e'an to "o$e
awa# alon' the &otto") In fact% a fairl# stron' current see"ed to &e "o$in' the whole
&oat% and when the# let 'o of the side% the# had to swi" to 'et &ack to it)
After fi$e "inutes% the# fi'ured the# had e$er#thin' that could &e rescued% and Bo&
nodded to Pete) The# kicked u(wards) The# &roke water to see Chris standin' on the reef
waitin' for the") He 'rinned as the# cli"&ed u( on the rock with their sal$a'e)
4We do not do so &ad% #es54 he said) 4I 'uess we 'ot e$er#thin')4
He took his clothin' fro" Pete and e+a"ined the so''# &undle) Then his face fell)
47# co"(ass is not here%4 he said) 4Nice one) I 'o &ack down and look)4
He di$ed into the water)
4I 'uess we "i'ht as well take our stuff ashore and s(read it out to dr#%4 Pete said)
4I sure wish we had so"e wa# of si'nallin'%4 Bo& said) 4,our dad will think we were
"i'ht# careless% 'ettin' stuck on this island a'ain)4
4It wasn-t our fault% or Chris-s fault either%4 Pete said) He (icked u( the two hea$#.dut#
underwater flashli'hts the# had rescued fro" the sunken &oat) 4I-" sure 'lad we 'ot these
&ack) The#-re e+(ensi$e) And if we ha$e to sta# until dark we can si'nal with the")4
4Goll#! 4 Bo& looked at the sun) 4It-s 8uite a while to dark) I ho(e we don-t ha$e to sta#
here until then) I-" star$ed!4
40et-s 'et our clothes dr#% then see what we can think of%4 Pete su''ested)
The# slid their face "asks into (lace% then eased into the water and swa" to The Hand)
Wrin'in' out their clothes% the# s(read the" fiat on the war" rocks% which (ro"ised to
dr# the" in no ti"e) The# had re"o$ed their face "asks and were startin' to 'et out of
their Scu&a e8ui("ent when the# suddenl# reali;ed that Chris had not rea((eared) The#
had &een &us# for at least ten or fifteen "inutes% and Chris was still underwater)
That could onl# "ean trou&le)
4Goll#!4 Bo& &lurted out) 4So"ethin' "ust ha$e ha((ened to Chris!4
47a#&e he 'ot cau'ht down there)4 Pete went (ale at the thou'ht) 4We ha$e to tr# to
rescue hi"!4
Without another word the# 'ot &ack into their di$in' 'ear% and started (addlin' for the
reef)
The# stood on the rock# led'e a "o"ent% starin' down into the sunlit 'reen water) No
"o$in' for" that could &e Chris cau'ht their e#e% nor could the# see the sunken sailin'.
&oat now) To'ether the# sho$ed off into the dee(er water and started (ro(ellin'
the"sel$es downwards% their hearts &eatin' fast with an+iet#)
There were ca$ities in the &ase of the reefhollows for"ed &# the currents) 7a#&e Chris
had &een (ulled into one of the" and 'ot stuck) r could he &e tan'led in the sail or
tra((ed &eneath the &oat5
Soon the# located the &oat) 9nderwater currents had sent it &u"(in' alon' the &otto" of
the reef for a&out twent# feet) The# headed for it% &ut Chris wasn-t in the &oat)
Bo& swa" down until he could touch the sand# &otto") He (eered under the &oat
fearfull#) But Chris wasn-t there% either) Whate$er had ha((ened to hi" he had not 'ot
cau'ht in the ri''in') Bo& knew there were no sharks in these waters% or other deadl#
fish) What other dan'er could Chris ha$e encountered5
Pete touched his ar") He held u( two fin'ers side &# side% then (ointed towards a rock
for"ation) Bo& understood) He "eant the# should in$esti'ate the rocks to'ether)
9nderwater #ou alwa#s sta#ed close to #our &udd# in case of trou&le) Bo& nodded and
the# set out% kickin' the"sel$es alon' $i'orousl#)
The &otto" of the reef was irre'ular) In (laces% s"all dark hollows had &een cut &# the
swift current) The# (eered into each hollow (lace% wishin' the# had &rou'ht the
underwater flashli'hts) But all the# saw were swar"s of little fish that swa" hastil# awa#
at their intrusion) Seaweed "ade wa$in' curtains in s(ots% and the# had to (ush it aside to
(eer into the water &e#ond) At least fi$e "inutes (assed) The# had co$ered a 'ood
hundred feet without a si'n of Chris)
The# (aused and (ut their face "asks close to'ether) Bo& could see Pete-s e#es% wide and
an+ious) Bo& (ointed &ack in the other direction) Pete nodded) Side &# side the# kicked
ra(idl# &ack towards the sunken &oat) The# had al"ost reached the sailin'.&oat when a
swiftl# swi""in' fi'ure shot (ast the")
It was Chris% and he was in a hurr# to 'et to the surface!
How could Chris ha$e sta#ed under water for twent# "inutes without an# di$in' 'ear5
The# headed for the surface) Chris was sittin' on the ed'e of the reef in waist.dee( water%
'ul(in' 'reat &reaths of air into his lun's) He certainl# didn-t look hurt% and he was
'rinnin' &roadl#)
The# ca"e u( &eside hi" and sho$ed u( their face "asks)
4Good 'rief% Chris% #ou 'a$e us a scare!4 Pete e+clai"ed)
4Where were #ou54 Bo& asked% 'rinnin' with relief) 4What ha((ened54
Chris threw &ack his head and lau'hed "erril#)
4I find so"ethin'%4 he said% and held u( his ri'ht fist% ti'htl# closed) 4Guess what54
4,our co"(ass54 Bo& asked)
The Greek &o# shook his head) 4Guess a'ain)4
4A 'old (iece!4 Pete cried)
Still 'rinnin'% Chris o(ened his hand) An irre'ularl# sha(ed% shin# 'old &lo& la# in his
(al") It was rather &attered% &ut it was certainl# a 'old (iece)
4,ou ne$er 'uess what I find%4 he said)
4A treasure chest54 Bo& said ho(efull#) 4Buried in the sand54
4No% not that) I find a round o(enin' in the &otto" of the reef) *ish swi""in' in and out)
I think% if fish can swi"% Chris can swi") I swi" in)
He (aused dra"aticall#)
4I find an underwater ca$e under the island! I find this dou&loon in it! I &et . I &et there is
a lot "ore treasure down there!4
3=
The Secret Ca$e
SI1E B, SI1E% Bo& and Pete floated in the water a&out fi$e feet fro" the &otto")
Bu&&les went u( fro" their &reathin' tu&es in little clusters) A school of sea &ass
wri''led (ast the" and disa((eared into the &lack o(enin' the &o#s were starin' at)
It was not a &i' o(enin'% (erha(s onl# twel$e feet wide &# four or fi$e feet hi'h) It was
sha(ed rou'hl# like an e#e . a dark% starin' e#e without an# e#e&all) The sides were
s"ooth fro" the water currents that went in and out with the tides% and thou'h there was
seaweed near&#% none 'rew in the o(enin' of the underwater ca$e)
Twent# feet to one side% Chris-s sunken sailin'.&oat &o&&ed a little% &ut Bo& and Pete
weren-t interested in the sailin'.&oat at the "o"ent) The# were en'rossed in this
underwater ca$e Chris had found) Each of the &o#s now had one of the water(roof
flashli'hts in his hand% and in a "inute% as soon as the# 'ot u( their ner$e a little "ore%
the# were 'oin' to swi" into the ca$e and e+(lore it)
Accordin' to Chris-s stor# there was no dan'er)
He had &een una&le to find his co"(ass on the sand# &otto" of the &a#) Howe$er% 6ust as
he was a&out to surface% he had seen the "outh of the underwater ca$e) Thinkin' of
(ossi&le treasure inside% he i"(ulsi$el# swa" in)
The ca$e see"ed to 'et &i''er as he went) It was dark% &ut he could look &ack and see the
li'ht s(ot which was the o(enin'% and he ke(t that &ehind hi")
He had 6ust decided to turn &ack when he reali;ed that in his e+cite"ent he had 'one
farther than he should) He didn-t ha$e &reath enou'h to 'et outside and u( to the surface)
4I sure a" one scared fish then)4 Chris had 'rinned when he ca"e to this (oint in his
stor#) 4I know "# onl# chance is to 'o ahead% "a#&e ca$e will 'et &i' and I can co"e u(
for air) I swi" like cra;#) Then I see little &it of li'ht ahead of "e) I swi" that wa#% then I
co"e u( and I ha$e air to &reathe! I &reathe hard% then I look round) I a" in a ca$e under
the island! A hole 'oin' u( throu'h rocks lets in enou'h li'ht to show "e rock# led'e%
co$ered with seaweed) I cli"& out to rest) 7# hand touches 'old (iece under seaweed) I
'et $er# e+cited) I look under all the seaweed for "ore 'old% &ut cannot find an#) Then I
swi" out to 'et #ou)4
An underwater ca$ern with (irate treasure in it! If Chris could swi" into it without an#
Scu&a e8ui("ent% Pete and Bo& could certainl# do it with the "odern a8ualun's the# had
&orrowed fro" /eff 7orton) It didn-t sound dan'erous) The# could certainl# take a 8uick
look an#wa#)
As the &o#s hesitated at the entrance to the ca$e% a white &od# swa" &etween the") It
was Chris) Wa$in' to the"% he shot like an arrow into the dark "outh of the ca$e) With
one accord the# followed)
The twin &ea"s of their flashli'hts 'a$e e+cellent illu"ination in the clear water) n
either side rose the rock# walls of the ca$e% hea$il# frin'ed with seaweed) Startled fish
scurried (ast) A 'reen "ora# eel (oked its hea$il# fan'ed head out of a cre$ice in the
rock% and the &o#s 'a$e it a wide &erth)
Chris was out of si'ht% swi""in' "uch faster than the#) The# had to &e careful not to ru&
a'ainst the side of the (assa'e lest it da"a'e or (ull off so"e of their Scu&a e8ui("ent)
Pete shone his li'ht u(wards) Suddenl# the to( of the tunnel $anished) The &o#s swa"
8uickl# u( . twent# feet% thirt# feet) A&ru(tl# their "asked faces (o((ed out of the water)
The# were in a si;ea&le ca$ern with a rou'h ceilin' four or fi$e feet a&o$e their heads)
Chris was sittin' on a rock# led'e% dan'lin' his feet in the water) The two &o#s (addled
o$er and cli"&ed cautiousl# u( &eside hi" on the sli((er# seaweed) The# (ushed u( their
face "asks)
4We are inside The Hand now%4 Chris said to the") 4How do #ou like "# ca$e54
4Goll#!4 Bo& said fer$entl#) 4I-ll &et no&od# &ut us has e$er &een in here!4
He flashed his li'ht around) The ca$ern was irre'ularl# sha(ed% the roof $ar#in' fro"
four to si+ feet a&o$e the water) 1own towards the far end the ca$e narrowed shar(l#)
Howe$er% there was a s(lash of da#li'ht there% which (u;;led the" for a "o"ent)
The# shut off their flashli'hts to stud# it) and in the 'loo"# half.li'ht the ca$e &e'an to
see" "uch &i''er% eerie and "#sterious) The edd#in' water "ade little 'ur'lin' noises
a'ainst the rock% and strands of seaweed rose and fell like the floatin' hair of so"e
"#sterious underwater creature)
4There "ust &e a hole in the rocks% 'oin' u( to the surface%4 Bo& said% (u;;led)
4The s(out!4 Chris e+clai"ed) 4It-s that hole% the &lowhole) In stor"% water co"es in
here% rushes a'ainst rocks% and shoots u( s(out) nl# no&od# knows there is a ca$e down
here) Think it is 6ust a narrow crack so"e (lace down dee(!4
4Sure% that-s it!4 Bo& cried) He re"e"&ered how the# had seen the water s(outin' u(
fro" the "iddle of the island durin' the stor" two ni'hts &efore) And of course% his notes
"entioned the s(out as so"ethin' the $er# first e+(lorers had disco$ered) Now the# had
found what caused it% so"ethin' no one else had e$er done)
4h%4 Bo&-s face fell% and the others looked at hi" in8uirin'l#) 4I 6ust thou'ht of
so"ethin'%4 he said) 4If we-re the first (eo(le e$er to find this ca$e% there can-t &e an#
(irate treasure hidden in it)4
4I didn-t think of that!4 Pete 'roaned)
4How do we know54 Chris de"anded) 4I find one 'old (iece% don-t I5 0et "e ha$e the
flashli'ht and I di$e down and see!4
Bo& 'a$e hi" a flashli'ht and Chris sli((ed into the water) In the darkness the# could see
a di" 'low of li'ht as Chris swa" down to the sand# &otto")
4It sure would ha$e &een nice if this had &een a secret (irate hidin' (lace no one had
found &efore%4 Pete said) 4But #ou-re (ro&a&l# ri'ht% Bo&)4
The# watched the 'li""er of li'ht &elow the" "o$e &ack and forth) Chris could
certainl# sta# down a lon' ti"e! It "ust ha$e &een two and a half "inutes &efore the li'ht
went out)
An instant later Chris-s head (o((ed out of the water) Pete turned on his li'ht% and Chris
cli"&ed u( ne+t to the")
4,ou are ri'ht%4 he said in a 'loo"# $oice) 4No treasure down there) /ust cra&s% fish%
shells) 0ike this)4
He o(ened his clenched fist) In it la# two 'old dou&loons!
