The Secret of Pirates' Hill Read Online Free

highly esteemed on ac. count of their range and effectiveness of fire. Their thick walls, long bores, and heavy powder charges made them the most deadly of field-pieces.’ ”
    â€œAnd Bowden is telling us he wants to mount a fieldpiece on a pirate ship!” Frank muttered,
    Joe shrugged. “That’s what he’s telling us. I wonder what he really wants the cannon for.”
    Half a mile farther down the highway, Frank pulled up in front of the Garden Gate Motel. The clerk told them Bowden was in Room 15.
    â€œThere it is!” Joe said, spotting the number. He knocked on the door. There was no answer.
    â€œHey, this looks like a note,” Frank said, eying a paper pinned below the doorknob.
    â€œMaybe it’s for us,” Joe suggested.
    Frank read the message aloud: “ ‘Bowden! Clear out before it’s too late!’ ”
    â€œWow! I Our friend has an enemy!” Joe remarked. “Do you think this will drive him away?”
    Frank shook his head. “I doubt it. He wants that cannon too badly. Well, let’s go to Delmore and stop here on our way back.”
    The detour they had to make took the boys past the farm of their friend Chet Morton. Chet was eighteen, roly-poly, good-natured, and loved to eat. Solving mysteries with the Hardys always gave him the jitters. Despite this, he was a loyal assistant and on more than one occasion had rescued them from dangerous predicaments.
    â€œLet’s stop a minute,” Joe suggested, seeing Chet’s sister Iola near the swimming pool.
    Frank grinned knowingly. Joe and Iola dated frequently. He pulled into the driveway. The boys got out and walked toward the pretty dark-haired girl.
    â€œHi! she said.
    â€œHello, there,” Joe said. “Where’s Chet?”
    Iola pointed to the pool. Their stout friend was underwater, wearing flippers and a snorkel. He traveled slowly, the snorkel moving like the periscope of a miniature submarine.
    â€œAhoy!” Joe yelled as they ran to the water’s edge.
    Chet continued moving about like a walrus. But finally he emerged and removed the face mask and flippers.
    â€œHi, fellows!” he called. “I’m having a hard time learning this. Can’t get down deep enough.”
    â€œWhat’s the trouble?” Joe asked. “That extra fat you carry around make you too buoyant?”
    â€œNow, listen here,” said Chet, “just because I know good food when I see it—”
    Then he changed the subject, telling them he was going to take lessons in skin diving from the same man who had taught the Hardys.
    â€œSwell,” said Joe.
    â€œI can’t start, though, until I earn enough money to buy all the gear.”
    â€œDon’t let that worry you,” Frank spoke up. “I’ll lend you my outfit.”
    â€œThanks. And now bring me up to date on everything that’s happened lately.”
    The Hardys had just finished telling Chet and Iola about Bowden, the mysterious cyclist, and the skin-diving attack, when they saw a car driving in. At the wheel sat Callie Shaw, an attractive girl with blond hair and sparkling brown eyes. She was Iola’s friend and Frank’s regular date.
    Callie alighted, and after greeting everyone, said, “I’m glad you’re all here. I wanted to talk over plans for our Fourth-of-July beach party. Tony Prito is coming with us too.”
    Tony, a schoolmate and fellow athlete at Bayport High, had been through many adventures with the Hardys.
    â€œLet’s have a clambake like last year,” Chet suggested.
    Suddenly Frank grabbed Joe’s arm. “Look over there! A man’s spying on us!”
    He had seen someone peering from behind a tree near the road. The quick glimpse of a black jacket led Frank to believe that the man might be the wanted motorcyclist!
    â€œCome on, Joe!” he whispered, starting to run.
    Instantly the man raced off. Having the advantage of a