Read Online Trouble in the Pipeline by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online

seaplane," Frank said, "with pontoons."
    "Not many planes come out here prepared to land on the water." Virgil cranked up the engine again, pointing the boat due north and opening the throttle. The bow rose out of the water as the propellers bit into the sea.
    "How can we race a plane?" Frank asked.
    "We're ahead of it already, and we can keep an eye on it for quite a while," Virgil said. "If we line up with its course, sooner or later we're bound to come across it when it lands."
    They continued on in silence. Virgil no longer fished—he wrapped up all his lines and stowed them.
    A thought occurred to Frank. "Do we have enough fuel?"
    Virgil glanced down at the tanks. "Depends on how long we have to go. We can keep on for a couple more hours."
    Frank sat back to enjoy the ride. What more could he want? His leg was feeling better, he had the smell of salt water and the wind—and maybe answers for a lot of questions.
    The plane was long out of sight, but after two hours of following its course they caught up with it. There it was, bobbing on the water in the middle of nowhere.
    Frank tapped Virgil's arm. "Better turn off the engine. We don't want them to think we're spying on them."
    "What if we're fishing?" Virgil said with a grin. "That shouldn't be suspicious." Throwing out some fishing lines, Virgil handed Frank a parka. "Pull the hood up," he suggested. ' 'They may have binoculars." ' Looking innocent and busy, Virgil started the engine, and they trolled slowly, moving constantly toward the seaplane. There was no sign of life either in or around it. Where was the pilot? As they got closer Frank's eyes narrowed.
    "Hey, Virgil, that plane isn't moving around. I think it's anchored."
    Virgil steered around it in a wide circle. After several minutes they were able to see the other side of the plane and they got a glimpse into the cockpit. Two men were inside, deep in conversation. They obviously hadn't seen the little fishing boat.
    Bobbing up and down in the water, next to the plane, was a sea buoy with a radio transponder on it.
    Frank grinned in triumph. "That could be the buoy they had on the plane we fell from, or one exactly like it. We may have tied these guys into the attempt to kidnap us. Now all we have to do is see what they're waiting for."
    Virgil cut the engine and drifted. Because they were so low in the water, they were hidden by waves most of the time. They sat still with poles in their hands, but with both eyes on the plane.
    Their work was soon rewarded, for the sea suddenly erupted yards from the plane. And a black hulking form lifted out of the waves like some sea behemoth. Frank and Virgil watched in stunned silence.
    Shedding tons of seawater, the metal sea monster revealed itself to be the superstructure of a submarine. A hatch opened, and a man clambered along the sub's deck, holding a chain.
    One of the men on the plane tossed a line to him, and he towed the plane up next to the sub.
    A second man emerged from the hatch. Frank could see right away who it was. The sun picked out his blond hair, marking him as Sandy White.
    "That's the guy who wired us to the polygraph," Frank whispered. "He's the president of North Slope Supply."
    "Are you sure?" Virgil asked.
    "Positive," Frank said. White was giving orders to the man who'd fastened the ropes. Then he stopped, his eyes scanning the horizon. Frank had the uncomfortable feeling that White had spotted them.
    White moved to the plane and reached out. The pilot tossed him something. For a second White held his hands up to his eyes. Then he turned to the sailor, who quickly turned and disappeared down the hatch.
    White's hands went back to his eyes. This time, sunlight reflected off the polished lenses. "Binoculars!" Frank said. "He has spotted us!"
    A crew of four came tumbling out of the hatch, dragging something. Frank recognized it as an inflatable boat and an outboard motor.
    "We'd better get out of here," he said. "If they catch us, White will