Read Online The Mystery at Mead's Mountain by Julie Campbell - Free Book Online

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 it even more special.
    Presently, Jim said softly, “Shall we pick out our ski trail now?”
    “Gee,” Brian said, “I feel almost like an intruder.”
    “What say we intrude upon our snacks first?” pleaded Mart. “They must be getting lonely in our knapsacks.”
    The others, laughing, agreed that some nourishment was in order and got out the snacks the boys had packed earlier.
    Afterward, Trixie stood up and looked around. She was ready for adventure. The thrill of exploring the unknown was coursing through her veins. “Let’s take this trail,” she said, pointing left. “It stays on top of the crest and winds through the trees.”
    “But didn’t Eric say to take one of the trails to the right?” Di asked.
    “Yes,” recalled Trixie, “but which way is right? If you face the lodge, it’s this way. But if you face the valley between us and those peaks, it’s that way.”
    “I don’t know what he meant either,” said Honey. “What should we do?”
    “I think Robert Frost could answer that question for us,” said Mart.
    “Huh?” Di looked blank.
    “ ‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,’ ” he quoted.
    “ ‘And that has made all the difference,’ ” Trixie finished.
    “Isn’t that from ‘The Road Not Taken’? Since when did you become the poetry expert, Trixie?” Jim teased.
    “I’m not,” she admitted. “I just remember Dad reading the stuff to us when we were little, instead of bedtime stories.”
    “Well, none of these trails look traveled by to me,” said Di, confused.
    “How about this one?” Jim said. He glided over to a trail smaller and less noticeable than the others.
    “Perfect!” Trixie was delighted. “That looks like our very own secret hidden trail!”
    “It won’t be too secret after our ski tracks are left behind,” Mart pointed out, getting ready to follow Jim.
    “It looks fun, though,” said Brian. “I guess