When dogs and men suddenly disappear, and strange screams fill the night, fantastic stories of vengeful ghosts are almost believable. It is these strange happenings which bring Frank and Joe Hardy to the Pocono Mountains to help their fathers friend solve the mystery of Black Hollow. But when the Hardy boys and Chet Morton arrive at Captain Thomas Maguires cabin on the edge of the hollow, he has disappeared. Frank and Joe are determined to find the captain, despite Chets misgivings after a night of weird and terrifying screams. Strangely, it is a small puppy that discloses a most unusual and surprising set of circumstances, involving a mute boy, an elusive hermit, and a fearless puma trainer.