The hotel manager reached for a copy of the telephone directory, found the number, and put in the call for Nancy. A deep voice at the other end of the wire said, “Nils Anderson speaking.”
“This is Mr. Blake at the motel,” the manager told him. “We have a guest here, Miss Nancy Drew, who would like to speak to you.”
He handed the phone to Nancy, who said, “Hello. This is Nancy Drew from River Heights on the mainland.” Then she asked, “Professor Anderson, did you know a man in Honolulu named Nikkio Sakamaki who lived at Kaluakua?”
“My brother and I knew him well,” came the reply.
“Then may I please come to see you?” the young sleuth inquired. “My father is attorney for Mr. Sakamaki’s grandson. A mystery has arisen in connection with his grandfather’s estate and perhaps you can help in solving it.”
Professor Anderson chuckled. “I love mysteries and I should be very happy to see you. Can you come here about nine-thirty tomorrow morning?”
Nancy said she could and later asked Ned to go with her. They arrived at the Anderson cottage promptly and were admitted by the brothers, who were identical twins. The white-haired men were about seventy years old, tall and straight, with ruddy complexions and twinkling blue eyes.
Nancy and Ned introduced themselves, and Ned revealed that Nancy was doing some detective work for her father in connection with the Sakamaki case.”
“That’s very interesting,” one of the men said.
The professors then introduced themselves. Nils was a botanist, Stephen a zoologist. “We came from California originally,” said Stephen, “but we lived in Honolulu for many years and lectured occasionally at the University.”
His twin took up the story. “We became acquainted with Mr. Sakamaki of Kaluakua because of his interest in science. He was a very well-informed man, especially on the subject of botany. We three became great friends and saw a good deal of one another until Stephen and and I decided to come to Hana and make a study of the silversword plant.”
“Mr. Blake told us about your theory as to the way the seeds got to this earth,” Nancy spoke up.
Nils nodded. “It seems like the only logical explanation,” he said, “but we have a great deal more studying to do and it is possible we’ll change our minds.”
Nancy now told the professors further details of her father’s connection with the Sakamaki case, and also about her own interest in the puzzle.
“We’ve been trying hard to clear up the mystery,” she said, “and just came upon a new clue.” She explained about the discovery of the chest with the drawing of the silversword plant and the symbols meaning men. “Are you the men indicated?” she asked, smiling.
Neither of the twins replied at once. Instead, they gazed at each other for several moments as if trying to decide how to answer. But finally Nils spoke up.
“Old Nikkio Sakamaki was full of fun and incidentally full of sage Oriental sayings. He took great pleasure in thinking up clues to the solution of the Kaluakua mystery. He always said he wanted his heir to work to unfathom it.”
As the elderly man stopped speaking, Nancy asked again, “And did one of the clues lead to you people because you can tell us something?”
Stephen smiled. “You have guessed correctly, Miss Drew. Mr. Sakamaki said if anyone should ever ask questions similar to the ones which you have put that we were to answer, ‘Watch the angel birds over Mauna Loa.’ ”
“ ‘Watch the angel birds over Mauna Loa,’ ” Nancy repeated. “Does that mean the volcano Mauna Loa?”
The professors grinned delightedly. Then Nils answered, “We were instructed to say no more.”
It was clear to Nancy that they had no intention of breaking any promise they had given old Mr. Sakamaki. Tactfully she changed the subject and asked the Andersons if they knew whether Nikkio Sakamaki had ever mentioned having a wife and child in California.
“No, he never did,” Nils replied. “In fact, I believe he was in California only a few days before coming to Honolulu.”
Nancy was so excited to hear this that she almost jumped out of her chair. “This is very important news,” she said. “A brother and sister from California have arrived in Honolulu to claim two-thirds of the estate. They say they are grandchildren of Grandfather Sakamaki.”
Once more the brothers looked at each other for several moments before speaking. Then Nils said, “I am amazed to hear this and doubt the story very much. I believe I may be able to help you prove that these people are impostors.”
