"For Pete's sake, be careful," Frank warned. "Don't hit that fence!"

Joe ran forward lightly, hit the heel hole with a slight thud, and whipped up and over the fence. Frank grabbed the pole to keep it from striking the barrier.

Now Frank used the pole to vault over. His jump was a bit trickier than Joe's, because at the height of it he had to thrust back on the pole to keep it from hitting the fence and sounding an alarm.

Once inside, the Hardys knew the hardest part of their job lay ahead. Through the scrubby bushes and trees they could see several crudely constructed huts.

198 Near one of them stood a handsome, pensive-looking youth about eighteen years of age. He was holding a hooded goshawk. From the color of his skin and his characteristic features the Hardys were sure he was an Indian.

The boy must be Prince Tava!

Some distance from the prince the boys spotted several dark-skinned men. They were no doubt some of the smuggled Indians.

In the shelter of the trees, the Hardys crawled toward the prince. When they were close enough to talk to him without betraying themselves to the others, Frank called in a whisper: "Prince!"

As the young man turned and stared, Frank smiled and went on quickly, "We are American friends sent here by your cousin Bhagnav."

The prince moved slowly toward the boys and asked in a low voice, "Why does Bhagnav send you here?"

"To rescue you from your kidnapers."

"But I was not kidnaped," the prince explained in some surprise. "The police are after me, and my friends are protecting me."

"That's not true," Frank insisted. "Your father has already paid a fabulous ransom in rubies for your return, but these people continue to hold you and demand more payment."

Prince Tava still did not seem to be convinced. The Hardys were trying hard to think of some way Quickly he vaulted the electrified fence.

200 they could a.s.sure him of their sincerity. Finally Frank said: "Your good friend Rahmud Ghapur is very much worried. He has engaged my father and brother and me to search for you. Mr. Ghapur told us of the time when he saved you in the cheetah hunt. He's afraid that you're in much greater danger now."

The prince's eyes widened. He whispered the name of Ghapur several times. Then he replied: "If Rahmud Ghapur has sent you, then I will go with you."

"Act as if you were just strolling around and follow us," Frank directed.

The Hardys crawled away. The prince followed slowly, laughing and talking to the goshawk all the while. He acted as though he did not have a care in the world. When the three were well out of sight of the buildings, and close to the electrified fence, Joe said: "I'm afraid you'll have to leave the goshawk here for now. Once we're out of this place and your abductors learn of your disappearance, they'll probably make trouble. We may become separated. If this happens, take our car and meet us at the Bayport Hotel. My mother and aunt are staying there. Ask for them." He added detailed instructions about the location of their hidden car and directions for reaching the hotel.

Prince Tava regretfully fastened his goshawk's leash to a tree, picked up the pole, and gracefully 201 vaulted the fence. He moved off quickly into the shadows of the trees beyond. Joe, pole in hand, was getting set to make his jump when Frank heard someone running toward them from the rear.

"Jump, Joe!" Frank whispered fiercely. The next second, a lariat slapped over his shoulders.

As he hit the ground, Frank caught a glimpse of his brother, back arched, halfway up in his leap. But suddenly Joe was s.n.a.t.c.hed violently from mid-air. Frank, his heart sinking, knew Joe had been la.s.soed, too.

A half-dozen fiery-eyed men gripped both boys roughly and dragged them toward one of the buildings. They were thrust through the doorway into a well-furnished room, and confronted by two handsome young Indians who resembled each other strongly. One, however, bore a light-colored scar on his chin.

Bangalore and Nanab!

"The Hardy boys!" Nanab gloated. "A fine catch indeed."

"What were you trying to accomplish here?" Bangalore demanded.

Joe tried to act casual and replied, "We came to get details of your smuggling and kidnaping plot. But I don't suppose that now we'll find out."

Nanab smiled, winked at Bangalore, and said, "Why not? We're proud of what we've done. We've fooled your authorities for a long time. Except for you two blundering boys, everything has run 202 smoothly. Now that you are prisoners, we can tell you the full story, then arrange a convenient accident for you."

Bangalore gave his consent and Nanab began his story. "Captain Flont and his crew used the Daisy K Daisy K to smuggle aliens into Bayport." to smuggle aliens into Bayport."

So Ragu had been lying all the time!

"Captain Flont," Bangalore went on, "is a clever man and will not betray us."

Despite the gravity of the situation, the Hardys could hardly keep from smiling. It was plain these ringleaders were not aware of the various arrests that had been made. Frank's message sent by the pigeon must have arrived. Now, if the Hardys could only keep these men talking long enough, Mr. Hardy and the police would have time to get there.

"We started making plans two years ago when Bangalore came to America," Nanab went on. "We spread word to dissatisfied citizens of our country that legal entry into the United States was impossible. However, by paying us a large fee they could be brought in surrept.i.tiously and protected by us."