4Wow!4 Pete and Bo& whoo(ed to'ether) 4Chris! Where were the#54
4In sand%4 Chris said)
The# (assed the 'old (ieces ea'erl# fro" hand to hand) The# felt wonderfull# hea$# and
$alua&le)
4Now we 'ot three!4 Chris said% e#es shinin') 4ne each)4
4No% #ou found the"%4 Bo& said) 4The#-re #ours)4
4Share e8ual%4 Chris said stu&&ornl#) 4Now #ou 'o down) 7a#&e #ou will find "ore)
7a#&e enou'h to &u# "e a new &oat% and take 'ood care of "# father!4
Ea'erl#% Bo& and Pete ad6usted their face (lates% "ade sure their &reathin' tu&es were in
workin' order% and slid into the water)
The sand# &otto" was dotted with shells) As the# turned their li'hts this wa# and that%
the# saw nothin' unusual) Then Pete s(otted a shin# 'lint at the ed'e of the rock# wall) It
was a 'old dou&loon% half &uried in the sand)
Bo& swa" &ack and forth o$er the &otto" with eas# kicks of his fli((ered feet) A few
"inutes later he s(otted a shin# o&6ect% (artl# hidden &eneath an e"(t# o#ster shell) It%
too% was a dou&loon)
E+cite"ent o$erwhel"ed &oth &o#s) There reall# was (irate treasure in this underwater
ca$e! Not handil# stacked u( in a nice% solid chest% "a#&e% &ut scattered o$er the &otto")
There "ust &e "ore and the# would find it!
Heedless of the (assa'e of ti"e% the# scoured the sand# &otto") The# turned o$er o#ster
shells% "akin' clouds of sand in the water and then ha$in' to wait until it cleared to
search so"e "ore)
When the# had found half a do;en 'old dou&loons each% their hands were too full to hold
an# "ore) Bo& ta((ed Pete and the# swa" u( and cla"&ered out of the water) E+ultantl#
the# (oured their 'olden find on to a flat s(ot on the led'e)
4We found so"e!4 Bo& said e+citedl#) 4Chris% #ou-re ri'ht% there is treasure in this ca$e!4
S"ilin'% Chris reached &ehind hi" and (roduced three "ore dou&loons) 4I find these on
led'e under the seaweed%4 he said)
4I-ll &et there-s "ore!4 Bo& said) 4I don-t know where it ca"e fro"% &ut if we found this
"uch we ou'ht to &e a&le to find so"e "ore)4
4,ou-$e con$inced "e!4 Pete said) 4Co"e on% let-s kee( lookin')4
Treasure fe$er "akes it i"(ossi&le for a (erson to think of an#thin' else) And the three
&o#s certainl# had treasure fe$er now) Heedless of ti"e or an# other consideration% the#
&e'an to search the underwater ca$e) The# swa" alon' the &otto" inch &# inch% and
e+(lored e$er# cre$ice of the rock# ca$e)
E$en as the# hunted howe$er% so"ethin' was ha((enin' that the# couldn-t (ossi&l#
'uess) Chris-s sunken sailin'.&oat% nud'ed &# the underwater currents% was &ein' wed'ed
into the e#e.sha(ed "outh of the ca$ern) There it stuck% sealin' u( the entrance like a
cork in a &ottle)
The three &o#s were tra((ed in an underwater ca$e that no&od# knew e+isted!
3A
A 1an'erous Predica"ent
/9PITER was worried) It was late in the afternoon and still Bo& and Pete had not co"e
&ack fro" their sail with Chris) What could ha$e ha((ened to the"5
He 'ot u( fro" the desk where he had s(read out all Bo&-s (a(ers and the notes he had
added to the") He (lucked a tissue fro" the lar'e &o+ 7rs) Barton had (ro$ided) Starin'
out of the window% he ins(ected the north end of the &a#) There was no little sailin'.&oat
in si'ht)
7rs) Barton ca"e in% &rin'in' a 'lass of "ilk and so"e cookies)
47a#&e #ou-d like a snack% /u(iter%4 she said) 40ands% aren-t those two &o#s &ack #et5
Where can the# &e54
4I don-t know%4 /u(iter said% shakin' his head) 4The# said the#-d &e &ack for lunch% and
the#-re $er# relia&le) 7a#&e the#-re in so"e trou&le)4
4Now% it doesn-t (a# to worr#%4 the wo"an said) 47a#&e the# started fishin' off one of
the rocks and for'ot the ti"e)4
She &ustled out) /u(iter sat down and "unched the cookies while he looked at his notes)
In his "ind he tried to su" u( the facts) Twent#.fi$e #ears earlier% (oor Sall# *arrin'ton-s
death and a ridiculous 6oke &# so"e &o#s had started the le'end of a (hanto" on
Skeleton Island) *or "an# #ears it a((arentl# hadn-t &een seen) Then% &e'innin' a&out ten
#ears a'o% it had &een re(orted 8uite often% &ut alwa#s &# an unrelia&le 'rou( of
fisher"en) As a result% no one went to Skeleton Island)
Then the "o$ie co"(an# had co"e to fi+ u( Pleasure Park and shoot so"e scenes there)
The# had run into a ca"(ai'n of theft and sa&ota'e that /u(iter felt sure was intended to
dri$e the" awa#)
Were the stories of the 'host so"ehow connected with the harass"ent of the "o$ie
co"(an#% or weren-t the#5
/u(iter was still stru''lin' with this 8uestion when the door o(ened) /eff 7orton ca"e in%
lookin' $er# u(set)
4/u(iter%4 he said% 4ha$e #ou seen Chris 7arkos54
4Not since &reakfast%4 /u(iter answered) 4Pete and Bo& went sailin' with hi") The#
ha$en-t co"e &ack #et)4
4Sailin' all da#!4 /eff e+clai"ed% his freckled face (ink with an'er) 4But the# &orrowed
two sets of a8ualun' e8ui("ent fro" "e this "ornin' and said the# wanted to (ractise
di$in')4
His features darkened)
41o #ou su((ose the#-re out di$in' with that cra;# Greek kid% lookin' for treasure54
He and /u(iter stared at each other in 'rowin' alar")
4We-ll ha$e to 'o and look for the"!4 /eff said) 4So"ethin' "a# ha$e ha((ened to the")
If an#thin' has% on to( of what-s alread# ha((ened.4 He didn-t finish the sentence% &ut he
looked 'ri") 4Co"e on% /u(iter% let-s 'et 'oin'!4
/u(iter for'ot a&out his cold% for'ot a&out the "#ster#% and e$er#thin' else &ut findin'
Bo& and Pete and Chris) He followed /eff down to the waterfront% where a s"all &oat
with an out&oard "otor was tied to the (ier)
The# 'ot in% the "otor s(un to life% and the# roared out into the &a#)
/u(iter wanted to ask /eff what he had "eant when he started to sa# 4on to( of what-s
alread# ha((ened% 4&ut he was o&$iousl# in no "ood for con$ersation) In an# case% the
roar of the "otor "ade it difficult to talk)
The# s(ed o$er to the (ier on Skeleton Island where the &i''er "otor.&oat was tied u()
4We-ll need "ore roo" to &rin' the kids &ack when we find the"%4 /eff e+(lained as the#
'ot into the &i''er &oat) 4Also%4 he added o"inousl#% 4I want "# 'ear hand# in case I
ha$e to do an# di$in')4
That could onl# "ean% /u(iter thou'ht 'loo"il#% that /eff 7orton was afraid so"ethin'
had ha((ened to the &o#s while the# were di$in') He tried to (ut the thou'ht out of his
"ind)
Bo& and Pete weren-t reckless) The# wouldn-t ha$e an# cra;# accidents) But he knew that
not all accidents were due to recklessness) So"eti"es so"ethin' une+(ected 6ust
ha((ened)
/eff swun' the (owerful "otor.&oat out into the &a# and the# &e'an their search) *irst
/eff circled Skeleton Island) Then he skirted u( (ast the rock# reefs &etween the &i''er
island and The Hand) *inall# he "ade a circle twice around The Hand)
4Nowhere in si'ht%4 he said to /u(iter% cuttin' the "otor to idlin') 4That sailin'.&oat isn-t
in this (art of the &a#) The onl# other (ossi&ilit# I can think of is that the &o#s sailed o$er
to the east side of the &a#) We-ll 6ust ha$e to 'o o$er there and co$er e$er# inch of the
coastline)4
/u(iter nodded) /eff "o$ed a le$er% the "otor took hold% and the &oat started to roar awa#
fro" The Hand)
7eanwhile% in the su&"er'ed ca$ern &eneath The Hand% Bo&% Pete and Chris crouched
on the seaweed.co$ered led'e% dark water edd#in'
round their waists) The# didn-t know how lon' the# had &een in the ca$e) But at the end
where the &lowhole was% the li'ht had faded% and the tide had risen at least two feet)
The# had &een too e+cited at first to think a&out an#thin' &ut the 'old dou&loons the#
were findin') The# had 'athered &etween fort# and fift# 'old (ieces% which now filled the
little can$as sack Chris had &rou'ht alon' for treasure) It wasn-t a $er# &i' fortune% it was
true% &ut an e+citin' find all the sa"e)
Suddenl# Chris had reali;ed the tide was risin')
4We &etter 'et out of here%4 he told the" cheerfull#) 4An#wa#% we find all the 'old% I
think)4
4We ha$en-t found a dou&loon for at least half an hour%4 Pete a'reed) 4And I-" star$ed) It
"ust &e awful late)4
It was Pete% in the lead% who first saw the &oat 6a""ed in the entrance) It had slid into the
e#esha(ed o(enin' on its side% its "ast and fla((in' sail inward) The "o$e"ent of the
water had 'round it into (lace and cau'ht the ti( of the "ast in a crack in the rock)
Pete-s flashli'ht (icked u( e$er# detail) 0ess than a foot of s(ace was left &etween the
&oat and the rocks) The# couldn-t (ossi&l# scra(e throu'h there) The# were tra((ed!
