Carolyn Keene - Mystery of Crocodile Island

Nancy parked and the girls walked to the door. They were admitted by another sailor, who took them to Captain Townsend's office in his home. Nancy showed him the letter.

"So you're a friend of the Cosgroves?" he asked. "Our families have been very close for many years. Please sit down."

The girls seated themselves in the comfortable wicker furniture. Then the captain asked what he could do for them.

Nancy said she would love to look around the base. "But before that, I want to ask you an important question."

She related the story of having seen a periscope in the green waterway at Crocodile Island. "But each time our skiff approaches it, the periscope disappears quickly. Do you know of any sub in that area?"

Captain Townsend shook his head. "No. But let me make a quick call and see if there's any record of it."

He punched a number into his desk phone and in a few minutes had his answer. "There's no record of any sub plying those waters. Are you sure you didn't mistake a mischievous coot for a periscope?"

"You mean those little black birds that stay underwater with just their long necks and heads showing?"

"Yes."

Up to this point George had not spoken. Now she exclaimed indignantly, "Nancy and the rest of us would certainly know the difference between a coot and a periscope!"

Captain Townsend laughed. "No offense meant. I'm sorry I can't help you."

"Perhaps you can help us with another sub," Nancy said. "I'd like to see one. Are there any in port?"

"You came at a good time," Captain Townsend said. "I'm going off duty just about now, so I'll be glad to give you a personally conducted tour of the base and show you a sub."

"Oh, that's great!" Nancy exclaimed. "Thank you."

The officer stood up and led them outside. "I don't have a car here, so shall we take yours?" he asked Nancy.

"Of course," she said, and handed him the keys.

He climbed behind the wheel and drove the girls up and down the various streets of the base, pointing out office buildings, barracks, recreation centers, and the air station.

Nancy was fascinated by the very high antenna. Captain Townsend said, "From here we can send messages to every part of the world."

"By satellite?" George asked.

"Yes."

They passed the base's hospital and came to an area where helicopters were parked.

"The men who fly these birds are specially trained in antisubmarine work," the captain explained. "They survey suspicious areas and try to spot invading enemy subs."

Bess spoke. "Maybe one of them should make a run over to Crocodile Island."

"I'll see to it," the captain promised. "It would only take a few minutes." Then he teased, "But that periscope you saw had better be there!"

They passed a building where students learned how to read sonar, and another containing advanced undersea weaponry, which was used as a teaching facility for the naval personnel.

"We have a great course here in underwater swimming and diving," the officer stated. "Some of the men later go into deep-sea diving work. You've probably seen pictures of them on television."

All the girls said they had and were fascinated by the sea life the pictures showed.

Bess commented, "But some of those creatures are too dangerous for me!"

The captain laughed. Then Nancy asked if by any chance there was a nuclear submarine in port.

"No, there isn't," he replied. "Just one of the older types. Would you like to go into it and have a look?"

"I'd love to," Nancy replied, and George and Bess wanted to, also.

When they reached it, a sailor standing on the deck saluted his superior officer. Captain Townsend offered to show the girls the interior.

The hatch was open and he led the way down the iron ladder to the deck below. As the girls gazed ahead, they noticed a long, narrow, center passageway.

George remarked, "I never saw so many things in such a tiny space. This is like a small apartment with a whole crew living in it!"

"And everything is so neat!" Bess added. "If I could keep my room like this, my mother would be very happy."

Nancy was interested in the crews' quarters. One bunk was perched high above a tremendous black tube. As Captain Townsend saw her eyeing it, he asked, "How would you like to sleep on top of a torpedo?"

"I wouldn't!" she replied.

The "kitchen" intrigued Bess. Every inch of the galley was used, and the equipment, including stove and refrigerator, was so compact that it amazed the visitors. She asked how many men could be served from such small quarters.

"Of course that depends on the size of the sub," the captain replied. "I think this one carries a complement of about thirty men."

As the visitors proceeded, Nancy inquired about the many upright lockers. "What is kept in them?"

Captain Townsend opened one. It was full of coiled rope, most of it hanging on hooks.

Another sailor's locker held work clothes. Nancy could see several M-16 rifles in slots behind the clothing. She wondered why they were on a sub that used only torpedoes. "Perhaps the men carry them when they're on land," she thought.

The officer said that the sub contained a ship-to-shore telephone. "Nancy, would you like to call someone?"

"Oh, yes," she replied. "I'll phone Mr. Cosgrove. Maybe you'd like to speak to him."

The captain placed the call and spoke to his old friend, then he handed the instrument to Nancy. Mr. Cosgrove said, "An important call came for you."

"Oh!" she said. "From home?"

"No, from your friend Ned Nickerson." Nancy could feel her face reddening. "He and Burt and Dave would like to come down here and see you. Ned said he'd call again for an answer. Mrs. Cosgrove and I would be happy to have them stay with us."

Bess and George were excited by the news. It would be such fun to see the boys again!

Captain Townsend said they must leave now as it was time for the crewmen to return and go through a drill.

The visitors climbed topside and went to the car. After the girls had thanked the captain profusely and left him at his home, Nancy drove off.

On the way to the Cosgroves, she said, "I have an idea. How about the boys staying with Mr. Gonzales instead of at the Cosgroves? Gimler and Sacco don't know them, so Ned, Burt, and Dave might pick up some good tips."

The other girls liked the idea, so Nancy drove to Mr. Gonzales's club. They all walked inside. The man at the desk recognized Nancy and said, "Miss Boonton, are you looking for Mr. Gonzales?"

"Yes, I am," she replied. "Is he here?"

Fortunately Mr. Gonzales was there. He came to meet Nancy. She introduced the other girls, then asked him, "How would you like a three-man bodyguard?"

Mr. Gonzales burst into laughter. "Is it that bad? Have you uncovered some new evidence?"

Nancy explained why she had made the request, and he accepted her suggestion that the three boys stay with him.

"Now that you girls will have some escorts, how would you like to come to the Saturday night dinner-dance here?" Mr. Gonzales asked. "The food is always excellent, and the music exactly what you like."

"We'd love to accept," Nancy said.

The man looked at her and teased, "Don't get yourself involved in some fix related to the mystery of Crocodile Island so you can't get here."

"I'll do my best," Nancy promised, grinning.

As she was about to drive out of the club grounds, Nancy saw Colombo. He apparently was headed for a bus. She stopped the car and called to him.

"Would you like a ride into town?" she asked.

"Indeed I would," Colombo replied. "Thank you so much." He opened the door to the rear seat and stepped in. "I'm glad I met you. I just received a phone call from my friend Sol. He wants me to meet him at a garage. He sounded excited."

"He didn't say why?" Nancy asked.