The Yellow Yacht Read Online Free PDF Page A

wall,” Josh added.
    Dink shook his head, and water drops flew from his hair. “I think Dr. Skor put that note in the tunnel, where the cops could find it,” he said. “I’ll bet he had his crew dig the tunnel. He wanted the cops to think Riko and Mr. Baz pulled off the robbery.”
    “But what about the gold scraping we saw on the backhoe shovel?” Sammi asked.
    “That was another of Dr. Skor’s fake clues,” Dink said. “The cops would search for the gold on land, but the gold is really on his boat.”
    Hugo gazed across the water at
Sundown.
“Why do you think it’s on his boat, Dink?”
    “The first time we saw
Sundown
, there was a green stripe above the waterline,” Dink said. He pointed acrossthe harbor at
Sundown.
“But look, there’s no green stripe now. It came to me when I saw the rocks weighing down the sunken boat. The gold is making
Sundown
heavier! The green stripe is still there, only we can’t see it now because it’s underwater!”
    Five pairs of eyes stared across the harbor at
Sundown.
    “Where could it be hidden?” Ruth Rose asked.

    “If I stole that gold, I’d stash it under the boat,” Hugo said. “If the cops searched
Sundown
, they’d never think oflooking on the bottom of the boat.”
    Hugo switched on the boat’s engine. “Haul up the anchor, Sammi,” he said. “Let’s check out the
Sundown.”
    Hugo motored slowly toward the yellow yacht. “Try not to look suspicious,” he said quietly. “Pretend we’re just cruising around the harbor.”
    Hugo pulled up to
Sundown’s
anchor chain and tied up next to Dr. Skor’s small dinghy. He slowed the engine so the motor was barely making a sound.
    “We’re behind the boat, so unless someone’s on the rear deck, they can’t see us,” Hugo whispered.
    Dink squinted up at the deck. “I don’t see anyone,” he said. “Dr. Skor told us he takes naps in the afternoon.”
    “Okay,” Hugo said, reaching for his mask. “I’m going in. If anyone says anything, just tell them I’m checking something on my motor.”
    Hugo donned his mask and flippersand slipped over the side. He took a deep breath and disappeared beneath the water.
    The four kids stared at the spot where Hugo went under. They saw him disappear in the shadowy water under
Sundown.
    They counted the seconds, holding their breath for Hugo.
    Suddenly a voice came from the rear deck of
Sundown.
“What’re you doing down there? You can’t tie up on our anchor line!”
    The kids looked up. They saw the man who had been making their lunches in
Sundown’s
galley.
    Dink gulped. Before he could form an answer, Hugo’s face broke the surface. He blew out the breath he’d been holding, then hoisted himself into his boat.
    “Is that your boat?” the man on the deck shouted down.
    “Yes, sir,” Hugo shouted back. “Had a little trouble with my propeller, but it’s okay now.”
    Hugo untied his line and pulled away. He turned toward the dock and revved up.
    “Did you see anything?” Dink asked. He was trembling all over, and it wasn’t from the boat’s vibrations.
    “Oh yeah,” Hugo said with a big grin on his face. “I saw plenty!”
    “Did you find my father’s gold?” Sammi asked.
    “Yes, it’s there,” he said. “Skor built a steel cage between the keel and the propeller. The gold is stacked in the cage.”
    The kids all looked back at
Sundown.
    “He told us he’s leaving port today,” Ruth Rose said.
    “He can’t sail because there’s no wind,” Hugo said. “Which means he has to use his motor. The good news is his motor is small. He can’t go very fast.”

Hugo dropped the kids off on the dock. “Run and get your father,” he said. “I’m going back out there to keep an eye on
Sundown!”
    With Sammi in the lead, the kids raced for the castle. The king was on the telephone in his office when they burst in.
    The king looked up. “Sammi, I’m talking to the police. Can you pl—”
    “We found the gold!” Sammi blurted