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

the other boats no longer blocking them, they slipped toward the rocks that had trappedMaggie Collins. Frank lost his footing and went under. The whitewater pushed him under, and his head banged against a boulder. Fortunately, his racing helmet saved him from any injury.
    He popped up again, and Joe grabbed his arm. “Hang on, Frank!” Joe called. “We need some help here!” But the other racers were too far downstream, battling the current once more.
    Another racer shot past heading downstream, too caught up in the challenges of the course to stop.
    Frank and Joe struggled while their kayaks bumped up against the rocks. Finally, the older Hardy scrambled back aboard. With Frank out of the water, the brothers’ years of kayaking experience took over, and they soon pushed themselves free of the rocks.
    â€œThat was a close one!” Joe said as they headed downstream once more.
    â€œAbout three different times,” Frank added, deftly wiping the water from his brow with his sleeve as he paddled.
    They shot through another section of rapids and then entered a calmer section of water. As they did, they saw the racer who had passed them scrambling ashore, a broken paddle in her hand. She tugged her boat behind her but didn’t seem to be in any real distress.
    â€œThis part of the course will probably cut down the competition a bit,” Frank said.
    â€œJust so long as we aren’t the part it cuts down,” Joe replied.
    At the next bend in the river, far ahead now, they saw Collins, Frid, and Baldwin still traveling in a tight pack.
    â€œWe can catch them if we push hard,” Joe said. “I don’t think they’re as good at kayaking as we are.”
    â€œWe’ll need a lead going into the bike stage if we want to have any chance to place in the rankings,” Frank said. “Baldwin and the Clemenceaus are sure to be tough on the road.”
    â€œI’d like to catch that Lupin guy, too,” Joe said angrily. “He could have stopped and helped, but he didn’t.”
    â€œThere’s no rule that you have to help your competition,” Frank replied. “C’mon, let’s make up some distance.” He and Joe dug in hard, and their kayaks slowly began to close the gap to the other racers.
    By late afternoon they had passed Collins, Frid, and Baldwin once more. They saw several other racers stranded on the side of the river, but no one seemed in need of rescue, so the brothers pushed on.
    They never did catch sight of Lupin again, but by the time the checkpoint came into view, they could see Quentin Curtis just ahead of them. He glanced back at the brothers as he paddled wearily toward shore.
    The brothers beached their kayaks and recorded their times with the checkpoint officials just after Curtis. “Have you seen Maggie and Robert?” Curtis asked, peering upstream.
    â€œWe just passed them,” Frank said. “They should be in any minute.”
    As he spoke, Collins and Frid appeared at the top of the bend and headed toward the checkpoint landing. Curtis let out a long sigh of relief.
    Joe seemed about to say something, but Frank put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Let’s grab some grub from our boats,” Frank said. Joe nodded but glanced from Curtis to Collins, and a spark of anger flashed in his blue eyes.
    The Hardys walked the short distance from the checkpoint station back to their kayaks. Sealed in watertight bags, their food had survived the river in fine shape. As they hauled out their provisions and blankets, Collins and Frid beached their kayaks and headed to the checkpoint station. A few minutes later Roger Baldwin did the same.
    â€œHey,” Joe called to him, “thanks for helping back there.”
    Baldwin gave a curt nod. “Don’t mention it.”
    While Baldwin hiked toward the check-in station, the brothers headed for the camping area. Though it wasn’t dark yet, some