CHAPTER I
The Three Strangers
"You certainly ought to have a dandy trip."
"I'll say we will, Frank! We sure wish you could come along."
Frank Hardy grinned ruefully and shook his head.
"I'm afraid we're out of luck. Joe and I may take a little trip later on, but we can't make it this time."
"Just think of it!" said Chet Morton, the other speaker. "A whole week motorboating along the coast! We're the lucky boys, eh, Biff?"
Biff Hooper, at the wheel of his father's new motorboat, nodded emphatically.
"You bet we're lucky. I'm glad dad got this boat in time for the summer holidays. I've been dreaming of a trip like that for years."
"It won't be the same without the Hardy Boys," returned Chet. "I had it all planned out that Frank and Joe would be coming along with us in their own boat and we'd make a real party of it."