"You don't look happy at all," said Mr. Hardy later that evening, dressed in a ranger's uniform. He had stopped by the boys' camp to see how they were doing.
Frank related what he had learned earlier, his face a mask of concern. "Joe's still around here, somewhere," he said. "But where have they hidden him? And was Steve kidnapped too?"
"At least we're camping here instead of over there," Chet said with a shiver as he pointed to an area roughly a mile away.
"Why's that?" Phil demanded, his eyes curious as he looked at Chet.
"It's haunted," Chet informed the group. "The guy I talked with, Jonny Parker, said Jenny told them about the mystery lights which would appear and disappear without a trace."
"Just a story to liven up things," Biff said with a snort.
"No," Chet denied, shaking his head solemly. "Jonny said he and the others saw the lights. Joe and Steve went to find out what caused them but they never found the source. Jonny says they must have given up or quit because they kept getting into trouble with Craig."
"That doesn't sound like Joe," Mr. Hardy replied, worry furrowing his brow.
"Joe would go look for the lights," Chet disagreed with Mr. Hardy's statement.
"No, he means it isn't like Joe to give up," Frank explained. "Not until he knew where the lights originated and where they went to."
"And, knowing Joe, he wouldn't give up without finding out what caused them," Mr. Hardy added.
"You think maybe Joe did find out?" Phil asked, comprehension dawning.
"So all we have to do is find the source of the lights and we find Joe," Biff said, grinning.
"Maybe," Mr. Hardy said, frowning thoughtfully. "Whether the lights have anything to do with his disappearance or not, we can be certain the Blevins' do."
"But it was Jenny who told the everyone about the lights," Chet argued.
"Maybe," Frank agreed. "But Jenny and Craig have told everyone that Joe packed up and left and yet Craig told Dad Joe had taken the kids camping. Lying doesn't leave them with a clear record."
"We need to go inside the camp as well as hunt for those lights," Phil stated.
"Right," affirmed Mr. Hardy. "I'll ask around at headquarters and see if there are any caves in the area where Joe might be. Frank, why don't you and Phil infiltrate the camp. Look around in the office and see if you can find what the Blevins' are up too. Biff and Chet," he added, turning to look at the two boys. "Scout around for those lights. When you find out where they originate from or where they end, don't get too close. Get backup first."
"Yes, Sir," Biff and Chet agreed.
"When do we start?" Chet asked after Mr. Hardy had left the campsite.
"When are the lights supposed to show up?" Frank asked.
"After dark," Chet answered. "I guess around nine or ten."
"It's only five-thirty now," Frank said, glancing at his watch. "Let's take a short nap," he suggested. "No telling how long we'll be up tonight."
Frank set the alarm on his watch and all four boys crawled into their tents. Too hot to get in their sleeping bags, they slept on top. At eight-thirty, Frank's alarm rang and he roused the other boys. Munching beef jerky for dinner, Frank and Phil decided to help in the search for the lights since it was still too early to go to Camp Braken.
"How are we going to do this?" Chet asked as darkness fell.
Frank thought it over then looked at Phil. "You stay here and use the binoculars," he instructed. "See if you can get a fix on where the lights first appear." Phil nodded his consent.
"Chet, Biff and I will head over there now. Try to stay out of sight and don't make any noise, unless you get caught," cautioned Frank. "If we haven't found anything by midnight, I'll cut out and go with Phil to the camp."
"What if we do spot something?" Biff asked, eyes twinkling because he already knew the answer.
"I'll cut out anyway...unless it's Joe we've found," Frank replied. "Let's move out."
It took almost an hour to get to the area where the lights had been reported. When they got there, all three boys headed in differnt directions. Frank decided the best place to observe would be higher up. He looked around and, spotting the tallest tree in the vicinity, shinnied up it.
After almost an hour, Frank spotted a solitary light from straight ahead. It hadn't been there before, he was sure. As he watched, the light moved in his direction. As it neared, Frank bit his lip in self-disgust. He should have thought to bring a pair of binoculars with him.
He had to decide wheter to remain where he was and take a chance on the light passing beneath him or leaving his perch and going after the light. If he stayed, he might be able to see where the light vanished but if he left, he might find what, or who, caused the lights and maybe even Joe. His mind made up, he quickly descended the tree.
He realized he had made the right choice because the light had veered away form it's course and seemed to be heading down toward the lake. Frank made his way toward the light, careful not to make more noise than a small animal might. Before he had caught up with the light, it vanished.
Frank scouted around, searching for a clue but finally decided it was too dark to see anything and using a flashlight would alert anyone around to his presscence.
Frank kept watch for the light to return but when midnight arrived, he made the trek back to camp and left this phase of the investigation to his friends.
"Did you see the light?" Frank asked Phil when he arrived at their campsite.
"Affirmative," acknowledged Phil. "The light appeared at an approximate forty degree angle from the camp and disappeared less than two degrees form the lake."
"Could there be a cave near the lake?" Frank queired.
"Not according to the map I have," Phil stated. "But there could be. If we knew the composition of the rocks, I could probably give you a more educated answer."
