The Camp-out Mystery (2 page)
“What was her sister like?” Violet asked.
“Hildy didn't like people very much,” Mr. Alden replied. “She liked going off by herself. She lived in a cabin at the edge of the woods. The family owned it. They used it as a vacation hideaway until Hildy grew up. Then, she moved into it full time. Still, Doris and Hildy were always close.” He shook his head. “It sure is a mystery,” he said.
Benny sighed. “I hope not,” he said.
The children laughed. They knew exactly what he meant. They liked mysteries. They were good at solving them. But they were looking forward to a peaceful camping trip with no mystery to think about.
M
r. Alden stopped the car just inside the park's entrance. “We have to sign in,” he said.
Henry pointed to a big wooden arrow on a post. The word
Campers
was carved into it. “The arrow says campers should go to the right,” Henry told him.
“I know,” Mr. Alden said, “but I'm sure the ranger's station was to the left last time I was here.”
“Maybe they moved it?” Benny asked.
Mr. Alden turned the car to the right. “There's only one way to find out,” he said.
They drove along the unpaved road slowly. Half a mile in, the road ended.
“I guess we should have turned left,” Benny said.
“Right you are,” Mr. Alden agreed. He drove around the circle and headed the car back the way they had come.
When they came to the arrow, Henry said, “Stop the car, Grandfather. I'll turn the sign around.”
Mr. Alden slowed to a stop.
Henry got out. He had to stretch to reach the arrow.
“Who do you suppose pointed the sign the wrong way?” Jessie asked when Henry was back in the car.
“The nail that attaches it to the post is loose,” Henry said. “Maybe it just slipped around the other way.”
“Could it slip that far by itself?” Violet asked.
“Violet's right,” Jessie said. “If it slipped, it would point down.”
“Or up,” Benny put in.
“Maybe a strong wind blew it all the way around,” Henry offered.
“It was probably someone playing a joke,” Mr. Alden said.
Just ahead, they saw a freshly painted, green guard house. Avoiding a stack of old boards near it, Mr. Alden pulled up to the window.
The man inside the house wore a brown uniform with a state park insignia on the pocket. He smiled broadly. “Welcome to Blue Mound State Park,” he said.
“We're the Aldens,” Grandfather said. “I called ahead to reserve a campsite.”
The man checked their name off his list. Then he handed Mr. Alden a map of the grounds. “You can have your pick of sites,” he said.
Mr. Alden gave the map to Jessie. “It's your trip,” he said to the children. “You choose the place.”
Jessie turned in her seat so that her sister and brothers could see the map. It clearly showed the numbered campsites. Several were clustered in a clearing. Others stood alone in different parts of the woods. They quickly agreed on a location near a stand of pine with a brook running alongside. It reminded them of the place where they had found their boxcar.
Jessie pointed to the spot on the map. “May we camp here?” she asked the ranger.
“It's yours,” the man answered.
“We didn't expect a choice,” Mr. Alden said to the ranger. “We thought the campgrounds would be crowded. This is usually a busy time, isn't it?”
The ranger's smile faded. He looked toward the woods. “It has been, yes,” he said. “In the past.”
“Maybe people are getting lost,” Benny said. He told the ranger about the sign.
“I'll have to check that out,” the man said. He smiled again. “Well, you're all set. I hope you enjoy your stay here.”
The Aldens thanked him and drove on to the parking lot beyond the guard house.
“I'm glad we're finally here,” Benny said. “I'm hungry.”
Jessie laughed. “It'll be a while before we eat,” she said.
“Yes,” Violet agreed. “We have to take everything to our campsite first.”
“And set it up,” Henry added.
Benny hopped out of the car. “Well, let's hurry,” he said. Mr. Alden opened the back of the station wagon and Watch jumped out. His tail wagged wildly. He was obviously happy to be out of the car.
Each of the Aldens slipped on a backpack.
Jessie knelt beside Watch. She put his pack on his back and wound the straps under and over him. He stood very still. When she had buckled the straps, he turned his head to look at the pack. Then, he glanced up at her.
She laughed. “If you're going to go camping,” she told him, “you have to carry your own load.”
“There's still a lot to carry,” Henry said. “We might have to make two trips.”
Mr. Alden studied the map. “It's a long hike to our campsite,” he said. “If we have to make two trips, it might be dark before we're settled.”
“We'll each carry something,” Benny suggested.
“The groceries are heavy,” Henry said. “I don't think it'll work.”
“Come with me, Henry,” Jessie directed. “I have an idea.”
The others waited while the two oldest ran back to the ranger's house. Shortly, they returned carrying a board.
“The ranger said we could use this,” Jessie said. “It's an old board from one of the park buildings. They've been making repairs.”
Henry set a box near each end of the board. The tents and their other things went in between.
“That should work,” Jessie said. “The weight is even.”
“Who wants to help me carry the board?”Henry asked.
“I will,” Mr. Alden said.
“Violet and I will carry the cooler,” Jessie suggested.
“What about me?” Benny asked. “I can carry something.”
“Would you carry my violin?” Violet asked.
Benny beamed and took the case from her. “I'll be very careful with it,” he said.
Violet smiled at him. “I know you will, Benny,” she said.
Single file, they started off down the path to their campsite. Watch took the lead. He ran ahead, his nose to the ground. Every so often, he would stop and look back to make sure the others were coming.
The air was clear and cool. High above them, birds sang. They passed through a stand of pine. The pine needles were soft underfoot. They could hear the murmur of rushing water.
