Mountain Top Mystery Read online

  rocky sides of Old Flat Top gave no spot to get a foothold.

  Mr. Alden said, "Now let's plan what we'll do. We are safe here, but

  we'll be cold. We certainly can't get down now."

  Henry said, "Won't the ranger and the man in the store notice when we

  don't come down?"

  Mr. Alden gave Henry a look. Then he said, "There are a lot of things

  that they may do. One thing seems sure. We'll have to spend the night up

  here. This is the end of the summer and it will be dark soon."

  Henry said, "Perhaps they heard those rocks coming down."

  "Yes," said Violet. "They crashed like thunder."

  "They probably did hear the noise," said Mr. Alden. "I don't think we

  need to worry, but perhaps we'd better build a fire. They will see it

  when it gets dark."

  27

  Henry had a feeling that Mr. Alden knew something that the children did

  not, but he went right to work and everyone helped to build a roaring

  fire.

  Violet's teeth were chattering. She said, "The f-f-fire f-f-feels good.

  I didn't know I was so c-c-cold."

  "That's because you nearly lost me, Violet," said Benny. "Haven't you

  ever heard of shivering from fright?"

  It soon began to get quite dark. Still Grandfather did not seem to be

  worried. Suddenly they all heard a strange whirring noise.

  "It sounds like an airplane," said Benny. "I'll bet it's a helicopter."

  Henry cried, "That's Grandfather for you! I'll bet he planned that in

  case of trouble." Grandfather smiled.

  It was indeed a helicopter. First it went high over the flat top, winked

  its lights, and then hovered over the family. The pilot had a megaphone.

  He called down, "Are you all right?"

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  Five voices shouted, "Yes!"

  "We can't take you off in the dark," the pilot called. "We'll have to

  wait until morning. But I am going to drop five sleeping bags. Keep your

  fire going, and we'll be around in the morning. Now all of you stand

  behind the hump."

  The whole family did so. Down came five sleeping bags, one by one. The

  helicopter whirred away.

  Jessie said, "I guess they didn't know that we are short on food. It's

  lucky we saved everything from lunch that we did not eat. I wonder if we

  should eat the leftovers for supper."

  "Maybe we should save our food for the morning," Violet said. "We might

  have to wait for quite awhile."

  "Good idea," agreed Grandfather. "As long as we are warm we can stand

  being a little hungry."

  Benny added, "I guess I got being hungry scared right out of me-at least

  for now."

  Grandfather said, "You know the old saying about an ill wind that blows

  no good."

  29

  "It wasn't a wind, it was a rock slide," Benny said.

  Mr. Alden said, "We might as well get into these sleeping bags to keep

  warm."

  When they were all in the sleeping bags they sat in a row.

  Benny said, "We'd look funny if there were anyone to see us."

  They all looked down over the dark country. Many lights of the town

  showed at the left, but not a light at the right.

  In a little while Jessie said, "You know, I think I see a faint light in

  the woods. You don't suppose anyone is in trouble, do you?"

  "I don't see it," said Mr. Alden. "Oh yes, I do, too. It's very faint,

  but it stays right in one place."

  Benny asked, "How could anyone live in the woods? I wonder what the

  light is."

  Mr. Alden was glad to have anything interesting to talk about because he

  knew the night would be long. "When we get down," he said, "we will find

  out what the light is. The rangers may know, and if they don't,

  30

  we'll find out anyway."

  The stars came out. They were very bright.

  "I don't really mind going to bed tonight," said Benny. "I'm in bed."

  Jessie whispered to Henry, "He seems to be all right."

  "Thanks to Grandfather," whispered Henry. "He certainly said the right

  thing to Ben."

  Mr. Alden and Henry decided to take turns putting wood on the fire

  during the night. There was plenty of wood. They all lay down in a row.

  Benny was on one side of Grandfather, and Violet was on the other.

  Benny sounded sleepy as he said, "I'm coming over closer to you,

  Grandfather, if you don't mind."

  "Come ahead, my boy," said Mr. Alden.

  "You know, Grandfather," said Benny, "I must have been seeing things.

  When that big rock gave way, I thought I saw an enormous hole behind

  it."

  "Maybe you really did see a hole," said Grandfather. "I have heard of

  holes in mountains."

  But by this time, Benny was asleep.

  31

  CHAPTER 3

  Waiting for Rescue

  When Henry awoke he thought even before he opened his eyes, "The

  helicopter will come at sunrise." Then he opened his eyes and blinked.

  The whole mountain top was covered with thick

  fog.

  Henry turned his head

  to look at Jessie. She was close enough to touch, but he could hardly

  see her.

  Benny called, "I'm awake, Henry. Foggy, isn't it?"

  Henry propped himself up on one elbow. "I wonder if it is often foggy

  like this in the morning. I guess when we're not up so high we don't pay

  any real attention."

  32

  Grandfather said, "The mountain top is always covered with fog in the

  early morning. That's why campers don't stay here overnight. But the fog

  will soon go away."

  Henry said, "One thing is sure. We must stay close together every

  minute."