"Joe collects rocks," Frank said as he and Phil started toward the camp. "You think he would have been able to discover if there was a cave in this area if he knew the ground make-up?"
Before Phil could answer, there was a high pitched screech. "What the...?" Frank demanded, coming to a stand still.. He shook his head as he realized the sound was nothing more than a moutain lion. "Whereever Joe is, I hope he isn't near one of those," he said.
"I doubt anyone would go through the trouble of kidnapping Joe just to leave him for cat food," Phil reassured his friend. "And, yes," he continued, answering Frank's question. "Joe's the one who got me interested in rocks. You know," he added, smiling. "I think if Joe weren't going to be a professional detective, he would most likely go for a career in geology,"
"I kind of get that feeling too," Frank admitted. "His rock collection has been tested, labeled and he even has some empty spaces he has labeled and waiting for when he comes across them."
"There you have it, then," Phil said. "If there are any caves in the area, Joe has found it and..."
"And may have found something or someone in it," Frank finished grimly.
The two boys quit talking as they neared the camp. They spotted the building which served as the office, easily recognizable because it was the only building with the words Camp Braken on it. Frank tried the knob. Locked. "Do we try a window?" Phil whispered.
Frank nodded. Although he had the lock pick kit his father had given him for Christmas the previous year, he saw no sense in using it if an easier method of entry could be obtained. They went around to the side of the building to the window, protected only by a screen. "Who would break into a camp?" Phil asked, grinning.
Frank pulled the screen out and climbed through into the office. Phil followed, pulling the screen to the window and letting the window rest on the screen to hold it in place.
"What are we looking for?" Phil asked, going to a file cabinet as Frank sat down in the chair behind the desk.
"I don't know," Frank answered. "Anything that looks out of place?" he suggested with a shrug.
Frank began sorting through the desk drawers while Phil started going through the files. After a few minutes Phil looked over to where Frank was looking through an assortment of envelopes. "Come and look at this," Phil ordered.
Frank had been looking through a stack of letters when Phil spoke but quickly set them down and joined Phil. "What have you got?"
"Check out the records," Phil instructed. "Every camper and counselor here has at least one parent who is involved with the government."
"You're right," Frank concurred a few moments later, frowing. "Even dad works for the government on occassion."
"Look at this one," Phil said, handing a file to Frank.
"Steve Robbins," Frank read. "Joe's bunkmate!" he exclaimed, looking over the file. "Uh-oh," he added a minute later.
"What's wrong?" Phil demanded.
"Steve's dad was one of the security guards for Senator Davenport!"
Frank related what he had learned earlier, his face a mask of concern. "Joe's still around here, somewhere," he said. "But where have they hidden him? And was Steve kidnapped too?"
"At least we're camping here instead of over there," Chet said with a shiver as he pointed to an area roughly a mile away.
"Why's that?" Phil demanded, his eyes curious as he looked at Chet.
"It's haunted," Chet informed the group. "The guy I talked with, Jonny Parker, said Jenny told them about the mystery lights which would appear and disappear without a trace."
"Just a story to liven up things," Biff said with a snort.
"No," Chet denied, shaking his head solemly. "Jonny said he and the others saw the lights. Joe and Steve went to find out what caused them but they never found the source. Jonny says they must have given up or quit because they kept getting into trouble with Craig."
"That doesn't sound like Joe," Mr. Hardy replied, worry furrowing his brow.
"Joe would go look for the lights," Chet disagreed with Mr. Hardy's statement.
"No, he means it isn't like Joe to give up," Frank explained. "Not until he knew where the lights originated and where they went to."
"And, knowing Joe, he wouldn't give up without finding out what caused them," Mr. Hardy added.
"You think maybe Joe did find out?" Phil asked, comprehension dawning.
"So all we have to do is find the source of the lights and we find Joe," Biff said, grinning.
"Maybe," Mr. Hardy said, frowning thoughtfully. "Whether the lights have anything to do with his disappearance or not, we can be certain the Blevins' do."
"But it was Jenny who told the everyone about the lights," Chet argued.
"Maybe," Frank agreed. "But Jenny and Craig have told everyone that Joe packed up and left and yet Craig told Dad Joe had taken the kids camping. Lying doesn't leave them with a clear record."
"We need to go inside the camp as well as hunt for those lights," Phil stated.
"Right," affirmed Mr. Hardy. "I'll ask around at headquarters and see if there are any caves in the area where Joe might be. Frank, why don't you and Phil infiltrate the camp. Look around in the office and see if you can find what the Blevins' are up too. Biff and Chet," he added, turning to look at the two boys. "Scout around for those lights. When you find out where they originate from or where they end, don't get too close. Get backup first."
"Yes, Sir," Biff and Chet agreed.
"When do we start?" Chet asked after Mr. Hardy had left the campsite.
"When are the lights supposed to show up?" Frank asked.
"After dark," Chet answered. "I guess around nine or ten."
