Free The House on the Cliff by Franklin W. Dixon

entrance!” Joe exclaimed.
    â€œI think it’s large enough for the boat to go through,” said Tony. “Want me to try it?”
    Frank nodded tensely. “Go ahead.”
    The Napoli slipped through the opening and in a few moments came out into a pond of considerable extent. The boys looked about expectantly. Steep slopes covered with scraggly trees and bushes reached to the water’s edge. But there was no path or indication that any human being ever came down to the pond.
    Suddenly Frank gave a gasp of surprise and said, “Look to my right, fellows.”
    Among the thickets at the base of the steepest slope stood a man. He was very tall, his face was weather-beaten, and his lips thin and cruel. He stood quietly, looking at the boys without a shadow of expression on his sinister face.
    Upon realizing he had been observed, the man shouted, “Get out of here!”
    Tony throttled the engine and Frank called, “We aren’t doing any harm.”
    â€œI said ‘Get out!’ This is private property.”
    The boys hesitated. Instantly the man, as though to back up his commands, reached significantly toward the holster of a revolver.
    â€œTurn that boat around and beat it!” he mapped. “And don’t ever come back here! Not if you know what’s good for you.”
    The boys realized that nothing would be gained by argument. Tony slowly brought the boat around.
    â€œOkay,” Joe called cheerfully.
    The stranger did not reply. He stood gazing fixedly after them, his left hand pointing to the exit, his right tapping the gun holster, as the motorboat made its way out through the tunnel
    â€œLooks as if he didn’t want us around,” remarked Tony facetiously, as soon as the Napoli was in open water again.
    â€œHe sure didn’t!” Frank exclaimed. “I expected him to start popping that gun at any moment!”
    â€œHe must have an important reason. Who and what do you suppose he is?” Tony asked in bewilderment.
    â€œFellows,” Frank said thoughtfully, “I think that man might have been Snattman!”

CHAPTER XI
    Cliff Watchers
    â€œFRANK!” Joe exclaimed. “I think you’ve hit it! That man had no reason to act the way he did unless he’s covering up something.”
    â€œSomething like smuggling, you mean,” said Chet. “He must be Snattman or one of his gang.”
    â€œAnd,” Frank went on, “the fact that he was in that cove must mean he has some connection with the house on the cliff.”
    â€œSnattman, king of the smugglers!” Tony whistled. “You guys really get in some interesting situations!”
    â€œI’ll bet that he’s one of the fellows who chased Jones that day in the motorboat,” Joe cried.
    â€œAnd tried to kill him,” Frank continued the thought.
    â€œLet’s get away from here!” Chet urged.
    â€œWhy should we go now?” Frank demanded. “We’ve stumbled on something important. That hidden pond may be the smugglers’ base.”
    â€œBut if they use the house how do they get to it?” Tony asked. “Those cliffs up from the pond were mighty steep.”
    â€œThere must be some other way that we couldn’t see,” Joe said. “What say we hang around here for a while and find out what we can?”
    Tony caught the Hardys’ enthusiasm and agreed to keep the motorboat in the vicinity of the Cliff.
    â€œThat fellow may be keeping his eye on us and we don’t want him to know that we’re watching the place,” Frank observed. “Let’s run back to the bay and cruise up and down a while, then return.”
    Chet sighed. “I’m glad none of you argued with that armed man.”
    â€œRight,” Joe replied. “As it is, he must think we were simply out for a cruise and wandered into that tunnel by mistake.”
    â€œYes,” his brother agreed. “If he’d