Scarlett's New Friend Read Free

it.”
    So he settled himself more comfortably on the rocks in the sunshine, looked solemnly at the mermaids, and began.

Chapter Four
    â€œMy name is Scout,” said the seal. “This spring tide my wife and I had a baby seal. Our Lori is the sweetest little pup on the whole island, if I do say so myself. She has huge dark eyes, plump fur, and soft, smooth flippers.”
    â€œShe sounds gorgeous,” said Scarlett delightedly. “I wish I could see her!”
    â€œMaybe you will,” said Scout. “Now,what Lori likes best,” he continued, “is to come with me to this beach. She looks for bright ribbons of purple seaweed and pure white shells with the other baby seals. And she plays with the mischievous crabs that scamper around these rocks.”
    â€œSo why do you seem so sad, Scout?” asked Sophie. “This sounds like a happy story.”
    â€œI’m coming to the sad part,” said Scout darkly. “Early this morning I brought Lori here to play as usual. But as you can see, someone has dumped piles of garbage onto the sand. And Lori cut her flipper on a big tin can with a jagged edge.”

    â€œOh no!” said the mermaids. “How awful.”
    â€œLori cried and cried,” Scout continued, “and I rushed her back to our home beyond the rocks. My poor wife was so frightened when she saw our baby with that great big cut.”

    â€œIs Lori all right?” asked Ellie and Lucy anxiously.
    â€œHopefully the good salt water in the sea will soon heal the cut,” replied Scout. “And my wife has wrapped Lori’s flipper in a nice piece of kelp for a bandage. But we’re still left with all this dangerous litter on our beach—and I can guess who did this!”
    â€œSo can we,” said Scarlett grimly. “Mantora! She has been following us ever since we set off on our journey for Queen Neptuna, trying to cause trouble for us and our friends.”
    â€œBut how could Mantora scatter this trash across the beach?” Holly frowned. “She has a tail like us; she can’t just walk across the sand—or fly!”

    â€œNo, but her black Storm Gulls can,” said Scout. “I think there was a whole gang of them here just before dawn, screeching and yammering away. And every single one of them carried a piece of garbage in his beak and let it fall here—here on this beach where Lori and her friends love to play.”
    â€œThat settles it,” said Scarlett. “We’vegot to clean up this beach so it’s safe again for Lori and the other baby seals.” Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were pink. She looked like her bossy old self again, determined to get her own way. “Well, what are we waiting for?”
    â€œIt seems like a good idea, Scarlett,” hesitated Sophie, “but let’s not rush into anything. Of course we feel sorry for Lori. But don’t forget that we’re supposed to be hiding here and staying out of trouble. If we get held up again, we might not get home with the crystals before sunset tomorrow.”

    â€œThen everything would be so much worse for Lori and all the sea creatures,” said Misty. “Imagine what Mantora would do if she manages to overthrow Queen Neptuna and set up her horrible Storm Kingdom.”
    â€œBut don’t you see?” demanded Scarlett impatiently. “This dirty, dangerous beach is part of Storm Kingdom—right in front of our eyes! It’s exactly how Mantora wants it.”
    Scarlett’s friends shivered, as though a cloud had covered the afternoon sun. The littered beach did look sad and ugly. They knew that Mantora would be happy if it stayed like that.
    â€œI think Mantora knew we would swim past Sandy Bay Island,” Scarlettwent on, “and she did this to show us her power.”
    â€œAnd to slow us down on our journey,” added Ellie, looking around unhappily. “Oh, what should we