Mystery of Crocodile Island (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories #55) by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery & Detective, Mystery, Fiction
ISBN: 9780448095554
Amazon: B00D0482Q2
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Published: 1978-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XII

Child in Danger

Captain Smith turned over the picture George had pointed out. He read the names on the back and said, "This fellow is Giuseppe Matthews. I'll look up his record."

After a search in several volumes, he came across the item. "Matthews went AWOL," Captain Smith explained, "and was never heard from again. Why did you ask about him?"

George replied, "We've met a man who looks very much like the one in this picture. He's older, but there's a strong resemblance."

"Where did you see him?" Captain Smith asked.

"Out in the bay, near Crocodile Island. If he's the same person, he's using a different name now."

"What is it?" Smith inquired.

"Matt Carmen or Breck Tobin," George answered. "We were never introduced so we don't know which name goes with whom."

"You realize, of course, that we're still looking for Matthews," Captain Smith said. "And that we'll have to arrest him when we find him. Can you tell me where these men live?"

For a moment George hesitated. "What if one of them is the wrong person?" she asked. "I wouldn't want to get anyone in trouble."

"If they're not Giuseppe Matthews, they won't get into trouble," the captain pointed out.

"We saw a boat called The Whisper," Danny said. "We checked in a registry of ships and learned that it belongs to two men from Bridgeport, Connecticut. One of them is Matt Carmen, the other Breck Tobin."

Captain Smith wrote the information on a pad, and said he would follow up the lead. Then he checked another set of records for proof that the note in the bottle was authentic. Finally he smiled.

"Here it is," he said. "This is really amazing. A ship named Venerable was last heard from in Argentina. Her captain was George Wayne. This is the first message received since then."

"No one reported that she was wrecked?" Bess asked.

"No. And this note must have traveled at least ten thousand miles. I presume it would be considered part of the Venerable's records, so I'd like to keep it if you don't mind."

"Of course not," George said.

"Perhaps we can locate relatives of the captain and the crew, who would like to see it," Captain Smith added. He thanked the girls for bringing him their find and remarked, "The government may give you a citation for this."

George grinned. "That would be fun. I've never had one."

The girls said good-by to the captain and returned home. There was plenty of exciting conversation as they exchanged stories with Nancy. Mr. and Mrs. Cosgrove listened and were thunderstruck at all that had been learned.

"Each day you prove more and more what good detectives you are," their host complimented them.

"But we haven't solved anything yet," Nancy reminded him. She turned to George. "Did you ask Captain Smith about the periscope?"

"Oh dear, I didn't even think of that," George said. "But we can go back another time and inquire if he's ever heard of a sub around here."

Nancy wanted to go out in the skiff the following day, but Mr. Cosgrove said that he had had the craft out in the morning and found that it had been tampered with.

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