"Dixon, Franklin W - Hardy Boys 043 - The Mystery Of The Aztec Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dixon Franklin W)

The boys climbed into the car, and the driver sped out of the airport and on to a wide road. The road was bordered by low stucco houses and open-air markets with here and there a tall apartment house.

"This doesn't look very old," Chet remarked. He sounded disappointed.

"Wait!" the driver advised. "We come to old part of city soon."

A short time later he turned into a large square. "This is the zуcalo," he announced proudly. "The cathedral on the north side was finished in 1667 and built on the ruins of a great Aztec temple."

The boys gazed at the huge church with interest. Then, pointing to a long low building which covered one side of the square, the driver explained that this was the National Palace. On the other sides of the square were the Palacio Municipal and an arcade which sheltered a row of small shops.

"This part looks pretty old," Chet acknowledged.

Suddenly a taxi passed the one in which the boys were riding. A man's hand protruded from it. He was waving a white handkerchief frantically as if to attract their attention.

"Is that a signal to us?" Frank asked excitedly.




- 6 -

Unwanted Passenger



"DRIVER, pull up alongside that taxi," frank cried, pointing ahead.

The taximan put on a burst of speed, while the Hardys strained their eyes to see who was inside the other taxi.

They were barely able to catch a glimpse of its passengers, but Frank whispered, "That man with the handkerchief is Jack Wayne! The other man looks Mexican."

Suddenly their own taxi stopped. Quickly Frank and Joe turned to see why. To their amazement a stranger, with flashing black eyes and swarthy skin, and holding some kind of badge in his hand, was climbing in beside their driver.

"You're under arrest!" he told the taximan.

"What! I have done nothing!" the frightened driver said.

Frank and Joe looked at each other and at Chet who gulped nervously. Did this have something to do with them? Was this a ruse to capture them as well as Wayne? Frank whispered to the others, "We'd better get out of here - and fast!"

Joe nodded, grabbed his suitcase and opened the door. The next instant he and Chet, swinging his bag, were on the street. Frank threw a bill to the taxi driver and hopped out with his luggage. The stranger ordered the taximan to hurry on.

Instantly horns began to toot at the boys, and cars swerved to avoid hitting them. Chet and the Hardys realized they were raising a traffic commotion. It was impossible for them to reach the pavement.

"I wanted to follow that other taxi," said Frank, as a car nearly knocked him over.

"N-not me," quavered Chet. "We might be in jail by now!"

"We'll never be able to catch up with it now," said Joe as the brakes of a taxi near him screeched.

Finally the boys held up their hands and the motorists realized the trio's predicament. One car after another came to a grinding halt to let the visitors run to the pavement.