Mystery of Crocodile Island (4 page)

“Over there,” said Danny, pointing, “is a place where the water is a little deeper. We can glide in between two of the wide-spreading trees and you can get a better look.”

He raised the outboard motor somewhat, moved the skiff forward, then headed among the mangroves. It was a strange sight. Roots twisted and turned. Among them and beyond the shoreline lay fragments of weathered coral rock.

Suddenly there was a grinding sound under the skiff, which stopped so abruptly it almost threw the girls into the water!

 

 

 

“WHAT did we hit?” Bess cried out. “Oh, I hope it didn’t ram a hole in the skiff!”

“I doubt it,” Danny replied. From the deck he picked up a long pole with a pronged hook on the end. Leaning over the side, he poked around under the boat and raised an enormous pile of matted mangrove roots and leaves. With a chuckle, he swung it into the skiff.

“Ugh!” Bess cried out. “What are all those crawly things in there?”

“Crocodile food,” Danny said and handed her a tin can. “Pick them up and drop them in this.”

George laughed. “You asked the wrong person, Danny. Bess hates that kind of thing.”

“You bet I do,” Bess said, pulling her knees up to her chin.

Nancy took the can and she and George scooped up the small marine creatures. Some of them were no longer than a half inch.

Nancy remarked, “A crocodile would have to eat a million of these to get even half a meal.”

“That would do for a snack,” Danny agreed. Then he made sure the outboard motor was not clogged.

Fortunately the green mass had come up in one big lump, and he was able to back the skiff away from the key. George threw the leaves and roots far out and once more the boat headed for Crocodile Island. The water was very shallow, and sand dunes stuck up here and there. Once in a while the skiff ran through an area where the water was dark green in color.

“These channels run quite deep,” Danny explained. “Larger craft can travel only in these, whereas a flat-bottomed boat like ours can go anywhere on the bay.”

A few minutes later he pointed to their left, where series of tall, stout poles protruded from the water. Many had small cottages on top.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Bess stated. “Are they summer homes?”

Danny nodded. “Right. They’re weekend retreats. The owners like to get away from the city. Out here there are a lot of interesting things to see, and many birds. But not noise except from the boat motors.”

“What about the poles with nothing on top?” George asked.

“The houses they supported were blown away in hurricanes,” Danny explained.

Bess shivered. “I’d run at the first sign of a breeze if I lived in one of them.”

Danny laughed. “I’m sure people don’t stay and wait for the storm.”

An hour later he reached another key. It was surrounded by a line of mangroves. As they drew closer, the girls saw stakes driven into the water, forming a fence. It stretched as far as they could see. Here and there warning signs were posted:

“So this is Crocodile Island,” George remarked.

Just then Nancy noticed two bright spots in the water behind the fence. “What are those?” she asked.

“Crocodile eyes,” Danny told her. “You see, these reptiles can stay completely under water except for their eyes, which are raised high in their heads. Watch!” He picked up the can of little marine creatures and tossed them toward the crocodile. Its great jaws rose and took in the food. Then the reptile swam away lazily.

Bess, who had drawn her feet back on deck, said, “I see now why the owners put up this fence. They left enough water between it and the island so the crocodiles can enjoy themselves.”

Danny told her that this was the first time he had ever seen one of the creatures in this spot. “Usually they’re kept in pits and guarded carefully,” he added.

“Where’s the entrance to the island?” Nancy questioned.

“On the far side of the key. You girls are lucky. Today is a visiting day.”

There were several boats with tourists waiting to see Crocodile Island. A boardwalk ran from a small dock up through mangrove trees to a partially open area. Here, among the mangrove trees, were shallow pits fenced in with five-foot concrete walls.

Fresh sea water flowed into them through pipes. There was an elevated area in each pit so the reptiles could stay either in or out of the water.

A small Irish terrier ran around, barking loudly at the visitors.

“His name is E-fee,” Danny explained. “I know because I’ve been here before.”

“E-fee?” Bess asked. “That’s a strange name.”

“It’s Seminole for ‘dog,’ ” Danny said. “He has six toes on one front paw and likes to be the center of attention. He’s always around on visiting days.” The boy petted the little animal and E-fee licked his fingers.

A guide asked the group to follow him, and told them about the crocodiles. “The youngest ones have a greenish cast with black markings,” he said. “The half-grown ones are olive green, and the senior citizens are all gray.”

They came to an enclosure with a fifteen-foot-long giant in it. “This old fellow has to stay by himself,” the guide said. “He doesn’t seem to get along with the others. Does anyone have any questions?”

Danny spoke up. “I’ve heard that crocodiles can drown. Is that true?”

“It sure is,” the guide replied. “Both alligators and crocodiles can stay under water until the oxygen in their lungs is used up—alligators longer than crocodiles. But finally they both have to surface.”

“How often do they have to come up?” George asked.

“Oh, I’d say the crocs come up about once every hour. It depends on the water temperature. The warmer the water, the more often they have to breathe. In cold water they can hibernate a lot longer.”

“Do they have to surface to eat?” a man inquired.

“Yes. They can seize their prey underwater, because they have valves in the backs of their throats that close when they open their mouths and the water can’t flow into their lungs. But they have to stick their heads out to swallow.”

The group walked on, and Nancy asked the guide, “What do you do with all these crocodiles?”

“The Ecology Company sells them to various zoos and parks and even to the government,” he replied.

