The Secret of Skull Mountain facts for kids
Original edition
|
|
| Author | Franklin W. Dixon |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Hardy Boys |
| Genre | Detective, mystery |
| Published | January 1, 1948 Grosset & Dunlap |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 212 pp |
| ISBN | 0-448-08927-0 |
| OCLC | 19406194 |
| Preceded by | The Phantom Freighter |
| Followed by | The Sign of the Crooked Arrow |
The Secret of Skull Mountain is the 27th book in The Hardy Boys mystery series. It was first published in 1948 by Grosset & Dunlap. The story was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by George Waller Jr. Later, in 1966, a shorter version of the book was released.
Contents
The Mystery of Skull Mountain
This exciting mystery takes place near a place called Skull Mountain. The city of Bayport, U.S.A., relies on a new water source, the Tarnack Reservoir, located near this mountain. But something strange is happening: every night, a lot of water disappears from the reservoir!
The story begins when Joe Hardy wants to go swimming, but his brother Frank points out that the water level is too low. They soon learn about the disappearing water at Skull Mountain. The Hardy Boys decide to team up with their friend Chet Morton and two engineers, Dick Ames and Bob Carpenter, to solve this puzzling mystery.
Exploring Skull Mountain
As Frank and Joe explore Skull Mountain, they face many dangers. Someone keeps attacking them, trying to stop them from finding out what's going on. The mountain itself holds secrets, including an underground channel that seems to be connected to the missing water.
The boys eventually discover a man named Timothy Kimball Jr., also known as Sweeper. He is caught breaking into a plumbing store owned by a man named Kleng. Kimball was trying to get money that Kleng owed him. When Kimball is questioned, it helps the Hardy Boys uncover a bigger crime.
Solving the Case
The clues lead Frank and Joe to the main villain, Kleng. He is working with a large criminal group called the Chicago syndicate. Their plan is to drain water from the reservoir. They do this to prevent the engineers from flooding their secret hideout, which is hidden deep within the mountain.
It turns out that Timothy Kimball Jr. was paid to help with this plan. The Hardy Boys also learn about Dr. Foster, who was kidnapped by Kleng's gang. Dr. Foster was forced to test the mountain's tunnel for a special mineral called cesium. This discovery helps the Hardy Boys and their father, Fenton Hardy, solve the entire case.
Meet the Characters
The main heroes of this story are the famous detective brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy.
- Frank Hardy is 18 years old and the older brother.
- Joe Hardy is 17 years old and the younger brother.
They are the sons of a very famous detective, Fenton Hardy.
Other Important People
- Chet Morton is a good friend of the Hardy Boys who often helps them on their adventures.
- Bob Carpenter is a local engineer working on the reservoir project.
- Dick Ames is Bob Carpenter's assistant.
- Kleng is a local plumber who is the main villain. He works with a criminal group to drain the reservoir.
- Timothy Kimball Jr. (also called Sweeper) is a person paid by Kleng to help with the water-draining plan.
- Dr. Foster is a character who was kidnapped by Kleng's gang. They forced him to help them test the mountain's tunnels.
