Mystery at Camp Survival by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2020-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

Alone!

Benny tossed and turned in his sleep. He dreamed he was playing in the backyard with Watch. Suddenly, Watch jumped on him, pushing him into a giant pile of leaves. CRUNCH! “Wha—?” Benny’s pillow sounded crispy. He opened his eyes. It took him a moment to remember where he was.

“Mornin’, sleepyhead,” called Henry. The others sat around a small campfire. “Breakfast is almost ready.”

Lani set a frying pan on the fire and added some butter. From her huge backpack, she took out a plastic bottle filled with thick yellow liquid and shook it. “Scrambled eggs,” she said, pouring the eggs into the hot pan. While they cooked, Lani passed around bagels with peanut butter. In minutes, the eggs were ready, and the children devoured their breakfast.

“Next, we break camp,” said Lani. “That means leaving the place the way we found it. Henry, you’ll put out the fire. Jessie and Violet, please untie your tent rope and stow the rope and plastic tarp in your backpacks. Benny, I’d like you to make sure every canteen is filled to the top. If a canteen needs more water, add some from the pot of boiled water.”

The four children got to work. Soon the clearing looked exactly the way they’d found it. They rolled their sleeping bags and tied them to their backpacks. Lani checked the area. “You’re good campers,” she said. “I’m proud of you. Now, grab your walking sticks, and let’s head out.”

The trail became narrower and narrower. It grew so narrow, they had to walk single file. Benny stayed in front with Lani. Violet followed. Jessie and Henry followed in the back. Everyone had to step carefully. Weeds grew underfoot. Wild vines reached across the path.

“You can tell few hikers have walked this way,” Jessie whispered to Henry. She couldn’t shake the feeling Lani was leading them in the wrong direction.

Every now and then, they came to a small creek. Using their walking sticks for balance, they easily stepped across. Jessie was relieved they didn’t have to ford any large streams. About an hour into the hike, they came to a clearing with an old log cabin.

“Who lives here?” asked Violet.

“It depends,” said Lani. “Over the years, Camp Survival has built many cabins around the property. Most are small, like this one. But some are bigger and nicer.”

“Can we go inside?” Benny asked. Lani nodded, and he turned the knob. The door squeaked open, revealing one big room with a fireplace and small window. A long wooden table and four old chairs sat in the middle. There were no beds, no kitchen, and no bathroom.

“These cabins come in handy for hikers caught in a rainstorm or blizzard,” said Lani.

“It’s like our boxcar,” said Violet, walking around the comfy room. “Oh!” She jumped as a chipmunk darted through her legs and out the door.

Lani ran her hand along the table. “My big sisters and I used to play in these cabins,” she said. “Sometimes just the four of us. Sometimes with friends.”

“You lucky duck,” said Benny.

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