“The government?” George repeated. “What would Uncle Sam do with a lot of crocodiles?”

The guide told her they were distributed to certain areas. “You have probably heard that the crocodile is a vanishing species. We are trying to do our part in seeing that American crocodiles do not become extinct.”

At this remark Bess heaved a great sigh. “Would America really be badly off if it didn’t have any?”

The guide looked at her with contempt in his eyes. “Young lady, if you knew anything about ecology, you would realize how useful they are!”

Bess had no chance to reply because a loud bell rang.

“This is an alarm!” the guide exclaimed. “I must ask you all to get back to the dock as quickly as possible and leave the island!”

“Why?” Nancy asked, disappointed. “Does it mean a crocodile is loose?”

“It could be,” the guide replied. “Now please, ladies and gentlemen, return to your boats without delay!”

The tourists ran. Bess was one of the first, and the others, for once, had trouble keeping up with her. Just before they reached the skiff, a guard at the dock asked them if they had registered when they came in.

“No, we forgot,” Danny said. “I’ll do it now.” He hurried into a small office building and signed his name. Then he entered the girls’ names as Anne, Elizabeth, and Jackie Boonton.

When he came out again, they had already climbed into the skiff. A man in overalls approached the
Pirate,
pulled out a camera, and snapped their pictures, then hurried away and disappeared among the mangrove trees.

Danny jumped into the skiff and pushed off. “Why was that guy taking your pictures?” he asked.

Nancy looked concerned. “I have no idea. He did it so fast we didn’t have time to turn our backs or refuse.”

“He didn’t photograph any of the other visitors,” George stated. “He singled us out for a reason!”

Nancy nodded. “I’m sure the top men here realize who we are. Perhaps they wanted our picture to distribute to the members of the gang who haven’t seen us yet!”

George frowned. “This could mean we’ll be harassed by all kinds of people, wherever we go. I’m worried.”

“So am I,” Bess added. “I think we should return to River Heights and get out of this whole dangerous mess!”

“You don’t mean that!” Nancy exclaimed.

“Yes. I do!”

Nancy and George looked at the frightened girl. Finally Nancy said, “If that’s what you want to do, Bess, go ahead. As for me, I’m staying right here and seeing this mystery through!”

“So am I,” George added.

There was silence for several minutes, then Bess gave in. “You know perfectly well that I wouldn’t run out on my friends. But I warn you to be careful. I know I’m not as brave as you are. I hate to get hurt!”

 

 

 

DANNY and the girls moved away from Crocodile Island. All of them watched anxiously to see if they were being followed.

Other tourists were leaving in their motor-boats. Nancy wondered if one of them might contain a spy from the Ecology Company, sent out to pursue the
Pirate.

“I hope not,” the girl detective thought.

Nancy observed through binoculars what directions the various craft took. One seemed to stalk the
Pirate,
and Nancy had an uneasy feeling about it.

“Do you see anything?” Bess wanted to know.

“There’s a fast motorboat called
The Whisper,”
Nancy replied. “It seems to be tailing us.”

“Is that unusual?” George asked. “After all, other people might be heading for Key Biscayne.”

“Of course,” Nancy answered. “It’s just that most of the boats have scattered. This one stays right in the wake of our boat.”

“Oh, oh,” Danny murmured. “Maybe they want to find out where we’re headed. On the other hand, they wouldn’t really have to bother. Anyone can check the boat registry to see who owns the
Pirate
and where we live.”

“That’s great,” George said. “They already know who we are, and now they can find out where we’re staying!”

Bess became alarmed. “Let’s head for home!” she begged.

Danny looked at Nancy. “What do you say?”

“I’m not ready to leave Crocodile Island just yet. Let’s go around it and see what’s on the other side. We might pick up a clue.”

Danny nodded. “Sure. We may even find out if a loose crocodile caused the alarm.”

“What else would?” George asked.

“You girls. Someone might have recognized not Anne, Elizabeth, and Jackie, but Nancy, Bess, and George, and wanted you off the premises.”

Nancy agreed that it was a possibility. “We’re getting to be notorious.” She chuckled.

Danny followed the shoreline of the key.
The Whisper
stayed right behind them, and soon there was no doubt in the girls’ minds that the boat was pursuing them. The fast craft finally pulled alongside the
Pirate.

With some apprehension the young people watched the two men on The
Whisper’s
deck. Both had swarthy complexions and unpleasant faces. One of them shouted, “Get away from this island!”

“Why?” Danny asked innocently.

“Because it’s private property!”

“The water isn’t!” George pointed out. “Besides, we’re not doing any harm!”

“We don’t want you here,” the man insisted and shook his fist. “Now get lost!”

“Who are you?” Danny asked. “And why should we listen to you?”

“It’s none of your business who we are. And if you don’t listen, you’ll be in trouble!”

Danny paid no attention to the warning. Instead, he revved up his engine and pulled away from the other craft. Obviously the two men did not know what to do next, so they followed the young people around the island.

Bess had scanned the shoreline through binoculars as unobtrusively as possible. She focused on a metal tube sticking out of the water. It seemed to give off bursts of light, as if it were studded with prisms and mirrors reflecting the rays of the sun.

“Hey, see that thing over there? I wonder what it is!” she said, excited.

The others looked and George gasped. “It could be the periscope of a submarine!”

“What!” Danny exclaimed. For a moment he forgot to keep his engine racing.