Rascal's Seaside Adventure Read Free Page B

things.
    Ellie looked at the water, trying to work out whether the tide was coming in or going out. “Be careful, Rascal,” she told him. “It’s coming in, I think.”
    Rascal wasn’t listening. He trotted along the tide line, his nose rooting among the clumps of seaweed, old bits of rope, and empty crab shells. Ellie followed him,looking for pretty shells – she was thinking of sticking them on to a photo frame, to give to Christy as part of her birthday present. Lila was a little way off down the beach, sitting on a big rock and enjoying the sun.
    Suddenly, Rascal gave a surprised sort of snuffle, and Ellie looked up. He was staring down at a pile of seaweed, his ears pricked up sharply, and his tail wagging.
    â€œWhat is it?” Ellie asked. “Oh, a crab! Is it still alive? You’d better leave it alone, Rascal.”

    Rascal leaned forward, nose to nose with the crab, his tail wagging faster and faster. It wriggled! And scuttled! He followed it along excitedly, and gave it a good sniff. Then he leaped back with a yelp as the crab nipped at his nose.
    â€œRascal, are you all right?”
    Rascal was whimpering, and trying to paw at his sore nose. He kept edging backwards away from the crab, into the wetter sand just at the edge of the water.
    Ellie ran after him, but then she gasped as Rascal backed straight into the path of a wave. “Oh, watch out! Rascal, come here!”
    It was only a little wave, but Rascal was only a little dog, and it broke right over his head. He ran out of the water, squeakingwith shock and shaking it out of his ears.
    â€œOh, Rascal!” Ellie swept him up and hugged him, and Rascal shook himself in her arms, getting her all wet too. “I did try to warn you. Poor boy.”
    From the safety of Ellie’s arms, Rascal glared down at the water. He was now sure he didn’t like that stuff at all.

Chapter Six
Sand Sand Sand!
    Just as Ellie had thought, Max was keen to take part in the sandcastle competition, and they headed down to the beach the next morning armed with their buckets and spades.
    â€œWhat shall we make?” Max asked. “I know – a pirate ship! That would be great, I bet we’ll win if we do a pirate ship.”
    Lila shrugged. “Oh, fine then! I still think we ought to do a proper big castle. I’m off for a swim, anyway.” She stalked away.
    Ellie frowned. She had wondered about making a mermaid, but she knew what Max would have to say about that. She was pretty sure that the two red-haired boys with the little white Westie puppy that Rascal had barked at earlier were making a pirate ship. But Max was already drawing an outline in the sand with his spade, and it was too hot to argue. She started to dig, and Rascal scampered over to join in.
    â€œDon’t let Rascal do that, Ellie!” Max told her. “He’ll ruin it!”
    â€œHe just likes digging,” Ellie explained. “I’ll try, though. Rascal! Come and dig here, look!” She started a hole for him with her spade, close to Mum and Dad’s rug. That way Mum could keep half an eye on himwhile she was reading her book. Rascal dug eagerly, scraping away at the sand with his paws, and Ellie went back to helping Max.

    Max had just sent Ellie off to look for sticks to be the masts, when Lila came dripping out of the sea, calling for her towel. “Ellie, can you pass it to me, I’m freezing!”
    â€œBut it isn’t here…” Ellie looked around. “Did you take it down to the sea?”
    â€œNo, I left it here.” Lila was standing by the rug now, dripping seawater on Mum. “Where’s it gone?” She frowned, suddenly staring at Rascal, who was sitting on the sand by the rug and looking like an angel dog. It always meant he’d done something wrong, and Ellie eyed him anxiously.
    â€œOh no!” Lila wailed. “Look! He’s buried my towel, I can see the end sticking