The Mystery at Mead's Mountain

with you,” Jim said. “I know what that watch means to you.”
    “I don’t mind at all,” Honey answered. “Now that I’m sure that Miss Trask has it, I won’t worry.”
    Trixie said nothing. She was remembering the previous night’s prank and the locked patio door, and suddenly she wasn’t at all sure that Miss Trask had that watch.

A Cabin in the Woods • 6

    ASERIC HAD INSTRUCTED, the Bob-Whites began their afternoon adventure with a ride to the top of the mountain in the chair lift. When they got off, they were greeted by a large white sign with black lettering that warned THESE MOUNTAINS CAN BE DANGEROUS. WATCH FOR FALLING ROCKS AND AVALANCHES. BE PREPARED AGAINST FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA.
    “How cheery,” said Di. “What’s hypothermia?”
    “That’s when exposure to cold causes body temperature to drop below normal,” Jim replied. “And the warning’s important, Di. Far too many people venture into the woods totally unprepared, without knowing the first thing about survival techniques.”
    “That doesn’t mean the sign has to be worded so as to induce an instant heart attack,” Mart joked.
    Between them and the crest of the mountain lay a hundred yards of heavily wooded hillside, with one small trail spiraling out of sight. The trail looked like nothing they had practiced on. In fact, it appeared to go almost straight up—a very difficult, if not impossible, climb.
    “I didn’t bargain for this,” said Brian, staring up at the trail. “What is Eric doing—sending us on a suicide mission?”
    “I don’t think I’m going to like cross-country skiing,” said Di apprehensively.
    “Come on, you know we can do it.” Jim tried to sound encouraging. “Look at the challenge! Besides, I don’t think Eric would have sent us here if he didn’t think we could handle it.”
    “I suppose you’re right,” agreed Honey, somewhat dubiously.
    “I guess the best thing to do now is to start,” Trixie determined.
    “Right,” said Jim. “Trixie, let’s you and I lead the way and make a path in the new snow for the others.”
    Trixie and Jim started up the hill, then Mart followed. Next came Brian, behind him Di, and lastly, Honey.
    Travel was slow and rough. Their skis kept slipping. Trixie was surprised at how fast her energy disappeared. She wasn’t sure she could make the climb to the ridge after all. Somehow she kept going, summoning up hidden reserves of energy rather than admit out loud that she would just as soon turn back and forget the whole thing. It was comforting to hear Jim keep calling out words of encouragement. How can he do that? she thought. How can he keep going and encourage us at the same time? I just want to drop dead.
    Suddenly Jim yelled, “I’m at the top!”
    Once again Trixie found new strength. In a few seconds, she, too, reached the small plateau on top of the mountain crest. Exhausted, she dropped down next to Jim. “We did it! Victory!” she puffed.
    Jim shook her hand. “The first thing that has to be done, if Dad is going to buy this place, is to extend the ski lift through those trees. Only people in top physical condition are going to make it to the top.” Jim struggled to pull his notebook out of his pocket as the other Bob-Whites made it up to the small plateau and flopped down next to them.
    After a few minutes of well-earned rest, Trixie pushed her sunglasses back on her head and looked around for the first time. In every direction were brilliant white peaks silhouetted against a turquoise sky. Dotting the mountains were thousands of trees— tall evergreens reaching for the sky, skeletal maples resting for the winter, birches, beeches, cedars.
    It was an awesome sight. “Jeepers, we’re on top of the world!” she gasped.
    “I honestly didn’t know there were so many mountains in the world,” Honey breathed.
    Down in front of them was the chair lift, a mere thread connecting them with the miniature lodge below. They could see the Tan Van, looking more like a toy, and the swimming pool, resembling the jeweled setting in a ring. Beyond the lodge was the village of Groverville, pavement ribbons extending from it.
    “It’s as though we’ve been miniaturized and placed on top of a relief map,” Trixie mused.
    “No,” Mart disputed gently, “we’re the giants. It’s the rest of the world that’s lilliputian.”
    Then, for a long time, no one spoke or moved. It was a beautiful, quiet moment. Working so hard to achieve it had made