儿童英语读物 The Camp-Out Mystery CHAPTER 8 The Storm

“What do you suppose happened to Grandfather?” Benny asked.



They had pulled the picnic table under the kitchen tent and were sitting at it. Rain fell all around them. In the distance, thunder rumbled 1. Plates of stew 2 sat before them. No one was very hungry.



“I’m sure he’s all right,” Jessie said. She didn’t want the others to know how worried she was.



“It’s not safe to be walking in the woods during a storm,” Henry reminded them. “Grandfather probably decided 3 to stay with Doris and her family.”



“Yes,” Jessie said. “That’s what he did. He stayed with Doris.”



“He’ll be here by the time we get up in the morning,” Violet added. But she was as worried as Jessie.



“Then let’s go to bed now,” Benny suggested, “so morning will come quicker. I don’t like being here without Grandfather.”



They put the leftover 4 stew in a container in the cooler and cleared off the table.



Henry aimed his flashlight at the big tent. The others made a dash for it. When they were safely inside, he ran to join them.



Their sleeping bags felt warm and cozy 5, but they couldn’t sleep. They lay listening to the rain drumming on the tent, each of them thinking about Grandfather. His empty sleeping bag made them feel even sadder.



After a long silence, Henry said, “Remember when we didn’t want to live with Grandfather?”



“Yes, we thought he was mean,” Violet said.



“And we didn’t even know him!” Jessie put in.



“That wasn’t very smart,” Benny summed up. “He’s the best grandfather in the whole world.”



Suddenly, everything was light and sound. Lightning flashed. Thunder crashed. The ground shook. The children moved closer together. Benny pulled his sleeping bag up over his head.



The storm pounded around them for most of the night. When it finally moved on, Benny sighed. “I’m glad it’s over,” he said. He rolled over and went to sleep.



The others were just drifting off when— suddenly—music ripped through the night air.



Watch pricked 6 up his ears. He stood up, listening. Then he moved to the tent flap and poked 7 his nose outside.



“What is it, boy?” Henry whispered. “Who’s out there?”



Watch looked at Henry over his shoulder. He yawned, turned around three times, and curled up by the door of the tent.



“The music sounds close,” Jessie whispered.



“It’s even louder than last time,” Violet added.



Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the music stopped. The rain had stopped, too. Except for the steady drip drip from the trees, everything was quiet.



“Whoever’s playing it doesn’t want us here,” Henry said.



“What makes you think that?” Jessie asked.



“Why else would they keep playing it at night like they do? And so near?” Henry said. “They’re trying to spoil things for us.”



“ ‘I hope nothing spoils the trip for you,’ ” Violet quoted. “Isn’t that what Doris said?”



“Do you suppose she’s the one who’s trying to scare us off?” Jessie wondered.



“She can’t be,” Henry said. “She’s probably with Grandfather right now.”



“I hope so,” Jessie said. “I hope he’s warm and safe just like we are.”