The Canoe Trip Mystery Read Free Page B

back.
    â€œHenry,” Benny whispered loudly. “Wake up! I think I hear a wolf outside the tent.”
    â€œWolf,” Henry muttered in his sleep. Then Benny heard the sound again, only this time it was louder.
    Owowowooooo … owowowooooo. …
    This time Henry woke up. “Did you hear that wolf?” Benny asked.
    â€œIt sounds very far away,” Henry said. “Try to go back to sleep, Benny. I’ll stay awake for a little while and keep watch. Still, there are no wolves in this part of the country anymore. I’m sure there aren’t.” But not even Henry sounded so sure anymore.

CHAPTER 4
    More Warnings
    T he next morning, the Aldens all slept until the sun was high in the sky. “It must be nearly nine o’clock,” Henry said sleepily at breakfast.
    â€œIt took me a long time to fall back to sleep after hearing that wolf,” Benny said.
    Henry told the others about the sound they’d heard.
    â€œIt might have been a big dog,” Violet said. “Wolves sound a bit like dogs,” Violet loved animals and was always reading about them.
    â€œWell, maybe it was a dog,” Benny said. But he still looked worried.
    â€œWell, at least your appetite didn’t suffer, Benny.” Aunt Jane smiled at her younger nephew.
    Benny sat on the picnic blanket eating dried fruit and two large slices of Mrs. McGregor’s homemade wheat bread.
    â€œWe’ll probably finish all the homemade bread by tomorrow,” Jessie said. “After that, we’ll be having oatmeal for breakfast.”
    â€œI love oatmeal,” Benny said. Suddenly he heard a rustling sound behind him.
    â€œDid you hear that?” He tapped Henry on the arm.
    A tall man with blue eyes and a black beard walked out of the woods toward them.
    Aunt Jane stood up. “I’m Jane Bean,” she said to the man, and introduced him to her nieces and nephews.
    â€œI’m Lorenzo Espinosa.” The man spoke softly. “Are those your canoes over there on the shore?”
    â€œYes,” Henry answered. “We’re taking a trip across Timberwolf Lake.”
    â€œHow long have you been camping here?”
    â€œSince last night,” Jessie answered.
    â€œHow has your trip been so far?” Lorenzo looked at them closely. Violet thought he seemed suspicious about something.
    â€œFine, except for the wolf,” Benny told him.
    Lorenzo looked more worried than surprised. “I’m a scientist,” he explained to Benny. “I study the plants and animals in these woods. There are no wolves around here.”
    â€œSee, Benny, what did we tell you?” Henry said. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
    â€œBut, if I were you, I would worry,” Lorenzo said, raising his voice, “not about wolves, but about...” He paused. “Some very strange things have been going on near Timberwolf Lake,” he finally continued.
    â€œWhat kinds of things?” Aunt Jane asked.
    â€œWell, I also heard your so-called wolf last night,” Lorenzo said.
    Benny sat up straighter and stopped eating.
    â€œDon’t worry. I’m sure it wasn’t really a wolf,” Lorenzo told Benny. “But I’ve heard this animal for the past week or so, on and off. I’ve also seen campfires burning at all hours.”
    â€œDon’t campers usually make fires?” Aunt Jane asked.
    â€œYes, but you’re the only campers I’ve seen all season, and you’ve only just arrived,” Lorenzo said.
    â€œMaybe someone is camping here in secret?” Henry suggested. “Maybe someone is trying to keep people off this lake on purpose,” he continued.
    â€œI don’t know what to think!” Lorenzo exclaimed. “I’ve been coming up here every spring for the past fifteen years, and nothing like this has ever happened before.”
    For a few moments, Lorenzo did nothing but stare at the ground and