"It's only five-thirty now," Frank said, glancing at his watch. "Let's take a short nap," he suggested. "No telling how long we'll be up tonight."
Frank set the alarm on his watch and all four boys crawled into their tents. Too hot to get in their sleeping bags, they slept on top. At eight-thirty, Frank's alarm rang and he roused the other boys. Munching beef jerky for dinner, Frank and Phil decided to help in the search for the lights since it was still too early to go to Camp Braken.
"How are we going to do this?" Chet asked as darkness fell.
Frank thought it over then looked at Phil. "You stay here and use the binoculars," he instructed. "See if you can get a fix on where the lights first appear." Phil nodded his consent.
"Chet, Biff and I will head over there now. Try to stay out of sight and don't make any noise, unless you get caught," cautioned Frank. "If we haven't found anything by midnight, I'll cut out and go with Phil to the camp."
"What if we do spot something?" Biff asked, eyes twinkling because he already knew the answer.
"I'll cut out anyway...unless it's Joe we've found," Frank replied. "Let's move out."
It took almost an hour to get to the area where the lights had been reported. When they got there, all three boys headed in differnt directions. Frank decided the best place to observe would be higher up. He looked around and, spotting the tallest tree in the vicinity, shinnied up it.
After almost an hour, Frank spotted a solitary light from straight ahead. It hadn't been there before, he was sure. As he watched, the light moved in his direction. As it neared, Frank bit his lip in self-disgust. He should have thought to bring a pair of binoculars with him.
He had to decide wheter to remain where he was and take a chance on the light passing beneath him or leaving his perch and going after the light. If he stayed, he might be able to see where the light vanished but if he left, he might find what, or who, caused the lights and maybe even Joe. His mind made up, he quickly descended the tree.
He realized he had made the right choice because the light had veered away form it's course and seemed to be heading down toward the lake. Frank made his way toward the light, careful not to make more noise than a small animal might. Before he had caught up with the light, it vanished.
Frank scouted around, searching for a clue but finally decided it was too dark to see anything and using a flashlight would alert anyone around to his presscence.
Frank kept watch for the light to return but when midnight arrived, he made the trek back to camp and left this phase of the investigation to his friends.
"Did you see the light?" Frank asked Phil when he arrived at their campsite.
"Affirmative," acknowledged Phil. "The light appeared at an approximate forty degree angle from the camp and disappeared less than two degrees form the lake."
"Could there be a cave near the lake?" Frank queired.
"Not according to the map I have," Phil stated. "But there could be. If we knew the composition of the rocks, I could probably give you a more educated answer."
"Joe collects rocks," Frank said as he and Phil started toward the camp. "You think he would have been able to discover if there was a cave in this area if he knew the ground make-up?"
Before Phil could answer, there was a high pitched screech. "What the...?" Frank demanded, coming to a stand still.. He shook his head as he realized the sound was nothing more than a moutain lion. "Whereever Joe is, I hope he isn't near one of those," he said.
"I doubt anyone would go through the trouble of kidnapping Joe just to leave him for cat food," Phil reassured his friend. "And, yes," he continued, answering Frank's question. "Joe's the one who got me interested in rocks. You know," he added, smiling. "I think if Joe weren't going to be a professional detective, he would most likely go for a career in geology,"
"I kind of get that feeling too," Frank admitted. "His rock collection has been tested, labeled and he even has some empty spaces he has labeled and waiting for when he comes across them."
"There you have it, then," Phil said. "If there are any caves in the area, Joe has found it and..."
"And may have found something or someone in it," Frank finished grimly.
The two boys quit talking as they neared the camp. They spotted the building which served as the office, easily recognizable because it was the only building with the words Camp Braken on it. Frank tried the knob. Locked. "Do we try a window?" Phil whispered.
Frank nodded. Although he had the lock pick kit his father had given him for Christmas the previous year, he saw no sense in using it if an easier method of entry could be obtained. They went around to the side of the building to the window, protected only by a screen. "Who would break into a camp?" Phil asked, grinning.
Frank pulled the screen out and climbed through into the office. Phil followed, pulling the screen to the window and letting the window rest on the screen to hold it in place.
"What are we looking for?" Phil asked, going to a file cabinet as Frank sat down in the chair behind the desk.
"I don't know," Frank answered. "Anything that looks out of place?" he suggested with a shrug.
Frank began sorting through the desk drawers while Phil started going through the files. After a few minutes Phil looked over to where Frank was looking through an assortment of envelopes. "Come and look at this," Phil ordered.
Frank had been looking through a stack of letters when Phil spoke but quickly set them down and joined Phil. "What have you got?"
"Check out the records," Phil instructed. "Every camper and counselor here has at least one parent who is involved with the government."
"You're right," Frank concurred a few moments later, frowing. "Even dad works for the government on occassion."
"Look at this one," Phil said, handing a file to Frank.
"Steve Robbins," Frank read. "Joe's bunkmate!" he exclaimed, looking over the file. "Uh-oh," he added a minute later.
"What's wrong?" Phil demanded.
"Steve's dad was one of the security guards for Senator Davenport!"