Ned did, and found similar boxes concealed behind raingear. Further search revealed guns, grenades, and explosives in each locker! Ned shook his head in disbelief, and Nancy's eyes were wide with amazement.

"Ned!" she exclaimed, "Now I know what the secret of Crocodile Island is! Gimler and Sacco are taking expensive high-speed cameras out of the U.S. They're smuggling them to someplace, maybe Mexico!"

As the two hurried back to the ladder, Ned put a hand on Nancy's shoulder. "You're right. And this means we're in great danger. We'd better get out of here before-"

Just then they heard voices. Two men were conversing rapidly and walking toward Nancy and Ned. The couple, who did not want to be seen, scooted into the first two lockers. She hid behind coiled ropes. Ned managed to squeeze in back of the raingear and stood next to the boxes of cameras.

They left the doors slightly ajar so they could see who was coming. The two men they had seen leave the sub, reentered it. Quickly one of them turned a handle, which slowly closed the hatch. The other man rotated a wheel that retracted the periscope. Then he started the engine and the sub moved away.

Nancy and Ned held their breath, wondering what would happen next. The man at the wheel suddenly laughed. He said confidently, "We pulled that one off all right. No more bothering with Gimler and Sacco! Next stop Mexico!

CHAPTER XX.

Submarine Prisoners

"MEXICO!" Nancy thought.

She and Ned were terrified when they realized that they were being taken out of the country with no chance to call for help. They tried to keep calm and figure out some way to outwit these men.

The prisoners listened attentively when the men resumed their conversation. One said, "I had no idea when we went into shipping stolen cameras with Gimler and Sacco that we could make so much money. I don't know why we ever bothered with the small amount we got out of the Crocodile Ecology Company."

The other man said, "You forget, Williams, that we needed a cover. I'd say we just got out of there in time. That nosey girl detective and her friends are just too smart."

In spite of their predicament, Nancy and Ned smiled at this remark.

Williams said, "Nothing to worry about now, Captain Frederick, We're rid of the bunch."

The men talked about what they were going to do with all the money they had made.

Frederick said, "I'll show those relatives of mine in Mexico what I can do, even if they thought I was a no-good." He laughed raucously. "How easy the whole operation was! We stole a lot of cameras from the factory in Connecticut and bought a whole lot of others cheap on the black market. And sold them at a three hundred percent profit."

Nancy and Ned almost suffocated in the lockers but did not dare miss a word. They learned that the cameras were shipped out at night to a freighter going south. Then they were transferred to The Whisper The Whisper, which carried them to the submarine. Then The Whisper The Whisper returned to the key, which was home base. Whenever the submarine came there, the periscope would be hoisted. If any visitors were on the island, an alarm would be sounded and the sightseers sent away. returned to the key, which was home base. Whenever the submarine came there, the periscope would be hoisted. If any visitors were on the island, an alarm would be sounded and the sightseers sent away.

Williams said, "It's too bad we couldn't fill that order for five hundred cameras. If the buyer in Mexico had only given us a little more time, we wouldn't have had any trouble."

The men were silent for a while, then Williams said, "We won't be tying up for some time. I think I'll put away this rope we're not using. It's in the way."

He stepped to the locker in which Nancy was hiding and yanked open the door. The girl detective tried to slump to the floor so she would not be seen, but it was impossible.

Upon spotting her, Williams cried out a volume of expletives. He reached in roughly, grabbed Nancy's arm, and pulled her out into the pa.s.sageway.

The captain also exclaimed and then said to Nancy, "How did you get here?"

She did not answer.

"I said, how did you come aboard this sub?" the captain demanded.

Still Nancy made no reply.

"I'll make you answer!" Frederick cried out, exasperated, and grabbed hold of her with both arms. He was so strong that she thought he would crush her ribs.

At this second a voice said, "Let her alone!"

Ned!

The sub's captain let go of Nancy and stared at the young man. "Who are you?"

Ned said nothing. By this time Williams and Frederick were jabbering loudly and arguing with each other about what they should do with their stowaways.

"We can't take them into Mexico!" Williams said.

"You're right," the captain agreed. "What do you suggest? That we go topside, open the hatch, and push them out into the water?"

Ned spoke up. "You'd better not do that," he said, then decided to try a bluff. "Did you know that we're being followed by helicopters?"

The men looked stunned. Williams rushed to raise the periscope above the water. After turning it in various directions, he said, "I don't see any helicopter."

The captain, angry, yelled at Ned, "You were just trying to bluff us. Well, we're not going to fall for it."

After a pause Williams said, "I have an idea, Captain. We both like money. Whv don't we hold these two snoopers for ransom?"

Captain Frederick thought this over and finally agreed it was not a bad idea. "Just how can we work it?" he wondered.

"I'll think of something," his fellow officer said. "Give me time."

Nancy and Ned were glad of the temporary reprieve. Their thoughts went back to Crocodile Island. Where were the rest of their friends? Had they found Nancy's note? If so, had they done anything about it?

All this time the two couples had been very busy. George and Burt had finally startled Stryker and Jackson, who were hiding in the jungle. They managed to corner them, then talked to the men from a distance.

"It's no use to try getting away," George called. "All the others on this island have left. They didn't even wait to take you along. Now you have nothing. They have the money and won't dare come back here because of the police. In feet, there are policemen on the island now, hunting for you."

"What?" Stryker exclaimed, then gave a sneering smile. "You're trying to trick us!"

Burt spoke up. "It's no trick. You don't have a chance."

The couple continued to coax the men to come out of hiding, but several more minutes went by before they consented to do so. Burt told them to walk ahead. He and George would follow.

All the way to the pier on the other side of the island the couple was very watchful in case the men should try to get away. Apparently the fugitives felt beaten because they did not attempt to run or fight.

When the two captives saw the officers on the pier, they knew Burt and George had been telling the truth. The captives raised no objection when they were placed under arrest.

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. 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." 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 The Whisper in the in the Pirate 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 ash.o.r.e 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 one another in their exuberance.

Lieutenant Royce smiled as he boarded the launch and said, "Nancy, Ned, and Danny will meet you at the Cosgroves. A copter will pick you all up. Good-by!" He waved and gave orders to shove off.

In a short time the helicopter landed and soon Nancy's friends were back in Key Biscayne. There was a joyful reunion, and an exchange of stories far into the night.

Of course, Nancy, though happy at the successful outcome of the mystery, hoped another would soon come her way. It did. It was called The Thirteenth Pearl The Thirteenth Pearl.

The following afternoon she and her friends went to see Mr. Gonzales in his hospital room. He was sitting up and declared he felt much better. "But let's not talk about me," he said, after Nancy introduced the others. "Tell me everything."

After he had heard all the details and thanked the young sleuths, Nancy said, "There's one question I have. When you told us not to come down here, was it because you were intimidated by Gimler and Sacco?"

"Yes," he admitted. "I see now why they didn't want you to investigate them." He smiled. "But I'm mighty glad you came. Thank you all for your superb work. And now," Mr. Gonzales said, "I have a surprise for you. I have taken over ownership of Crocodile Island. I want you to greet the new manager and his a.s.sistant."

He waved toward the corridor. Through the doorway walked two smiling young men-Colombo and Sol! Nancy and the others cheered softly and congratulated them.

"Thank you," said Colombo. "And now Sol and I must get back to feed our pets, the crocodiles of Crocodile Island."