Mystery on Blizzard Mountain by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

asleep.
    But the minute he closed his eyes, he fell into such a deep sleep that he didn’t even notice his brother climbing up into the loft or hear Henry say softly, “Night, Benny,” before he, too, got into bed and fell asleep. Jessie fell asleep right away, too. But Violet lay awake for a little while longer. She thought about stagecoach robbers and avalanches and ghosts. Once, she thought she heard a sound outside the cabin. She peered through the narrow window by her bed, but she couldn’t see anything except how very, very dark it was.

CHAPTER 2
Lost Treasure
    “What’s the surprise?” Benny demanded first thing the next morning.
    Maris slid a plate of pancakes in front of Benny and said, “It’s a camping trip.”
    “A camping trip! I like camping,” said Benny.
    “I need to do a little trail scouting on Blizzard Mountain for a couple of days and I wondered if you would like to come along,” Maris said.
    “Blizzard Mountain? That’s where the treasure is!” Benny cried.
    “Yes!” said Jessie. “We’d love to come along!”
    But Violet had a question. “What’s trail scouting?” she asked.
    “Well, here in Seven Mountains Park, we try to close trails that are getting worn out by too many hikers and climbers,” Maris explained. “They’re not as safe, and it’s hard on the land around the trails, too. So we give the trails and the land a rest, and work on rebuilding the trails and making them safe again.”
    “That’s a good idea,” said Henry.
    Maris nodded and smiled and went on, “We’re closing the Annie Oakley Trail on the east side of Giant Mountain at the end of this season, and we’re going to open a new trail on Blizzard Mountain. Part of my job is to hike Blizzard Mountain and mark the best way for the trail to go. We’ve already started work on it, but we have lots more work to do.”
    “Trailblazing,” said Henry. “We’ll be trailblazers.”
    “Let’s go,” said Benny. “I’m done with breakfast.”
    Maris laughed. “Not so fast, Benny,” she said. “We’ve got a few things we need to do first to get ready. We need to pack. And well have to stop in Blizzard Gap to get some gear and supplies,” Maris said.
    “Are you coming with us, Grandfather?” asked Violet.
    But Grandfather shook his head. “No. I’ll stay here with Shoe. We can do a little hiking around the cabin.”
    “Wouldn’t you rather be an explorer?” Benny asked.
    “You go explore, Benny,” Grandfather said. He laughed. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find the treasure.”
    “Yes, we will,” said Benny confidently. He didn’t mind when Maris laughed. He was sure that a mystery was waiting for the Aldens up on Blizzard Mountain.
    A little while later, Henry had tossed the last backpack into the back of Maris’s truck, on top of all the other camping gear he and Jessie had loaded. “That’s the last of it,” he said.
    “We’re ready to go, then,” said Maris.
    The children climbed into the truck. It was a tight fit. They waved good-bye to Grandfather and Snowshoe.
    Then Maris turned the key in the ignition.
    Nothing happened. She tried again. Click, click went the key. But the truck wouldn’t start. Maris frowned. “What is wrong with this truck? I just did some work on it.” She got out and opened the hood of the truck and peered inside. Grandfather came to join her.
    “Oh, no. It might be the battery,” Maris said. She got back in the truck again and turned the key. Still nothing.
    “You’re right, Maris,” Grandfather said. “It must be the battery.”
    With a sigh, Maris got out of the truck. “That’s the second time in two weeks!” she said. She put her hands on her hips and frowned at the battered red pickup truck. “I don’t believe this! I’ll go call Carola Gallo for help. She’s my closest neighbor.”
    Soon an old blue van came bouncing down the dirt road that led to Maris’s cabin.
    A tall woman with a wiry build and thick blond and gray hair got