Free The Wailing Siren Mystery by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

queried.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThere’s an old shack off in the woods,” Frank said, pointing to the direction from which they had come. “Anybody live there?”
    â€œListen, I ain’t answering any more of your nebby questions,” the woodsman said curtly. “Now clear out of here and don’t let me see you around these parts again!” He cracked his whip. “Get going!”
    Joe thrust out his chin in determination. “We’ll go,” he said, “but we don’t intend to be ordered around like your animals!”
    The man merely glared as the Hardys retreated into the woods, following the trail over which they had come. When they were out of earshot of the woodsman, they stopped to talk over the situation.
    â€œI sure don’t care for that guy!” Joe said.
    â€œSame here. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw a haystack,” Frank agreed.
    â€œHis story about breeding wolves for zoos sounded awfully fishy.”
    â€œOf course. It’s obvious he’s training the wolves to attack people. But why?”
    â€œProbably to scare them out of the woods. The critter that chased me just before I fell into the pit looked an awful lot like Saber,” Joe said.
    Suddenly Frank stiffened. “Listen!”
    In the distance he had detected the sound of something crashing through the brush.
    â€œSaber!” Joe exclaimed. “The man let him loose!”
    â€œUp a tree!” Frank urged.
    The boys raced through the forest until they spotted a couple of fir trees they could climb readily. Leaping to the lowest branches, they pulled themselves up into the trees.
    The Hardys were barely a safe distance off the ground when Saber reached them. Snarling and snapping, he pawed at one trunk and then the other. Joe broke off a branch and hurled it down, hitting the wolf on the nose. The infuriated ani mal howled and ran in circles around the tree.
    â€œThis beast may not let us down for days,” Joe remarked woefully.
    â€œThere’s one way we can catch him,” Frank said hopefully. “With a pole and noose. There’s a branch above you that’s pretty straight.”
    Joe climbed up. He cut off the branch and quickly stripped it of twigs and leaves.
    â€œI have a coil of small rope in my pocket,” Frank said, pulling it out.
    He threw it across to Joe, who fastened a noose to the end of the pole.
    Joe dangled the pole and the noose close to the ground. The wolf snapped at it. With a deft twist, the boy flung the rope over Saber’s head.
    â€œPull!” Frank cried.
    The boy hauled the pole upward, but the wolf was heavy. It lashed out fiercely, snarling and gnashing with its fangs. Suddenly the animal freed itself and tumbled to the ground.
    â€œWhew!” Joe exclaimed. “He weighs a ton.” Saber continued to circle the trees but more warily. Joe tried to rope him again, but the wolf would not be tricked the second time.
    As the boys wondered what to do, they were startled by a distant wailing noise.
    â€œWhat’s that, Frank? The siren?”
    â€œSounds like it, but it’s mighty faint.”
    â€œWell, what do you know about that?” Joe cried. “Saber’s leaving!”
    The strange sound seemed to bother the animal. Putting its tail between its legs, Saber slunk off.
    â€œHe acts frightened. That sound probably hurts his ears.”
    The boys dropped to the ground. “Gosh, I thought I was going to have to live in that tree.” Joe grinned as he stretched his legs. “Let’s get back to camp.”
    The Hardys found their way to the spot where the canoe was cached. They slid it into the water and paddled rapidly downstream. By the time they rejoined the other boys, the sun was sinking behind the trees to the west.
    Chet, Biff, and Tony rushed to the shore to meet their friends.
    As Frank and Joe related their adventures, Chet’s mouth sagged open.
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