The Secret of Wildcat Swamp Read Online Free Page A

casually. “We wondered how you can fly without license numbers.”
    â€œThat’s none of your business!” the man snapped. “It’s due for a new paint job at the end of this run, since you’re so worried about it. Now I’ll thank you to move on.”
    He turned to the gas-truck driver. “Get me a taxi,” he said.
    The driver nodded, completed his refueling job, and rode off with the pilot. At the same moment Cap Bailey pulled up in an old-fashioned rented car, and the boys put the luggage on its roof. Then they set off for the fossil area. Twenty minutes later they reached the famous spot.
    â€œThe sand really has a greenish look,” Frank observed.
    Cap smiled. “You’ll find that the study of fossils is pretty interesting. Paleontologists who dig for them are the detectives of the past, and fossils are their clues. You can tell from them what the climate was and if the place where they lie buried was dry land or ocean. The land we’re standing on was once deep beneath the sea.”
    â€œThis far inland?” Joe asked.
    â€œEven farther. This green sand was left behind by an immense sea that covered the eastern part of the country many centuries after brachiopods became extinct. By the way, this sand is very good fertilizer.”
    â€œLike cheese, eh? When it’s green, it’s ripe!” Joe quipped.
    The conversation turned to more serious matters. Cap asked the boys if they felt sure they had eluded any pursuers interested in stealing his map of Wildcat Swamp.
    â€œI don’t trust that pilot who flew in right after we did,” Frank answered.
    â€œSince we seem to be watched,” Joe said, “maybe we ought to rig up a booby trap.”
    â€œWhat kind?” Cap asked.
    â€œWell, if I were after any papers of yours, I’d figure they were in that brief case you carry. Let’s take out what’s important and leave the case in the car. Then we can walk out into the dry lake, circle around, and watch.”
    â€œAnd in case someone takes that brief case, how about a little of this powder?” Frank suggested as he opened one of the bags and took out a plastic vial.
    â€œWhat is it?” Bailey asked.
    â€œA special dye powder. We’ll sprinkle it lightly over your brief case. It’s the same color as the leather, but if anyone gets it on his hands, a blue stain will show up in a few minutes. And he’ll have a terrible time washing it off.”
    â€œWe may not catch the villain red-handed, but we’ll sure catch him blue-handed.” Joe chuckled.
    The trap was laid quickly and the car parked in plain sight. The three worked their way across the dry lake bed, around boulders, and through scraggly stunted brush toward the top of a hill.
    But before they could reach the summit, a voice hailed them, “Hey there! What are you up to?”
    Cap and the Hardys stopped in their tracks and turned. A uniformed policeman had dismounted from a horse and was hurrying toward them.
    â€œI’ve been watching you,” the officer puffed. “You don’t act like fossil hunters to me. I patrol this area every day—lots of professor guys get lost out here—but you’re not fossil men. You don’t even have any equipment.”
    Cap told the policeman of the trap they had just laid and why. “Will you help us?” the teacher asked.
    The policeman became interested. “Hm! Sounds exciting, and nothing exciting ever happens out here. My inspection’s over. I’ll go along with you.”
    He plodded behind the others up the low hill and crouched with them in a clump of thick brush.
    Joe whispered excitedly after a few minutes, “Look!”
    There was a movement in the weeds near the car. Suddenly two men stood upright and glanced about furtively. Then, swiftly and silently, they moved to the car and opened a rear door.

CHAPTER V
    Into Perilous