Page:The House On The Cliff.pdf/137

 But Tony demurred, though as he spoke he started up the engine again.

"Count me out," he said. "I don't like that talk about being knocked on the head. I may be foolish, but I'm not that foolish."

"There are three of us."

"And we don't know how many more of them. And they're grown men. I don't want to be trapped in that cove. Besides, the motorboat makes too much noise. They'd hear us coming and then we'd be done for."

This phase of the matter had not occurred to the Hardy boys, but they saw that it was reasonable. In the darkness it would be risky entering the narrow passage to the cove and then, as Tony said, it was probable that their approach would be heard.

"I hate to let them get away when we've got such a clue as this," said Frank. "There's no doubt they are smugglers. The men in that motorboat probably are going out to a ship for a cargo of smuggled goods, or else they have delivered a cargo and are on their way back."

"But where on earth did the motorboat come from!" exclaimed Joe. "There wasn't any boat in the cove when we were in there."

"Probably well hidden," said Frank. "There were a lot of bushes growing close down to the water's edge, I noticed. They'd have some sort of a hiding place fixed up."