The Mystery of the Aztec Warrior by Franklin W. Dixon

alone.”
    â€œAnd when they learn the truth, they’ll come after us again,” Frank predicted.
    â€œIn the meantime they’ll probably try to sell it,” said Joe.
    Frank remarked that if the local police had put out a net for the kidnapper and the fake detective, officers should be able to pick them up before they had a chance to dispose of the dagger.
    â€œThose thieves are pretty tricky,” Joe reminded him. “They probably were a long distance away from here before the police could start looking for them.”
    The delicious food seemed to put Chet in better spirits. He asked what the Hardys were going to do next.
    Frank slapped his chum on the arm. “Right now we’re going to follow Detective Morton’s clue and look for an ancient dagger with a handle in the shape of an Aztec warrior!”
    Chet beamed broadly at Frank. “You mean it? My clue was that good?”
    â€œIt’s worth tracking down,” Frank replied. “As soon as we finish eating, I’m going to phone Dad and tell him about your theory.”
    Chet stuck out his chest so far he almost burst a button off his shirt. All three boys laughed.
    They went back to their room and put in the long-distance call. Fortunately, Mr. Hardy was still at home. He was very much interested in the boys’ new theory and advised pursuing this angle.
    Frank told Mr. Hardy about the discovery of the stone relic and of the Oaxaca curator’s great excitement over it.
    â€œExcellent!” the detective said. “Keep going at that rate, and I’m sure you boys will solve the mystery in no time.”
    With this encouragement, the boys decided to question people along the alleyway into which the dagger thieves had fled. Maybe, Frank said, they could pick up some clues. Since no word had come from the police, the boys assumed the men had not been found.
    The three sleuths went down the back stairway and through the courtyard to the cobblestone alley behind it. They walked along slowly toward one of the main avenues, questioning a few people looking out of second-floor windows. None of them had noticed the fugitives. Just before reaching the end of the narrow street, they heard warning shouts.
    â€œWonder what’s up?” said Chet.
    A moment later the three boys stopped short. A snorting, angry bull had entered the alley and was thundering directly toward them!

CHAPTER XIV
    A Matador’s Clue
    TERRIFIED, the Hardys and Chet whirled about to flee from the charging bull. They could hear its angry snorting directly back of them.
    â€œWe must get to the hotel courtyard!” cried Frank.
    He had noticed that all of the open first-floor windows and doors along the alley were barred. There was no chance for the boys to dive to safety through any of them.
    The trio had an added moment of panic when Chet stumbled on the cobblestones. But he caught himself, and they went on. By this time the commotion and shouting from people looking out the second-floor windows had spurred the bull on to frantic speed.
    Fortunately the gates to the hotel patio were open. The three boys dashed inside, and Frank slammed the gate shut.
    They were just in time. The maddened bull pulled up short, eyed the boys malevolently, then continued on down the alley.
    â€œBoy, I never want to go through that again!” said Chet, dropping to the ground and panting.
    The Hardys heaved sighs of relief. Frank said, “I wonder where the bull is now.”
    â€œLet’s go find out,” Joe proposed.
    He opened the gate and looked cautiously down the narrow street. The bull was not in sight, but the boys could hear cries of excitement. Quickly they ran in the direction of the shouts. On the way they saw a young Mexican rush from a house. He was carrying a red cloak and a sword.
    â€œHe must be a matador!” Joe guessed.
    Excitedly the boys hurried after him. The way led to the zócalo, where people were running