To'ether Pete and Bo& swa" a'ainst the &oat and (ushed) All the# did was (ush
the"sel$es &ackwards in the water) The &oat didn-t &ud'e) At that "o"ent Chris ca"e
shootin' &etween the") He saw the &oat at the last "inute% hesitated 6ust lon' enou'h to
take in the situation% then turned and swa" des(eratel# &ack into the ca$e) He had to
surface and 'et another &reath &efore the air in his lun's was e+hausted)
Pete and Bo& suddenl# re"e"&ered that their own air was runnin' low) The# "ade
another effort to (ush the sailin'.&oat out of the wa#% with the sa"e lack of success) Then
the# followed Chris)
A cou(le of "inutes later the# were all crouched on the led'e)
4Goll#! We are in a 6a"!4 Chris said) 4Tide has that &oat wed'ed in ti'ht)4
4It sure has%4 Pete a'reed 'lu"l#) 4Who-d e$er e+(ect a thin' like that to ha((en54
4I noticed the tide was "o$in' the &oat earlier%4 Bo& (ut in) 4But I ne$er e+(ected it to
(ush it into the entrance) What are we 'oin' to do54
There was a lon' silence) Then Chris said% 4Tide is co"in' in now) Pushin' &oat in)
7a#&e when tide 'oes out% water will (ush &oat out a'ain) We "ust ho(e so% I 'uess)4
4But the tide won-t turn for hours #et!4 Pete 'roaned) 4And when it does% su((ose the
&oat doesn-t "o$e54
4We-$e 'ot a &i''er (ro&le" than that%4 Bo& said)
4Bi''er (ro&le"54 Chris re(eated) 4What do #ou "ean54
40ook)4 Bo& flashed his li'ht u(ward) /ust a&o$e their heads arched the roof of the
ca$ern% wet and sli"# with seaweed)
4See54 Bo& said) 4When the tide rises% this ca$e 'ets full of water) If we wait for the tide
to turn% we-ll &e under water)4
The risin' water 'ur'led as it la((ed around the") No&od# had an#thin' to sa#) The#
knew Bo& was ri'ht)
At that "o"ent% in the "otor.&oat that was s(eedin' awa# fro" The Hand% /u(iter 'a$e a
#ell)
47r) 7orton!4 he called) 4Turn &ack! I see so"ethin' on the shore)4
/eff 7orton frowned &ut swun' the &oat round) A "inute later the# were nud'in' u( on a
tin# sand# &each) /u(iter was out of the &oat and runnin' alon' the shore towards the
rocks where he had 'li"(sed the &o#s- clothes) B# the ti"e /eff had secured the &oat and
6oined hi"% /u(e was e+citedl# ru""a'in' throu'h the now dr# clothin')
4All their clothes! 4 he told /eff) 4The# "ust still &e here so"ewhere) 7a#&e the#-re
di$in' on the other side of The Hand) I-ll 'o and see)4 /eff 7orton stared at the clothes in
(er(le+it#)
4The &oat isn-t here!4 he e+clai"ed) 4The#-$e left their clothes and 'one off in the &oat
with the di$in' 'ear for so"e reason) We.4
But /u(iter wasn-t there to listen) He was hikin' u( the hu"( in the "iddle of The Hand%
"o$in' "uch faster than he usuall# "o$ed)
He reached the to( of the rid'e and ea'erl# looked down towards the other shore) *or a
"o"ent he couldn-t &elie$e there was nothin' in si'ht) He had &een so (ositi$e he would
see his friends% or the &oat) But the# weren-t there)
1is"a#ed% and reali;in' now 6ust how &adl# he was worried% he slu"(ed a'ainst a
&oulder) /eff ca"e (uffin' u( &eside hi")
4We were all round this island%4 he said) 4The# aren-t here% #ou should ha$e known that)
But where can the# ha$e 'one54
An'ril# he (icked u( a s"all rock and flun' it down) The rock landed in a sli'ht hollow
in front of the"% rolled a &it% and went down a hole a&out ei'ht inches across) After a
second% there was a faint s(lash down &elow)
/u(iter hardl# noticed)
4,ou-re ri'ht%4 he said% 4I 'uess we 6ust ha$e to tr# the east shore of the &a#) Thou'h I
can-t i"a'ine wh# the#-d lea$e their clothes here)4
/eff stood u() 4Co"e on% we-d &etter 'et a "o$e on) I think we should call the Coast
Guard to co"e and hel( us look) It-ll &e dark and we-ll need all the hel( we can 'et!4
/eff started &ack for the "otor.&oat and /u(iter followed) He knew Bo& and Pete and
Chris were in trou&le) In his i"a'ination he could hear their $oices callin' for hel(% and
he couldn-t answer &ecause he didn-t know where the# were) He could al"ost hear the"%
as if .
4Goll#!4 /u(iter whirled around and started &ack% his le's (u"(in' hard) He i'nored
/eff-s startled shout as he ran to the little hole in the rock% the &lowhole% and flun' hi"self
down &eside it)
With his face directl# a&o$e the hole% he shouted% 4Bo&! Pete! Are #ou down there54
There was silence) /u(iter% his heart (oundin'% reali;ed it was a cra;# idea) The# couldn-t
(ossi&l# &e down under this island)
Then u( out of the &lowhole% "uffled &ut clear% ca"e Pete-s answer)
4/u(e ! We-re in a 6a"! If the tide rises a little "ore% we-ll &e under water) Get us out of
here!4
3>
/u(iter Thinks *ast
IN THE CA!E the &o#s held ti'htl# to the seaweed on the rock# led'e) therwise the
water that was u( around their shoulders would ha$e floated the" awa#) It was risin'
fast) Soon the#-d ha$e to swi" and kee( swi""in'% until the risin' tide s8uee;ed the"
ri'ht u( a'ainst the roof)
4I wonder what-s takin' the" so lon'54 Pete "uttered% shi$erin' a little) It see"ed like a
lon' ti"e since the stone had une+(ectedl# co"e down the &lowhole% and he and Bo& had
started #ellin' for hel()
When the# hadn-t 'ot an# answer% there had &een a &ad "inute in which the# fi'ured the
rock had 6ust rolled down &# itself) But the# ke(t on #ellin'% and then /u(iter-s $oice
answered the")
After /u(iter% /eff 7orton had called down) It took a cou(le of "inutes of #ellin' &ack
and forth &efore the# could 'et hi" to understand the situation) As soon as he reali;ed the
fi+ the# were in% he shouted that he would 'et hel( for the" fast) Then he and /u(iter
went awa#)
Now the three &o#s were waitin' for the (ro"ised hel() Bo& ke(t his li'ht turned on%
thou'h the &atteries were runnin' down% &ecause e$en the di" 'low hel(ed in the
darkness)
40isten!4 said Chris) 4We do not tell a&out 'old dou&loons) We kee( that secret for now%
#es54
4Wh#54 Bo& asked) 4We-ll ha$e to e+(lain what we were doin' in here)4
4E$er#&od# with di$in' 'ear will co"e to e+(lore ca$e%4 Chris (rotested) 4We do not 'et
the chance to co"e &ack and look so"e "ore)4 4As far as I-" concerned%4 Bo& said% 4I
ne$er want to see this ca$e a'ain) I don-t care how "uch treasure is in it) 0et so"e&od#
else ha$e it)4
4I-ll &u# a dou&le hel(in' of that%4 Pete a'reed) 4An#wa#% I think we found all there is)
/ust so"e dou&loons that 'ot washed in &# the tide)4
4But "a#&e there is so"e "ore!4 Chris ar'ued) 4It is "# &i' chance to find treasure to
take "# father &ack to Greece) What we ha$e% onl# fort# or fift# dou&loons% is not nearl#
enou'h% es(eciall# when we di$ide u()4
4Well%4 Bo& said% 4"a#&e we can kee( it a secret) We can tr#% for #our sake) I 'uess
#ou-re ri'ht a&out (eo(le co"in' to search this ca$e)4
4Pete Crenshaw won-t &e a"on' the"!4 Pete said fer$entl#) 4But if #ou want to co"e
&ack% Chris% well% we-ll 6ust sa# we found the dou&loons in the water) That-s true enou'h)
We won-t sa# where)4
4I kee( dou&loons secret if I can%4 Chris said) He clutched the can$as sack which held the
coins) 4I a" not afraid to co"e &ack) The wa# we 'ot cau'ht would not ha((en a'ain in a
"illion #ears)4
4nce will &e enou'h if /eff 7orton doesn-t hurr#!4 Pete 'roaned) 4Goll#% do #ou
su((ose he-s 'oin' to ha$e to 'o all the wa# to 'et the Coast Guard54
4He-ll need so"e hel( to 'et that sailin'.&oat out of the "outh of the ca$e%4 Bo& said)
4I-" al"ost sure he can-t dra' it loose &# hi"self)4
4But that could take a cou(le of hours!4 Pete e+clai"ed% 'ra&&in' at the seaweed as a
sur'e of water al"ost washed the" fro" their sli((er# (erch) 4The tide will &e in and this
ca$e will &e full &# then!4
4/u(e will think of so"ethin'%4 Bo& said ho(efull#) 4,ou can-t &eat /u(e in an
e"er'enc#)4
4I ho(e #ou are ri'ht%4 Chris said% in a $er# low $oice) 4But it sure is takin' a lon' ti"e!4
Actuall#% it had &een onl# fifteen "inutes since /eff 7orton and /u(iter had left the
&lowhole a&o$e and hurried &ack to the "otor&oat) Now the &oat was idlin' a hundred
feet offshore% with /u(iter handlin' the controls while /eff 'ot as swiftl# as he could into
an a8ualun' outfit)
4Cra;# kids! 4 he "uttered% as he stra((ed on his wei'hts and (re(ared to ste( o$er the
side of the &oat) 4How in the dickens could the# 'et into such a fi+54
He turned to /u(iter)
4All ri'ht% /u(iter% hold the &oat stead# ri'ht here%4 he said) 4I-" 'oin' down and see what
the situation is) Pro&a&l# I can ease the sailin'.&oat out of the wa#) An#wa#% I ho(e so) I
don-t want to ha$e to 'o for the Coast Guard)4
He (ulled his face "ask into (lace% 'ra&&ed an underwater flashli'ht% and went o$er the
side) /u(iter felt $er# "uch alone) In the distance he could see &oats headin' for
*ishin'(ort fro" the south end of the &a#% &ut none ca"e an#where near hi") The
"inutes went &# $er# slowl# as he waited for /eff to co"e u( a'ain) When it see"ed like
an hour% he looked at his wristwatch and saw that onl# fi$e "inutes had (assed) Another
fi$e "inutes went &#) Then /eff 7orton-s head (o((ed u( ri'ht &eside the &oat) He
cli"&ed a&oard% lookin' 're# and an+ious)
4That &oat is 6a""ed in the ca$e entrance% all ri'ht%4 he said) 4As neat as a cork in a
&ottle) I 'ot a 'ri( on it and (ulled &ut I couldn-t &ud'e it) It-s a 6o& for the Coast Guard)
We-ll need di$ers with crow&ars either to &reak u( the sailin'.&oat or (r# it out of there)4
/u(iter stared at hi")
4Won-t that take too lon'54 he asked tensel#) 4I "ean% a cou(le of hours% (erha(s54
/eff nodded slowl#)
4All of that%4 he said) 4I know what #ou-re thinkin') The ca$e will &e full of water &#
then) But I don-t know what else to do) If that &lowhole was &i' enou'h% we could lower a
line down it and (ull the" u() But it isn-t)4
/u(iter was (inchin' his li(% which alwa#s hel(ed hi" think) Now an idea was co"in' to
hi")
47r) 7orton! 4 he e+clai"ed) 47a#&e we could (ull the sailin'.&oat loose!4
4Pull it loose54 /eff frowned at hi") 4How54 4With the "otor.&oat! 4 /u(iter said) 4It has
a (owerful "otor) We ha$e an anchor and (lent# of ro(e) We could hook the anchor on to
the sailin'.&oat) Then if we 'i$e the "otor full (ower strai'ht ahead.4
4I-" with #ou!4 /eff e+clai"ed) 4B# Geor'e% it "i'ht work) Co"e on% we ha$e to "o$e
fast!4 Workin' swiftl#% he untied the anchor ro(e fro" the &ow% &rou'ht it &ack and
attached it to a rin'.&olt on the stern) Then he dro((ed the anchor o$er&oard% (a#in' out
all the ro(e)
4There!4 he said) 4A hundred feet of ro(e should &e enou'h) Now I-" 'oin' &ack down to
attach the anchor to the sailin'.&oat) When I tu' on the anchor ro(e three ti"es% ease the
&oat forward until the ro(e is taut) Then slowl# 'i$e it full (ower) I-ll &e down there
tr#in' to hel( ease the sailin'.&oat out)
4If #ou feel a 'i$e% followed &# a slow hea$# dra'% that-ll "ean #ou ha$e the sailin'.&oat
loose) Pull forward a hundred feet or so% then cast loose the anchor ro(e and re$erse to
co"e &ack to (osition) I-ll swi" into the ca$e and 'et those kids out)
4If #ou feel a tu'% then suddenl# #ou 6erk free% #ou-ll know the anchor ca"e loose) Sto(
and wait for "e to co"e u() But (ra# #our idea works the first ti"e! 4
/eff cli"&ed o$er the side and was 'one into the de(ths a'ain) /u(iter waited% his heart
&eatin' an+iousl#% the anchor ro(e in his hand) He felt a (ull on it% &ut that was onl# /eff
reco$erin' the anchor and carr#in' it &ack to the ca$e) A "inute (assed% two.then he felt
three shar( tu's on the ro(e)
/u(iter "o$ed the &oat ahead until the anchor ro(e was a taut% strai'ht line fro" the stern
down into the water) Then% e$er so easil#% he increased the (ower)
The "otor &e'an to roar) The (ro(eller threw u( a wash &ehind hi") But the "otor.&oat
did not "o$e) /u(iter increased (ower% his heart in his throat for fear the anchor would
tear throu'h the side of the sailin'.&oat)
!er#% $er# slowl#% the "otor.&oat &e'an to "o$e) Slu''ishl#% as if (ullin' a whale% it
'ained distance) It was dra''in' a dead wei'ht across the &otto"% and it had &arel#
enou'h (ower to "o$e it) But it did "o$e) Twent# feet . fift# feet . a hundred feet!