“Oh, if you only could!” Nancy cried out.
Nils Anderson went on to say that old Mr. Sakamaki had given him several letters containing data about rare Japanese flowers. These letters had been written to Mr. Sakamaki while he was still in Japan.
“He had no further use for them,” the professor explained, “and since he knew I would like to study the letters and could read Japanese, he gave them to me. If my memory serves me correctly, the dates on those letters might prove that Mr. Sakamaki was in Japan at the time these people claim he was married and living in California.”
Nancy was almost beside herself with elation. “Do you have these letters here?” she said eagerly.
“Not in Hana,” Nils Anderson replied. “When we moved here, I put them in the bank vault in Honolulu.” Seeing the excitement on Nancy’s face, he smiled and added, “I’ll be very happy to fly to Honolulu and look at the letters. If I am right in my assumption, I’ll turn the letters over to the executors of Mr. Sakamaki’s estate.”
“That’s very kind, and certainly wonderful news,” said Nancy.
Professor Anderson smiled. “Before getting in touch with the executor, I’ll call you on the phone. Will you be at Kaluakua?”
For an instant Nancy toyed with the idea of returning immediately to Honolulu and awaiting his call. But she decided to postpone the trip back until she had gone to the island of Hawaii and watched the angel birds flying over Mauna Loa. She must figure out the next clue to the secret of Kaluakua! She told her plan to the professor, who said he would put off his flight to Honolulu a day.
The following morning Nancy decided to telephone Kiyabu and tell him of the trip to Hawaii and also find out what had been going on at the estate. The caretaker told her that no messages had come from anyone, including Mr. Drew.
“We are having bad luck here,” Kiyabu reported. “Mr. Jerral was taken ill soon after dinner the day you left. He has been confined to his bed ever since. Mr. Chatley had a doctor for him.”
“Then that means he has not been able to keep watch on Roy Chatley and his sister,” Nancy remarked.
“I am afraid not,” Kiyabu replied, “but I have been guarding the place the best I could. Emma has been helping me, too.”
“Are your guests enjoying themselves?” Nancy asked.
An exclamation of disgust came from Kiyabu. “Miss Drew, those people are impossible. Always they are ordering me to go on errands. I am sure they want me to leave the estate for good. Then they have harsh words for Emma and me and they have threatened us several times.”
“How dreadful!” Nancy exclaimed.
“But that part is not so bad as the rest,” the caretaker went on. “Mrs. Lee and Mr. Chatley have had company here all the time. The people who come are very rough. They have broken much furniture. Emma and I have put away all the small pieces we could.”
Nancy tried to express her sympathy and say that she and her friends would return immediately, but she had no chance. Kiyabu talked fast and loud in his excitement.
“The men make jokes all the time. They say they want double of eggs and. double of coffee. One of them even ordered double cakes of soap for his bathroom. And every time one of them says this, the rest of them laugh so loud it hurts my ears.”
The distraught caretaker went on with his tale of woe, saying how sick poor Mr. Jerral was and what were he and Emma going to do? But Nancy did not answer. A sudden thought had come to her which made her instinctively clutch at her throat.
br /> Were Janet Lee and Roy Chatley knowingly entertaining members of the Double Scorps at Kaluakua?
CHAPTER XVIII
An Explosion
KIYABU continued to complain bitterly of the unseemly doings at Kaluakua. “Those visitors played some crazy game in the garden and ruined some of my rare plants!” he cried out in despair. “And Mr. Sakamaki was so proud of his flowers!”
Nancy was indignant. Her thoughts traveled to Mr. Jerral. Why had he permitted this? Was he too ill to object? Why had he not sent for a replacement ?
It occurred to her that possibly Mr. Jerral was not so ill as he seemed to be—that he was using this method to allay any suspicion on the part of the “guests” at Kaluakua, and actually was watching them very intently. Nevertheless, she offered to return to the estate at once.
“That will not be necessary, Miss Nancy,” Kiyabu said. “We will manage somehow.”
