The Mystery of the Coughing Dragon, стр. 23

“Red Rover!”

The red-coated dog stretched and yawned. Then it got to its feet and shook its head, its long ears flopping.

“Red Rover!” Jupe called. “Come on out, boy. Come on.”

He extended his hand, palm up. The dog looked at it, sniffed and started to wag its long tail.

It took a few tentative steps, staggered and then, regaining its balance, walked out of the cupboard. Then it was rubbing its muzzle against Jupe’s knee and whining softly.

“Nice fellow,” Jupe said, stroking its head. “Good dog!”

Bob smiled. “Mr. Allen was right — it’s a friendly dog, all right!”

He extended his hand and knelt. The setter left Jupiter and came to Bob, wagging its tail slowly.

“Good boy,” Bob said, rubbing its ears. He looked up at Jupe. “We found it. What do we do now?”

Jupe had taken a slip of paper out of his pocket. He folded it several times. Then he slipped it under the Irish setter’s collar.

Jupe leaned forward, until his head was close to the big dog’s ear. “Go home, boy!” Jupe ordered. “Home!” The dog craned its, head, and wagged its tail happily. “Home!” Jupe repeated, extending his arm.

The dog uttered a happy bark. At the sound, other moans and whines came from the open cupboard. Slowly the other dogs emerged, walking stiffly, their tails wagging.

Bob grinned. “Whiskers! I counted — six! We’ve found them!”

Jupe nodded. As each dog wobbled out, he bent and folded a piece of paper under its collar.

“What’s that about?” Bob asked.

“I prepared a brief message for each dog owner in the event we found the dogs,” Jupe replied. “Like other successful firms, I think our organization should advertise and get credit for public service.”

Red Rover whined.

Jupe turned and knelt. “All right, Red Rover. You’re going home first.”

He lifted the big dog and carried it up the ladder.

“Home, Red Rover. Home!” he whispered in its ear.

The setter whined happily and scrambled over the top. With long bounds, it raced for the wall opening.

Jupe grinned. “He’s wide awake now. Hand the others up to me, Bob. Maybe the fresh air outside will revive them.”

One by one, Bob passed them up and Jupe released them. They all came to life soon and ran off after the setter.

Bob brushed off his hands. “Pete can let them out of the cave. Okay, that accomplishes our mission. I’m ready to leave now myself.”

His mouth opened in surprise as Jupe lowered the hatch and came down. “We can’t leave,” Jupe said.

“Why not?” Bob demanded.

“I just saw shadows moving on the tunnel wall. Somebody is coming this way.”

“Oh, no!” Bob exclaimed. “We’re trapped! Where can we hide?”

Jupe was walking down the narrow aisle. He opened the door of the small cupboard that had contained the dogs.

Pete rubbed his arms to get the chill off. He had already finished setting up the projector. A small rock had been wedged in place to hold the big turning rock firmly open. The reel of film was on the spool, and he crouched nervously waiting for the signal. Then he would flick the starter switch and run the picture.

He fussed once more with his machine to make sure it was aimed at the correct angle through the rock opening. Then he stretched out face down and waited.

He heard a sound behind him, and his flesh crawled.

He froze, listening intently. He heard it again.

Somebody, or something, was in the shallow outer cave they had entered first. He was able to hear it now, moving inside. Then, after a long wait, he heard the sound returning.

He heard a scuffing sound in the sand. Then he saw something that made him tremble still more. A big board hiding his smaller cave was moving.

Pete bit his lip. Reluctantly, he reached for his father’s projector and pulled it back. He was on his knees now, wondering what to do. There was still time for him to wriggle through the rock opening. He could join Bob and Jupe in the big cave, and let the rock close behind him.

But they were depending upon him to hold his post, he remembered. Those were Jupe’s instructions.

The big board moved again. It opened slowly.

Pete moved away until his back was against the cave wall. He waited, watching the boarded opening to the cave give way to the intruder.

Desperately, his hand searched the cave floor, seeking a weapon. Then he remembered his torch and his hand closed on it. The darkness of the cave might not be enough protection.

Then the big board was thrust aside. A burly form stood silhouetted in the faint light of the opening. It was so large that it had to turn sideways to enter the small cave.

Pete sucked in air.

He recognized the ill-tempered Mr. Carter and his shotgun.

The roof of the cave was low, and Mr. Carter had to stoop to advance farther. He bent and took a step forward. Then he stopped, listening. Pete heard it, too, his heart pounding wildly.

“Aaaaaahh… ooooo… oo!”

He shrank against the wall. He drew up his legs and gripped his weapon tighter.

Then he heard something else, the sound of running feet. It came closer, accompanied by a panting breath.

Other feet were following. Again he heard the moaning, wailing sound. “Aaaaahh… ooooo… oo!”

It had to be Jupe and Bob running. And being chased.

He gulped. He couldn’t close the moving rock now. It was their only way out of the big cave. Their only chance for safety.

But how safe was it? Pete wondered, with the terrible-tempered Mr. Carter standing crouched a few feet from him in the darkness, his shotgun at the ready.

There was a sudden whirling, skidding movement. Yellow eyes blazed in the opening in the rock.

Something moaned and bolted through.

It was followed almost immediately by something dark and growling. Then another. And another.

Pete’s mouth gaped open as he shrank against the cold cave wall.

He had been prepared for a dragon. This was a pack of wild, furry animals.

Mr. Carter grunted as something hit him.

He went down. Pete swallowed nervously. After the pack attacked the fallen man, they would be upon him.

He lifted the torch in his hand.

18

Caught!

Bob and Jupiter huddled inside the narrow cupboard, straining their ears to hear.

“That’s a lot of track to check and clear,” a man’s voice complained. “As if we didn’t have enough to do with all that drilling. But we’re all set now.”

“It’ll be worth the trouble, Harry,” another deep voice said. “Let’s move it.”

“Sure,” the first man replied. “He’s a slippery character, Jack. Do you think we can trust him?”

The other man laughed. “There’s only one of him, brother. And there’s two of us. It’s our boat. Maybe he ought to be worrying if he can trust us!”

The hatch opened and the men climbed down the ladder. Bob and Jupe, their ears pressed tightly against the thin door, heard one of them walking forward.

An engine whined and caught. They felt a sudden jerk and a slight bump. Then they were moving smoothly on the rails.

Bob touched Jupe’s knee in the darkness. “They sound like those two skin divers. Are we going into the ocean?” he whispered.

“I don’t think so,” Jupe said softly. “There’s still not enough ballast in the dragon to keep it submerged.”

“Whew!” Bob sighed. “That’s a relief,”

The dragon moved with only a slight swaying motion to indicate its progress.

“We’re going backwards,” Jupe whispered, “into the old tunnel.”

“I know,” Bob whispered. “But why? What are they up to?”

Jupiter shrugged. “I wish I knew. Whatever it is, it sounds important.”

The dragon stopped suddenly with a lurch, and Bob and Jupe fell back, bumping against the thin wall.

The man who had been driving came back. “Okay, Harry,” his voice rasped. “It’s time to load up. Watch yourself!”