The Camp-out Mystery (6 page)
“I'll bet you got hungry,” Benny put in.
“I had the lunch Jessie made for me,” Grandfather reminded him. “I ate every bit of it. And the coffee kept me warm.”
Watch barked. Something was moving along the trail toward them. It was Andy Watts, pushing a wheelbarrow. They were surprised to see him back so soon.
“We'll push you back to camp, Mr. Alden,” Andy said. “That will make the trip easier for you.” He helped Mr. Alden into the barrow.
Grandfather's legs stuck out in a funny way. The children laughed. The men laughed, too.
Henry and Mr. Watts pushed the wheelbarrow along the trail.
“Watch out for bumps!” Grandfather said.
At camp, Benny brought Grandfather's sleeping bag out into the sun. Mr. Watts eased the man onto it. Then he carefully removed his shoe and sock.
“Shall I get an ice pack?” Violet asked.
“That's a good idea,” Mr. Watts said.
Violet dashed off to the kitchen tent. There she took ice from the cooler and wrapped it in a plastic bag.
Mr. Watts wrapped the ankle with the elastic bandage. “Keep it elevated,” he said. “And stay off of it. It'll probably be fine in a few days.”
Violet propped up Grandfather's ankle with folded clothes and placed the ice pack on it.
“The ice feels good,” Mr. Alden said. “Thank you, Violet.” He looked around at the others. “Thank you, all!”
Mr. Watts said, “If you need help packing up to leave, just let me know.”
“Oh, my ankle will be fine by the time we break camp,” Grandfather assured him.
Andy Watts looked surprised. “You mean you aren't going home now?” he asked.
The children looked at Grandfather. They, too, thought he would want to leave. As much as they wanted to stay, they would gladly cut their trip short if Grandfather would be more comfortable at home.
“Oh, no,” Mr. Alden said. “My grandchildren are having too good a time. They'll take good care of me, and I can stay off my ankle here as well as at home.”
Andy looked doubtful. “Well, I have a feeling you might change you mind,” he said. “If you do, you know where to find me.” He walked off, pushing the wheelbarrow.
“T
here goes a good-hearted man,” Grandfather said as Andy Watts disappeared into the trees.
“We were lucky to find him,” Henry said.
“If it weren't for Doris's sister, we wouldn't have,” Jessie said.
Grandfather chuckled. “So you met Hildy.”
Benny made a face. “She's so crabby!” he said. “If I were Mr. Watts, I wouldn't live so close to her.”
“Andy loves this forest,” Grandfather told them. “There aren't many private cabins in it.”
“How do you know so much about him, Grandfather?” Violet asked.
“Doris told me,” Mr. Alden explained. “Andy works at the sporting goods store in town. It's a long way, but he likes living close to nature.”
“Did Doris tell you anything more about Hildy?” Henry asked.
Grandfather shook his head. “No, not a thing.” His eyes closed.
“Grandfather?” Violet said. “Are you all right?”
“Just a little tired.”
“I'll bet you're hungry, too,” Benny said. “I sure am.”
Mr. Alden smiled. “Why don't you children run along and make lunch?” He yawned. “I'll just rest my eyes a bit.”
The children ran off to the kitchen tent.
“Mr. Watts said we might change our minds about leaving,” Henry commented. “I wonder what he meant.”
“Maybe he thinks Grandfather won't be comfortable here,” Violet offered. “His ankle
is
painful.”
“But Grandfather wants to stay,” Benny put in. “He said so.”
“Mr. Watts doesn't know Grandfather,” Jessie said.
“That's for sure,” Henry added. “He doesn't know that once Grandfather makes up his mind, he doesn't change it easily.”
“Henry, you light the fire,” Jessie said. “We'll warm up the stew.”
Jessie looked into the cooler. She didn't see the container with the stew. “Did you take out the stew when you got the ice?” she asked Violet.
Violet shook her head. “No,” she said. “I didn't take out anything but ice.”
“Where could it be?” Jessie asked.
The two girls looked all around.
At the table, Violet said. “That's funny. The note we left for Grandfather is gone.”
“But you put a stone on it to keep it in place,” Jessie said.
“Yes,” Violet answered. “Here's the stone, but the note is gone.”
Just then, Benny came running up to them. “Come quick,” he said.
The girls followed him to the maple tree. Henry stood under it. He pointed. Midway up the trunk was Violet's note.
“The
hiking
and
soon
are scratched out,”Jessie observed. “Now it reads:
Went home. Back never
.”
“And look what's holding the note against the tree!” Benny exclaimed.
It was a long, sharp arrow!
Henry reached up and pulled it out of the tree. “Someone is
really
anxious for us to leave,” he said.
“But these are campgrounds,” Jessie said. “Why would anyone want to keep campers away?”
“We aren't bothering anyone,” Violet said.
“Except that nasty Hildy,” Benny put in. “Everybody bothers her.”
“It doesn't make sense,” Jessie said. “Why would Hildyâor anyoneâwant us to leave?”
“That's what we have to find out,” Henry said.
T
hey decided not to tell Grandfather about the missing stew and the arrow in the tree.
“It'll only worry him,” they all agreed.
Jessie and Benny made sandwiches instead of stew.