“Do you think,” Nancy questioned, “that Roy Chatley’s guests are searching for something?”
“No, I do not,” Kiyabu replied. “I just think they are here to have a good time. But they have very bad manners.”
“In any case, we’ll be home late tomorrow,” Nancy promised. “If things get too bad, I suggest you call the police.”
After the young sleuth hung up, she kept wondering whether or not she had made the right decision in not going directly home. When she discussed it with the others in her group, they urged Nancy to go to the island of Hawaii to see the angel birds. Moki and a friend of his drove them to the airport in two cars.
“I have a friend in Hawaii who is a fine guide as well as taxi driver,” Moki told them. “When you arrive at the airport in Hilo, ask for Keaka.”
“We’ll do that,” said Ned. “Thanks, Moki.”
Upon their arrival at Hilo three-quarters of an hour later, Nancy and Ned questioned the taxi drivers until they found Keaka. He was a small, dark, pleasant man about forty years of age.
“Yes, I can take you for a trip at once and give you as much time as you like,” he said. “I am grateful to my friend Moki for sending you to me.”
Learning that they would be able to stay only until the following afternoon, he suggested a general sight-seeing tour at once. They could stay overnight at the Volcano House, and take a look at Mauna Loa the next morning.
Keaka’s car was a station wagon, so there was plenty of room for everyone. Part of the luggage was strapped to the roof. Then everyone got in.
“Have you ever heard of our Fern Forest?” Keaka asked.
Ned said that he had read that the ferns were really as high as trees.
Keaka laughed. “You shall judge for yourself,” he answered, and drove off.
The city of Hilo itself was a busy place, with a fine harbor where steamers unloaded all types of freight. One of the most interesting sections of the waterfront was the bulk-sugar storage plant.
Keaka suggested that they look around inside. He led the way into the building and up a twisting flight of iron steps. At the top was a catwalk from which one could look down into the huge sugar storage vats.
“This place can receive more than three hundred tons of sugar an hour and can load freighters at the rate of six hundred tons an hour,” their guide told them.
“Astounding!” remarked Hannah Gruen.
Two of the bins were filled with brown raw sugar which Keaka said would be refined in California. The other bins were empty.
“You could practically set the Empire State Building from New York City in one of these,” George remarked.
“You sure could,” Burt agreed. Then, grinning, he said, “I’d say this is the sweetest place on earth.”
The others smiled, and Bess commented, “Also one of the hottest. Let’s gol I’d prefer the cool Fern Forest.”
Keaka drove them through attractive residential sections, and finally out of town. Soon the car began to climb, and after a time reached a road running directly through a forest area made up almost exclusively of giant ferns.
“They really are as tall as trees!” Bess cried out excitedly. “Oh, let’s get out and take some pictures.”
“Watch out for snakes,” Mrs. Gruen warned.
“That won’t be necessary,” the guide spoke up. “There are no poisonous land snakes on these islands.”
Hannah sighed in relief and the sight-seers alighted. They walked a short distance into the forest. The giant ferns were surprisingly sturdy and George with a chuckle said, “Hypers, what a fan one of these would make!”
The group snapped some interesting pictures of the giant ferns, then Keaka suggested they go on. At times they passed through forests of trees and ferns and at other times through open country. Finally after a long, gradual climb the road brought them to a large green plateau.
“We are in the Kilauea Crater now,” the guide announced.
Presently he stopped the car at the side of the road and suggested that the passengers follow him. He headed for a spot where they could see steam issuing from the ground.
“I’ll show you some burning water,” he said mysteriously.
“Burning water?” Bess repeated. Keaka smiled but did not explain further.
Soon the group reached a circular pit in the ground about six feet in diameter. Through the drifting steam, the tourists could see water several feet below.
“O-oh, this smells horrid,” said Bess.
“Sure does,” Dave agreed.
Keaka smiled but made no comment. From his pocket he took a book of matches and lighted one.
“Here goes!” he called, still grinning. “Look out, everybody!”
