The Hooded Hawk Mystery Read Online Free PDF

moment the watchman ran up with a hand line from a nearby hydrant, and the blaze was soon extinguished. But the boathouse was badly damaged.
    The Bayport fire engines turned into the waterfront street. When the chief discovered that things were under control, he sent his men back but remained himself to talk to the boys.
    â€œHow did the fire start?” he asked.
    â€œThere was an explosion,” Joe replied and told what had happened. After a quick inspection, the chief agreed that an arsonist was responsible.
    When the fire chief had left and the watchman had returned to his shack, Joe pulled the wad of paper from his pocket. “This might tell us something,” he said to Frank. “But it’s too dark to read here.”
    The boys went to their boat and got a flashlight. To their amazement they saw that the printing was in a strange, oriental-looking script.
    â€œIt might have been printed in India,” Frank said, “and if so, one of the smugglers could have set the fire.”
    â€œThere’s one man who can tell us if you’re right,” Joe reflected. “Ahmed.”
    â€œThink he’ll be up this late?”
    They decided that it would be worth a try. As they were about to leave, Joe suddenly halted and exclaimed, “Wait! We almost forgot the hawk!”
    While he went to retrieve the falcon, Frank made arrangements with the watchman to leave the Sleuth at another dock. Then they drove to the small bungalow where Ahmed lived. The house was brightly lighted. They rang the bell, and the rug dealer admitted the boys and their falcon. He led them into an attractive living room, furnished in oriental style.
    Frank and Joe took turns supplying Ahmed with the details of their exploits. Frowning in concern, he spread the sheet of newspaper on a bronze table. He scanned the lines closely, then turned to his callers.
    â€œIt is part of a story which reports that Tava, the son of Satish Nayyar, a well-known industrialist from the Province of Hatavab where I come from, will visit the United States. The boy is eighteen and is to finish his education in this country. Satish Nayyar is one of the richest men in India and has a reputation of being a great humanitarian as well. Incidentally, the dateline on this paper is Delhi, two months past.”
    Ahmed glanced over the rest of the newspaper but found nothing in any of the other items that could be interpreted as a clue to the identity of the arsonist.
    Frank asked, “How many persons around Bayport would be likely to read a newspaper from India?”
    â€œA dozen, perhaps. I have six men from Delhi working for me, and there must be an equal number employed on the fishing boats in the vicinity.”
    â€œThank you very much, Ahmed,” Frank said, rising. “This information may shed some light on our case.”
    The Hardys said good night, returned to their car, and headed for home.
    They were up early the next morning. After breakfast Frank telephoned a builder, who agreed to start repairing the boathouse shortly. Then Frank called the local airport and found that they would have to postpone their aerial search for the smugglers’ hideout, since the helicopter pilot was busy for the rest of that day.
    Later that morning, Frank and Joe had a conference with Chief Collig about the fire and left the sheet from the Delhi newspaper with him. The chief promised to look into the matter.
    â€œJoe,” Frank said as they left police headquarters, “if we’re going to use our hawk to help solve the mystery, we’d better do some more practicing.”
    â€œRight. Let’s go out to Chet’s after lunch.” The Hardys decided to walk and carry the bird, since this would give the falcon an opportunity to become accustomed to them. Frank hooded Miss Peregrine as Joe picked up the falconer’s bag, and they started out.
    The boys talked all the way, knowing that it was important for the falcon to