/u(iter would ha$e cheered if he had not &een so intent on the 6o&) He threw the "otor
controls into neutral% and with his (ri;ed Swiss (ocket.knife reached &ack and cut the
anchor ro(e) The ro(e slithered down into the water) /u(iter 'a$e the "otor re$erse
(ower and eased &ack into (osition)
He tried to i"a'ine what was ha((enin' &elow) The ca$e entrance was o(en now) /eff
was swi""in' in) He had found the three &o#s) Now he was instructin' the" to swi"
out and surface) In a "inute . or two "inutes)
A head (o((ed out of the water 6ust &ehind the &oat) It was Chris 7arkos) He thrust u(
his face "ask and &reath e+(loded fro" his lun's) He (addled o$er to the "otor.&oat%
'ra&&ed on to it and (ushed so"ethin' hea$# o$er the side) It dro((ed at /u(iter-s feet
with a clink)
4Hide it% /u(e !4 Chris'as(ed) 4We find treasure) But we kee( it a secret) *or now%
an#wa#) Tell #ou all a&out e$er#thin' later)4
/u(iter hid the wet &a' the &est wa# he could think of) He sat on it)
4Bo#!4 said Chris when he was safel# in the "otor.&oat) 4We are sure afraid #ou can-t 'et
us out in ti"e) Pete and Bo&% the# will &e u( an# second)4
/ust then Bo&-s head a((eared% and a second later% Pete-s)
4It sure was 'ood to hear #our $oice down there%4 said Pete when &oth &o#s had
cla"&ered a&oard) 4,ours and /eff 7orton-s)4
4He-s (rett# an'r# at us%4 Bo& said) 4I 'uess he has a ri'ht to &e)4
4When he talks to 1ad% 1ad will &e an'r#% too%4 Pete said dolefull#) 4But an#wa#% we
found so"e treasure) 1id Chris tell #ou54
4I-" sittin' on it%4 /u(iter said) 4,ou can tell "e all a&out it later)4
4I 'uess we-re 'oin' to 'et a 'ood &awlin' out%4 Bo& said easin' hi"self out of his 'ear)
4But it actuall# wasn-t our fault) *irst so"e&od# sank Chris-s sailin'.&oat% then.4
4Here co"es /eff 7orton now%4 /u(iter interru(ted hi") 4He-ll want to hear what
ha((ened)4
/eff had surfaced at the stern of the "otor&oat) In his hand he had the se$ered end of the
anchor line) When /u(iter had 'ra&&ed it and attached it to the rin'&olt% he swa" round to
the ste(s and cli"&ed on &oard)
He re"o$ed his face (late and slowl# took off his wei'hts and air tank) Then he looked at
the silentl# waitin' &o#s)
4Well%4 he said at last% 4I-" 'lad #ou &o#s are safe) Plent# 'lad) But that doesn-t alter the
fact that #ou acted recklessl# and 'ot into serious trou&le)4
4But.4 Bo& &e'an) He was sure that if he could e+(lain 6ust how it all had ha((ened% /eff
7orton would see that there wouldn-t ha$e &een an# dan'er e+ce(t for the freakish
current that had wed'ed the &oat into the ca$e entrance)
/eff held u( his hand) 4I don-t care what #our e+(lanations are%4 he said) 4*acts are facts)
When I tell Harr# Norris and 7r) Crenshaw what-s ha((ened% I-" sure the#-ll a'ree with
"e that #ou kids aren-t to do an# "ore di$in')
4It was a &ad idea to &e'in with . the water in this &a# isn-t reall# clear enou'h to 'et
'ood underwater (ictures) Harr# Norris a'rees with "e% and I-" sure 7r) 1enton will
when he 'ets &ack here) So that idea of a short su&6ect showin' #ou di$in' for treasure is
washed u()4
He (aused for &reath% &ut it was (lain he had "ore to sa#)
He turned and faced Chris)
4Howe$er%4 he said 'ri"l#% 4I think one source of our trou&les is ended) We-$e disco$ered
who-s &een ta"(erin' with our e8ui("ent% stealin' thin's% and 'i$in' us such a
headache) 0ast ni'ht the e8ui("ent trailer was &roken into throu'h a s"all window% too
s"all for an#&od# &ut a &o# to 'et throu'h) So"eone stole two lenses worth al"ost a
thousand dollars) I disco$ered the lenses "issin' . and I found so"ethin' else)
So"ethin' the thief dro((ed &# accident)4
His e#es &ored into Chris-s)
4I found #our knife% Chris%4 he said) 4Where #ou dro((ed it when #ou stole those lenses)
No&od# else &ut #ou could ha$e sli((ed throu'h that tin# window)
4I-$e alread# re(orted the facts to Chief Nosti'on% and when we 'et &ack to *ishin'(ort%
I-" "archin' #ou down to the (olice station) I-" $er# "uch afraid that #ou-re 'oin' to
6ail!4
3?
/u(iter Sol$es ne 7#ster#
4Bo#% we sure are in the do'house!4 Bo& si'hed)
4We-re in the do'house% &ut Chris is in 6ail%4 Pete said 'loo"il#) 4I don-t think he stole
those ca"era lenses% do #ou% /u(e54
/u(iter didn-t answer) He was sittin' on the sofa in 7rs) Barton-s li$in' roo"% a far.awa#
4thinkin'4 look on his face) It was the "iddle of the afternoon and outside a hea$# rain
was (ourin' down) The &o#s had &een ordered not to lea$e the house &# 7r) Crenshaw%
who had 'i$en the" a se$ere lecture a&out irres(onsi&ilit# the (re$ious e$enin')
4/u(e!4 said Pete "ore loudl#) 4I 6ust said I don-t &elie$e Chris stole those ca"era lenses)
1o #ou54
/u(iter cou'hed) His cold was still &otherin' hi")
4No%4 he said% 4I don-t) ne kid can 'enerall# tell when another kid is sneak# and Chris
isn-t sneak#) It-s 6ust that a((earances are a'ainst hi") His knife &ein' found at the scene
of the cri"e is $er# (eculiar)4
4He lost it two da#s a'o%4 Bo& (ointed out) 4He said so)4
4And of course the "en wouldn-t &elie$e hi"%4 /u(iter said% cou'hin' a'ain) 4The# want
to think the "#ster# of Skeleton Island is sol$ed% so the# &elie$e he did it) That-s the wa#
adults often are)4
4Well% what is the secret an#wa#54 Bo& 'ru"&led) 4We-re in$esti'ators and we ou'ht to
&e a&le to at least "ake a 'uess)4
4The secret is% so"eone wants to kee( e$er#&od# awa# fro" Skeleton Island% that-s all%4
/u(e told the") 4I fi'ured that out #esterda#) The "#ster# is% wh#54
/ust then 7rs) Barton ca"e into the roo" to answer the door&ell% and /u(e fell silent)
Chief Nosti'on ca"e in% his raincoat dri((in')
4Hello% &o#s%4 he said) 47rs) Barton% I-d like to talk to these lads if #ou don-t "ind)4
4f course not% Chief)4 She went &ack out to the kitchen and the chief hun' u( his
raincoat and took a seat) 1eli&eratel# he lit a ci'ar)
4Bo#s%4 he said% 4I don-t "ind tellin' #ou thin's look &ad for #our friend Chris) We "ade
a search and found those stolen ca"era lenses in a little woodshed &ehind the shant#
where he li$es with his father)4
4He didn-t steal the"!4 Bo& said hotl#) 4We know he didn-t!4
47a#&e not%4 Chief Nosti'on a'reed) 4But the e$idence is all a'ainst hi") E$er#&od#
knows he-s tr#in' hard to raise "one# to 'et his father &ack to Greece)4
4He doesn-t ha$e to steal to do it!4 Pete e+clai"ed) 4He has "one#! And the chances are
he-ll find so"e "ore!4
4h)4 The chief 'a$e the" a lon' look) 4Now that-s $er# interestin') He has "one#% has
he5 And he "a# find "ore) 7eanin' 6ust what54
Pete% reali;in' he had 'i$en awa# the secret of the dou&loons% was silent)
4Bo#s%4 the chief continued% 4I like Chris and I want to hel( hi") Now% no&od# will tell
"e e+actl# what ha((ened #esterda#) /ust that #ou kids 'ot into so"e trou&le and had to
&e rescued) I think I understand wh# #ou-re kee(in' it such a secret) If #ou found so"e
treasure and the word 'ets round% Skeleton Island will &e swa"(ed with treasure hunters
in no ti"e)
4/ust the sa"e% I think #ou ou'ht to tell "e) 7a#&e I can hel( #oun' Chris) So su((ose
#ou 'i$e "e the whole stor#)4
The# hesitated) Then /u(iter "ade u( his "ind)
4,es% sir%4 he said) 4Pete% 'o and 'et the can$as &a')4
Pete went u(stairs) A "o"ent later he returned with Chris-s &ul'in' can$as sack) Pete
s(illed the contents out on the sofa) With a soft clinkin' sound% &etween fort# and fift#
shin# dou&loons slid on to the cushions)
Chief Nosti'on-s e#es widened)
4B# /i"in#!4 he said) 4That-s real (irate treasure) And Chris found that54
4Chris and Bo& and Pete)4 /u(iter said) 4In an underwater ca$e on The Hand) Chris wants
to 'o &ack and look for so"e "ore) That-s wh# we-re kee(in' it a secret)4
47"")4 Chief Nosti'on (ulled at his chin) 4Well% #ou can count on "e) I won-t &la&)4
4So #ou see%4 Bo& said ea'erl#% 4Chris wouldn-t need to steal an#thin') He has "one# and
"a# find "ore)4
4Bo#s)4 the chief answered% 4I-" afraid that doesn-t (ro$e an#thin') ,ou see% these
dou&loons were found after the ca"era lenses were stolen) So Chris didn-t know he was
'oin' to ha$e "one#) That "eans a((earances are still a'ainst hi")4
It was true) Bo& scowled as he reali;ed it) Pete 6a""ed his hands into his (ockets) /u(iter
cou'hed a'ain) He &lew his nose) Then he s(oke u()
4E+cuse "e% Chief%4 he said) 4I ad"it 7r) Crenshaw and 7r) Norris and /eff 7orton
think the secret of Skeleton Island is sol$ed . that Chris was causin' all the trou&le) But
I-" sure the#-re wron') There-s so"eone else% so"eone we don-t know a&out) &ehind it)
There has to &e) 0et-s look at all the facts fro" the &e'innin') Now to start with.4
At that "o"ent 7rs) Barton ca"e in)
4Su((er% &o#s%4 she said) 4h% I didn-t know #ou were still talkin') Well% talk as lon' as
#ou like% Chief)4
As she started to lea$e the roo"% the (ile of 'old coins on the sofa cau'ht her attention)
Her e#es widened and she &ustled out) She hurried down the lon' hall to the tele(hone%
and a "o"ent later was talkin' in an e+cited whis(er)
47# 'oodness% Ella 7a#%4 she said) 4What do #ou think5 Those &o#s sta#in' at "# house
reall# are here to hel( hunt for treasure) Wh#% I 6ust saw an i""ense (ile of 'old (ieces
the# found) ,es% the# "ust ha$e found the" out on Skeleton Island) 7# 'oodness% I don-t
know how "uch there was &ut it see"ed like a lot) It-s (ro&a&l# 6ust their share) I-ll &et
there-s lots "ore out there!4
She hun' u( and dialled another nu"&er) 9naware that news of their find was &ein'
&roadcast to the town% the &o#s were still dee( in con$ersation with Chief Nosti'on)
/u(iter was outlinin' e$er#thin' that had ha((ened) *irst he "entioned the 'host scares
that had ke(t (eo(le awa# fro" Skeleton Island for #ears) Then he re"inded the chief of
the trou&les the "o$ie co"(an# had had e$er since it set u( ca"( on Skeleton Island) He
told a'ain how he and Pete and Bo& had &een "arooned their $er# first ni'ht in
*ishin'(ort)
*inall# he &rou'ht u( his warnin' of the (re$ious da# &# the tall% thin "an% a "an with a
"er"aid tattooed on his hand) The chief ru&&ed his chin)
4Could ha$e &een Bill Ballin'er%4 he said) 4Peculiar% "i'ht# (eculiar) Go on% &o#)4 /u(iter
told of the wa# Chris-s &oat had &een s"ashed and sunk% and finished u( &# sa#in' 4Chief
Nosti'on% doesn-t the (attern see" (rett# clear5 Because there is a (attern) The (attern is
to kee( (eo(le awa# fro" Skeleton Island) *irst the 'host scares ke(t the local (eo(le
awa#) Then% when the "o$ie co"(an# ca"e% so"eone tried to harass the" into lea$in')
4When word 'ot out we three were co"in' to town% so"e&od# "ust ha$e thou'ht we
were "ore i"(ortant than we were) The# had that Sa" Ro&inson "aroon us on The Hand
to scare us into 'oin' &ack)
4Then I was warned we weren-t wanted and should 'o &ack to Holl#wood) And al"ost at
the sa"e ti"e% so"eone was sinkin' Chris-s sailin'&oat% to kee( hi" fro" sailin' round
Skeleton Island) And if this wasn-t enou'h% so"eone stole those ca"era lenses and
dro((ed Chris-s knife at the scene to i"(licate hi" and (ut hi" in 6ail)
4The whole (attern (oints to kee(in' e$er#&od# awa# fro" Skeleton Island)4
4Well now%4 the chief said% 4it does look that wa#) I-" 'oin' to ha$e to turn this o$er in
