Free Boxcar Children 62 - Mystery of the Lake Monster by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

way around the lake.”
    “I’d like that,” said Jessie.
    “I’d like dinner,” said Benny. He was always hungry.
    Nora said, “Don’t worry, Benny. You’ll be back in plenty of time for dinner. And if you see the Wild Man of the Woods, tell him hello for me.”
    “The Wild Man of the Woods!” exclaimed Violet. She looked alarmed. “Who is he?”
    But Nora only smiled mysteriously. “You’ll see,” she promised.

CHAPTER 2
The Wild Man of the Woods
    “W hat’s that?” gasped Violet. She moved closer to her older sister.
    “Don’t worry, Violet. It’s just a chipmunk. See?” said Jessie. She pointed.
    “Oh,” said Violet in a relieved voice.
    “Hold on tightly to Watch’s leash,” Grandfather reminded Benny. “We don’t want him to chase any of the animals.”
    “Especially the bears,” agreed Benny.
    “Woof,” Watch barked, wagging his tail and looking at the chipmunk.
    “No, Watch,” said Benny. “Come on.”
    Watch gave the chipmunk one last, longing look and then trotted just ahead of Benny as they hiked around Lake Lucille. At first they passed several trails leading down to the lake and the other cabins. But soon they didn’t see any trails at all except the one they were on. It went over rocks and around huge trees. It crossed a narrow stream that tumbled down the mountain into the lake. Through the trees and underbrush they could see glimpses of the lake down below.
    “Look,” said Henry. “If we stand on this big flat rock we can look out over the whole lake.”
    “Be careful,” Grandfather warned.
    Cautiously the Aldens stepped out onto the flat rock. Lake Lucille was spread out before them.
    Benny pointed. “Look,” he said. “There’s Lucille Lodge across the lake.”
    “We’re halfway around, then,” said Jessie.
    Suddenly Benny pointed again. “Look at that!” he exclaimed. “Is that a big fish down there?”
    “Where?” asked Henry. He looked in the direction Benny was pointing. But he didn’t see anything except a few ripples on the mirror-smooth surface of the lake.
    “It could be a fish. Or it could be an underground stream bubbling up into the lake,” said Grandfather Alden.
    “Or it could be a monster,” said a gravelly voice behind them.
    The Aldens all turned around quickly in surprise. Watch barked loudly and pulled at his leash.
    Standing behind them on the trail was a man in faded clothes of brown and green that seemed to match the woods. A wide-brimmed hat was pulled low over his short grizzled gray hair. He had a deeply tanned and lined face. In one hand he held a walking stick made of a whittled branch. A deep basket woven of strips of bark was slung over his shoulders. Next to him stood an enormous dog with short brown and silvery white fur and one blue eye and one brown eye.
    “Who are you?” demanded Jessie.
    “It’s the Wild Man of the Woods!” cried Violet, shrinking back against her grandfather.
    “Wild Man of the Woods? So you’ve heard about the Wild Man, eh?” said the man. His voice sounded like a growl.
    Beside the man, the dog slowly wagged his tail and looked up at him.
    “Nora told us about you,” said Benny. “Shhh, Watch! Stop barking.”
    “Are you the Wild Man?” asked Henry.
    The man shook his head. “My name’s Carl Nielson.” His teeth showed briefly in what might have been a smile. “I live up on the mountain, but I’m not the Wild Man.”
    “Who is, then?” asked Jessie.
    Carl reached down and patted his dog’s head. “He is. That’s his name. Wildman.”
    Everyone stared for a moment. Then Benny started to laugh. “Oh, that’s a joke,” he said.
    “Nora had us all fooled,” said Grandfather Alden. “We’re glad to meet you and Wildman, Mr. Nielson.” He stepped forward to shake hands.
    Mr. Nielson looked down at Grandfather’s outstretched hand. Slowly, reluctantly, he shifted his walking stick to the other hand and shook hands with Mr. Alden. “You can call me Carl,” he said.