Anaconda Adventure Read Online Free Page B

Little information posts along the path offered tips on where to spot woodpeckers, kingfishers, and foxes.
    They stopped near an arched stone bridge that spanned the river. Below, on the near side, the water tumbled over some rocks in a small, fast waterfall, and on the far side the current moved much faster as the river deepened and flowed on downstream. There were warning signs that nobody should swim in it.
    â€œI haven’t got a small head—have I?” Isobella was demanding.
    Her two best friends, Lucy and Jemima, chorused, “Of course not!”
    â€œBut that horrid, ugly old witch lady said I had!” pouted Isobella, taking off her straw hat and patting her hair anxiously. “She said I had an undersized brain!”
    â€œShe got
that
right,” muttered Charlie.
    Isobella spun around and glared at her. “What would you know, Wexford?” she spat. Then she turned back to her friends. “It’s horrible! Our teachers should complain to the park staff. It’s not right for ugly old witch ladies to go around picking on well brought up young ladies!”
    Charlie snorted as she climbed up onto the parapet of the bridge. “Oh, give it a rest, Isobella. Don’t be such a wuss.”
    Isobella gasped again. “Who are you calling a wuss?” she hissed.
    â€œUm … that would be you!” Charlie said, walking along the parapet, holding her arms out wide for balance.

    â€œI suppose you think you’re so brave!” sneered Isobella. “Just because you can walk along the wall of a bridge!”
    â€œNope. Just very good at it,” Charlie said. “I do gymnastics, remember? I have a good sense of balance.” She stood on one leg to prove it.
    â€œOh you really think you’re it!” Isobella stared with her hands on her hips for a moment, and then she scrambled up on the parapet too.
    â€œWhoa!” Charlie said. “Don’t do that! It’s dangerous.”
    â€œBut you’re doing it!” Isobella said.
    â€œYes! Because I’m
good
at this! You’re not!” Charlie said, alarmed. “You can’t even balance along the curb! Get off, Isobella! Look—I’m getting down now. It’s too dangerous for me.” And she hurriedly got back down onto the path. She glanced around, hoping for a chance that one of the teachers would turn and make Isobella get down—but neither did. They were studying tree bark.
    â€œIzzy! Don’t!” whimpered Lucy.
    â€œYou’ll fall!” warned Jemima.
    But Isobella was smirking and throwing her arms out wide and walking, rather shakily, along the topof the narrow stone wall. Ten feet below her, the river churned and flowed at high speed.

    â€œIsobella! Please!” Charlie gave up trying to be cool as the girl wobbled along to the middle of the parapet.
    â€œYou think I can’t make it across, don’t you?” Isobella said, glancing defiantly at Charlie.
    â€œNo! I know you can. I’m sorry—I was just showing off,” gabbled Charlie. “You’re better than I am … just … get down!”
    â€œI’ll get down when I’m good and ready!” snapped Isobella, waving her arms about.
    And then she fell off.
    Josh and Danny were just running up to Charlie to quietly get back the S.W.I.T.C.H. spray when something astonishing happened. One minute Charlie was walking along the top of the parapet (which did not surprise Josh and Danny one bit) and the next minute another girl had climbed up, wobbled along it, and then fallen off.
    The girls watching her, Charlie included, were so shocked they didn’t even scream. They just gaped and then ran to the wall and peered over.

    Josh and Danny arrived next to them in time to see a straw hat bob up on the surface and spin away downstream. Charlie turned to them, her eyes wide. “She fell!” she whispered. “She FELL!” The other girls had begun to