"# "ind) As for Chris% I-d like to let hi" out% and 1octor Wil&ur will 'o &ail for hi"% &ut
/ud'e Har$e# has to si'n the (a(ers and he-s awa# on &usiness) Can-t do an#thin' until he
co"es &ack) But I-ll sure work to 'et hi" loose)4
With that he said 'ood&#e and left) Pete hurriedl# (ut the 'old dou&loons &ack into their
sack and carried the" u(stairs to hide under his "attress)
When he ca"e &ack down a'ain% su((er was on the ta&le) 7rs) Barton ser$ed the" with
a funn# little knowin' s"ile) *inall#% as she &rou'ht out custard for dessert% she could
kee( 8uiet no lon'er)
4Aren-t #ou nau'ht# &o#s%4 she said re(roachfull#% 4tellin' "e #ou folks weren-t on
Skeleton Island to hunt for treasure)4
The# looked at her in sur(rise)
4But reall#% 7rs) Barton.4 /u(iter &e'an) 4I saw!4 she said) 4I saw the 'reat hea( of 'old
(ieces #ou were showin' the chief) I didn-t "ean to s(#% &ut when I ca"e into the roo"%
there it was on the couch) I think it-s $er# e+citin')4
The &o#s looked at each other in dis"a#) 41id #ou tell an#one% 7rs) Barton54 /u(iter
asked)
4/ust "# three &est friends%4 7rs) Barton said) 4I couldn-t hel( it% it was so e+citin' to see
all that treasure) How "uch was it54
4Not nearl# as "uch as #ou think% 7rs) Barton%4 /u(iter said) 4And it wasn-t found on
Skeleton Island at all)4
4Now #ou can-t fool "e% #oun' "an!4 She wa''ed a fin'er at hi") 4To"orrow co"e
sunu( #ou-re 'oin' to ha$e co"(an# out on that island) I do think 8uite a few (eo(le will
sail o$er and tr# their luck at di''in' for treasure) h "#) #es) I-d 'o% too% if I were a little
#oun'er and s(r#er) I-" sorr# to sa# it% &ut local folks are a little &it (ee$ed that #ou
outsiders should co"e in and find treasure on Skeleton Island when the town is so (oor
and needs it so &adl#)4 She started collectin' the dishes)
4But I "ustn-t talk so "uch%4 she said) 4Goodness% I-" 6ust a chatter&o+ when I 'et
started)4
She went to the kitchen% lea$in' the three &o#s $er# u(set)
4That does it!4 Pete e+clai"ed) 4Wh#% half the town will &e out on Skeleton Island
to"orrow) The#-ll ne$er &e a&le to finish the "o$ie now) And I 'uess it-s our fault)4
4I 'uess it is% all ri'ht%4 Bo& said) 4,our father will &e sto((in' in to see us soon% Pete)
What shall we tell hi"54
4We-ll ha$e to tell hi" the truth%4 Pete answered) 4Won-t we% /u(iter54
4I 'uess we will%4 /u(iter a'reed) 4But I-" ha$in' an idea) 0et "e think a&out it for a
while)4
He continued thinkin' as Pete and Bo& listlessl# turned the (a'es of so"e old "a'a;ines
in the (arlour)
Shortl# after dark 7r) Crenshaw and Harr# Norris arri$ed) The# announced that Ro'er
1enton would &e &ack the followin' "ornin' and shootin' would &e'in in a da# or so on
the island) Howe$er% the# had decided a'ainst "akin' the short su&6ect a&out the &o#s
di$in' for treasure) The incident in the underwater ca$e was onl# one reason) The
cloudiness of the water and /u(iter-s cold also had hel(ed the" "ake u( their "inds)
Nor"all# the &o#s would ha$e &een dee(l# disa((ointed% &ut now the# had too "uch on
their "inds to 'i$e it "uch thou'ht)
The# told 7r) Crenshaw and 7r) Norris what had ha((ened and the two "en uttered
e+cla"ations of dis"a#)
4That ruins e$er#thin'!4 7r) Crenshaw cried) 4Wh#% treasure hunters will swar" all o$er
us like locusts) We-ll ne$er con$ince an#&od# we aren-t here to hunt for (irate 'old)4
4I ha$e an idea%4 /u(iter said slowl#) 4I "ean% it "i'ht hel( sa$e the situation) Wh# not
fil" all these (eo(le sailin' out to the island and racin' around lookin' for treasure5 ,ou
could 'et a short su&6ect out of it% called "a#&e% -Treasure *e$er-) ,ou could ne$er hire so
"an# (eo(le% &ut the#-ll &e co"in' of their own accord and it "i'ht "ake a swell
(icture)4
Harr# Norris thou'ht for a "o"ent)
4It-s co"in' to "e%4 he said) 4Sure% this is a disaster% &ut "a#&e we can turn it into an
asset) Sa# we show so"e&od# findin' so"e treasure% and the word 'ets round% and the
whole town sails out to look% and we (hoto'ra(h the" all di''in'))) ,es%4 he turned to
Pete-s father% 4I think we can swin' it) The thin' to do is to or'ani;e this treasure hunt)
Now here-s "# idea.4
Swiftl# he outlined his (lan for kee(in' the di''in' under control)
4Instead of tr#in' to kee( (eo(le off the island%4 he said% 4we-ll in$ite the" to co"e and
di'! We-ll 'et 1octor Wil&ur to 'o on the local radio and in$ite (eo(le to di' for treasure
on Skeleton Island to"orrow) We-ll sa# we don-t &elie$e there is an# treasure% &ut the#-re
welco"e to look) And we-ll offer a (ri;e of fi$e hundred dollars% to &e won &# a draw
held in the e$enin') That will con$ince the" we don-t &elie$e in an# treasure)
4The conditions will &e that e$er#&od# who co"es to di' re'isters with us for the (ri;e
draw% and that the# don-t da"a'e the "err#.'o.round or the roller coaster) Then in the
e$enin' we-ll &e hosts for a &i' cla"&ake for e$er#one% and hold the draw for the (ri;e)
We can shoot (ictures of all the fren;ied di''in' and we-ll 'et an interestin' short su&6ect
we can call -Treasure *e$er%- as /u(iter su''ested) Then% when it-s all o$er% (eo(le will &e
con$inced there-s no treasure and lea$e us alone and we can finish off the scenes for
Chase 7e *aster without &ein' &othered)4
4I think it-ll work%4 7r) Crenshaw said) 40et-s 'et o$er to the hotel and (hone 7r) 1enton
in Philadel(hia) ,ou &o#s.4 he turned to The Three In$esti'ators. 4sta# (ut) Go to &ed
soon) ,ou can co"e out to the island to"orrow to see the fun) But for now don-t 'et into
an# "ore trou&le!4
4But 1ad% a&out Chris.4 Pete &e'an)
4That &o# can sta# in 6ail a few da#s to teach hi" a lesson%4 his father re(lied) 4Co"e on%
Norris)4
The "en went out in a hurr#) The &o#s slu"(ed &ack into attitudes of des(ondenc#)
4Gosh% I was ho(in' we could (ersuade the" Chris didn-t do an#thin'%4 Pete said) 4But
the# won-t e$en listen)4
4Adults don-t like to listen to kids when their "inds are "ade u(%4 Bo& o&ser$ed)
4An#wa#% /u(e% #ou sort of sa$ed the da# with #our idea for "akin' a short su&6ect a&out
the "o& of treasure hunters)4
/u(iter didn-t answer) He was thinkin' a'ain) His "ind was &u;;in' round% 'oin' o$er
and o$er the facts the# had)
41on-t o$erdo the thinkin'%4 Pete ad$ised hi"% tr#in' to sound hu"orous) 4,ou "i'ht
&urn out a &earin')4
/u(iter cou'hed loudl#) Then a look of satisfaction ca"e o$er his round face)
4What is it% /u(e54 Bo& asked alertl#) 4,ou-$e actuall# thou'ht of so"ethin'54
4I &elie$e I ha$e deduced a lo'ical reason wh# #ou found 'old dou&loons in that hidden
ca$e underneath The Hand%4 he said)
4,ou ha$e54 Pete al"ost shouted) 4What5 And use short words) This is no ti"e for lon'
ones)4
4Bo&% let-s 'o and look at #our notes%4 /u(iter said) 4I want to read that (art a&out Ca(tain
ne.Ear and his last stand a'ainst the British a'ain)4
The three of the" troo(ed u(stairs) Swiftl# Bo& found the (lace) He read a&out how the
old.ti"e (irate had &een sur(rised at ni'ht &# British troo(s) He had fled with his chests
of treasure% &een chased% and landed on The Hand) In the darkness he had eluded his
(ursuers% &ut when da#li'ht ca"e the# surrounded hi" and ca(tured hi")
But his treasure chests were e"(t#% and the British reali;ed he had e"(tied all the
treasure o$er&oard to kee( the" fro" 'ettin' it) And 6ust where in the "ile of water he
had e"(tied the chests he refused to answer) All he would sa# was% 41a$# /ones has the
dou&loons in his 'ras( and no&od# will see the" a'ain until 1a$# /ones decides to 'i$e
the" u()4
4Well54 Bo& asked)
41on-t #ou see54 /u(iter re(lied) 4If he had 6ust du"(ed the dou&loons o$er&oard% he-d
ha$e said the# were in 1a$# /ones-s locker) But he said -'ras()- Now what do #ou 'ras(
with54
4,our hand% of course!4 Bo& said e+citedl#) 4Goll#% /u(e% #ou "ean.4
/u(iter nodded) 4It-s the onl# lo'ical answer%4 he said) 4After he saw he couldn-t esca(e%
Ca(tain ne.Ear e"(tied all his stolen treasure down the &lowhole) Then he teased the
British &# sa#in' it was in 1a$# /ones-s 'ras(% "eanin' it was inside The Hand) E$en if
the# had fi'ured out what he "eant% the# wouldn-t ha$e &een a&le to 'et it) So it sta#ed
hidden down in that underwater ca$e all these #ears)4
4Then there "ust &e lots "ore!4 Pete e+clai"ed) 4Chris was ri'ht! There "a# still &e a
fortune down in that ca$e! 4
4I don-t think so%4 /u(iter said) 4Re"e"&er% it was loose coins he (oured down the
&lowhole) Three centuries of tides and wa$es ha$e had ti"e to &ur# "ost of the" (rett#
dee( or to carr# the" out into the &a#) There "i'ht &e a few "ore dou&loons under the
sand there% &ut I dou&t if there are "an#) ,ou found 6ust what the ocean left)4
Pete si'hed) 4,ou-re alwa#s so lo'ical) But I su((ose #ou-re ri'ht) *or Chris-s sake%
thou'h% I ho(e he finds a lot "ore so that he can take his father &ack to Greece)4
The "ention of Chris re"inded the" of his (li'ht% and the# &eca"e 'loo"# a'ain) But
there was nothin' the# could do% and soon the# went to &ed)
Pete and Bo& fell aslee( ri'ht awa#) /u(iter% howe$er% couldn-t slee() His "ind was
turnin' o$er with s(ecial shar(ness now) There was still another "#ster# to &e fi'ured
out) He had all the facts% he was sure% if he could onl# (ut the" to'ether correctl#)
He thou'ht a&out old Ca(tain ne.Ear% foolin' the British &# du"(in' his treasure down
the &low.hole) Then% a&ru(tl#% a &it of con$ersation he had heard and al"ost for'otten
ca"e &ack to hi") And all of a sudden e$er#thin' clicked into (lace)
4That-s it!4 he e+clai"ed% sittin' u( suddenl#) 4Ten #ears! That-s what ha((ened) It has to
&e) Bo&% Pete% wake u(!4
The other two awoke and #awned slee(il#) 4What is it% /u(e54 Pete asked) 4A
ni'ht"are54
4No!4 said /u(iter e+citedl#) 4,ou two ha$e to 'et #our clothes on and row out to
Skeleton Island) I-$e 6ust deduced the real secret of the island)4
Ra(idl# he e+(lained to the" what he had 6ust fi'ured out) The# listened with "ouths
o(en% and when he had finished% Pete said% 4/u(e% #ou-re a 'enius! ,ou ha$e to &e ri'ht
it-s the onl# answer that "akes e$er#thin' fit)4
4I don-t know wh# it took "e so lon'%4 /u(iter said) 4An#wa#% I-" sure that-s the answer)
,ou 'et out to the island and check on "# deductions) Then 'o down and wake u( #our
father% Pete% and the others) Show the" what #ou find) Then let the" take o$er)4
He looked wistful)
4I-d 'o with #ou%4 he said% 4&ut I ache all o$er)4
4,ou-$e done enou'h% /u(e%4 Bo& said) 4This will 'et us out of the do'house% all ri'ht)
It-ll &e nice to &e a hero for a chan'e) But wh# not wake u( the "en and ha$e the" hel(
us hunt54
4Because%4 /u(iter said% 4I "i'ht &e wron') The#-d &e $er# an'r# at us for wakin' the"
u() If I-" wron'% #ou can 6ust row &ack here and no&od# will &e the wiser)4
4Well% oka#%4 Pete said) 4Thou'h I would like to tell 1ad) But we-ll do it #our wa#)4
In fi$e "inutes he and Bo& were dressed and had their flashli'hts) The# ti(toed
downstairs and let the"sel$es out of the house)
/u(e la# &ack in &ed% feelin' terri&le) Wh# did he ha$e to catch a cold% an#wa#5 But it
couldn-t &e hel(ed and there wasn-t an# dan'er
There wasn-t an# dan'er!
