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

An Attic Mishap



"You mean there might be a picture of the Aztec warrior among these slides?" Mr Weaver asked, as he and the Hardys reached the attic.

"Yes, either of the man or of the object," Frank answered eagerly.

Mr Weaver was intrigued by the idea and suggested that the three of them carry the boxes of slides downstairs. "When I was searching the house, I noticed a screen and projector on the ground floor. By the way, only a few of the boxes are marked, so you'll probably have hundreds of pictures to look at."

Quickly they gathered up the boxes and began lugging them down the two flights of stairs. As Joe, in the lead, started for the ground floor, he suddenly tripped on a worn spot in the carpeting. Two boxes flew from his arms, and he went sprawling.

Joe started to slide downwards but caught a banister rail and pulled himself up, rubbing a bruised elbow. The slides lay in the hall below, hopelessly mixed up.

"Great!" he said in chagrin.

Frank chuckled. "All in a sleuth's day."

The boys picked up the slides, and Mr Weaver brought out the screen and projector.

While Joe set these up in the living-room, Frank put aside the boxes on which there were notations of Greece, Italy, Egypt and India. "I'm sure we won't find a picture of either Aztec warrior among these," he said. "I'll bet what we're looking for has something to do with Mexico."

The curtains were drawn, and Frank began handing slides from unmarked boxes to Joe. The first group of pictures looked as if they had been taken in the Rocky Mountains. Then came scenes in Hawaii, Canada and England.

Although the boys had not yet come across any pictures of Mexico, they were so fascinated by the slides that they did not realize that a full hour had gone by. Presently Mr Weaver mentioned the time. "Two more boxes and we'll have to leave," he announced. "I must get back to the office."

Joe turned the projector to full speed, and the slides began flashing on and off the screen.

Suddenly Frank gave a shout. "We've hit Mexico! That's a building at the University in Mexico City!"

"You've been there?" Mr Weaver asked him.

"Joe and I visited Mexico and once had a fleeting glimpse of Mexico City. But I recognized the university from pictures I've seen."

Joe then put a slide on the screen which Mr Weaver recognized as the Pyramid of the Sun, one of the great ruins outside Mexico City.

"Hold that picture!" Frank called out. "It's Aztec. There might be a clue in it."

The Hardys could not detect anything extraordinary. The few people in the picture were not distinct enough to be recognized.

Joe released the hold button, and the projector began to work automatically again. There were some pictures of candle cactus, and of a lake with fishermen who held strange-looking nets.

"That's Lake Patzcuaro," said Mr Weaver. "Those are the butterfly nets. It's the only place in the world where fish nets like those are used. Well, boys, I must leave. We'll come back some time and look at the rest of the slides."

"Would you mind if Joe and I stay here and finish them now?" Frank asked.

Mr Weaver smiled. "Personally, no, but I have a responsibility as an executor, and such a thing might be criticized."
While he was talking, Joe showed one more slide. It was a picture of two men standing side by side. Joe pushed the hold button.