After lunch, Grandfather said, “Why don't you children run along. I'm sure you have some more exploring to do.”
They wanted to go, but they didn't like the idea of leaving Grandfather alone.
“I'll be fine,” he assured them.
Since their return to camp, Watch had stayed by Mr. Alden's side. That gave Jessie an idea. “Watch can stay with you, Grandfather,” she suggested.
“There's no need for that,” Mr. Alden said. “I'm sure he'd like to be with you children.”
Watch pricked up his ears and cocked his head. He looked at the children and then at Mr. Alden. He seemed to be deciding what to do. Finally, he yawned and put his head back on Grandfather's chest.
Everyone laughed.
“I guess that settles that,” Grandfather said.
Waving to Grandfather and Watch, the children started off.
Not far from camp, Henry said, “Let's stop here.”
“Why?” Benny asked.
“We should talk about what's been happening,” Henry explained. “Maybe we can figure out who's responsible.”
They made themselves comfortable on a broad stone ledge.
“First we should go back over what's happened,” Jessie suggested.
“We've heard music and seen strange lights,” Benny piped up.
“The honey wasn't in the box where I'd put it,” Jessie said.
“Food's been missing,” Henry added. “And our lantern, too.”
“Now, my note's been changed and pinned to the tree with an arrow,” Violet concluded.
“That about sums it up,” Henry said.
“Except for the loud music that startled Grandfather and caused him to fall,” Violet said.
“We have to figure out who's doing these things,” Jessie said.
“I think it's Hildy,” Benny said.
“She
could
be the one,” Henry agreed. “She doesn't like people so she might be trying to scare everyone away.”
“But there are other people who could be doing it,” Jessie said. “The Changs maybe.”
“They do have a radio,” Henry said.
“And they said they liked this campground because it wasn't crowded,” Violet reminded them. “Maybe they wanted it empty.”
“But they have the children,” Jessie said. “They wouldn't leave them alone to sneak around stealing food.”
“How about Andy Watts?” Henry suggested.
“Not Mr. Watts!” Benny objected. “He's too kind.”
“Well, you never know,” Jessie argued forcefully.
“He seemed anxious for us to leave,” Violet said.
“Only because of Grandfather,” Henry said.
“Well, how about the ranger?” Violet suggested. “He probably knows the forest better than anyone. He could get around without being detected.”
Henry shook his head. “I don't think he could be the one. If there were no campers, he might lose his job.”
Jessie sighed. “It could be someone we don't even know.”
“That's right,” Henry said. “Maybe there are campers we don't know about.” He got to his feet. “Let's find out.”
They followed the map to all the campsites. No one was at any of them. Finally, they came to the Changs' spot. Their equipment was there, but the family was not.
“They're probably out hiking,” Henry said. “Let's head over toward Hildy's and Andy's. Maybe we'll find some clues.”
They doubled back, stopping to check on Grandfather. He was asleep, Watch at his side.
A short distance down the stream trail, Benny saw something. He ran ahead to see what it was. Partially hidden in a clump of bushes was the wheelbarrow.
“Why would Mr. Watts leave that here?” Violet wondered aloud.
“Maybe it's not his,” Henry said. “It could belong to the park staff.”
“Or maybe he was too tired after helping Grandfather to wheel it all the way back to his cabin,” Jessie suggested.
Benny sighed. “Well?” he asked. “Is it a clue or not?”
Everyone laughed.
When they were nearly at Hildy's cabin, Andy Watts came up the path toward them. He looked worried. “Well, hello,” he said. “I hope there hasn't been another accident.”
“Oh, no,” Henry said. “We're just ⦠exploring.”
“We're looking for clues,” Benny piped up.
“Clues?” Mr. Watts repeated.
Benny nodded. “All kinds of strange things have been happening.”
Mr. Watts listened attentively as the children told him everything that had happened. Then, he said, “My, oh, my! How awful!”
“It's not
that
awful,” Benny said. “We like mysteries.”
“This is one you may not solve,” Mr. Watts said. “It's been going on a while. Other campers have complained about the same things.”
“Except for the Changs, we haven't seen any other campers,” Jessie said.
Mr. Watts nodded. “Yes, that's what I mean,” he said. “No one stays long. They're afraid to stay.”
“Oh, we're not afraid,” Benny said.
Mr. Watts edged away. “I have to be going,” he said. “Remember, if your grandfather decides to leave, I'll be happy to help. He should be home where he can get his proper rest.”
After he had gone, Violet said. “Maybe Mr. Watts is right.”
“If Grandfather wanted to go home, he'd say so,” Henry reminded her.
“Let's ask Hildy if she knows what's been happening,” Jessie suggested.
“She probably won't even talk to us,” Benny said.
Hildy was outside her cabin, bent over something on an old table. The children called out to her. She didn't look up. They moved closer to her. She was fiddling with an old kerosene lantern.
“May we speak to you?” Henry asked politely. “Some strange things have been going onâ”
“Loud music and lights and missing food,” Benny put in.
“We thought you might have seen or heard something that would help us figure it out,” Jessie said.
Hildy glared at them. “Imagination pure and simple,” she said. “As if it isn't bad enough that my lantern is brokenâ”