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Authors: Charles Tang
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morning,” said Mr. Osceola. “It would be easier to return in two airboats.”
Andrew grasped one of Ned Fry’s arms above the elbow. Irene’s father did the same with Ned’s other arm. They led him out to the airboat. The engine roared to life and soon the men were gone.
“Well,” said Grandfather. “The mystery is solved. I suppose we should canoe over to our chickee and set up camp.”
Henry and Irene pushed their canoes into the water and everyone climbed aboard.
“Not all the mysteries,” said Jessie as she poled. “What about Melanie Harper? And Andrew’s landlady? There are still lots of questions.”
“Maybe we’ll get the answers when Andrew comes back,” said Henry. He was thinking of Andrew’s bravery, coming into the Everglades alone to protect a wildcat. Andrew had entered the private world of an animal people rarely saw.
It didn’t take the Aldens long to fix camp. Irene and Benny each strung hammocks across the poles. The others preferred sleeping bags, which they’d unroll when it was bedtime.
They were preparing supper when Andrew came roaring back in a different airboat. He crossed the island quickly and climbed up into the chickee.
“Was your boss mad?” Violet asked him.
“Yes,” Andrew said. “But when I brought in the poacher and told him about Runner, he decided not to fire me. I have my old job back.”
Jessie looked surprised. “Melanie was so sure she was going to get your job.”
Andrew opened a container of trail mix. “Melanie was sure of a lot of things. We used to date. At first I thought she was nice, but then I realized she only wanted to get a better job. So I stopped seeing her. It made her really mad.”
“Mad enough to lie about hearing from you,” Jessie said, popping a piece of peeled orange into her mouth.
Andrew nodded. “Melanie was always jealous of Nelda. Nelda is a real friend — she cares as much about the cats as I do.”
“How come you didn’t tell Nelda about your feeling about Runner?” asked Henry.
“I didn’t have any real proof,” said Andrew. “In fact, I didn’t have any proof until today, when Ned confessed in front of all of us. He told the same story at the ranger station.”
Jessie mentioned Old Lady Applegate, Andrew’s landlady. “We think she was stealing from your room.”
Andrew shrugged. “She probably was. Small change, little things she could sell at the flea market. I know she’s taken from Gus and the other people.”
“That’s terrible,” said Violet. “Stealing from people. Gus said he can’t afford to live anywhere else.”
“He can’t.” Andrew sighed. “I keep forgetting that people need looking after, too, not just panthers. When I go home, I’ll make sure things change at the boardinghouse.”
Night fell softly around them. After they ate, Andrew told them stories about the Everglades. Irene added tales from Miccosukee culture.
Henry asked Irene if he could write to her. Irene replied she’d be glad to be Henry’s pen pal.
Then it was time to go to bed. Henry, Grandfather, Jessie, Violet, and Andrew unrolled their sleeping bags. The girls slept on the sleeping platforms. Irene showed Benny how to scramble into his hammock. He nearly fell twice, but at last he was rocking gently. Everyone was swathed in mosquito netting.
It was anything but quiet. All kinds of insects made noises from the trees. Night-birds called. A bull alligator bellowed in the distance.
Then, suddenly, came a scream. It wasn’t a human scream nor was it a cry of distress.
Benny sat up, nearly spinning in his hammock. “What was that ?” he cried.
“That,” answered Andrew Beldon from the darkness, “was a Florida panther.”
“Was it Runner?” Benny asked.
“It could be,” said Andrew.
Grandfather said, “People go for years without ever seeing or hearing a panther. This is a special moment.”
Benny settled back in his hammock. Grandfather was right. He’d gotten his second, even better
Andrew grasped one of Ned Fry’s arms above the elbow. Irene’s father did the same with Ned’s other arm. They led him out to the airboat. The engine roared to life and soon the men were gone.
“Well,” said Grandfather. “The mystery is solved. I suppose we should canoe over to our chickee and set up camp.”
Henry and Irene pushed their canoes into the water and everyone climbed aboard.
“Not all the mysteries,” said Jessie as she poled. “What about Melanie Harper? And Andrew’s landlady? There are still lots of questions.”
“Maybe we’ll get the answers when Andrew comes back,” said Henry. He was thinking of Andrew’s bravery, coming into the Everglades alone to protect a wildcat. Andrew had entered the private world of an animal people rarely saw.
It didn’t take the Aldens long to fix camp. Irene and Benny each strung hammocks across the poles. The others preferred sleeping bags, which they’d unroll when it was bedtime.
They were preparing supper when Andrew came roaring back in a different airboat. He crossed the island quickly and climbed up into the chickee.
“Was your boss mad?” Violet asked him.
“Yes,” Andrew said. “But when I brought in the poacher and told him about Runner, he decided not to fire me. I have my old job back.”
Jessie looked surprised. “Melanie was so sure she was going to get your job.”
Andrew opened a container of trail mix. “Melanie was sure of a lot of things. We used to date. At first I thought she was nice, but then I realized she only wanted to get a better job. So I stopped seeing her. It made her really mad.”
“Mad enough to lie about hearing from you,” Jessie said, popping a piece of peeled orange into her mouth.
Andrew nodded. “Melanie was always jealous of Nelda. Nelda is a real friend — she cares as much about the cats as I do.”
“How come you didn’t tell Nelda about your feeling about Runner?” asked Henry.
“I didn’t have any real proof,” said Andrew. “In fact, I didn’t have any proof until today, when Ned confessed in front of all of us. He told the same story at the ranger station.”
Jessie mentioned Old Lady Applegate, Andrew’s landlady. “We think she was stealing from your room.”
Andrew shrugged. “She probably was. Small change, little things she could sell at the flea market. I know she’s taken from Gus and the other people.”
“That’s terrible,” said Violet. “Stealing from people. Gus said he can’t afford to live anywhere else.”
“He can’t.” Andrew sighed. “I keep forgetting that people need looking after, too, not just panthers. When I go home, I’ll make sure things change at the boardinghouse.”
Night fell softly around them. After they ate, Andrew told them stories about the Everglades. Irene added tales from Miccosukee culture.
Henry asked Irene if he could write to her. Irene replied she’d be glad to be Henry’s pen pal.
Then it was time to go to bed. Henry, Grandfather, Jessie, Violet, and Andrew unrolled their sleeping bags. The girls slept on the sleeping platforms. Irene showed Benny how to scramble into his hammock. He nearly fell twice, but at last he was rocking gently. Everyone was swathed in mosquito netting.
It was anything but quiet. All kinds of insects made noises from the trees. Night-birds called. A bull alligator bellowed in the distance.
Then, suddenly, came a scream. It wasn’t a human scream nor was it a cry of distress.
Benny sat up, nearly spinning in his hammock. “What was that ?” he cried.
“That,” answered Andrew Beldon from the darkness, “was a Florida panther.”
“Was it Runner?” Benny asked.
“It could be,” said Andrew.
Grandfather said, “People go for years without ever seeing or hearing a panther. This is a special moment.”
Benny settled back in his hammock. Grandfather was right. He’d gotten his second, even better
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