The Mummy Case Read Online Free PDF

shape.
    When it was safely in place, the boys went upstairs to the bridge and introduced themselves to Captain Baker.
    â€œI’m glad to see you,” Baker declared. “I’ve been informed about you, and you have my permission to visit the hold at any time to see your cargo. I’ve assigned you to a cabin on the starboard side near the hold to make it easier for you. I hope you enjoy your voyage.”
    â€œAre we stopping anywhere along the way?” Joe asked.
    â€œJust once. We’ll be headed across the Atlantic to the Strait of Gilbraltar and then into the Mediterranean. After passing the island of Rubassa, we get to Cyprus where well make our only stop. From there, it’s a straight run to Egypt.”
    â€œThat makes it easy to watch the mummy,” Frank said. “It can’t go anywhere while we’re at sea.”
    â€œIt would have to be a long-distance swimmer to reach land from the middle of the ocean,” the captain said with a grin. “Well, you might as well check out your cabin. It’s almost time to put to sea.”
    Frank and Joe found that their cabin had a porthole and two bunks, one above the other, on the opposite wall.
    â€œI’ll toss you for the lower,” Frank said, producing a quarter. “Call while it’s in the air.” He flipped the coin.
    Joe called “heads” and won. Happily he sat down on the lower bunk. Frank climbed into the upper and complained about the lack of space.
    â€œYou couldn’t get a quarter between me and the ceiling,” he grumbled. “The mummy has more space than I do!”
    â€œWell, the pharaoh knows better than to sit up,” Joe kidded his brother. “Say, the ship’s moving. Want to go topside and watch?”
    By the time they reached the deck, the Admiral Halsey was sailing down the Hudson. The skyscrap ers of lower Manhattan fell behind and they passed the Statue of Liberty. Soon the freighter was churning through the waves of the Atlantic. The land disappeared, and they were on the high seas.
    â€œWhat’ll we do now?” Joe asked. “We can’t spend all our time in the hold watching the mummy!”
    â€œNo need to,” his brother agreed. “It’s safe. But we should check on it a couple of times a day just to make sure it doesn’t get damaged. Let’s go down and see that it’s secure.”
    They descended the metal steps into the hold. Before they reached the bottom, Frank suddenly stopped short and grabbed Joe’s arm.
    â€œWhat‘s—?”
    â€œSh!” Frank pointed to the left of the hold. Across a pile of boxes and bales stood the mummy crate. A man in sailor’s clothing was kneeling beside it! Apparently he had not heard the boys.
    â€œWhat’s he up to?” Joe whispered.
    â€œI don’t know, but we’d better find out. Let’s try to get down and hide so we can watch him.”
    Stealthily, the Hardys tiptoed down the steps. But then the freighter lurched in a heavy wave and threw Joe against a pile of boxes. The man scrambled to his feet and turned around. When he saw the Hardys, he darted off between the cargo!
    Frank and Joe raced after him. He slipped into a side aisle past a file of automobiles. When the boys reached the corner, the fugitive was nowhere to be seen!
    â€œI’ll go left,” Frank panted. “You circle around on the other side. Maybe we can trap him between us.”
    Joe turned right and quickly made his way past the cars. At the end of the line, he moved around to the other side. About halfway down, a mass of crates made him halt.
    In the semidarkness of the hold, he heard furtive sounds on the other side. Someone was coming toward him! Joe retreated into the shadows and waited with bated breath. He was ready to jump the man the moment he appeared.
    He saw a hand reaching up to the top of a big crate. Quickly he grabbed it and pulled its owner up! Then he