Mudpoo and the Fungus Mystery Read Online Free Page B

sack tied with baling twine and gently placed it on the ground.
    â€œGOLD,” whispered the pirates loudly, “we’ll all be rich.” Their eyes were transfixed on the bag.
    â€œHey, I thought it . . . it . . . MOVED!” murmured Grot.
    â€œDon’t be stupid, gold can’t move,” argued Bones, “you are such an idiot,” he sneered.
    The pirates studied the large bag.
    Suddenly the bag moved, this time everyone saw it. “YIKE, CRIKEY, WHAT, HAH?” yelled the pirates together.
    â€œMy gold can move,” said Fungus McPhee. He was really enjoying the reaction he was getting from the pirates. Mudpoo and Harry, hidden in the long grass, held their breath. What was in the bag?
    â€œMy gold,” explained Fungus McPhee, “is plundering wildlife. I capture birds and reptiles in Australia and send them to America. I’ve got bags and cages full of critters that I’m sending to people who pay me a small fortune. Your job is to deliver them safely for me.”

    He loosened the rope around the bag. All the pirates stood frozen holding their breath waiting to see what was inside, when suddenly, WHOOSH, an angry wedge-tailed eagle swooped down from nowhere and attacked Fungus McPhee.
    Fungus McPhee swung his arms around wildly, “GET AWAY YOU OVER GROWN BUZZARD, GET AWAY, ARRRGH!!!” he cried.
    In the KERFUFFLE that followed, Fungus McPhee knocked over the bag and three large snakes appeared.
    â€œARRRGGGGHHHHH!” screamed the pirates who were all terrified of snakes. “RUNNNNNN,” they yelled, as they took off in all directions.
    â€œHEAD FOR THE TRUCK!” screamed Bones as the pirates ran about in circles.
    â€œSettle down,” spat Fungus McPhee, “they’re only inland carpet pythons. They can’t hurt you and they’re worth a fortune on the black market.”
    Just at that moment the boobook owls joined in, swooping and chasing the pirates. Mudpoo and Harry leapt out of their hidey spot and ran towards Fungus McPhee.
    â€œHEY, WHO ARE YOU . . . ?” screamed Fungus McPhee in stunned surprise, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING . . . ?” he tried to say as Mudpoo rushed to rescue the animals.
    â€œGot you . . . OW!” screamed Fungus McPhee. Just as he almost grabbed Mudpoo by the arm, Harry got hold of his leg and unbalanced him. he wedge-tailed eagle swooped in for another attack and two little eagles joined in the fray.
    â€œARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!” screamed Fungus McPhee and in desperation he threw himself behind the steel door of the goldmine to protect himself from the vicious, attacking eagles. Mudpoo quickly slammed the lock shut and pulled out the key.
    Grot had managed to start the truck and was driving dangerously close to the edge of the hill. Bones, Snot and Pong leapt in, with cuts and bruises, scrapes and confusion. The pirates’ truck spluttered and gurgled off down the hill never to be seen in Bethanga again.
    (Someone later heard they were so traumatised that they left Australia to live on an island somewhere, but no one can be certain about that.)
    Fungus McPhee was trapped. “Let me out of here you rotten lousy kid,” he screamed. But he quickly went quiet and pale when the wedge-tailed eagle returned to guard the door of the mine. Sammy the silver gull flew down, (he could speak eagle and whale and lots of other things, all because of the Magic Tree Stump, but that’s another story). Sammy had found the wedge-tailed eagle and explained the whole story about what the pirates and Fungus McPhee had planned to do.
    â€œThe eagles want to thank you Mudpoo and Harry,” said Sammy. He went on, “If those pirates had managed to poison the rabbits, the toxic poison would’ve harmed the wedge-tailed eagle’s family, as well as the little eagles. They all eat the rabbits you see.”
    The wedge-tailed eagle and the two little eagles nodded politely at Mudpoo and Harry. They