Part 17 (1/2)

”No need, Mr. Hatfield. I'll put out the light and see that everything is s.h.i.+p-shape when I leave.”

”Well, don't stay too long, Dan.”

In departing, Mr. Hatfield and Brad lowered a canvas covering which served as a door across the cave entrance. Of no practical value in protecting the clubroom from intruders, it kept out wind and rain.

Left to himself, Dan devoted himself once more to the task at hand.

Writing out the letters of the alphabet in orderly rows, he gave each a number, thus:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4

and on through the alphabet.

When this brought no solution he tried a second combination, starting with the number ”2” instead of ”1”.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

For the next twenty minutes he worked on, trying many combinations. Each time, he started off with a higher number for the letter ”A,” working up as high as ”7”.

”It's no use,” he decided at last. ”I may as well go home.”

On the pad before Dan was a string of unused alphabetical letters.

Absently, with no hope of striking upon anything that would work, he wrote in corresponding numbers, starting with ”8.”

A B C D E F G H I J K L 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3

Referring to Jacques' coded message, he then began to transfer the numbers into counterpart letters.

”Let's see,” he mused. ”'0' could be either C, M or W; and '2' might be E, O or Y. Number 6 would have to be I or S. Number 1 could represent D, N or X. And 4 would have to be G-”

Dan went no further, for suddenly he saw that the puzzle actually was beginning to make sense. Excitedly he wrote in the first combination of letters:

020614 COMING

”Yipee! I've got it!” he muttered. ”I've found the key!”

A strong gust of wind unexpectedly flapped the light canvas which hung across the cave doorway.

So engrossed was Dan that he did not notice. Nor did he see a shadowy figure crouching on the platform.

Then the light suddenly was extinguished. Startled, Dan jerked to attention.

As he groped for a match with which to relight the lamp, a deep voice entoned:

”_Take warning, Dan Carter! Remain away from Skeleton Island!_”

Dan felt the hair rise on his neck. Chills slithered down his spine. The mysterious voice, he realized, came from the cave entranceway.

Recovering from the first shock of surprise, the boy sprang to his feet, upsetting his chair.