Terror at High Tide by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

Frank right behind him. “We’re almost there,” he called as he saw the main road before him.
    But before the Hardys could reach the Jeep, the dune buggy roared up next to them, blocking their way. With a rush of fear Joe realized that the dune buggy was corralling them. Like a cowboy herding cattle, the man was driving them right back into the bog.
    Joe knew their only hope for escape was for a car to come along the road at that instant, but there was nothing in sight. Running back down the rutted road, Joe stumbled on a loose rock.With a sinking sensation, he realized that the dune buggy had stopped right next to him.
    The man leaped out of the dune buggy and faced Joe squarely, blocking the path to the main road. Joe saw a glint of silver. The man had a knife, and he looked ready to use it!

13 Kidnapped!
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    Joe lunged at the man, jabbing him in the chest with his elbow. Stunned, the man reeled backward, knocked off balance. Joe lunged for the man and yanked off his ski mask. It was Harrison Cartwright.
    In an instant Cartwright recovered. Springing up, he came at Joe with his knife. Joe scuttled behind the dune buggy, then landed Cartwright a surprise kick to the side.
    Cartwright fell down, dropping his knife. But before Joe could kick it out of the way, Cartwright jumped up, pushing Joe off balance toward the bog.
    This guy’s in good shape, Joe thought, grimacing while he struggled to fight him off. Joe felt hisleft leg slipping down the side of the ditch toward the soupy water. He had to do something fast—if he fell into the bog, Cartwright could easily nail him.
    Making a final effort, Joe dug a toehold in the dirt with his sneaker. Regaining his balance, he brought his leg back up and kicked his assailant, knocking him down. Then Joe heaved Cartwright into the bog.
    Joe didn’t wait around to hear the splash. “Frank!” he yelled, looking frantically down the dirt road. No answer.
    Joe heard the squeal of tires, then something red flashed into view at the top of the rutted road. It was Frank at the wheel of the Jeep.
    â€œAm I glad to see you!” Joe said as he vaulted over the passenger seat door. “I didn’t know what happened. Are you okay?”
    â€œThat joker came at me with the buggy,” Frank said. “I dodged it just in time, but I hit the ground hard. I’m okay, though.”
    â€œThat joker happens to be Cartwright. I pulled off his mask. Then I pushed him into the bog.”
    Frank shot a glance at Joe. “It’s just a matter of minutes then before he climbs out of the bog. And now that we know who he is, we’d better get out of here.”
    Gunning the engine, Frank drove down thedirt road just as Cartwright, dripping wet, was dragging himself from the swampy water.
    â€œWe’ve got to get to that shed before Cartwright and see if Mr. Geovanis is there,” Frank said. “Do you remember where it is, Joe?”
    Joe peered into the fog, trying to make out the dark boxlike shape he’d seen behind the row of trees. But everything looked the same in the bleak misty landscape. “We’re going too fast, Frank. Maybe we passed it.”
    Glancing back over his shoulder, Joe caught his breath. Harrison Cartwright was at the wheel of the dune buggy, and he was gaining on them fast.
    â€œOh, no,” Joe said. “Cartwright looks like one angry dude. Why do I get the feeling he’s not finished with us? Floor it, Frank, or he’ll catch us.
    Pressing the accelerator hard, Frank drove the Jeep full speed ahead. “I’d like to get help from the police,” Frank said, “but there’s no way I can turn around. I wonder where this road leads?”
    â€œAlicia’s cell phone!” Joe cried. “It’s in the glove compartment. We can call for help.”
    â€œNope,” Frank said grimly. “She put the phone in her backpack when she first got the call from her dad.