Mystery of Crocodile Island - Carolyn Keene [47]
Some time before this, Bess and Dave, having found no trace of the suspects, had started back toward the pier. As they were making their way along the waterfront, Bess grabbed Dave’s arm.
“Look! There are Nancy and Ned! Nancy is writing something on a leaf.”
The couple were too far away to distinguish what it might be, but started to run forward as fast as they could over the mangrove roots.
When they reached the note, Bess and Dave read it quickly. Going aboard. Couple one.
“Going aboard what?” Dave asked.
He and Bess ran faster. A few moments later they saw Nancy and Ned hurry across the pier.
Bess exclaimed, “There’s the sub! Oh my goodness, they’re climbing down inside! We must stop them!”
Before the couple could get near enough to shout to their friends, they saw two men dash from the main building and get onto the submarine. Quickly they descended and closed the hatch. The ship submerged and took off.
Bess was in tears. “Oh, Dave, what’s going to happen now to Nancy and Ned?”
Dave wasted no time in conversation. “Where’s the office?”
“I’ll show you,” Bess said and the two sped off to the little building.
The door was open. Dave looked around for what he wanted to use, then began to send a radio message to the Coast Guard. In as few words as possible, he described what had taken place on Crocodile Island.
Within seconds a return message was received. Two Coast Guard cutters would be sent out at once. One would go directly to Crocodile Island. The other would go after the submarine.
“We will also send out two helicopters. Try to have someone tell them which direction the sub and the speedboat took,” the Coast Guard operator said.
About this time the two policemen who had gone into the jungle returned. They were amazed to hear what had happened and thanked Dave for sending out the alarm. The officer had hardly finished speaking when they saw the two suspects being ushered into the area by George and Burt.
Patman and his companion looked astounded. “You caught them?”
George could not help quipping, “Yes, and with no guns!”
The officers gave the two prisoners a long look, then advised them of their rights to seek legal counsel. The two men exchanged worried glances but did not answer.
“Where does the sub go?” Patman asked. No reply.
Bess felt that treating the men gruffly was accomplishing nothing. She tried a softer, more kindly approach.
Smiling at them she said, “What about your families? Surely you care for them and would like to get back to them as soon as possible. You can’t hide out forever.”
One prisoner stared at her. “Are you some kind of preacher?” he asked. “You sure talk like one. But what you say makes good sense. I’ll tell what I know after Gimler and Sacco are caught. They ran out on us, so I won’t mind squealing.”
Just then the group heard a motor and turned to see the police launch coming. After it docked and the two prisoners were taken aboard, the officer in charge, Lieutenant Royce, said, “The Whisper was spotted and the Coast Guard picked up Gimler, Sacco, Carmen, and Tobin.”
“Great!” said George. “But what about the submarine? Two of our friends are prisoners on it.”
“A copter and two Coast Guard revenue cutters are after it,” he replied. “They got directions from Danny Cosgrove. He followed The Whisper in the Pirate. The speedboat got away, but he spotted the sub as it came out the channel. Danny wigwagged signals to the copter. I’ll see what else I can find out.”
He leaped ashore and went at once to the office. In a few minutes he was back.
“Good news,” the officer said. “Your friends are safe and are on their way back. The smugglers have been arrested. They wouldn’t talk, but Nancy Drew and Ned Nickerson told their story for them, and for Gimler and Sacco. The freighter’s captain is also in custody.”
“Wonderful! Wonderful!” Bess cried out and the whole group clapped. Bess, George, Burt, and Dave hugged