Mountain Top Mystery Read Online Free Page A

breath and said, “I trust you. Let me tell you a story. Years ago my grandfather told it to me, and he heard it from his grandfather. You ask about a hole, child. I believe there is a cave.”

    For a minute Lovan did not say anything more. Then she went on, “You understand this happened years ago. There used to be a cave on the other side of Flat Top, but no cave where you say the hole is. In those days you couldn’t get up the mountain by your trail, but you could get up on the other side. Flat Top didn’t have such a flat top at that time.”
    Every eye was on the old Indian woman. They hoped she would go on, and she did.
    “The story goes that a Frenchman who was a friend of the King of France ran away to America to live. There was a war in France and he escaped. He was shot accidently right near here. My great-grandfather, Running Deer, hid him and took care of him until he died. The Frenchman had a great leather bag with things in it which he expected to sell. But when he died, he gave the bag to my great-grandfather for taking care of him.”
    “What was in the bag?” cried Benny. Lovan smiled at Benny. “I never knew,” she said. “My great-grandfather died without telling anyone what was in it. But my grandfather thought that his father hid the bag in that old cave.”
    “Why didn’t he go up and find it?” asked Benny.
    Henry said, “Benny, you are asking too many questions.”
    Lovan smiled a little. She said, “I don’t mind. Nobody has ever dared before. Something happened to that mountain and the rocks moved and closed the cave. It looked as if it had been squashed together. That was when Flat Top became flat.”
    Mr. Carter said, “Didn’t anyone try to dig the cave out?”
    “No, the rocks were too heavy. Besides the climb was too steep.”
    Jessie said slowly, “If that bag was ever found, wouldn’t it belong to you?”
    Lovan bowed again. “Yes,” she said. “I am the last of the tribe and my grandfather told me it was mine.”
    “Wouldn’t you expect to get it then,” asked Henry, “if somebody found it?”
    “I don’t know,” said Lovan. “I have lost many things.”
    Violet said, “Do you suppose the hole Benny found is a sort of back door to that cave?”
    “I have no doubt of it,” said Lovan.
    Mr. Alden said, “Don’t worry any more about anything. I myself will see that you get what is yours.”
    Lovan said, “I am grateful to you. All I have left now is this house and my garden and my front step.”
    “What about your front step?” asked Mr. Alden.
    “Come and see,” said Lovan. “You must go down my step and watch.”
    She followed them out with a cup of water in her hand. They watched her as she poured the water slowly into some hollows in the step.
    “A big, enormous claw!” cried Benny. “It is almost as long as the step.”

    “A dinosaur track!” shouted Henry. “I’ve seen one at college.”
    Grandfather said, “Where did you get this? It is certainly a big piece of red sandstone.”
    “Yes,” said Lovan. “It came from the ledge right over there. My grandfather thought it was the track of a big magic bird. They called it a thunderbird track.”
    Benny laughed. “That’s a car,” he said.
    Mr. Carter said, “They named the car for the magic bird.”
    “I suppose you know,” said Jessie, “that a museum would like your step.”
    “But I want my doorstep,” said Lovan.
    “And you shall keep it,” said Mr. Alden. “The man who buys your woods would want you to have it. And now I think we should go. Thank you for everything.”
    “But we’ll be back,” said Benny. He gave Lovan a great smile, the kind only Benny could give.

CHAPTER 5
    More Plans
    W hen the Aldens were in the car, Violet said, “We can see right through you, Grandfather. You are the man who is going to buy the woods, aren’t you?”
    “Of course,” said Grandfather, smiling at her. “What better thing could we do for Lovan? She will feel free, and don’t