  Everyone understood what Henry meant. It would be dangerous to move

  about too much and perhaps come close to the edge of the rocky, flat top

  without knowing it.

  They all sat up.

  "Where is that paper bag of scraps?" asked Benny. "Now I'm hungry."

  "I have it," said Jessie. "I also have some napkins. Put your hands out

  and take a napkin, and I will try to divide the breakfast."

  She broke the big hamburger into five pieces. Then she got out of her

  sleeping bag and went down the line putting scraps of roll and one whole

  roll on each napkin. She gave Mr. Alden his cold coffee. There were four

  cups on the top of the thermos bottle.

  33

  "Tell me when you want a drink of water," she said. "We mustn't waste a

  drop."

  Violet was on one end of the row, and Henry was on the other. They could

  not see each other because of the fog, but they could hear very well.

  Everyone started to eat breakfast. Violet said, "I wouldn't think bread

  crusts could taste so delicious."

  Grandfather said with a laugh, "Nor cold coffee mixed with Coke."

  Benny said, "After this, you'll have to put Coke in your coffee instead

  of sugar."

  Henry said, "I certainly hope the fog will lift before lunchtime because

  we haven't a crumb of food left."

  Henry had no sooner said this than the fog lifted. Like magic it

  entirely disappeared.

  "That's the way fog does," said Henry. "And don't forget it can shut

  down just as fast. Maybe it will come back."

  "Y
ou're the gloomy one," Jessie said, but she laughed.

  34

  "Well," said Mr. Alden, "I don't think it will this time. Look at that

  sun!"

  The whole valley was golden in the bright sunshine. There was not a

  cloud in the sky.

  "Maybe we ought to get ready for the helicopter," said Violet. "We don't

  want to keep them waiting."

  They got their packs ready, rolled up the sleeping bags, and waited.

  "Remember when that big rock fell?" said Benny. "I think I really saw a

  hole, a huge one. Like a cave maybe."

  Grandfather said, "You may be sure we will find out. Ah! Here comes the

  helicopter."

  "I guess they know the fog has gone away," said Jessie.

  The Aldens saw the helicopter whirring far above them and then slowly

  coming down. Without a word they all stood behind the hump. This left an

  open place for the helicopter to land. It came straight down and landed

  exactly in the middle of the space.

  "Straight as a string," said Benny. "Oh, look who's

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  [PICTURE NOT SHOWN]

  here! It's Mr. Carter!"

  Violet cried, "Now where in the world did

  he

  come from?"

  Grandfather smiled.

  "Really," said Jessie, "how did he know about us, Grandfather?"

  "That will be a good puzzle for you to guess," said Mr. Alden.

  "Pooh!" said Benny. "I bet I can tell you exactly what happened. I'll

  bet you told the ranger to send for Mr. Carter right away if anything

  happened."

  By this time Mr. Carter and a ranger had let down the steps and were

  coming down.

  36

  "We can't take you all at once," the ranger pilot said.

  "Well, then, leave me for the second trip," said Mr. Alden.

  "And I will stay with you, Grandfather," said Violet.

  "Good girl," Mr. Alden said.

  Henry, Jessie, and Benny took their packs and poles and sleeping bags.

  John Carter helped them up the steps into the helicopter.

  "We'll be back soon," he said, pulling in the steps.

  Sure enough, in a short time the helicopter was back for Grandfather and

  Violet.

  Grandfather asked the pilot to hover over Old Flat Top. There was the

  hole that Benny thought he saw when the step fell.

  "Look, Violet, there's the hole!" shouted Grandfather over the noise of

  the helicopter.

  Down they went to the log store. Even before the plane landed, Violet

  said, "Grandfather, I see the rangers and some other men, too."

  37

  "Yes," Grandfather said, "a man with a camera. I have a feeling the

  newspaper people heard about the rockslide."

  Flashbulbs popped as Mr. Alden and Violet got out of the helicopter.

  Benny came running up and cried, "Isn't it exciting? A reporter asked me

  all about what happened."

  "Mr. Alden?" a man with a notebook said, coming up to Grandfather. "Your

  grandson has already told me about his accident. The others told me

  about his rescue and your night on Old Flat Top. May I ask if you plan

  to stay here longer?"

  "The large hole that was opened when the rockslide took place interests

  me," Mr. Alden said. "We may stay to learn more."

  Benny was listening hard. "Yes, let's stay," he exclaimed. "And you

  remember that light we saw-"

  Before he could say anything more, Mr. Alden told the reporter, "Yes, I

  think you can say we will be here for a few days. And now we need to get

  some food. You probably know we had a pretty odd breakfast."

  38

  "Thank you," the reporter said, "I understand." He closed his notebook

  and left with the cameraman.

  "Benny," Mr. Alden said, "I didn't think that the reporter needed to

  know about what we saw during the night. Not until we know more about it

  ourselves."

  A ranger was standing nearby and Henry turned to him. "I have a

  question, sir. When it was dark, we all saw a very faint light quite

  deep in the woods. We thought somebody might be in trouble, but the

  light didn't move. Do you know anything about this?"