A new thou'ht hit hi" like a wallo( fro" a &ase&all &at) f course there was dan'er!
There was terri&le dan'er% if onl# he hadn-t &een so (leased with hi"self he-d for'otten to
think a&out it) Wh#% Pete and Bo& "i'ht &e killed!
3@
Bo& and Pete in a Ti'ht S(ot
PETE P900E1 HAR1 at the oars of the s"all rowin'.&oat% which the# had &een luck#
to find tied u( at the "o$ie co"(an#-s (ier) B# the di" li'ht of the stars% the# were
headin' for Skeleton Island)
4There it is%4 whis(ered Bo&% as the island suddenl# a((eared like a &lack &lo& in the
darkness in front of the")
Pete had a keen sense of direction) He rowed the" towards the little &a# near the
a"use"ent (ark) The land 'rew closer and then was on &oth sides of the"% and Pete
eased 8uietl# forward until the &ow of the rowin'.&oat nosed u( on the sand) Bo& 6u"(ed
out and (ulled the &oat u( on the &each)
4Now we ha$e to 'o throu'h the a"use"ent (ark%4 Pete said in a low $oice) 4Then u( the
(ath to the ca$e) I wish /u(e hadn-t said not to wake u( 1ad)4
4So do I%4 Bo& a'reed) 4I wouldn-t "ind so"e co"(an# now) 1o #ou think #ou can find
the wa# in the dark% Pete54
4Sure%4 Pete answered) He hesitated a "o"ent) It was $er# dark% and silent% e+ce(t for the
little noise of water la((in' u( on the &each) 4Well%4 he said% 4we &etter 'et 'oin')4
He led the wa#% usin' the flashli'ht 6ust lon' enou'h to 'et a 'li"(se ahead) In a "o"ent
the# were inside the 'hostl# ruins of Pleasure Park)
The roller coaster was a &i' skeleton a'ainst the sk#) It 'a$e Pete a land"ark% and he
skirted round it and (ast the "err#.'o.round) At the rear fence of the (ark% he sto((ed)
41arn it%4 he said in a low $oice) 4I-" 'oin' to wake u( 1ad) It-s not &ecause I-" ner$ous%
althou'h I a"% &ut 1ad ou'ht to know what we-re doin') After all% he told us to sta# at
7rs) Barton-s and . well% I think he ou'ht to know what /u(e fi'ured)4
4ka#%4 Bo& a'reed% al"ost whis(erin') 40et-s do that) I-ll feel &etter% too)4
The# turned round) And then the# sto((ed dead in their tracks% their hearts &eatin' fast)
So"e&od# was &ehind the") So"e&od# &i') So"e&od# who now flashed a &rilliant li'ht
in their faces and 'rowled% 4All ri'ht% stand still! I-$e 'ot #ou dead to ri'hts!4
Both &o#s fro;e) The# couldn-t see a thin' with the li'ht shinin' in their e#es) Then a
sur(rised $oice said% 4Thunderation! It-s Bo& and Pete! What do #ou think #ou-re u( to%
sneakin' round on the island like this54
The "an lowered the li'ht to the 'round)
Now the &o#s could see hi"% &ut the# had alread# reco'ni;ed his $oice) It was To"
*arrada#% the 'uard)
4,ou could ha$e 'ot hurt%4 he said) 4I thou'ht #ou were so"e&od# out to da"a'e the
rides that-$e &een fi+ed u() Co"e on now% e+(lain #oursel$es)4
4/u(iter fi'ured out the secret of this island%4 Bo& said) 4We ca"e out to see if he-s ri'ht)4
4The secret of the island54 To" *arrada# sounded (u;;led) 4What are #ou dri$in' at54
4There reall# is treasure hidden on it%4 Pete told hi") 4At least% /u(e is sure there is)4
4Treasure54 The 'uard o&$iousl# didn-t &elie$e the") 4What treasure54
4Well% #ou see.4 Pete &e'an) But Bo& interru(ted)
4,ou hel(ed /u(iter fi'ure it out%4 he said) 4,ou 'a$e hi" the clue he needed)4
4Now wait a "inute!4 the 'uard ru"&led) 4I don-t know what #ou-re talkin' a&out)4
4The other "ornin'%4 Bo& said% 4#ou were tellin' us how the Ballin'er &rothers held u(
#our ar"oured truck ten #ears a'o% stole a hundred thousand dollars% and cri((led #our
left ar")4
4,es5 What a&out it54
4Well%4 Pete (ut in% 4#ou also told us how the Ballin'ers were ca(tured &# the Coast
Guard in a disa&led &oat% and how the Coast Guard saw the" du"( so"e (acka'es
o$er&oard) The stolen "one#% e$er#&od# thou'ht)4
4Sure it was) What else54
4Well%4 Bo& went on% 4it was 6ust ten #ears a'o that so"eone started scarin' (eo(le awa#
fro" this island &# startin' u( the stor# of the 'host on the "err#.'o.round a'ain) /u(iter
said it couldn-t &e a coincidence that the hold.u( was ten #ears a'o and the ca"(ai'n to
kee( (eo(le off the island also started ten #ears a'o) He said the# had to &e connected)4
4I don-t 'et what #ou-re dri$in' at)4 To" *arrada# sounded (u;;led)
41on-t #ou see54 Pete said i"(ortantl#) 4The Ballin'er &rothers tried to "ake a 'etawa#
&# &oat and their en'ine &roke down) The# "ust ha$e "ana'ed to 'et here to Skeleton
Island and hide the stolen "one#) Then the# (ushed off a'ain% deter"ined that if the# did
'et cau'ht% e$er#&od# would think the "one# was lost) That wa#% when the# 'ot out of
6ail% the# could co"e and 'et it and sli( awa# 8uietl#)
4,ou said #ourself the# 'ot out of 6ail 6ust a cou(le of weeks a'o) But o&$iousl# the#
ha$en-t co"e for the "one# #et% &ecause with the "o$ie co"(an# on the island the#-$e
&een afraid to risk 'ettin' cau'ht)4
4/u"(in' fishhooks!4 To" *arrada# said) 4Sa#% #ou "ake it sound true! But su((osin'
the Ballin'ers did hide the "one# on this island% does #our friend ha$e an# idea where it
could &e54
4/u(iter sa#s it would ha$e to &e so"e (lace hi'h and dr#%4 Bo& told hi") 4Can$as sacks
and (a(er "one# &uried in the 'round would rot) The &est hi'h and dr# (lace on the
island is.4
4The old ca$e!4 To" *arrada# e+clai"ed) 4It has (lent# of cracks in the rocks where
sacks of "one# could &e hidden)4
4That-s what /u(iter thinks%4 Pete a'reed) 4It-s the onl# (lace hi'h and dr# enou'h to kee(
the "one# safel#)4
4E+ce(t%4 Bo& (ut in% 4that to"orrow hundreds of (eo(le will &e swar"in' o$er this
island on a "a""oth treasure hunt% so so"eone is &ound to 'o e+(lorin' that ca$e)
That-s wh# we ca"e o$er ri'ht awa#% toni'ht% to look for the hidden "one#)4
4B# 'oll#% I think #ou "a# &e ri'ht!4 To" *arrada# e+clai"ed) 4Think of it% all that
"one# hidden in that ca$e ten #ears now and no&od# 'uessin' until #ou kids ca"e here)
Wh# didn-t I e$er think of it "#self5 Well% there-s onl# one thin' to do) 0et-s 'o and see if
the "one# reall# is there)4
4We were 'oin' to 'et 7r) Crenshaw%4 Bo& said)
4No need for that%4 To" *arrada# told the") 4Since the# ha$e to &e u( so earl#% let the"
slee() If we find the "one# we can lu' it down
and wake the" u() If we don-t find it% #ou kids can sli( &ack ho"e and no&od#-ll &e the
wiser)4 4Well.4 Pete &e'an% &ut To" *arrada# had alread# turned)
4*ollow "e%4 he said) 4I know the (ath)4 To" *arrada# "o$ed ra(idl# throu'h the trees%
the &o#s close &ehind hi") The whole scene was hushed and s(ook#% and Bo& was 'lad
the# had encountered To" *arrada#) It "ade hi" feel safer to ha$e the &i' &url# "an
alon') 4of!4 Bo& 'runted a&ru(tl#) So"eone had ste((ed out fro" &ehind a tree and
'ra&&ed hi") Powerful hands had hi" in a $ice.like 'ri() 47r) *arrada#% hel(!4 Bo&
"ana'ed to 'as() Then a stron' hand co$ered his "outh and he couldn-t "ake a sound)
He heard a scuffle &ehind hi"% a 'runt fro" Pete% and then silence) But To" *arrada#%
ahead of the"% was free and he had a 'un) He would To" *arrada# turned) He didn-t
see" the least &it sur(rised) Nor did he draw his 'un) 4Good work!4 he said) 4The# didn-t
ha$e ti"e to #ell)4
4No thanks to #ou!4 said the "an holdin' Bo&) 4Su((ose the# had 'one to the ca"( first
and woken u( those "o$ie (eo(le5 We-d &e in the sou(!4
4But the# didn-t% /i"% and we-$e 'ot the"%4 the 'uard said% soundin' ner$ous) 4So it-s all
ri'ht)4
4It-s not all ri'ht%4 said the tall% thin "an who had Pete in his 'ras() 4Now we-$e 'ot to 'et
rid of the") But we-ll tend to that later) *irst we 'et the" to the &oat) Then we 'et the
"one#) Then we take care of these snoo(#% interferin' kids)4
4Sure% Bill% sure%4 To" *arrada# a'reed 8uickl#) 4Is it true what the# said a&out the
"one# &ein' hidden in the ca$e54
4Ne$er "ind if it-s true or not) That-s our &usiness!4 'rowled Bo&-s ca(tor)
4It-s "# &usiness% too!4 To" *arrada# said) 4After all% one third of that "one# is "ine
and I-$e waited ten #ears for it) Not to "ention 'ettin' a cri((led win' fro" #our
clu"siness! 4
4Shut u(! ,ou talk too "uch!4 the "an called Bill said) 4,ou-ll &e taken care of) Now
take off #our shirt and tear it into stri(s) We ha$e to 'a' these kids and tie their hands)4
4But.4
47o$e!4
4All ri'ht% all ri'ht)4
To" *arrada# sli((ed off his 6acket% re"o$ed his shirt% and ra(idl# tore it into stri(s)
Bo&-s stunned "ind &e'an to work a'ain) Bill and /i" . those were the na"es of the
Ballin'er &rothers) And now it was a((arent that To" *arrada# was their acco"(lice! He
"ust ha$e hel(ed the" work out the hold.u( in the first (lace) He had let hi"self &e
slu''ed to throw off sus(icion% &ut the# had hit hi" too hard and &roken his collar&one)
E$er since then he had &een waitin' for the Ballin'ers to reco$er the "one# the# had
hidden% so that he could 'et his share)
Bo&-s racin' thou'hts were interru(ted as the hand co$erin' his "outh was re"o$ed) He
o(ened his "outh to #ell% and as he did so% To" *arrada# sho$ed a wadded.u( (iece of
shirt into his "outh) Another stri( was tied round his head to hold the 'a' in (lace) A
"o"ent later Bo&-s ar"s were twisted &ehind hi" and To" *arrada# was t#in' a stron'
stri( of cloth round his wrists) He was effecti$el# tied and 'a''ed)
When Pete was also &ound and 'a''ed% the two Ballin'er &rothers 'ri((ed the" &# their
6acket collars)
4Now% kids%4 Bill Ballin'er ras(ed in their ears% 4"arch ahead of us) 1on-t tr# an# tricks
or #ou-ll &e $er#% $er# sorr#!!4
Bo& stu"&led alon' o$er rou'h 'round) He could hear Pete &ein' forced alon' &ehind
hi") How far the# stu"&led throu'h the darkness% neither Pete nor Bo& could tell) But
