Encyclopedia Brown Saves the Day Read Free Page A

he said.
    “I suppose you are right,” said Charlie. “Any lovesick moose will suffer enough finding only Benny.”
    Encyclopedia left the baseball bat at home, and the two boys biked to Mill Creek. The rest of the gang was already there—Benny Breslin, Fangs Liveright, Pinky Plummer, Herb Stein, and Billy and Jody Turner.
    Two hours later the boys reached the State Park. After setting up camp, they hiked to the water to fish.
    “Even if I land a torpedo, this trip can’t be more of a bust than it is now,” moaned Charlie. “Benny’s snoring will keep us awake all night.”
    “Maybe not,” said Encyclopedia. “If Benny sleeps all afternoon, he won’t be sleepy tonight. And if he doesn’t sleep tonight, he won’t snore.”
    Encyclopedia chose a comfortable spot on the bank. It was better for catching forty winks than fish. He motioned Benny to sit beside him.
    Benny settled himself till he was lying flat. “This is the life,” he said. “I feel lucky ...”
    His voice trailed off. His eyes closed. Soon his nose sounded the opening notes of sleep.
    One by one the other boys stole off to quieter places. They did not wake Benny until the day’s catch had been cooked over the fire.
    Later, Encyclopedia lay beside Benny in their tent and checked his watch. At nine-thirty, Benny was still awake, still silent.
    But at seven minutes before ten, faint snorts and heavy breathing arose.
    “Did you hear something?” whispered Benny. “What was it?”
    “What was it?” gasped Encyclopedia. “Yipes! I thought it was you!”
    “L-listen,” said Benny, as the noises came closer. “I think it’s a bear!”
    The hair on Encyclopedia’s neck stood up faster than Sitting Bull on a branding iron. He peered outside the tent.
    It wasn’t a bear. It was a man stumbling about in the moonlight. His hands were bound behind him. He was trying to speak, but the gag in his mouth turned his words into wild snorts.
    Encyclopedia quickly untied him.
    “I’m Jack Evans,” the man panted. “Bring help! At campsite five. Robbers! Kidnappers!”
    Robbers and kidnappers! The boys didn’t waste time. Charlie, Fangs, and Pinky ran for the ranger station. Herb, Jody, and Billy made for park headquarters.

    Encyclopedia peered outside the tent.
    Encyclopedia and Benny stayed with Mr. Evans, who talked excitedly during the five-minute walk to his campsite.
    “I was camping with Roger Blake,” said Mr. Evans. “I had just put a pot of coffee over the fire when a voice behind me said, ‘Don’t move. Don’t turn around.’ ”
    Mr. Evans ducked under a branch. Then he continued.
    “From behind me I heard Roger say, ‘Be careful. They both have guns.’ I was ordered to lie face down. My hands and legs were tied, a gag fixed in my mouth, and my money and car keys were stolen.”
    Mr. Evans shook his fist in rage and went on.
    “ ‘We’re kidnapping your friend,’ the voice behind me said. ‘You’ll hear from us tomorrow. We’ll tell you where to leave the ransom money.’ It took me about half an hour to kick my legs free. I ran for help—and found you boys.”
    “You didn’t get a look at the kidnappers? asked Benny.
    “No,” answered Mr. Evans. “I was facing the fire and the coffee pot. Everything happened behind me. Here we are ...”
    They had come to a large tent standing in a clearing. A few yards away, a coffee pot hung over a crackling fire.
    Encyclopedia studied the ground. There were several footprints leading up to and away from the clearing. A few feet from the camp-fire was a piece of rope.
    From the fire came a sudden, startling noise. The coffee had begun to boil over the sides of the pot and fell hissing on the burning logs beneath.
    Encyclopedia stared at the fire thoughtfully.
    “Do you see a clue or something?” asked Benny.
    “Yes, a clue that Mr. Evans overlooked,” answered Encyclopedia. “It solves the case of Roger Blake’s kidnapping!”
     
    WHAT WAS THE