The Flying Saucer Mystery Read Free Page B

horse.”
    Bess called out from the rear of the line, “Where are we going? I don’t see the trail anymore.”
    “That’s true,” Hal replied somberly. “From here on it seems to be just a series of deer tracks. Let’s hope they’ll lead us right to Old Joe’s cabin.”
    Ten minutes later George, who was riding directly behind Hal, pointed ahead. “Now what do we do?” she inquired.
    As the others drew near, they could see an enormous fallen tree trunk blocking their path. Its diameter was higher than the backs of their horses.
    “What a monster!” Dave exclaimed. “I wonder how tall the tree was.”
    The group dismounted, tied the horses, and spread out along the giant trunk.
    Ned remarked, “My guess is that this oak must be over fifty feet long.”
    Bess stood back to admire it, saying, “What a gorgeous tree it must have been when it stood. How old do you think it is?”
    “Anybody know how to read tree rings?” Ned asked.
    Jan made her way to the end of the trunk where it had broken off. Unfortunately the tree had splintered apart and the rings could not be read accurately.
    “Sorry,” she said. “Probably Old Joe can tell us because it looks as though the tree trunk has been lying here a long time.”
    “One thing is certain,” Hal added. “It wasn’t sawed down. The tree fell either because it was diseased or because it was struck by lightning.”
    Burt had walked to the other end of the tree and announced that it would be impossible to get through the limbs and branches without a lot of hacking.
    “We must have taken a wrong turn,” the boy said. “If Jan’s right, then I doubt Old Joe would have sent us this way.”
    Jan consulted the hand-drawn map. “Let’s climb over and go the rest of the way on foot,” she suggested.
    “Yes, let’s,” Bess agreed. “We’ve been riding for hours and I’m starved. I bet Old Joe will have a good lunch for us.”
    Her cousin George teased, “I hope you’ll like the menu. Remember, he lives on goodies from the forest. You’ll probably have a broiled bullfrog, tasty worm salad, and for dessert, persimmons to pucker your tongue.”
    Everyone except Bess laughed. She made a face. Now the campers scrambled up the trunk and sat astride it the best they could.
    To their dismay the group discovered they were at the precarious edge of a steep decline at the foot of which there was a rushing stream filled with rocks, some of them large and treacherous.
    Jan asked, “What do you say, everybody? Do we go ahead or turn back?”
    For several uneasy seconds no one answered. Then Nancy said, “I think we should try it. Old Joe is expecting us and remember, he wants to tell us about his personal mystery. I’m dying to learn what it is so I can try to solve it. Besides, I want to see his sketches of the UFO; don’t you?”
    Ned concurred. “Isn’t that the purpose of this trip?”
    The others agreed. Jan suggested they go in pairs. “Take it slow and easy on the descent. Remember the saying, ‘Haste makes waste,”’ she cautioned. “Let’s hope we can walk along the stream, which I think is the one on Old Joe’s map.”
    Ned jumped down first and caught Nancy’s hand as her feet touched the ground. The Drakes went next, followed by George and Burt. None of them had mishaps.
    “Our turn,” Dave told Bess. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll go first and catch you. Okay, partner?” Before he jumped, Dave paused for an answer.
    Suddenly Bess said, “Wait! I—I’m so dizzy.”
    Instantly she lost her balance and rolled off the trunk down the mountainside. There were fewer trees and bushes on the slope, evidently because of logging operations. Bess began to tumble faster.
    “Oh, no!” Dave cried out, jumping off the trunk.
    He dashed after her and caught his foot in a trailing vine that almost caused him to plunge headfirst. By now, Bess was far ahead of him and rolling rapidly toward the turbulent rock-filled water!

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    Trixie,