Free The Mystery of the Black Rhino by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

at the New Stanley Hotel.
    When the boys got to their room, Mr. Hardy was there. He was talking on the telephone to Mrs. Hardy. The boys took turns saying hello, gave brief—and censored—versions of their trip so far, then returned the phone to their father.
    When Mr. Hardy finally hung up, Frank told him all about their day. “Jackson has to be stopped, Dad! Now Joe and I can prove that he trades illegal wild animal skins and other parts.”
    Mr. Hardy shook his head in dismay. “I talked to several policemen at the conference today,” he said. “Poaching is a big problem all over the continent.”
    â€œWe can give the Kenyan police a description of Jackson, Dad,” Joe suggested. “That should make it easy for them to find him.”
    â€œPerhaps,” Fenton Hardy said. “But from what I’m hearing, not everyone in the country thinks what the poachers are doing is bad.”
    The Hardy boys looked surprised.
    â€œWhat do you mean, Dad?” Frank asked.
    â€œLook at our own country, boys. It was once covered with wild game, too, but now there’s very little,” Mr. Hardy said. “When people move in, they expect to have land to build houses on and to farm. They don’t want to coexist with wild animals.”
    â€œThe difference now is that hunting protected wild animals is illegal,” Frank countered. “Back then, it wasn’t. We’ve learned a lot about how important it is for people to save the environment, and wild animals are part of the environment.”
    After a brief pause, Mr. Hardy nodded. “I agree,” he said. “I’ll set up a meeting tomorrow with Ian Malindi at Government House.” He sniffed the air. “But right now I think you two need a shower to wash off some of the Nairobi National Park,” he added with a grin.
    Frank and Joe completely agreed with that.
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    The next morning Mr. Hardy called Dr. Malindi. He agreed to meet the Hardys for lunch to talk about the poaching incident the boys had witnessed the day before.
    Mr. Hardy had his breakfast sent up to the room so he could put the finishing touches on his morning speech.
    Frank and Joe took their time getting out of bed.
    After Mr. Hardy had left for the conference, the Hardy boys got up, dressed, had breakfast in the Thorn Tree Café, and then roamed around the hotel, watching the guests coming and going and absorbing the excitement of Nairobi.
    â€œI’m sore,” Joe groaned.
    â€œMe, too,” Frank agreed. “What happened to a restful vacation?”
    Mr. Hardy arrived back at the hotel just before noon. “The midmorning session ran a little late. It seems the news of your adventure yesterday has made the Nairobi newspapers,” he explained. “We had quite a lively discussion about the future of wild animals in Africa. I’ll fill you in on the way to lunch.”
    A black limousine met the Hardys in front of the hotel and drove them to the Ministry of the Interior at Government House. On the way, Mr. Hardy told his sons about some of the issues that were raised earlier that morning.
    When the Hardys reached the ministry, they found that Dr. Malindi was waiting for them in his outer office.
    â€œWelcome, Fenton,” Dr. Malindi said. “It’s so good to see you again.”
    â€œIt’s good to see you, too, Ian,” Mr. Hardy said. “Let me introduce my sons, Frank and Joe.”
    Dr. Malindi shook hands with the Hardy boys. “Ifeel as though I know you,” he said. “You’ve only been here a couple of days, and already I can’t turn on the television or pick up a newspaper without seeing your faces.”
    Frank and Joe found themselves blushing.
    â€œThe people of Kenya thank you,” Dr. Malindi said.
    â€œWell, we were just in the right place at the right time,” Frank said.
    â€œTwice,” Joe said.
    â€œI