042 The Viking Symbol Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI

Surprise Tactics

“HANG on!” Frank shouted, holding the throttle hard ahead.

The plane banked sharply on its side. As the towering black-green spruce trees loomed up at them, the three passengers braced themselves for a collision.

But the old craft responded instantly and slipped across the trees, riding on the left wing. The boys could hear the boughs scrape the underside of the plane. The floats jerked as they were caught momentarily, then released by the tree-tops.

Frank righted the plane, pulling back hard on the stick. The craft was in the clear!

“Whew!” He let out his breath slowly, blinking as his taut nerves relaxed. “That was a tight one!” He could hear sighs of relief from his companions.

Joe leaned forward in his seat and gripped Frank’s shoulder. “Pretty fancy flying, brother!” he said, and Chet and Caribou added their praise.

“It was a good workout,” Frank said modestly. “Now back to the search.”

He circled the aircraft over the lake again, staying higher this time. Grimly Joe pointed to the submerged logs on each side of the wrecked plane. They were roped together.

“Those logs were put there deliberately,” he said. “Someone went to a lot of trouble to booby-trap us!”

“The thieves know we hunt for them,” Caribou muttered. “We must be very careful!”

The plane cruised over the lake and wooded area again. There was no one in sight, nor was there any trace of a plane.

“Wonder where the gang found that wreck?” Joe mused.

“It could have been abandoned somewhere in these woods,” Frank suggested. “And they dragged it out onto the lake.”

“That would have been a tough job,” Chet remarked.

“Let’s get back to Fort Smith and report this to the Mounties,” Frank suggested. “Maybe they know something about it.”

The others agreed, and they headed back to town. As they approached the landing, Frank radioed ahead for clearance. When he set down he taxied straight to the RCMP jetty. They went at once to the office. Corporal Fergus was there and listened intently to their story.

“Could that abandoned plane have been found in the woods, Corporal?” asked Frank.

“One was wrecked up there in the bush some time ago,” Fergus replied. “Whoever dragged it out to the lake must know the area well.”

“Why?” Chet asked.

“Not too many people were familiar with the location of that wreck,” the corporal answered.

“Would Abner Dulac be familiar with that territory, Caribou?” Frank asked suddenly.

“Oui.” Caribou nodded. “That Dulac run his traplines through there many times.”

“I’ve been trying to figure out why Dulac trailed us from Edmonton,” Frank said. “One reason could be he’s mixed up with the rune stone theft.”

“Sounds possible,” Joe agreed. “And he either was on his way to warn his buddies about us, or wanted to stop our sleuthing cold—or both.”

“He is a snake. He would do it,” Caribou declared angrily.

Corporal Fergus said he would send several Mounted Police up to the area of the abandoned plane to look around. If they reported anything suspicious, he would let the Hardys know.

When the brothers and their friends started back along the jetty toward their craft, Joe suddenly stopped.

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