The Mystery of the Ghostly Galeon

look like the bad pirate boat. But the work, it is not yet finished. The ship is not yet ready to be illuminated all the time. But Monsieur Trask, he is very excited. He wishes to show his so-excellent sister how very clever he has been. This is his big surprise.”
    “So that was it!” Trixie was thoughtful.
    “I wonder why we didn’t see the ship when we first arrived this afternoon,” Honey said, frowning. “I remember looking at the river, but I didn’t see a galleon.”
    “Ah,” Gaston said, “but what trouble Monsieur Trask takes to make sure that you did not. The ship, she is towed around a headland yesterday to put her in hiding. At dusk today, she is towed back.”
    Honey gasped. “Was that why all the kitchen staff was outside when Trixie got stuck in the dumbwaiter?”
    “There are times,” Gaston said, “when even grown men like to see the spectacle. Even I had to see the tall ship coming home. But enough! I myself will show you again how beautiful she is. I think the fog, she is lifting a little. I will stay here. Then—click, click—I will work the lights. After this is done, you will both go quickly up the stairs to get the sleep of beauty. I know this is important for growing young ladies.”
    “I wonder if we ought to wake up the others?” Trixie said. “The boys would sure like to explore the ship, I know.”
    “But this is not possible,” Gaston answered “You will kindly remember that much work is being done on board. You will look only.”
    “Gosh,” Honey said as she and Trixie hurried toward the edge of the cliff, “he really seemed worried about us. I sure hope he doesn’t pack up and ‘leave Pirate’s Inn forever.’ ”
    “Maybe Weasel was right,” Trixie answered. “Perhaps he does have a quick temper and just needed time to cool down. He certainly seems in a good mood now.”
    They were both moving carefully when they came close to the place where they had seen the ghostly ship appear before.
    The fog did seem to be lifting a little, but although they glanced up several times at the tall trees around them, they still couldn’t see the spotlights Gaston had assured them were there.
    “I don’t know how Mart saw them in the first place,” Trixie muttered. “He must have eyes like a cat. And wait till I tell him we weren’t imagining things, after all.”
    “Too many Maiden’s Delights, indeed!” Honey said, grinning.
    All at once, the path in front of them seemed suddenly brighter. When the two girls looked at the river, there was the galleon, gleaming in the water.
    The tall masts and the shimmering deck stood out against the night sky. Trixie saw the flag of the Jolly Roger, which, she thought, was probably lit by a special small spotlight of its own.
    She saw the wooden figure that stood proudly against its bow. She looked for the happy smile that had so pleased her before.
    The smile was still there—but so was something else.
    To Trixie’s astonishment, sorrowful tears appeared to be trickling down the painted face.
    “Oh, Honey!” Trixie gasped. “It doesn’t seem possible, but the lady’s crying!”

Clues to a Treasure • 13

    LATER, TRIXIE could imagine Gaston standing by the light switches muttering to himself, “Click, click—ah, what a mystification!—here is the ship. Click, click— poof !—the ship, she is gone.” True to his word, and while the girls watched, he made the galleon appear and disappear once, twice, three times.
    Then, just before the ship vanished for the last time, Honey asked, “Trix? What’s that?”
    Trixie was still puzzling over the strange sight of the crying figurehead. But she tore her gaze away from the river and followed Honey’s pointing finger.
    She drew in her breath sharply, for what she saw on the grass where they were standing were the faint outlines of glowing footprints. They seemed to march toward the inn. In the next second, as Gaston turned off the lights, the footprints, too, vanished into the mist.
    “What on earth were they?” Honey asked.
    “I can think of a better question,” Trixie answered. “Who or what made them?”
    She still hadn’t made up her mind when they joined Gaston at the inn’s front door.
    “The ship, she is truly astonishing, yes?” he remarked, firmly ushering them inside. “And now goodnight, mesamies. In the morning, Monsieur Trask, he will have returned, and all will be well.”
    “It’s funny how everyone is so certain that Mr. Trask will come