Read Online Speed Times Five by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online Page B

“She’s lost quite a bit of time.”
    â€œI think making her point is probably more important to her,” Frank replied. “She’ll still have time to catch up later.”
    â€œWe will, too,” Joe said, taking another drink of water. “I wonder what she was talking about, though.”
    A few minutes later the brothers started off again. Their legs and arms burned from the long days of exertion, but they knew the other racers were facing the same trouble.
    â€œI can’t wait to hit Montreal and sleep in a real bed,” Joe said as they topped the shoulder of another rugged hill.
    â€œWhoa,” Frank said as they crested the ridge, “I guess this is what Hawk was complaining about.”
    Ahead lay a hillside nearly devoid of trees. The barren swath stretched from the shoulder where the Hardys stood, back up the hillside beyond, and then down to a forest in the valley below. Tire tracks marked the rocky slopes where the lumber had been hauled away. The vista was desolate and nearly as lifeless as the surface of the moon.
    Joe scowled and spat the dust from his mouth. “They should make clear-cutting illegal,” he said.
    â€œYeah,” Frank said. “Let’s send a donation to Hawk’s cause when we get home. But first, we have to finish this race. C’mon.”
    Cautiously, he began to hike down the blasted landscape, his feet kicking loose small rocks andgravel. Joe did the same, trying not to slip on the uneven ground.
    â€œIs that Hawk and the camera crew down below?” Joe asked, shielding his eyes from the afternoon sun.
    Frank peered in that direction and spotted three figures at the edge of a forest in the valley below. “I think so,” Frank said. “But I doubt they’ll wait for us to catch up and find out.”
    Joe looked up into the clear blue sky. “Do you hear thunder?” he asked.
    Frank looked around, his gaze settling on the hillside behind them. What he saw set his heart pounding.
    â€œLandslide!” he shouted.

8 Running in Place
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    High up the slope behind the Hardys, the hillside moved. Small rocks tumbled over bare ground, shaking loose dirt and larger rocks. Those rocks shook loose still more, until the whole hillside slumped toward the ridge the Hardys had crossed just minutes before.
    â€œRun!” Frank urged.
    He and Joe took off downslope, their feet slipping on the barren ground. Behind them, a cloud of gray dust roared and grew to huge proportions.
    Sparing a momentary glance back as he ran, Joe shouted, “Cut to the right! Try to get out of the slide’s direct path!”
    Frank and Joe ran to the right, all the while continuing their downward plunge. The brothers moved as fast as they could while still maintainingtheir footing. Both knew that a single slip could leave them buried under tons of dirt and rock.
    The slide toppled the few trees remaining on the slope and tossed them forward like driftwood on a dusty sea. The roar of the landslide grew louder—a rocky monster hungry to devour the brothers.
    â€œWe’re not going to make it!” Joe cried.
    â€œJust keep running,” Frank said. Glancing back, he spotted a tall tree trunk coasting atop the rubble like a boat. The tree was near the leading edge of the slide and close to where Joe and Frank were running. With luck, they could just make it. “Go for the tree, Joe!” he called. “Maybe we can ride this out!”
    As the slide caught up with them, the brothers turned and leaped for the tree. Joe landed solidly on the trunk and grabbed hold with both hands. Frank, however, tripped over some hurtling scree. He landed half on the uprooted tree, with his legs and lower body dangling in the dust.
    The speed of the slide threatened to pull him off the trunk and into the crashing rubble. Frank’s fingers lost their grip on the rough bark. He slipped off.
    Joe stabbed out and grabbed his