after what see"ed a lon' ti"e% the# ca"e out at a (e&&l# &each) 1i"l# the# could see a
lar'e "otor.&oat drawn u( on shore)
4Get a&oard% #ou two!4 'rowled Bill Ballin'er) Awkwardl# the &o#s cli"&ed o$er
the &ow of the "otor.&oat into the o(en s(ace in front of the en'ine)
4Now% down!4 Ballin'er 'rowled and 'a$e the" a sho$e that sent the" to((lin' in a
hea()
4/i"% 'et "e the fishin'.line) I-" 'oin' to "ake sure these kids don-t esca(e while we-re
&us#)4 A "o"ent later Bo& felt hi"self &ein' wound in the hea$# fishin'.line% until he
was tied u( like a well.wra((ed &undle) Then the two "en rolled hi" to one side and
(roceeded to tie Pete 6ust as securel#)
As the# worked% the &rothers con$ersed in low% an'r# tones) The# were furious at the
&o#s for findin' treasure that afternoon% and so settin' the scene for a &i' treasure hunt)
Bo& 'athered the# had (lanned to wait 8uietl#% not 'oin' near their hidden loot until it
was (erfectl# safe) But the (ros(ect of the island swar"in' with treasure seekers had
forced the" to take i""ediate action% des(ite the risks)
4There!4 Bill Ballin'er said finall#) 4These two little eels aren-t 'oin' to 'i$e us the sli(
now! Co"e on% /i"% let-s 'et the cash) We-$e lost too "uch ti"e as it is)4
The two "en cli"&ed out of the &oat)
n shore% /i" Ballin'er said in a low $oice% 4,ou sta# here% To"% and kee( an e#e on the
&oat) Gi$e an owl hoot if #ou need to warn us)4
4What are #ou 'oin' to do with the"54 the &o#s heard the 'uard ask uneasil#) 4The#-ll
talk% the#-ll i"(licate "e.4
ne of the Ballin'ers lau'hed in an u'l# tone) 4The# won-t talk%4 he said) 4We-re takin'
the" with us) Ne$er "ind what we (lan) But after we-re 'one #ou turn their rowin'.&oat
o$er and sho$e it out into the &a#) To"orrow it-ll &e found floatin' and folks will think
the# o$erturned and 'ot carried out to sea)4
4Well . oka#) I 'uess that-s how it has to &e%4 the 'uard answered) Then there was silence
as the footste(s of the two Ballin'ers faded awa#)
The# heard To" *arrada# "utterin' to hi"self) 4So that-s wh# all their friends and
relati$es 'a$e out (hon# stories a&out seein' the 'host! So no one would co"e (rowlin'
round this island! If I had onl# 'uessed I could ha$e had all the "one# to "#self!4
Bo& la# on his side ne+t to Pete) He tried to s(eak &ut could "ana'e onl# a "uffled
sound) His fin'ers strained to reach the knots that &ound his wrists% and then 'a$e u()
3D
So"ethin' !er# 9ne+(ected
THE, WERE in a real 6a"% Bo& thou'ht 'lu"l#) /ust a&out the worst 6a" the# could
ha$e 'ot into) /u(iter had 'uessed correctl# that the ar"oured car "one# was hidden on
Skeleton Island) But he hadn-t 'uessed that To" *arrada# was in with the "en who had
stolen it% and he hadn-t fi'ured that the Ballin'ers would &e co"in' to 'et it toni'ht
&ecause of the &i' treasure hunt the ne+t da#)
Bo& wouldn-t let hi"self think of what would ha((en ne+t)
He la# still and listened to the tin# ri((les of water &reakin' a'ainst the stern of the
"otor&oat) Then a &i''er ri((le "ade the &oat &o& u( and down a &it) Bo& o(ened his
e#es and saw a dark fi'ure sli((in' on &oard o$er the stern)
The fi'ure was crouched down so that To" *arrada#% on shore% could not see hi") He
started crawlin' carefull# (ast the en'ine towards the two &o#s)
*or a "o"ent all Bo& could hear was the sound of &reathin') Then a low whis(er reached
his ears)
4Hi!4 it said) 41on-t &e afraid) It-s 6ust "e% Chris)4
Chris! How in the world could Chris &e here5 Chris was in 6ail!
4I untie #ou%4 Chris whis(ered in his ear) 4,ou hold $er# still)4
Bo& could feel Chris workin' at the fishin'line that was wound round hi"% then at the
stri(s of shirt that tied his wrists and 'a''ed hi") It see"ed like hours that the Greek &o#
stru''led with Bill Ballin'er-s knots . &ut then he was free% cautiousl# stretchin' his
cra"(ed ar"s and le's)
4Chris.4 he started to whis(er)
4Shhh!4 the Greek &o# hushed hi") 4Sli( &ack to stern% &e read# to slide into water) I 'et
Pete free)4
n hands and knees Bo& crawled to the stern) He wrenched off his sneakers) If the# had
to swi"% he didn-t want an#thin' wei'hin' hi" down)
A few "o"ents later% "akin' hardl# a sound% Pete and Chris 6oined hi")
4$er the stern!4 Chris whis(ered) 4Hold on to rudder)4
There were a&out a "illion 8uestions Bo& wanted to ask% &ut the# would ha$e to wait) He
eased hi"self down into the water% followed &# Pete)
4Gosh!4 Pete 'as(ed in his ear) 4Where did he co"e fro"54
4I don-t know% &ut I-" sure 'lad he ca"e%4 Bo& whis(ered &ack fer$entl#)
Chris slid like an eel into the dark water) 4Now we swi"%4 he said) 4If #ou swi" on #our
side% "ake no s(lash) *ollow "e)4
Without a ri((le% he "o$ed awa#% followin' the shoreline) Bo& swa" after hi"% wishin'
he had taken off his trousers and 6acket as well as his sneakers)
The# swa" silentl#% their heads close to the dark water) After a&out ten "inutes% the#
rounded a tin# (oint of land and were out of si'ht of the &oat and To" *arrada#)
Now Chris led the" ashore) The# followed hi" to a s(ot where the scru& trees ca"e
down near the water) Chris 'ot down low and wri''led u( until he could (eer &etween
two &oulders) *ollowin' his lead% Pete and Bo& found the# could see% $er# di"l#% the
sha(e of the "otor&oat a&out three hundred feet awa#)
4Now we can talk if we kee( $oices low%4 Chris said) 4The# do not find us here)4
4How did #ou 'et here54 &oth &o#s asked to'ether) Chris chuckled) In whis(ers% he told
the") Chief Nosti'on had returned to the 6ail that afternoon (rett# well con$inced of
Chris-s innocence) He had "ana'ed to find the 6ud'e and the 6ud'e had set fift# dollars
&ail for Chris% which Chief Nosti'on hi"self had (ut u() Then% after 'i$in' Chris a 'ood
dinner% he had turned hi" loose)
4I 'o ho"e%4 Chris said) 4I find "# father (rett# 'ood) Nei'h&our lad# looks after hi")
But I start to think) How does "# knife 'et at scene of ro&&er# on island5 So"e&od# (ut
it there% that-s how% after I lose it) But where did I lose it5 Then I think% I "ust ha$e lost it
in front of the ca$e #esterda# when I ha$e fun with #ou) nl# (erson around to find it is
To" *arrada#) I think To" *arrada# finds "# knife and (lants it at scene of ro&&er# to
"ake "e look like a thief) To" *arrada# is u( to so"ethin')
4I decide to watch To" *arrada#) Borrow &oat fro" friend of "# father-s and row out
after dark $er# 8uiet)4
Chris had watched To" *arrada# set out on his ni'htl# (atrol of the island% and had seen
hi" sto( where the "otor.&oat was now &eached% and flash his flashli'ht three ti"es) The
Ballin'er &rothers had (addled their &oat in and co"e ashore) Then the noise of Pete and
Bo& rowin' to the island had reached the")
4,ou do not row so 'ood% Pete%4 Chris chuckled) 47ake a s(lash) Ballin'er fellows hide%
To" *arrada# "eets #ou and leads #ou into tra() I do not know what to do) 7a#&e I
should 'o to ca"(% 'et "en% &ut I think% su((ose the# do not &elie$e "e5 Su((ose the#
think I-" &ack to steal so"e "ore5 7a#&e I &etter stick around% see if I can hel( #ou)
4I see #ou (ut in &oat and Ballin'ers 'o u( to ca$e) I sli( into the water% co"e and untie
#ou) Now we watch the fun)4
4,ou were 'reat% Chris!4 Pete said) 4But what do #ou "ean% watch the fun54
4Shhh% Ballin'ers co"e &ack) Watch!4 Chris whis(ered)
1i"l# the# could see the dark sha(es of the Ballin'er &rothers 6oin To" *arrada#) Each
of the" carried two &i' sacks across his shoulders)
4E$er#thin' all ri'ht54 Bill Ballin'er asked% his $oice co"in' clearl# across the water)
4E$er#thin'-s fine%4 To" *arrada# answered) 40isten% I want "# share of the "one#
now)4 4,ou-ll 'et it when we-re read#%4 the other "an 'rowled) 4Co"e on% Bill du"( the
cash in the &oat and let-s 'et 'oin')4
The# sho$ed (ast the 'uard and du"(ed their sacks into the &eached "otor.&oat)
4The kids! The#-re 'one!4 Bill Ballin'er shouted) 4To"% #ou cut the" loose!4
4I did not!4 the 'uard answered an'ril#) 4The# can-t &e 'one!4
He flashed his li'ht into the &oat and saw the fishin'.line that had &ound Pete and Bo&)
4The# are 'one!4 he said% soundin' &ewildered) 4But the# couldn-t &e! Not ri'ht under
"# nose!4
4The#-re 'one% and we-re 'ettin' out of here!4 /i" Ballin'er 'rowled) 4Get in% Bill! 4
4But what a&out "e54 To" *arrada# o&6ected) 4*or ten #ears I-$e &een waitin' for "#
share of the "one#) Ten #ears! E$en if I 'ot all of it it wouldn-t (a# "e for the ar" #ou
cri((led) And &esides% if those kids are free% the#-ll &la& and I-ll 'o to 6ail! 4
4That-s #our lookout%4 /i" Ballin'er retorted &rutall#) 4There-s a tra"( frei'hter waitin'
for us% and it-s sailin' for South A"erica) Sho$e off% Bill)4
Bill Ballin'er (ushed the "otor.&oat out into the water and ho((ed on &oard) /i"
Ballin'er (ressed the starter &utton) The starter whirred &ut the "otor did not catch) He
tried a'ain% &ut nothin' ha((ened)
4The "otor! 4 /i" Ballin'er e+clai"ed% a note
of fear in his $oice) 4It won-t start! To"% what did #ou do to the "otor54
4Not a thin'%4 called &ack the 'uard) 4But I-" 'lad it conked out) I onl# wish I could 'et
"# hands on #ou!4
42ee( tr#in'% /i"!4 the other Ballin'er ur'ed) 4We-$e 'ot to 'et 'oin') We ha$e to 'et out
of here!4
A'ain and a'ain the# (ressed the starter% &ut the "otor refused to catch)
Chris chuckled with "erri"ent)
4I (ull wires off s(ark (lu's%4 he said) 4I fi+ the") The# will not 'o an# (lace) Now we
'o 'et "en fro" ca"( and the# take care of these fellows)4
But &efore the three &o#s could "o$e% the# heard the sound of "otors roarin' towards the
