The other girls had also been awakened. With Nancy leading them, they hurried to the door, beaming flashlights.

CHAPTER XI.

Problem in Jealousy

As the girls rushed from the farmhouse, a bright light was turned on them, almost blinding the group. They could hear running footsteps.

"What happened?" Julie Anne asked excitedly.

At that moment the glaring light was switched away from them and focused onto two fleeing figures. All the girls beamed their own flashlights and now could see Les who carried a powerful electric lantern. He made no attempt to dash after the men so Nancy hurried up to him.

"Let's catch them!" she suggested, and started to run.

Les held her back. "No, it's too dangerous. Those men were going to kidnap you!"

"What!" cried Julie Anne who had rushed to their side.

Les explained that he had seen two figures approaching the house and hidden himself behind a bush to watch them. They had paused near him to talk in whispers.

Les went on, "I heard one of them say, 'I've been casing the place. I know which is the Drew girl's bed. You wait here. I'll go in and put her in a deep sleep and carry her out.'

"'Right,' the other man said. 'She's been interfering with our plans long enough.' Then the first man said, 'Okay, Kit.' "

Nancy and Julie Anne gasped. The other girls had crowded around and were exclaiming how dreadful it was.

"This place is really getting dangerous!" Claire Warwick said, eyeing Nancy scornfully.

Nancy had to agree and was sure now that she was the cause of it all. Perhaps she should not come back here after the towboat trip, but instead find some secret place to stay while she worked on the hollow oak mystery.

She asked Les to describe the men. The one who was called Kit fitted the description of the man who said his name was Tom Wilson. As before, he did not limp.

"But who was his companion?" Nancy wondered.

Les said he had decided at first to jump out at the men with his lantern and scare them away, but then realized he would be no match for them in a fight.

"I'm sorry we lost those would-be kidnappers," he remarked.

Nancy thanked him. Forcing a smile, she said to the others, "Tomorrow morning I'll be leaving and all your worries will be over."

"I'm glad to hear that," Claire Warwick said. "I mean no offense, Nancy, but after all you're not an archaeology student and your detective work here has-"

"That will be enough," Theresa spoke up sharply. "I suggest that all you girls go back to bed."

Claire looked angry and mumbled something about being treated like a child. But she followed the others into the house and went to her room.

Julie Anne put an arm around Nancy. "Don't let her worry you, dear. n.o.body cares for Claire and I'm sure all the other girls like you. They'd be sorry to see you leave for good."

Nancy smiled in appreciation. She slept a few hours, then was up before the rising bell.

When the boys arrived from their house, they were astounded to learn of the attempted kidnapping. Art said, "I wonder if the same two men took Bob Snell away."

"If so, I'm pretty sure I know who one of them is," Nancy told him, and mentioned Kit Kadle, alias Tom Wilson. "It's a good thing we're going on the towboat trip for a few days. Maybe Kadle will think I've gone home and the group here won't be hara.s.sed by intruders."

Art made no comment. As he looked off into s.p.a.ce, Nancy wondered, "Can he still be sulking about meeting Ned?" They walked into the farmhouse and joined the line for a cafeteria breakfast. Art ate quickly and went back to his dormitory to pack. The others did not see him until a quarter to eleven when he trudged up the path carrying a suitcase.

Nancy and Julie Anne were waiting for the helicopter to arrive. As the three looked up, they could see it coming. In a few minutes the whirlybird settled down onto the field near the farmhouse.

The trio hurried forward to greet Roscoe Thompson. Nancy introduced Julie Anne, then the three pa.s.sengers climbed the ladder into the c.o.c.kpit. The pilot asked how everything had been going and was told there had been trouble at the dig.

Nancy reported the disappearance of Bob Snell. suggesting that while Roscoe was flying around the area, he might keep his eyes open for anything suspicious.

"I'll do that. But why would anyone want to kidnap him?"

"n.o.body knows," Art answered.

Nancy did not intend to mention her own danger, but Julie Anne blurted it out.

Roscoe's eyes opened wide. "This is pretty bad," he remarked. "You're lucky those two fellows didn't succeed."

"I agree," Nancy said. "I believe you know one of the men as rom Wilson."

Roscoe looked surprised. "Is that so? But Wilson limps. How come you couldn't catch him?"

Art chuckled. "He had a limp until he was cornered and then he could run like a deer."

By this time the copter was coming in for a landing at a private field outside of Cairo. Roscoe borrowed a pilot friend's car and drove his three pa.s.sengers to town. When he pulled up to the entrance of the Delta Motel, they said good-by and went inside.

Art and the girls checked their luggage, then had a light lunch. Nancy suggested that they take a taxi to the airfield and meet Ned and the others. During the ride Art did not say a word. When they reached the field he walked off by himself.

"What's eating him?" Julie Anne asked.

"Compet.i.tion," Nancy replied. "Julie Anne, I think you'll have to cheer up poor Art."

The girl beamed. "Do you think I ran do it? He's been tagging after you ever since you arrived."

"Of course you can," Nancy said. "Why don't you start in right now by walking over to him?"

Julie Anne liked this idea and set off at once. Nancy strolled up and down but kept an eye on the couple. Pretty soon she was delighted to see that Art was actually laughing. When the helicopter from St. Louis hove into sight he took Julie Anne's arm and brought her over to where Nancy was standing.

There was wild enthusiasm as Nancy greeted Bess and George and the boys. Julie Anne, meanwhile, had rushed up to her cousin Ned and hugged him. Then she introduced him to Art. The two shook hands and Ned was most cordial, but Art seemed aloof.

There was a lot of chatter on the way to the motel. The newcomers were shocked when they heard about the mysterious happenings at the dig, and the two disappearances plus the at tempted kidnapping of Nancy.

Burt, blond and husky, said, "I wish I'd been here to capture those two guys."

Dave, a green-eyed rangy blond, added, "Pretty bold guys!"