"How could you protect them?" Frank asked.

"We got them jobs and arranged for their social activities," Nanab explained.

"The kidnaping of the prince was my idea," Bangalore declared. "Both rackets were worked with Windward as the relay station. The property was bought cheap by two American friends of ours, John 203 Cullen and Arthur Daly. They fed and housed the aliens who came in on a special American-Far East freighter, the Red Delta. Red Delta. It made an unscheduled stop outside a port in It made an unscheduled stop outside a port in India to pick up the men, and another stop a few miles from Windward to discharge them onto a dory."

"And who is the Mr. L who was going to squeal?" Frank asked.

Bangalore and Nanab both bristled at this. Then Nanab remarked, "Mr. Louis is a friend of Captain Flont's. He owns the dory."

"How did you get the ransom to this country?" Frank asked. "Not by the Red Delta, Red Delta, too?"

"Oh, no," Nanab answered. "The ransom rubies were picked up in India, flown by private plane to Europe, and brought to America on an ocean liner which pa.s.sed in the vicinity of Windward. To avoid customs, small pouches containing the stones were thrown off into Louis's dory by a ship's officer who is one of our group.

"Unfortunately, Louis kept too many of the second shipment for himself. When we exposed him, he threatened to squeal. That is why we are holding him a prisoner here."

"You leased a hunting lodge under the name of Sutter," Frank accused Bangalore, attempting to further prolong the conversation.

Bangalore nodded. "I wanted to impress the prince and make him comfortable. When you boys discov204 -ered the place, we left it, telling the prince that this was to avoid the authorities who were after him. He readily agreed to the move."

"You were at the lodge, too?" Joe asked.

"Oh, yes." Bangalore rubbed his hands in pleasure. "I was the one who knocked out your friend Chet Morton. One of the guards attended to you," he said, looking at Frank.

"When you found out too much, Nanab quit his job in Washington and came up here to help out."

"Did you turn the krait loose deliberately?" the boy asked.

Bangalore jumped in surprise. "So you saw it? I wish it had bitten you. That snake was a particular pet of mine. I brought it from India. Sometimes it is necessary in matters of this kind to dispose of an enemy without suspicion being directed at the real killer. A krait is an excellent instrument for 'accidental death.' In the excitement of moving from the lodge, the snake got loose, and there was no time for us to search for it."

"You, Nanab, destroyed the letter Mr. Ghapur sent us, but why did you let the falcon be shipped to us?"

Nanab smiled proudly. "I was in charge of sending it. I could have destroyed the bird, too, but Ghapur would have realized I was responsible if you never received it. So I let it go through, then commissioned Ragu to steal it. He failed! He is a fool!"

"You also threw the bomb into our house and stole 205 the falcon yourself," said Joe. "But who set our boat-house on fire and jammed the Sleuth's gas gauge?" gas gauge?"

"I did," Bangalore admitted. "And now that you know the whole story, we will carry out our original plan."

He clapped his hands and several men stepped into the room. In their hands were st.u.r.dy rawhide whips!

"You're going to flog us first?" Frank shouted.

An evil smirk on his face, Bangalore said, "We usually plan a quick death with a sleeping potion for our enemies. But because you boys have caused us a great deal of trouble, Nanab and I have decided we will not make it so painless. Before you are put to sleep, we will use these whips and watch you squirm!"

He raised his hand then and cried: "Flog them!"

CHAPTER XXV.

A Touch-and-Go Triumph frank and Joe were seized by four guards, while two others raised their whips. But the brothers did not flinch.

Instead, Frank leaned toward Joe. "Here we go again!" he whispered.

A knowing smile crossed Joe's face. The expression was a signal for action. Before the whips could descend, the Hardys, using a jujitsu twist, flung their would-be floggers to the floor, and with the speed of Bengal tigers, tore the whips from the men's hands. The guards shrank back as the boys raised the whips.

Bangalore's jaw dropped. "How did you do that?" he asked, amazed, then added, "I like your courage. My men are skilled in wrestling, but you took them by surprise. It will entertain me to have you demonstrate your skill. Perhaps it can save you a flogging-or maybe even your lives."

Frank and Joe knew that Indians are great lovers 207 of the sport of wrestling. If the brothers could prolong a match, their father might arrive in time to rescue them.

"We accept," Frank said. "But let's not decide our fate on a single fall. That's not sporting. We'll make it two out of three."

Bangalore laughed raucously. "You are prisoners, yet you make the terms!"

Nanab spoke up. "Let our men punish them in the manner they suggest," he said. "We'll teach them that Indians are the greatest wrestlers."

"Two out of three falls it is!" Bangalore conceded. "We will go outside," he said, leading the way.

As Frank and Joe laid aside the whips, the smuggler selected two lithe and smooth-muscled guards. In a crouched position they moved forward quickly, hands outstretched. But Frank and Joe were ready. Playing for time, the brothers moved carefully, darting in, and then leaping back in an effort to catch their adversaries off balance.