“We're nearly there,” Henry announced.
And sure enough, on the other side of the pine grove was a small clearing. A perfect setting except for the cans and paper bags and plastic cups and tableware.
“Somebody must have been camping here recently,” Jessie said.
“And it looks like they left in a hurry,” Benny said.
T
he Aldens put down their burdens and stared at the mess.
“Why would anyone leave a campsite like this?” Violet asked.
“Thoughtlessness,” Mr. Alden answered. “People don't think about the effect they have on the environment.”
Henry slid off his backpack and set it on the ground. Then, he leaned over and picked up a soda can. Following his lead, everyone chose a spot to clean up. Before long, the campsite was cleared of debris, and the garbage pail under the maple tree was nearly filled.
“Now, we can make camp,” Henry said.
“The first thing to do is decide where the cooking and dining areas will be,” Mr. Alden said.
Jessie walked over to a circle of large stones. Charred wood lay inside. Nearby, there was a picnic table. “How's this?” she asked.
“Perfect,” Mr. Alden said.
Henry and Benny unrolled a flat piece of canvas to protect their supplies from the weather. While it was spread on the ground, they fastened the six tent poles, four to the ends and two in the middle. Next, Henry found a large stone and pounded six pegs into the ground. Then, he tied a line that extended from the top of each pole to a peg.
“Okay,” he said. “Time to put up the tent.”
The children raised the first two corner poles.
“Hold them steady,” Henry directed as he tightened the lines.
They moved to the opposite corner and did the same. When the middle two poles were standing, the job was finished.
“Good job,” Mr. Alden said, “but not quite right.”
“What's wrong with it, Grandfather?” Benny asked.
“It's flat,” Mr. Alden pointed out. “What will happen if it rains?”
“The water will pool on top,” Henry said.
“And probably leak through,” Jessie added.
“I know what to do,” Henry said. He picked up his pounding rock and began driving a corner peg deeper into the ground. He did the same to three other corner pegs but not to the center two poles. When he had finished, the canvas sloped down from the middle. Now, water would run off of it.
Next, they had to choose a spot for their sleeping tent.
“How about under that tree?” Benny asked. “It'll be nice and shady.”
“It would be cool there,” Grandfather agreed, “but if it stormsâ”
“Lightning,” Violet said.
“How about right here where I'm standing?” Mr. Alden asked.
The children examined the spot. It was clearâno rocks or roots or poison ivy bedsâand it sloped just enough so that rain would run down and not pool.
“It's a good place for our tent,” Henry said.
Watch pawed the ground. Benny squatted beside him. He saw a mound of earth with small holes in it.
“The ants thought it was a good place, too,” he said. “I don't want to spoil their home.”
They decided on another location nearer the brook. While Mr. Alden and the boys pitched the tent, Jessie and Violet began unpacking supplies under the canvas covering the cooking area.
“We can't just put things on the ground,” Violet said.
“No,” Jessie agreed. “Everything will get damp and ruined.”
They gathered big rocks and made two stacks several feet apart. These they bridged with the old park building board. It was a perfect table for the supply boxes and the first aid kit. The cooler fit underneath with room to open the lid.
The boys had done a good job, too. The sleeping tent was up and the backpacks and sleeping bags were inside.
“Now can we eat?” Benny asked.
“First we have to collect wood for a fire,” Henry said.
Benny ran over to the cooking pit. “There's wood here.” He pointed to a small woodpile nearby.
“I suppose that's enough for tonight,” Henry said. “We'll gather more in the morning.”
“You make the fire,” Jessie said to Henry and Mr. Alden. “We'll find some long sticks for the hot dogs.” She, Benny, and Violet ran off into the woods.
Henry made a wood teepee in the center of the pit and stuffed some newspaper inside. Mr. Alden got the matches from the tin box in the kitchen tent.
By the time the girls and Benny returned, the fire was burning nicely, and Henry had made a salad of lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese, and set the picnic table.
The Aldens roasted their hot dogs.
“I'm going to put my salad on mine,” Benny said. He tore some lettuce into small pieces and cut up a tomato slice. He piled them and a spoonful of cheese on his bun.
“That's a good idea,” Grandfather said, doing the same.
“Save room for Mrs. McGregor's cookies,” Jessie reminded everyone.
“I always have room for those!” Benny assured her.
After supper, everyone cleaned up.
“We can burn the paper plates and napkins in the fire,” Henry said.
“And if we put the wet garbage at the outer edge of the fire,” Jessie said, “we can burn it when it dries.”
Finished with the cleanup, they sat around the fire.
“Let's tell ghost stories,” Henry suggested but everyone was too tired to think of one.
Benny felt something whiz past him. He ducked. “What was
that?
” he asked.
“I think it was a bat,” Henry said. He pointed upward where small dark shapes swooped.
“They're out catching insects for their supper,” Mr. Alden said. “They'll be gone soon.”
“It almost hit me!” Benny said.
“Oh, it wouldn't do that,” Grandfather assured him. “Bats have a very good sense of direction.”
“They have a kind of radar,” Violet told him. “They bounce sound off objects to locate them.”
“Just so
they
don't bounce off
me
!” Benny said.
They all laughed.
Bright stars filled the sky. Everyone leaned back to admire them.
Using his jacket for a pillow, Benny settled against a tree trunk. “I think I'll stay up all night and look at the stars,” he decided. But he had no sooner said that than his eyes closed, and in a minute he was asleep.