Danny called across the room, "I dare you to!"

After breakfast the following morning Mr. Cosgrove wrote the letter of introduction to Captain Townsend. "Take this to his house on the base," he said.

Danny asked to be excused from the trip, because of a dentist's appointment, so the three girls drove off by themselves. When they reached the Naval Station at Key West, they were amazed at the immensity of it. Two sailors guarded the entrance gate and asked for the visitors' identification. Nancy pulled out the letter from Mr. Cosgrove and showed it to them.

"Go ahead," one of the sailors said. "Take a right turn and at the next street ask someone where Captain Townsend's house is."

They followed the directions and in a few minutes pulled up to an attractive bungalow. Many varieties of flowers were in full bloom in the front yard.

Nancy parked and the girls walked to the door. They were admitted by another sailor, who took them to Captain Townsend's office in his home. Nancy showed him the letter.

"So you're a friend of the Cosgroves?" he asked. "Our families have been very close for many years. Please sit down."

The girls seated themselves in the comfortable wicker furniture. Then the captain asked what he could do for them.

Nancy said she would love to look around the base. "But before that, I want to ask you an important question."

She related the story of having seen a periscope in the green waterway at Crocodile Island. "But each time our skiff approaches it, the periscope disappears quickly. Do you know of any sub in that area?"

Captain Townsend shook his head. "No. But let me make a quick call and see if there's any record of it."

He punched a number into his desk phone and in a few minutes had his answer. "There's no record of any sub plying those waters. Are you sure you didn't mistake a mischievous coot for a periscope?"

"You mean those little black birds that stay underwater with just their long necks and heads showing?"

"Yes."

Up to this point George had not spoken. Now she exclaimed indignantly, "Nancy and the rest of us would certainly know the difference between a coot and a periscope!"

Captain Townsend laughed. "No offense meant. I'm sorry I can't help you."

"Perhaps you can help us with another sub," Nancy said. "I'd like to see one. Are there any in port?"

"You came at a good time," Captain Townsend said. "I'm going off duty just about now, so I'll be glad to give you a personally conducted tour of the base and show you a sub."

"Oh, that's great!" Nancy exclaimed. "Thank you."

The officer stood up and led them outside. "I don't have a car here, so shall we take yours?" he asked Nancy.

"Of course," she said, and handed him the keys.

He climbed behind the wheel and drove the girls up and down the various streets of the base, pointing out office buildings, barracks, recreation centers, and the air station.

Nancy was fascinated by the very high antenna. Captain Townsend said, "From here we can send messages to every part of the world."

"By satellite?" George asked.

"Yes."

They pa.s.sed the base's hospital and came to an area where helicopters were parked.

"The men who fly these birds are specially trained in antisubmarine work," the captain explained. "They survey suspicious areas and try to spot invading enemy subs."

Bess spoke. "Maybe one of them should make a run over to Crocodile Island."

"I'll see to it," the captain promised. "It would only take a few minutes." Then he teased, "But that periscope you saw had better be there!"

They pa.s.sed a building where students learned how to read sonar, and another containing advanced undersea weaponry, which was used as a teaching facility for the naval personnel.

"We have a great course here in underwater swimming and diving," the officer stated. "Some of the men later go into deep-sea diving work. You've probably seen pictures of them on television."

All the girls said they had and were fascinated by the sea life the pictures showed.

Bess commented, "But some of those creatures are too dangerous for me!"

The captain laughed. Then Nancy asked if by any chance there was a nuclear submarine in port.

"No, there isn't," he replied. "Just one of the older types. Would you like to go into it and have a look?"

"I'd love to," Nancy replied, and George and Bess wanted to, also.

When they reached it, a sailor standing on the deck saluted his superior officer. Captain Townsend offered to show the girls the interior.

The hatch was open and he led the way down the iron ladder to the deck below. As the girls gazed ahead, they noticed a long, narrow, center pa.s.sageway.

George remarked, "I never saw so many things in such a tiny s.p.a.ce. This is like a small apartment with a whole crew living in it!"

"And everything is so neat!" Bess added. "If I could keep my room like this, my mother would be very happy."

Nancy was interested in the crews' quarters. One bunk was perched high above a tremendous black tube. As Captain Townsend saw her eyeing it, he asked, "How would you like to sleep on top of a torpedo?"

"I wouldn't!" she replied.

The "kitchen" intrigued Bess. Every inch of the galley was used, and the equipment, including stove and refrigerator, was so compact that it amazed the visitors. She asked how many men could be served from such small quarters.

"Of course that depends on the size of the sub," the captain replied. "I think this one carries a complement of about thirty men."

As the visitors proceeded, Nancy inquired about the many upright lockers. "What is kept in them?"

Captain Townsend opened one. It was full of coiled rope, most of it hanging on hooks.

Another sailor's locker held work clothes. Nancy could see several M-16 rifles in slots behind the clothing. She wondered why they were on a sub that used only torpedoes. "Perhaps the men carry them when they're on land," she thought.

The officer said that the sub contained a ship-to-sh.o.r.e telephone. "Nancy, would you like to call someone?"

"Oh, yes," she replied. "I'll phone Mr. Cosgrove. Maybe you'd like to speak to him."

The captain placed the call and spoke to his old friend, then he handed the instrument to Nancy. Mr. Cosgrove said, "An important call came for you."

"Oh!" she said. "From home?"

"No, from your friend Ned Nickerson." Nancy could feel her face reddening. "He and Burt and Dave would like to come down here and see you. Ned said he'd call again for an answer. Mrs. Cosgrove and I would be happy to have them stay with us."

