Mystery Map Read Free Page B

it won’t be pirate booty,” he said. “But I hope it’s something good!”
    Just then Joe stopped short. He was still out infront. “Shh!” he hissed over his shoulder to Frank and Chet. “I hear voices.”
    Frank heard them now too. It sounded like a couple of people muttering to each other.
    â€œWhat if someone else found our treasure?” Chet whispered, sounding worried. “Maybe that dotted line was the end of the trail instead of the beginning!”
    Frank tiptoed forward. When he pushed aside some branches, he saw a clearing up ahead. Two teenage boys were standing there. One was short and wiry with a wispy, dark mustache. The other was taller and heavier with spiky hair and a silver nose ring. Frank couldn’t tell for sure, but it looked like the nose ring might be shaped like a skull.
    He carefully let the leaves fall back into place. “Those guys look pretty tough,” he whispered to Joe and Chet. “Maybe we should hide out and wait for them to leave.”
    â€œOkay,” Chet whispered, backing away.
    CRACK!
One of Chet’s sneakers came down on a dry branch. It snapped in two, making a loud noise like a starting pistol going off.
    â€œHey!” a voice yelled from up ahead. “Who’s there?”
    â€œShould we run for it?” Chet whispered, sounding frantic.
    But it was too late. The two teenage punks had already rushed over. They glared at the three younger boys.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” the taller one demanded. “This is our spot!”
    â€œYeah,” the other guy added with a sneer. “Twerps not invited.”
    â€œOh yeah?” Joe retorted boldly. “I thought this was a public park.”
    Frank groaned. Sometimes he wished his brother didn’t have such a big mouth!

    Sure enough, the teens looked angry. “Get out!” the guy with the nose ring snarled, coming at them. “Unless you want us to
make
you get out!”
    â€œYeah.” The shorter guy grabbed at Frank’s arm.
    Frank twisted away just in time. “Run!” he shouted.

5
Running and Hiding
    Joe could hear Chet panting loudly behind him as they raced off through the woods. Frank was in the lead. He ran down one trail and then another.
    â€œFaster!” Chet cried, sounding terrified. “Are they catching up?”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Joe slowed down, listening. “I don’t hear them anymore.”
    He stopped. So did Frank and Chet.
    â€œI guess they didn’t want to catch us,” Frank said.“They just wanted to chase us away.”
    Chet looked anxious. “How are we supposed to find that treasure now? The trail starts back in that clearing!”
    â€œI know.” Joe shrugged. “Maybe we can try again after lunch. Those guys might be gone by then.”
    Frank nodded. “If not, we’ll figure out a new plan.”
    â€œHi, Mom!” Joe shouted. He had to shout to be heard over the noise of the vacuum cleaner.
    Joe and Frank had just arrived home for lunch. Their mother was vacuuming the living room, and their father was nowhere in sight.
    â€œHi, boys,” Mrs. Hardy said, switching off the vacuum. She grabbed a rag and started dusting the coffee table. “What are you doing home so early?”
    â€œEarly?”Frank checked his watch. “It’s twelve thirty.”
    Mrs. Hardy looked alarmed. “Already?” she cried. “But I haven’t touched the dining room yet, let alone the foyer. . . .”
    She hurried off into the next room, clutching her rag and muttering to herself. Frank stared after her.
    â€œWeird,” he said. “Mom’s in a total cleaning frenzy.”
    â€œYeah. That’s not like her.” Joe glanced at the vacuum. “She hates cleaning.” Mrs. Hardy usually left most of the vacuuming and dusting to the cleaning lady, who came once a week.
    Frank was already heading toward the