THE HARDY BOYS THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF By FRANKLIN W. DIXON AUTHOR OF THE HARDY BOYS: THE TOWER TREASURE THE HARDY BOYS: THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL _ILLUSTRATED BY_ WALTER S. ROGERS NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Made in the United States of America GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK Copyright, 1927, by GROSSET & DUNLAP [Illustration: “WE’VE FOUND THE PASSAGE!” (Chapter XVII)] CONTENTS I THE HAUNTED HOUSE II THE STORM III EMPTY TOOL BOXES IV THE CHASE IN THE BAY V THE RESCUE VI SNACKLEY VII BOUND AND GAGGED VIII THE STOLEN WITNESS IX THE STRANGE MESSAGE X THE VAIN SEARCH XI THE CAP ON THE PEG XII POINTED QUESTIONS XIII A PLAN OF ATTACK XIV PRIVATE PROPERTY XV SMUGGLERS XVI THE SECRET PASSAGE XVII THE CHAMBER IN THE CLIFF XVIII A STARTLING DISCOVERY XIX CAPTURED XX DIRE THREATS XXI QUICK WORK XXII INTO THE HAUNTED HOUSE XXIII RESCUE XXIV THE ROUND-UP XXV THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED THE HARDY BOYS: THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF CHAPTER I THE HAUNTED HOUSE Three powerful motorcycles sped along the shore road that leads from the city of Bayport, skirting Barmet Bay, on the Atlantic coast. It was a bright Saturday morning in June, and although the city sweltered in the heat, cool breezes blew in from the bay. Two of the motorcycles carried an extra passenger. All the cyclists were boys of about fifteen and sixteen years of age and all five were students at the Bayport high school. They were enjoying their Saturday holiday by this outing, glad of the chance to get away from the torrid warmth of the city for a few hours.