island) Two &oats ca"e racin' towards the"% searchli'hts sta&&in' throu'h the darkness)
The Ballin'ers acted with (anick# s(eed) 9sin' oars as (addles% the# "o$ed the
"otor&oat close to the shore) The# lea(ed out and started runnin'% directl# towards the
hidden &o#s)
Chris stood u()
4We sto( the"!4 he #elled e+citedl#) 4The# do not 'et awa#!4
Chris (icked u( a len'th of driftwood and scra"&led &ehind a &i' rock) As the first of the
fleein' cri"inals ca"e o((osite hi"% Chris thrust out the stick and /i" Ballin'er went
s(rawlin' on the &each)
Bill Ballin'er tri((ed o$er hi" and fell% too) Chris (ounced on the" like a s"all
whirlwind) 4,ou 'et "e (ut in 6ail!4 he shouted) 4,ou "ake (eo(le think I a" thief! I
show #ou!4
He wra((ed his ar"s round /i" Ballin'er% (re$entin' hi" fro" risin') Bill Ballin'er
hauled Chris off and threw hi" to one side) He fell a'ainst Bo& and Pete% who were 6ust
co"in' to his aid)
But as the three &o#s s(rawled on the 'round% another ele"ent entered the fi'ht) To"
*arrada# ca"e char'in' u( and hurled hi"self at the two Ballin'ers) All three went down
in a furiousl# fi'htin' "ass)
4Cheat "e out of "# share% will #ou!4 the 'uard was shoutin') 40ea$e "e to face the
"usic alone!4
1es(ite his disa&led ar"% To" *arrada# was as stron' as a &ull) The Ballin'ers could not
'et awa# fro" hi") The three "en rolled down the &each and into the water with a 'reat
s(lash) After a few "o"ents of fren;ied stru''le% To" *arrada# had forced the
Ballin'ers- heads &eneath the water) The# went li"()
40et the" u(!4 a $oice roared) 4,ou-ll drown the"!4
The &o#s had &een so en'rossed in the fi'ht the# had not seen the two &oats run u( on the
&each a few feet awa#) Se$eral "en lea(ed ashore) Chief of Police Nosti'on (la#ed the
&ea" of a (owerful flashli'ht on the three "en in the water) In his other hand he held a
re$ol$er)
40et the" u(% To"% #ou hear "e54 he shouted a'ain)
But the 'uard see"ed intent on drownin' his two acco"(lices) It took four "en to (ull
hi" loose fro" Bill and /i" Ballin'er% who were hauled out of the water 'as(in' weakl#
for &reath)
When all three "en had &een handcuffed% Chief Nosti'on flashed his li'ht round and saw
Chris% Pete and Bo&)
4Well% #ou &o#s are all ri'ht% (raises &e!4 Chief Nosti'on said) 4But Chris% how the
dickens do #ou ha((en to &e here54
4He sa$ed us and ke(t the Ballin'ers fro" esca(in'% Chief%4 Bo& said 8uickl#) 4But 'oll#%
how did #ou 'et here5 1id #ou 'uess the Ballin'ers would &e co"in' after their hidden
"one# toni'ht54
4I-" afraid not%4 Chief Nosti'on said) 4I ne$er drea"ed the#-d stashed awa# their holdu(
loot on Skeleton Island) ,ou can thank #our friend /u(iter /ones) He ca"e down to the
(olice station a&out fort# "inutes a'o with a wild tale a&out hidden "one# and the
Ballin'ers (ro&a&l# 'oin' after it toni'ht &ecause to"orrow would &e too late)
4I don-t know wh# I listened to hi"% &ut I did)
Rounded u( so"e "en and ca"e out here.and &# 'osh% he was a&solutel# ri'ht!4
He turned) 4/u(iter5 Where are #ou5 Here are #our friends% safe and sound)4
/u(iter cli"&ed out of the "otor.&oat on to the shore) He ca"e trud'in' towards the")
4It was stu(id of "e to send #ou out here without sto((in' to think that the Ballin'ers
would &e co"in' for the "one# toni'ht%4 he said) 4It didn-t occur to "e until half an hour
later) Then I went to 'et the chief)4
4But #ou did think of it%4 Pete said lo#all#) 4That-s what counts)4
4,ou-d ha$e thou'ht of it sooner if #ou didn-t ha$e a cold%4 Bo& added) 4Colds alwa#s
slow a fellow down)4
4I.4 /u(e &e'an) 4I. Achoo!4
4There-s enou'h credit for e$er#&od#%4 Chief Nosti'on said fir"l#) 4Between the four of
#ou% #ou-$e sol$ed the secret of Skeleton Island% reco$ered the stolen "one#% and 'ot the
cri"inals ca(tured) That-s not a &ad ni'ht-s work) Now #ou can lea$e the rest u( to us) It-s
ti"e #ou all 'ot &ack to the "ainland and into &ed)4
/u(iter let out another 'reat snee;e) It sounded as if he a'reed)
3E
Re(ort to Alfred Hitchcock
A0*RE1 HITCHCC2 looked down at the little (ile of 'old dou&loons on his desk)
4I see #ou found it% after all%4 he said with a chuckle) 4I said there was no (irate treasure
left% #et #ou found so"e)4
4nl# fort#.fi$e dou&loons%4 /u(iter said re'retfull#) 4It reall# isn-t a $er# &i' treasure)4
4But treasure nonetheless% and a $er# interestin' sou$enir%4 7r) Hitchcock said) 4Now tell
"e% #oun' /u(iter% how did #ou deduce that the stolen "one# fro" the 1ollar 1eli$er#
holdu( was hidden on Skeleton Island54
4Well% sir%4 /u(iter said% 4it see"ed o&$ious so"eone wanted e$er#&od# to sta# awa#
fro" Skeleton Island) That was wh# the stories of the (hanto" were s(read around) I
deduced there was so"ethin' there so"eone was afraid "i'ht &e found) The onl# thin'
of $alue that had &een "entioned was the 1ollar 1eli$er# hold.u( loot)
4The stor# of how the Ballin'ers a((arentl# du"(ed it at sea was re"arka&l# si"ilar to
the "ethod Ca(tain ne.Ear used to fool the British) I concluded that the Ballin'ers had
actuall# hidden the "one# and then fooled (eo(le into thinkin' it had &een lost for e$er)4
4E+cellent thinkin'!4 7r) Hitchcock said) 4I su((ose that after the Ballin'ers were sent to
6ail the# instructed their friends and relati$es to kee( on s(readin' false stories of seein'
the (hanto")4
4,es% sir) 7eanwhile To" *arrada# was han'in' around% waitin' for the Ballin'ers to &e
released) ne third of the loot was his for hel(in' set u( the hold.u(% and the# had told
hi" that when the# 'ot out the# would (a# hi" off) But he didn-t know where it was)4
4r he "i'ht ha$e taken it all)4 7r) Hitchcock chuckled) 4When the Ballin'ers 'ot out of
6ail% the# "ust ha$e &een $er# shocked to find the "o$ie co"(an# actuall# ca"(in' on
Skeleton Island)4
4,es% sir% the# were%4 /u(iter said) 4The# didn-t dare 'o for the "one# while so"eone was
around) So the# tried to dri$e the "o$ie co"(an# awa# &# thie$er# and sa&ota'e at ni'ht)
When 7r) Norris hired To" *arrada#% To" 6ust carried on the work he did the "ischief
while (retendin' to 'uard the e8ui("ent)4
4Includin' (lantin' #oun' Chris-s knife and tr#in' to fra"e hi"% eh54 the director said)
4,es% sir) Also startin' u( the "err#.'o.round that first ni'ht we arri$ed to hel( s(read the
idea that the (hanto" was around)4
4A (oint I would like to clear u() E+actl# wh# were #ou "arooned on The Hand &# that
fellow Sa" Ro&inson as soon as #ou arri$ed5 Not reall# to scare #ou into 'oin' ho"e
a'ain% a((arentl#)4
4No% sir) I was wron' on that (oint) Bill Ballin'er fi'ured that e$er#&od# in the "o$ie
co"(an# would 'o huntin' for us and the island would &e deserted e+ce(t for To"
*arrada#) Then the# could hurr# out and 'et the hidden "one#)
4But the stor" (re$ented the" fro" startin' for the island ri'ht awa#) Then Chris rescued
us% and the search (art# returned &efore the Ballin'ers could 'o out and 'et their "one#)
So that foiled their sche"e that ni'ht)4
4I see%4 the director "ur"ured) 4Then% of course% when it &eca"e known that hundreds of
(eo(le would con$er'e on the island to di' for treasure% the Ballin'ers had to take the risk
of co"in' for it i""ediatel#) That-s how Pete and Bo& 'ot cau'ht)4
4,es% sir%4 /u(iter said hu"&l#) 4I should ha$e reali;ed that first thin') But Bo& and Pete
were 'one &efore it ca"e to "e% so I hurried to the chief of (olice)4
4That see"s to clear u( al"ost e$er#thin'%4 7r) Hitchcock said) 4Howe$er% I ha$e two
"ore 8uestions) How did the "o$ie turn out% and what &eca"e of #oun' Chris and his
father54 4The "o$ie turned out fine) 7r) Crenshaw 'ot the roller coaster fi+ed u( as soon
as e$er#one learned the 'host was 6ust a hoa+) The final scene of Chase 7e *aster was
$er# e+citin')
4Also% 7r) 1enton 'ot a 'ood short su&6ect fro" the treasure hunt) He used Chris in it
instead of us% and showed Chris di$in' for treasure to hel( his father) The (art with the
towns(eo(le di''in' on the island was $er# co"ical)
4But the &est (art of all is that the 1ollar 1eli$er# (eo(le (aid a reward for the return of
the "one#) Chief Nosti'on and 7r) Crenshaw said that it should 'o to Chris% &ecause he
was the one who sa$ed Bo&-s and Pete-s li$es and ke(t the Ballin'ers fro" 'ettin' awa#
with the "one#) That and the "one# he earned fro" the "o$ie was enou'h to ha$e his
father treated &# so"e $er# 'ood doctors% and take hi" &ack to Greece to li$e)
4He let us kee( his share of the dou&loons) Skin.di$ers did rush to e+(lore the ca$e Bo&
and Pete and Chris found% &ut the# onl# 'ot a few "ore dou&loons) 7ost of what Ca(tain
ne.Ear (oured down that &lowhole had &een washed awa#% I 'uess)4
4H""%4 said Alfred Hitchcock) 4Well% lads% #ou ha$e 6ustified "# faith in #ou and I will
&e 'lad to introduce #our account of this ad$enture) If an# other in$esti'ation of an
unusual nature co"es u(% #ou "a# &e sure I-ll 'et in touch with #ou)4
4Thank #ou% sir)4
The &o#s stood u() Pete 'athered the dou&loons on the desk and (ut the" in a sack)
4We-re sa$in' these for our colle'e education fund%4 he said) 4But we all thou'ht that
since #ou sent us to Skeleton Island% #ou "i'ht like one for a sou$enir)4
He handed 7r) Hitchcock the &est (reser$ed of the dou&loons) The director took it with a
s"ile)
4Thank #ou% "# &o#%4 he said) 4I-ll treasure it)4
As the three filed out% he tossed the dou&loon in his fin'ers)
4Real (irate treasure%4 he said to hi"self with a s"ile) 4Who would ha$e thou'ht the#-d
find it5 I can-t hel( wonderin' what kind of "#ster# are those &o#s 'oin' to find
the"sel$es in$ol$ed with ne+t54