Free The Twisted Claw by Franklin W. Dixon

subsided and the Yellow Parrot was churning its way through calm waters. Frank was returning from deck watch when he saw his brother walking down the passageway toward him.
    â€œHi, Joe!” he called out. “When were you sprung from the brig?”
    â€œA few hours ago. But they put me to work right away in the engine room. I’m bushed.”
    â€œI don’t have to be back on watch till midnight,” Frank said. “Let’s get some sleep. Then we’ll plan our next move.”
    The boys slept soundly for several hours. After a late lunch in the galley Frank told his brother that he was still determined to examine the logs.
    â€œI’m with you,” Joe said. “But you’ve already been caught there once.”
    â€œThat’s a chance we’ll have to take,” Frank told him. “Come on.”
    They edged their way toward the hold and were elated to find no crewmen in the area.
    â€œIt’s pitch black in here,” Joe whispered as the two entered the hold and closed the hatch behind them.
    â€œWe don’t want to turn on the lights,” Frank said. “Use your flashlight.”
    They directed their beams of light at the pile of logs.
    â€œFunny thing,” Frank muttered.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œI might have just imagined it, but when the logs rolled back and forth across the deck, some of them sounded as if they weren’t completely solid. They sounded hollow.”
    â€œYou mean,” Joe began, “that the—” A faint noise caused him to stop abruptly.
    â€œSwitch off your light!” Frank hissed.
    The boys’ pulses quickened as they stood motionless and waited in the darkness. Then they heard the noise again. This time it came from a point directly behind them.
    The Hardys whirled around. At the same instant they were blinded by an intensely bright flash of light.
    â€œI’m trying to help you!” a man said. “Stop your investigation. Get off this ship as soon as you can!”
    Before either boy could question the man, there was the sound of the hatchway door being slammed shut as he exited from the hole.
    â€œWhat now?” Joe asked.
    â€œWe’d better get out of here,” Frank said. “That guy might’ve been spotted leaving. He could bring someone to check this place out.”
    The boys hurried to the hatch. They eased open the door, saw that the area was clear, and darted out. Back in their quarters, they discussed what had happened.
    â€œWhoever it was,” Joe remarked, “he must be the one who wrote the warning note.”
    â€œWithout question,” his brother replied. He paused for a moment. “But I’d like to know what his game is. If he knows who we are, why is he being so mysterious about it?”
    â€œCould be he’s holding out for money,” Joe suggested. “I mean, he might be planning to demand payment in exchange for being quiet.”
    Frank pondered this. “I doubt it. If that was his motive, he certainly would have approached us with a deal by now.”
    â€œWhat’s our next move?”
    â€œLet’s go on deck and take a walk around the ship. We might come up with a lead.”
    Strolling along in a nonchalant manner, the Hardys watched as the sailors went about their duties. As they were passing the radio room, Frank suddenly grabbed his brother’s arm.
    â€œListen!” he whispered excitedly.
    The door was partially open. Inside, two men were engaged in conversation. One of the voices belonged to the stranger they had encountered in the hold!
    â€œGood grief!” Joe exclaimed in a low tone. “That must be the guy we’re after!”
    â€œLooks that way!”
    A few seconds later the two men appeared in the doorway, still talking. One of them looked like an ordinary sailor. The other was a lean, red-haired young man with pleasant features. Apparently he was the ship’s radio