Danger Guys Hit the Beach Read Free Page A

island.
    That’s when I saw it.
    â€œZeekie! Look!”
    There, under the blue water, about a hundred feet below the surface, was a long, dark shadow.
    Even from way up there I knew what it was.
    â€œZeek! It’s a ship! It’s Captain May’s ship! We found it. We found it!”
    â€œUh-huh. That’s nice,” Zeek squeaked. He was still wiggling at my ankles.
    But that wasn’t the only thing I saw. There was a campfire smoking on the beach below. And in a cove nearby, some men were moving around. Some of them had scuba diving gear on.
    And not only that. A high-powered motorboat came growling into the cove.
    Whoosh! A quick breeze pushed us back around and over the trees.
    â€œI knew it, Zeek! I knew something cool would happen. You just have to wait. Talk about different! This is different, all right. It might even be scary, even though scary is not on your list.”
    â€œNoodle? We’re flying a little low.”
    â€œAnd of course, you can’t really scare Danger Guys. No way.”
    â€œWatch where you’re going, okay?”
    â€œBut it might even be getting a little fun. I think it’s getting fun. Do you think it’s getting fun?”
    â€œNoodle, pull it up!”
    â€œListen, Zeek. It’s pretty clear what we have to do. Those guys are up to no good. And we’ve got to—”
    â€œNOOOOOODLE!”



SIX
    Wham!
    we hit a tree.
    Wham!
    We hit another tree.
    Wham!
    We hit a third tree, I let go of the sail, and we dropped like a sack of stones.
    The last thing I saw as I looked up was the sail gliding on over the treetops.
    We ripped down through the tree branches and landed headfirst in a bush.
    I stood up. Zeek stood up right next to me. He looked okay, but then he did something weird.
    â€œNoodle! Where are you?” he yelled, as if I were a mile away.
    â€œRight here. Where do you think?”
    He turned and looked straight into my face. “Whoa!” he said. “I didn’t see you!” Then he started to crack up.
    â€œWhat’s so funny?”
    â€œYou! Jungle Man!”
    I looked down. It was true. Big leaves, vines, and branches were sticking out of my shorts, through my hair, and in my socks. I was totally camouflaged!
    â€œYeah, it’s the latest.” I went to pull off the junk.
    â€œNo,” said Zeek. “Keep it on! We can sneak up on these guys, and they won’t even see us.”
    Then Zeek ripped some leaves off the bush he was standing in. He jammed them into his shirt.
    â€œOkay, now we’re ready!”
    â€œNot quite,” I said. I picked up a handful of dirt and smeared Zeek’s face with it.
    â€œCommandos!” I said.
    Then Zeek smeared me.
    â€œHey, pal,” I said. “Is it fun yet?”
    â€œYeah,” said Zeek. “It’s getting there.”
    Slowly we made our way down to the beach. We didn’t make a sound. When we passed by, not even a leaf moved. We were good.
    Then I froze. I held up my hand.
    The camp was just a few feet away. The motorboat was moored in the cove nearby.
    I looked around. Three men were moving crates and underwater equipment to the boat.
    I nodded at Zeek. He nodded back.
    We moved up slowly. We stood right next to a leafy tree, held our breaths, and listened.
    One big guy with silver hair picked up a crate near the campfire. He sang a song as he brought it over to the boat.
    â€œMany brave hearts are asleep
    In the Deep.
    So, beware!”
    A man with a little thin mustache stopped what he was doing and stared at the first guy.
    â€œStop it. You know this island is haunted.”
    â€œ Beware! ” the other man sang again. Then he laughed.
    â€œWell, there is a ghost,” Mustache said. “And he’s angry we’re messing around with his treasure. Heck, I feel like someone’s watching us right now!”
    I nudged Zeek. It was hard not to smile.
    Just then, a strange shadow passed over the