Free Mary Pope Osborne - Magic Tree House 46 by Dogs in the Dead of Night Page A

Switzerland—History—1789–1815—Fiction.]  I. Murdocca, Sal, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.O81167Dn 2011 [Fic]—dc22 2010047554
    Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.
    v3.1

For Joey, Mr. Bezo, and Little Bear,

and in memory of Teddy and Bailey
    And with special thanks to Janet Marlow

and Cheryl Barber and the Brushy Creek Saints

“His name is not Wild Dog anymore,
but the First Friend, because he will be our
friend for always and always and always.”
    —from
Just So Stories
by Rudyard Kipling



O ne summer day in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods. It was filled with books. A boy named Jack and his sister, Annie, soon discovered that the tree house was magic, and just by pointing at a book, they could go to any time and any place in history. While they were gone, no time at all passed back in Frog Creek.
    Jack and Annie eventually found out that the tree house belonged to Morgan le Fay, a magical librarian from the legendary realm of Camelot. They have since traveled on many adventures in the magic tree house and have completed many missions for both Morgan le Fay and Merlin the magician. On these journeys, they often received the help of two young enchanters from Camelot named Teddy and Kathleen.
    Now Teddy and Kathleen are in desperateneed of Jack and Annie’s help. While Merlin and Morgan were away, Teddy accidentally put a spell on Penny, Merlin’s beloved penguin, and turned her into a stone statue. Teddy fears that he could be banished from the kingdom unless Jack and Annie can save Penny.
    Teddy and Kathleen have found an ancient spell that will undo the one that Penny is under. To make the spell work, Jack and Annie must go on four adventures to collect four special things. They have just returned from a magic tree house journey to India, where they found the first thing: an emerald in the shape of a rose.
    Now they are waiting for Teddy and Kathleen to send word about what they must find next.…

“J ack, Jack!” whispered Annie.
    Jack opened his eyes. He’d been dreaming about running away from cobras. “What’s wrong?” he said, sitting up in bed. It was still dark outside.
    “Nothing’s wrong,” whispered Annie. “We have to go to the tree house and come back before it’s time to get ready for school.”
    “The tree house?” said Jack sleepily.
    “Teddy and Kathleen may have translated the next lines of the spell,” said Annie. “We have to see if they’re there, or if they’ve sent a message.”
    “Huh?” said Jack. He was still half-asleep.
    “We have to find the
second
thing to break the spell that turned Penny to stone!” said Annie. “Remember? Come on, Jack, wake up!” She shook his shoulder.
    “Okay, okay. We have to get the second thing!” Jack jumped out of bed. “I’m ready!”
    “No, you’re not,” said Annie. “You have to put your clothes on. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
    Annie left the room, and Jack quickly changed out of his pajamas and into jeans and a sweatshirt. He picked up his backpack and reached into an inside pocket. He pulled out the emerald rose they’d found in India. It was the first thing Teddy and Kathleen needed to break the spell and bring Penny back to life.
    Jack grabbed his notebook and a pencil from his desk. He put them into his backpack along with the emerald rose. Then he slipped quietly out of his bedroom and down the stairs.
    Annie was waiting on the front porch. The skywas just starting to become light. The spring air was damp and cool. Jack was glad that he had worn his sweatshirt.
    “All set,” said Jack. “Let’s go.”

    Jack and Annie ran across the wet grass of their front yard and dashed down the sidewalk. The houses they passed were all quiet, but the world of nature was awake with birdsong and dogs barking in the distance.
    Jack and Annie crossed the street and headed into the Frog Creek woods. It was hard to see in the