Hardy Boys Mystery Series by 13

Author:13 [13]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2010-08-22T23:31:36.705000+00:00

CHAPTER XIV

THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELEE

"they've given us the slip!" cried Frank. "They've broken camp and gone back to the

mountains after all."

"We'll never find them now!" said Joe disconsolately.

Yaqui and the stranger exchanged a few more •words. Then the Mexican rode away, the

burro bells tinkling solemnly as he resumed his lonely journey across the sand wastes.

"Can't we set out after them, Yaqui?" asked Frank desperately. "We must free that

prisoner. ''

"If only the soldiers would come," Joe groaned.

Yaqui stood up, shaded his eyes, and gazed out across the desert for several minutes.

Finally he shook his head.

"No soldiers yet," he murmured. Then, turning to the boys, he said, '' These people are

far ahead. It will be easy to follow their trail across the desert, but we may lose them when

"We reach the hills. Yet we can try."

us

116 The Mark on the Door

"Let's do so by all means," declared Frank. "It's our only chance. The soldiers may not

get here until tomorrow.''

"Tomorrow will be too late," said Yaqui. "If we are to follow the trail we must set out at

once."

It was aggravating to think that the solution of the mystery had been snatched out of their

grasp in the very moment of success. The Hardy boys were convinced that the presence of

the American prisoner in the desert camp was the answer to the riddle of Tremmer's

disappearance.

"Soldiers or no soldiers," Frank said, his jaw set with determination,'' we 're going to

follow those oasis people!"

Their preparations completed, the boys mounted their ponies. Yaqui swung himself

lightly into his saddle and the group started out toward the fertile spot where the natives had

been camping. The Indian set the pace.

It was not yet sunset when they reached the oasis. The waters of the pool looked cool

and inviting in the shade, a welcome in direct contrast to the harsh bleakness of the desert

surrounding it.

The camp was, of course, deserted. Yaqui dismounted and examined the tracks in the

sand made by those who had left.

"Their burros are heavily loaded," he said

The Mysterious Traveler 117

at last. "They will travel slowly. Perhaps we may be able to overtake them before they

reach the edge of the desert."

The boys were hot and tired after their ride, and seized the opportunity to bathe in the

waters of the lagoon, and to take a much-needed rest in the cool shade.

As Joe stretched himself at full length, his toe suddenly touched an odd-shaped stone.

The boy peered down at the mineral.

"What's the matter?" queried Frank. "Thought you were going to sleep."

"That rock never belonged here," muttered his brother. "It was brought to this spot by

some one."

The Hardys, scenting a mystery, at once forgot their fatigue. They lifted the peculiarly

marked stone and set it to one side.

"Now, I wish I were a ground hog," laughed Joe. "I'd like to do a little digging."

"What do you think you would find?"

"I confess I don't know what to expect. But I really believe this is a marked spot. Let's do

a little excavating."

Frank agreed. Furiously the boys drew aside great heaps of earth. Suddenly Joe's hand

touched an object.

"I've found something," lie exclaimed excitedly.

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