Seaside Mystery Read Online Free Page A

that!” Maisie scoffed, laughing.
    But even though she knew Louise was just teasing, she had a horrible squirmy feeling in her tummy. In her imagination, she could hear the bloodcurdling screams echoing around the lonely caves.
    “Shut up, Lou, you’re scaring her,” Joel said. He got up and started walking down the grassy slope.
    “Aw, she’s not scared! Are you?” Louise said, beckoning to Maisie and Flame. “Come on, let’s go!”
    Flame trotted along at Maisie’s heels as she made her way down to the small, sheltered cove. They had to scramble over seaweed-draped rocks at the mouth of the cave.
    Maisie frowned as she entered the shadowy cave. It was very dark at the back, where the sunlight didn’t reach. Rocks were spread over the cave’s sandy floor. Small pools of cold, dark water were dotted among them.
    “Come on, you guys!” Joel called from deep inside.
    “We’re coming! Hold your horses!” Louise shouted, disappearing into the shadows.
    Maisie told herself that there was nothing to be scared of as she went farther into the cave after Louise and Joel. “Areyou all right, Flame? Do you want me to pick you up?” she whispered.
    “I am fine, thank you, Maisie,” Flame answered, placing each tiny brown tabby paw with deliberate care as he followed her over the rocks. Silver sparks shone faintly in his long silky fur.

    Maisie shivered. It was getting chilly and smelled of damp and old seaweed. Every slight sound seemed magnified and spooky. There was no sign of Joel or Louise. She was really glad she had Flame with her.
    Maisie was thinking of turning back, and risking being teased for being too chicken, when she noticed the natural shelves in the cave walls. There was a lot of driftwood there, washed up by the high tide when it filled the cave.
    “Wow! Look at all that amazing wood. Dad would love it for his carvings,” she said to Flame.
    “Maybe you could tell him it is here, and then he can come and get it,” Flame purred.
    “Better than that, I’ll take someback for him as a surprise!” Maisie said.
    She clambered toward the side of the cave and began collecting driftwood. Flame watched her from where he sat on a rock beside a large pool behind her.
    “Who-oo-ooh!” Suddenly a terrible wail rang out, echoing around the cave creepily.
    “Oh!” Maisie gasped, as her heart missed a beat. It was the drowned smuggler!
    Then things seemed to happen all at once. Maisie heard Joel and Louise scream with fear, and then their footsteps rang on the rocks as they pounded toward her.
    Just as Joel and Louise came into sight, Flame screeched with panic.Maisie turned to see him scrabbling for a pawhold on the seaweed. As she watched, he fell with a sickening splash into the pool.

“Flame!” Maisie cried in horror. Dropping the driftwood, she sprang toward the rocks.
    “What happened? Where is he?” Joel shouted, rushing up with Louise close behind him.
    “He’s under the water!” Maisie pointed at the pool, her heart pounding.
    Flame’s tiny head suddenly appeared.He paddled desperately, his paws sending out ripples as he tried to keep his head above water.

    “Swim to the side, Flame! You should be able to climb out,” Maisie urged, hoping that the other two wouldn’t realize that Flame actually understood.
    Flame mewed and swam toward the side of the pool, where thick seaweed from the rocks draped into the water. He tried to catch hold with his claws, but it was no use and he slipped back in.
    “He can’t get out. He’ll drown!” cried Louise.
    Maisie felt desperate. She realized that Flame couldn’t use his magic without giving himself away. Before she could think twice about it, she stepped forward and launched herself into the pool.
    She gasped with shock as the icy water rose almost up to the tops of her thighs, and a dreadful pain shot up her leg. She had twisted her ankle on a submerged rock.
    A wave of sickness washed over Maisie, but she gritted her teeth. Flame had sunk