  "Yes, we do," said one of the rangers. "An old Indian lives there, the

  last of the tribe. Perfectly harmless. Just wants to live alone and be

  let alone. Every month I take over some flour, salt, sugar, and tea and

  a few canned things. Then I bring back sweet grass baskets in trade.

  They sell like hot cakes-I haven't one left."

  Henry asked, "Could I drive the car as far as the house?"

  "No. You can go a little way into the woods. Then

  39

  you have to walk about a quarter of a mile. The path is easy to follow,"

  the ranger answered.

  Mr. Alden came up. He said, "I think we will drive over. My

  grandchildren are much interested."

  John Carter said, "I have my car. I can take Benny and Violet."

  Jessie said, "Fine. But we need some lunch. Let's get some food from the

  store here and then go."

  Grandfather agreed and let Jessie plan to get what was needed. "We can

  eat in the woods before we go up the trail," she said.

  The Aldens were soon on their way, Henry driving in the lead. When they

  had driven as far as they could into the woods, Henry and Mr. Carter

  parked the cars.

  Lunch was quickly eaten because everyone was so curious about the Indian

  in the woods.

  Benny called back, "When we get there, do you think it is all right to

  knock on the door?"

  "I should think so," said Henry. "What else can we do? We want to go in

  and meet him, don't we? The ranger said he was perfectly harmless."

  40

  Soon they saw a small gray house with a large vegetable garden. A stone

  step was at the front door. Benny knocked.

  There was a soft sound of feet and the door opened. There stood a very

  tall Indian woman who held her head like a queen.

  For once Benny did not know what to say. Mr. Alden stepped forward

  quickly and said, "I hope we are not bothering you. My grandchildren saw

  your light from Old Flat Top. They were afraid you were in trouble."

  The old Indian woman bowed her head a little, opened the door wide, and

  said, "Please come in."

  41

  CHAPTER 4

  Lovan's Story

  The family was so surprised to find an Indian woman instead of a man

  that no one said anything.

  The room they looked into had two chairs and a couch. On a table lay an

  Indian basket that was not yet finished. Bunches of sweet grass were

  hung up to dry. The room was sweet with the smell of the grass.

  "Sit down," said the Indian woman. She took the rocking chair, and Mr.

  Alden sat in the other chair. Mr. Carter sat on the couch and the others

  sat on the floor.

  42

  Still no one had said a word. Then Benny, who was nearest the Indian

  woman, spoke. He said, "That man is my grandfather, James Alden. John

  Carter is sitting on the couch. I am Benny and there is my brother Henry

  and my sisters, Jessie and Violet."

  The old woman said, "My name is Lovan Dixon. I am almost ninety years

  old."

  "Well!" exclaimed Benny.

  Jessie said, "We were on Flat Top all nigh
t and saw your light. We were

  worried thinking somebody might be in trouble."

  "You are very kind," said the woman. "Why were you on Flat Top? Did you

  have an accident?"

  "Yes, I did," said Benny. "When I was coming down, the first step broke

  away. But I don't think about that any more. Grandfather said there was

  no use in it."

  -The Indian woman turned to Mr. Alden. "He was right," she said. "I

  heard all the rocks coming down like thunder. I was worried about you. I

  saw your fire all night."

  43

  Violet looked at the old Indian and asked, "Is anything wrong?"

  "Not now," said the woman.

  Then Benny cried, "Do you really want to live all alone here?"

  "Yes, child," said Lovan Dixon. "I do want to. I do not like living in a

  town. Too many people laugh at Indian ways. I like to live alone."

  Violet and Jessie looked around at the house. It was neat and clean. The

  old woman's gray hair was as smooth as silk. Her strong old face was

  deeply wrinkled.

  Benny shouted, "Those people were mean. I'd like to tell them so."

  "You are a kind boy. There is no need to bother with anyone. I like it

  here. I love the woods. I am the last of my people. My tribe always

  lived here and the government gave these woods to my tribe long ago. The

  woods go to the other side of Flat Top."

  Now Grandfather spoke, "But I have a feeling that something is bothering

  you. Won't you tell us?"

  44

  The old woman did not speak for a time and it was very quiet in her

  little house. Then she said, "I hear that the woods will be cut over for

  lumber and I will lose my land."

  Nodding, John Carter said, "It could be true, Miss Dixon. Many times, I

  am sorry to say, our government has forgotten its promises to the

  Indians."

  Mr. Alden said, "From this minute on do not worry any more. I know a man

  who will find out who owns this land. He will buy it himself if he has

  to. You may use it as long as you live, Miss Dixon."

  "Please say 'Lovan,'" said the Indian woman with a bow.

  "Lovan," said Benny at once because he liked the sound of the name.

  "When that step gave way on Old Flat Top, I thought I saw a big hole

  behind it. Do you think that was really true?"

  Lovan folded her arms and sat for a long time with bowed head. There was

  not a sound. After awhile she drew a long breath and said, "I trust you.

  Let me tell you a story. Years ago my grandfather told it to me,