Mystery on Blizzard Mountain by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner [Warner, Gertrude Chandler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-2143-3
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2011-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

They skipped stones on the water and made boats out of leaves that they sent swirling downstream. Violet gathered a collection of pretty colored rocks from the stream.

“Look!” said Benny suddenly. “Gold!” He held out a sparkling rock. They all came to peer at it.

“I’m afraid not, Benny,” said Maris. “Those sparkling chips are mica, not gold.”

“It’s pretty anyway,” said Violet.

“Here. You can have it for your rock collection,” said Benny generously.

“That’s nice of you,” Maris said. “And I have something you can add to your collection.”

“What collection?” Benny asked, puzzled.

“Your collection of knowledge,” Maris said teasingly She bent over and showed the Aldens a small plant with waxy round leaves. It grew close to the earth. Maris broke off a leaf and rubbed it between her fingers. “Smell,” she said.

Violet took a cautious sniff. “Peppermint?” she asked.

“Nooo,” said Jessie.

“Gum. It smells like chewing gum,” Benny said.

“It does, sort of,” Henry agreed.

“You’re all close. It’s wintergreen,” said Maris. “Just like in wintergreen gum. You can chew on it or use it to make tea out here in the woods.”

“Wow,” said Benny. He stuffed a leaf in his mouth and blinked in surprise at how strong the flavor was.

Maris looked at the sky. “It’s getting dark. Time to get back,” she said.

One by one, the Aldens scrambled up the side of the stream bank to where their hiking boots waited by the log.

And then Henry said, “Oh, no!”

“What is it, Henry?” asked Violet.

“My hiking boots!” said Henry. “They’re gone!”

“Gone?” Jessie looked around. “Are you sure?”

“They were right here with everybody else’s,” Henry said. He pointed. “Now they’re not.”

“Uh-oh,” said Benny. His eyes widened. “It’s Stagecoach George. He’s been here.”

“No ghost did this,” said Maris.

“Maybe it was an animal,” suggested Violet.

“I guess it could be,” Maris said. “But it doesn’t make sense. Why would an animal take a pair of boots? One boot, maybe. Animals might make a meal on the leather. But a pair of boots?”

Henry said, “My feet are cold.”

“Of course they are,” said Maris. “Come on, Henry. Let’s get back up to the cabin. You can put on a pair of wool socks. You do have extra socks, don’t you?”

“I do,” said Henry, looking a little more cheerful.

“We’ll stay here and look around for the boots,” said Jessie.

After Henry and Maris had gone, Benny, Violet, and Jessie scouted for Henry’s missing boots. But they didn’t find the boots, or even a clue about what had happened to them.

“I don’t understand,” Violet said as they walked back up to the cabin. “Do you think it’s the same person who took our food?”

“It could be,” Jessie said. She looked around. “Or maybe it is an animal.”

“A raccoon wearing Henry’s boots,” said Benny. He laughed at the idea.

Jessie smiled. But she knew that a raccoon hadn’t stolen Henry’s boots.

Henry stayed in the cabin the rest of the afternoon. “I’ll cook dinner, since I can’t hike,” he said.

“I’ll help,” said Benny loyally.

“We’ll do a little more work outside,” said Maris. “And keep an eye out for Bobcat.

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