Read Online The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carolyn Keene
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Juvenile Fiction, Detective and Mystery Stories, Women Detectives, Girls & Women, Scotland, Adventure stories, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Mystery and detective stories, Drew; Nancy (Fictitious Character), Lost and Found Possessions, Lost Articles - Scotland, Heirlooms
Ads: Link
there.
“Isn’t that sweet!” Bess said dreamily.
As the three visitors left the courtyard, George said, “Where to next?”
Nancy, looking straight down the hilly street which led to Holyrood Palace, said, “This is called the Royal Mile. There are many famous places on the way. Let’s walk down.”
On the way they came to St. Giles’ Cathedral and went straight to a square side room which was the Chapel of the Knights of the Thistle, the Highest Order of Chivalry.
Very tall, narrow seats, beautifully carved, were arranged side by side. Above them were the various family shields, topped by canopies and coats of arms.
Bess sighed. “Isn’t it romantic? Think of all those noblemen in full regalia seated here and discussing the destiny of Scotland!”
George grinned at her cousin. “Bess, you should have lived a couple of centuries ago and been carried off by a romantic knight and had him pin a corsage of thistles on you—that’s the national emblem.”
Nancy smiled as the girls walked into the main part of the cathedral. The pulpit proper stood in the center with rows of benches facing it from four sides. Nancy glanced at the guidebook she was carrying.
“It says a woman was responsible for starting the 1637 civil war here. There were no pews, so each member of the congregation brought his own stool. A woman named Jenny Geddes, angry at the Bishop for the views he was proclaiming, suddenly stood up and hurled her stool at him! At once there was a commotion, and soon religious riots broke out all over Scotland.”
“She was a courageous soul!” George commented.
As the trio left the fine old building, Nancy remarked, “Down the street a short way is the home of John Knox, the great reformer and preacher.”
The girls hurried toward the small three-story structure and went up an outside stairway. The residence contained only display cases of letters, books, sermons written by Knox, and pictures.
“Oh, look!” Bess cried suddenly. “See how John Knox signed his name!”
Her friends stared. In a bold scrawl was written Johannes Cnoxus!
George read bits of sermons and remarked, “He was a fiery preacher, all right. I wonder if anyone today would sit still for two hours and listen to such tirades!”
She and the others went out to the street again. Bess declared she was very hungry, so they found a small restaurant above St. Giles and had luncheon. Then they continued down the Royal Mile.
About two minutes later George suddenly remarked, “I have a hunch the man back there is following us on purpose.”
Nancy stole a glance at him. He had reddish hair, side whiskers, and a beard. He wore a kilt and a navy-blue balmoral.
“He looks vaguely familiar,” Nancy said, “but I can’t place him.”
George whispered, “Let’s turn and walk toward him to see what happens.”
The three friends did an about-face. As the man passed them, he averted his face and went on, but in a few moments he turned and once more followed the girls.
“Suppose we cross the street and head for Holyrood again,” Nancy suggested.
When the trio was on the opposite side, the red-bearded stranger soon crossed over and once more walked behind them.
“Oh, dear!” said Bess. “What’ll we do?”
George grinned, and said she had a daring proposal to make. “If Nancy thinks she knows the man but doesn’t recognize him, it might be because he’s wearing a disguise. What say we find out if those side whiskers and beard are false!”
CHAPTER X
Gaelic Code Message
“OH, George!” Bess protested. “You wouldn’t dare try pulling off that man’s beard!”
“Wouldn’t I!” George retorted. “If he’s one of Nancy’s enemies, I want to find out just who he is!”
Nancy smiled. “Thanks a million, George, but we Americans had better not cause any disturbance here. How about this idea? Why don’t we separate and meet at Holyrood Palace? Mr. Redbeard can’t follow all of us.”
“That’s a
“Isn’t that sweet!” Bess said dreamily.
As the three visitors left the courtyard, George said, “Where to next?”
Nancy, looking straight down the hilly street which led to Holyrood Palace, said, “This is called the Royal Mile. There are many famous places on the way. Let’s walk down.”
On the way they came to St. Giles’ Cathedral and went straight to a square side room which was the Chapel of the Knights of the Thistle, the Highest Order of Chivalry.
Very tall, narrow seats, beautifully carved, were arranged side by side. Above them were the various family shields, topped by canopies and coats of arms.
Bess sighed. “Isn’t it romantic? Think of all those noblemen in full regalia seated here and discussing the destiny of Scotland!”
George grinned at her cousin. “Bess, you should have lived a couple of centuries ago and been carried off by a romantic knight and had him pin a corsage of thistles on you—that’s the national emblem.”
Nancy smiled as the girls walked into the main part of the cathedral. The pulpit proper stood in the center with rows of benches facing it from four sides. Nancy glanced at the guidebook she was carrying.
“It says a woman was responsible for starting the 1637 civil war here. There were no pews, so each member of the congregation brought his own stool. A woman named Jenny Geddes, angry at the Bishop for the views he was proclaiming, suddenly stood up and hurled her stool at him! At once there was a commotion, and soon religious riots broke out all over Scotland.”
“She was a courageous soul!” George commented.
As the trio left the fine old building, Nancy remarked, “Down the street a short way is the home of John Knox, the great reformer and preacher.”
The girls hurried toward the small three-story structure and went up an outside stairway. The residence contained only display cases of letters, books, sermons written by Knox, and pictures.
“Oh, look!” Bess cried suddenly. “See how John Knox signed his name!”
Her friends stared. In a bold scrawl was written Johannes Cnoxus!
George read bits of sermons and remarked, “He was a fiery preacher, all right. I wonder if anyone today would sit still for two hours and listen to such tirades!”
She and the others went out to the street again. Bess declared she was very hungry, so they found a small restaurant above St. Giles and had luncheon. Then they continued down the Royal Mile.
About two minutes later George suddenly remarked, “I have a hunch the man back there is following us on purpose.”
Nancy stole a glance at him. He had reddish hair, side whiskers, and a beard. He wore a kilt and a navy-blue balmoral.
“He looks vaguely familiar,” Nancy said, “but I can’t place him.”
George whispered, “Let’s turn and walk toward him to see what happens.”
The three friends did an about-face. As the man passed them, he averted his face and went on, but in a few moments he turned and once more followed the girls.
“Suppose we cross the street and head for Holyrood again,” Nancy suggested.
When the trio was on the opposite side, the red-bearded stranger soon crossed over and once more walked behind them.
“Oh, dear!” said Bess. “What’ll we do?”
George grinned, and said she had a daring proposal to make. “If Nancy thinks she knows the man but doesn’t recognize him, it might be because he’s wearing a disguise. What say we find out if those side whiskers and beard are false!”
CHAPTER X
Gaelic Code Message
“OH, George!” Bess protested. “You wouldn’t dare try pulling off that man’s beard!”
“Wouldn’t I!” George retorted. “If he’s one of Nancy’s enemies, I want to find out just who he is!”
Nancy smiled. “Thanks a million, George, but we Americans had better not cause any disturbance here. How about this idea? Why don’t we separate and meet at Holyrood Palace? Mr. Redbeard can’t follow all of us.”
“That’s a
Similar Books