Bess and George were excited by the news. It would be such fun to see the boys again!

Captain Townsend said they must leave now as it was time for the crewmen to return and go through a drill.

The visitors climbed topside and went to the car. After the girls had thanked the captain profusely and left him at his home, Nancy drove off.

On the way to the Cosgroves, she said, "I have an idea. How about the boys staying with Mr. Gonzales instead of at the Cosgroves? Gimler and Sacco don't know them, so Ned, Burt, and Dave might pick up some good tips."

The other girls liked the idea, so Nancy drove to Mr. Gonzales's club. They all walked inside. The man at the desk recognized Nancy and said, "Miss Boonton, are you looking for Mr. Gonzales?"

"Yes, I am," she replied. "Is he here?"

Fortunately Mr. Gonzales was there. He came to meet Nancy. She introduced the other girls, then asked him, "How would you like a three-man bodyguard?"

Mr. Gonzales burst into laughter. "Is it that bad? Have you uncovered some new evidence?"

Nancy explained why she had made the request, and he accepted her suggestion that the three boys stay with him.

"Now that you girls will have some escorts, how would you like to come to the Sat.u.r.day night dinner-dance here?" Mr. Gonzales asked. "The food is always excellent, and the music exactly what you like."

"We'd love to accept," Nancy said.

The man looked at her and teased, "Don't get yourself involved in some fix related to the mystery of Crocodile Island so you can't get here."

"I'll do my best," Nancy promised, grinning.

As she was about to drive out of the club grounds, Nancy saw Colombo. He apparently was headed for a bus. She stopped the car and called to him.

"Would you like a ride into town?" she asked.

"Indeed I would," Colombo replied. "Thank you so much." He opened the door to the rear seat and stepped in. "I'm glad I met you. I just received a phone call from my friend Sol. He wants me to meet him at a garage. He sounded excited."

"He didn't say why?" Nancy asked.

"No. When we get to the garage, why don't you girls wait outside? I'll go in and talk to Sol, He may have some important news from Crocodile Island."

CHAPTER XVII.

Deadly Golf Ball.

IN a few minutes Colombo brought his friend Sol outside and introduced him. To start a conversation Nancy asked him how he had managed to come to Key Biscayne from Crocodile Island.

The broad-shouldered, dark-skinned man replied, "I begged for a ride with a sightseer who wasn't allowed to land. I waded out into the water and asked him to bring me to town. I was glad he didn't ask me why sightseers were not allowed to see the reptiles that day, so I didn't have to say anything. I hate to go back, but I need the money."

Colombo asked him how he planned to return.

"I'll hire a boat and pilot to take me out there after dark. Meanwhile I want to have a good time here. You know, it's pretty dull in that place."

Colombo said, "I know. Sol, I've told you these girls are detectives. Tell them your latest news."

Sol nodded. "I think you know a good deal already. But if you can solve the latest mystery of Crocodile Hand, you'll put Mr. Gimler and Mr. Sacco to shame. There's no doubt that they're covering up something big."

Nancy asked him if he knew what it was, but Sol shook his head. "I overheard the bosses bragging about the huge amount of money they were making. I know very well it's not from selling crocodiles to zoos and animal parks."

Colombo suggested that maybe there were some under-the-table sales, which Sol knew nothing about.

"There could be," his friend replied. "But I see the company's books, and I'm sure they report every sale of crocodiles faithfully."

Nancy was puzzled, and asked about The Whisper's The Whisper's comings and goings. Sol knew little. "Mr. Gimler often goes out in it, but he never says where. Sometimes he brings back food." comings and goings. Sol knew little. "Mr. Gimler often goes out in it, but he never says where. Sometimes he brings back food."

Bess remarked that it sounded secretive. "I guess Mr. Gimler doesn't want anybody finding out what's going on at the island."

Sol agreed. "By the way, those of us who are still working there are likely to lose our jobs any time."

"Why?" Nancy asked.

Sol said he had overheard the bosses say that they planned to sell out. They were going to offer all their shares of stock to Mr. Gonzales or some other people.

"That's strange," Nancy reflected. "Not long ago Mr. Gimler and Mr. Sacco were offering to buy Mr. Gonzales's stock in the Crocodile Ecology Company."

No one had an answer to this puzzle. Sol changed the subject. "Whether I lose my job or not, I'd like to get away from that place. It scares me. I have a feeling that the police are going to find out that something crooked is going on at the island and arrest the top men. Then I'll be called in as a witness. Mr. Gimler and Mr. Sacco might even tell lies about me and I'll be sent to jail!"

Nancy was shocked to hear this. "You mean that the partners are really mean and mad enough to do that?"

"I wouldn't put it past them," Sol replied.

George told him that the girls were only visitors and had very few contacts at Key Biscayne. "But if we ever hear of a job you could fill, we'll let Colombo know."

"Thank you," Sol said. "I'd appreciate it. I don't even like the men I work with out on the island. In fact, I don't trust any of them. If something dishonest is going on, they're probably in league with the bosses."

Nancy said that under the circ.u.mstances she was amazed that they had not already discharged Sol. "Unless you haven't given any indication that you're suspicious."

"Oh, I haven't," he told her. "And I don't think the other men have any idea I'm squealing on them."

"That's good," Nancy praised him. "You're sort of playing detective. Keep up the good work and report to us as often as you can."

Sol promised to do so, but said it was becoming more difficult to get away from the island. The few times he had tried it, Gimler had docked his pay.

"That's wicked!" George exclaimed. "n.o.body should be expected to stay in one place and work all the time without any recreation!"