Joe was first to find an opening. Seizing his opponent's left wrist, he spun him around, and pulling with all his strength, sent the man flying over his shoulder. The guard landed on his back, groaning as Joe leaped on him and applied a pinning hold that in a moment gave Joe his first fall.

Frank's foe cast his eyes on his defeated partner for a fraction of a second. With the speed of a stooping falcon, Frank charged, catching his adversary in a leg trip. The man hit the ground hard but jumped 208 up quickly. Before he recovered, Frank caught him in a headlock that sent both sprawling in the dirt. There was a flurry of dust as the two fought savagely for the advantage.

Suddenly the guard's powerful legs closed about Frank's stomach in a crushing scissors grip. Frank tried in vain to break the tightening hold. As the guard pressed Frank's shoulders nearer and nearer the ground, it appeared that the boy would lose his first fall.

Then the guard shifted his hold slightly to make the pin. Frank, in spite of his weakened condition, saw his advantage and with all his strength he twisted free. Before his surprised opponent could recover, he spun around and seized the guard in a powerful cradle hold and drove him into the ground for a fall.

"Ready for the second fall?" Frank asked, breathing deeply.

The beaten man looked toward Bangalore and jabbered imploringly. The ringleader scowled and replied in their native tongue. Then, while the boys were resting, the Indian leader called forward two more of the guards.

The Hardys were to have new opponents for each fall! They realized it would be senseless, however, to object.

When time was called, they approached their new rivals, and from the start it was apparent that the Hardys had the upper hand through their knowledge 209 of the ancient j.a.panese art of jujitsu. In the midst of the second fall, a guard ran up, shouting: "Prince Tava! He is gone! I cannot find him anywhere!"

For a moment everyone froze. Then Bangalore screamed, "This is a trick! And you Hardys are responsible. You must die at once. Nanab, the potion!"

Guards swarmed around Frank and Joe, pinning the boys' arms back, so that they would be unable to resist. Nanab pa.s.sed one of the poison pellets to his brother. He and Bangalore took up positions before the Hardys, forced their heads back, and pried open their jaws.

With all eyes on the scene, it came as a shock when a voice commanded, "Hands up!"

Fenton Hardy stood at the edge of the clearing. With him were Bhagnav, Ghapur, and Radley and several police officers. As everyone turned, a State Police captain announced: "You're all under arrest!"

The ringleaders and their guards were quickly seized and handcuffed. Then the officers went to round up the smuggled Indians.

Mr. Hardy ran to his sons. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," Frank a.s.sured him. "And we rescued the prince. He's on his way to the hotel."

"Wonderful!" cried Bhagnav and Ghapur.

A search of the premises was inst.i.tuted at once.

210 Under the floor boards in Bangalore's bedroom they found the cache of rubies.

"Amazing!" Ghapur commented.

"Enough evidence for a conviction!" Mr. Hardy declared.

After the police left with the prisoners, the Hardys picked up the prince's goshawk and with their friends hurried to Bayport. When they reached the hotel, Prince Tava was in the Hardy suite with Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude. Hugs, handshakes, and bowing followed with fervor and profusion in the happy reunion. Mr. Delhi and Rahmud Ghapur were particularly pleased to find Prince Tava healthy and unharmed.

After he had recounted his adventures, he pulled his countrymen aside and conversed in their native tongue. Returning shortly, he explained that they were trying to decide on some fitting reward for the Hardys other than the usual fee for services, plus expenses which Mr. Hardy would be paid.

The entire family protested, but Prince Tava turned to Mrs. Hardy and bowed. Then he took off his handsome ruby ring and presented it to her.

"Please accept this token of my deep grat.i.tude," he said with a gentle smile. "I give it to the mother of the two bravest boys I have ever known."

Mrs. Hardy accepted the gift graciously, whereupon the happy group went to dinner in the hotel dining room. Even precise Aunt Gertrude enjoyed the victory celebration immensely.

211 Early the next morning Chet Morton burst into his friends' room, demanding to hear the whole story. As they finished it, a cablegram was delivered to Frank and Joe.

"Listen to this," Frank cried excitedly. "It's from the Maharajah of Hatavab!" He read aloud: " 'Cannot thank you enough for aid to Prince Dharmuk. Tava is to continue his schooling. When he returns home next summer will you accompany him and bring the boy who helped you?' "

"That's me!" cried Chet. "Wow, some reward!"

The three boys beamed. "We'll go!" Joe declared. "What a whale of an invitation!"

When the whole group gathered for breakfast, Frank and Joe told their parents about the cablegram. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy heartily approved of their sons accepting the invitation.

Silently the boys wondered if the next mystery they would solve would be in India. But long before the folloving summer arrived, they became involved in THE CLUE IN THE EMBERS.