He threw the match down into the water. Instead of being extinguished, the flame instantly caused a small explosion. The group fell back in dismay as yellow-and-red flames shot up a distance of some six inches above the ground.
“Why, that’s dangerous!” Hannah cried out.
Nancy laid an affectionate arm around the woman’s shoulders. “I’m sure Keaka wouldn’t do it if it were dangerous.” Turning to the guide, she saw that he was lighting another match. He threw this too down toward the water. Once more there was an explosion and flames shot up!
“What causes such a reaction?” Ned asked him.
Keaka explained that hydrogen sulfide gas was being formed continuously below the earth’s surface and found its escape with the steam. It ig nited when fire came in contact with the fumes.
“Is gas part of what starts an eruption?” Ned inquired.
“Yes. Gases are contained in the seething, boiling molten rock underground. After a while, if they cannot find any release, pressure is built up. When this becomes too great, an eruption occurs —which happens now and then over on Mauna Loa. But around here there are so many vents in the ground that the gas has no trouble getting out.”
Bess looked a little puzzled. “You mean that the pressure of the gases forces the molten rock to burst out of the earth and that’s how volcanoes erupt?”
“Exactly,” the guide replied. “If you’re lucky, you may see an eruption on Mauna Loa while you’re here.”
“Oh, I hope not,” said Bess fearfully. “We might be buried under that scorching lava!”
Keaka laughed and shook his head. “We have some of the world’s finest geologists here,” he said. “They have many ways of telling when there will be an eruption and nobody gets too close.”
Despite his reassuring words, Bess continued to worry that a volcano might expode right before her eyes. It was not until they reached the delightful Volcano House, and she had eaten a delicious meal, that she forgot her fear.
The flame instantly caused a small explosion
After supper the visitors from the mainland walked around the attractively planted grounds, marveling at the steam coming out of the ground in many spots.
“This is the most exciting place I’ve ever visited,” George remarked to Nancy. “I’m glad Bess is over her fright about volcanoes. I feel a little bit myself as if some tri
ck might be played on the people around here by that goddess Pele.”
Ned, overhearing the remark, said he had been talking with a volcanologist from the Hawaiian National Park Service. The man had stated there was absolutely no danger.
“By the way, he invited us to come over to headquarters tomorrow morning and see colored motion pictures of the most recent eruption at Mauna Loa.”
“Let’s go!” Nancy urged.
When Keaka appeared with the station wagon the next morning, Nancy told him of the invitation. The guide said by all means they must view the movie and drove them to the headquarters building.
For half an hour they were captivated by one of the most fantastic motion pictures they had ever seen. Fountains of red-and-yellow lava were shot high into the air, then came down to run as a burning river all the way to the sea. Upon reaching water, lava and ocean met in a hissing roar, sending up volumes of steam ten thousand feet into the air.
“No lives were lost during this eruption,” the narrator explained, “but a couple of dozen buildings were, and more than a mile of highway was buried. It is estimated that a billion tons of lava flowed from beneath the surface of the earth.”
Nancy and her friends left the headquarters building awestruck by the thought of what Mother Nature can do. Keaka drove them to the scene depicted in the movie. How different it seemed now! The site was gray and harmless looking. As they drove along, the guide pointed out where the streams of lava had run down to the sea. Directing their attention to the various scooped-out, cone-shaped hills, he said:
“Those bowllike depressions are called caldera.”
Finally they came to the main crater of Mauna Loa. Standing on the edge, the group looked down into a blackish-gray depth, seamed with fissures, some narrow, some wide.
“And there are the angel birds!” Nancy cried out.
Swooping low one moment and disappearing the next were the little white birds. Nancy gazed at them intently. What was their secret which Grandfather Sakamaki was trying to indicate to his grandson to help him solve the mystery of Kaluakua?
“Those birds,” Keaka spoke up, “are man’s friends. It seems as if they have been put here for a real purpose. It’s said they can detect when there is going to be an eruption and fly far away.”