Pat located a rescue litter to carry Ellen back to the lodge, in case it was necessary. He also found lantern helmets to help them see better in the woods.
After what seemed like days of skiing, they came to the field where Mart had been caught. There was evidence that some smaller slides had occurred, so Pat insisted that the group cross the field in pairs, with each pair waiting until the couple ahead was safely on the other side before starting across. Pat was the last to cross.
As carefully as possible, they skied along the edge of the woods and down the steep length of the snowfield. At the bottom of the hill, they stopped to catch their breath. The frozen river lay below them, twisting its way through the canyon. Di pointed around the bend to where the caves should be, but it was too dark to see them.
“I remember those caves,” said Pat. “You can see them from a side road off the main highway. That must be how Bert and Jack found them.”
“How do we get across the river?” worried Trixie.
“There’s an old suspension bridge not too far from here,” said Pat. “After we get across, we’ll have to ski along the edge of the canyon for a while, because it banks almost into the cliff. Then we’ll have to climb up the rock face of the cliff to get to the caves. It really isn’t very steep, but with the new snow it may be slippery. This is not going to be an easy rescue,” he sighed.
Trixie was silent. She just hoped that someone would be there to be rescued.
Pat led them to the suspension bridge, which looked like a ribbon of snow dangling in the air, with a rope railing on either side. Slowly, in single file, the group set out to cross the dangerously swaying bridge. Trixie hung her ski poles around her wrists and held on to the rope railings tightly, making sure she never let go with both hands at the same time.
The pathway along the canyon’s rim was even scarier. On one side was a wall of rock, on the other a twenty-foot drop onto frozen ice. Finally the path began to widen, and Pat called out, “Look ahead.” In the beam of his helmet light were two caves.
After dropping the litter and taking off their skis, they all cautiously made their way up the rocky cliff to the first cave. Nothing but cold, damp darkness was there to greet them.
“She’d better be in the other cave,” said Eric grimly. “Don’t even think that she might not be,” said Pat. “l have a feeling that Trixie’s never wrong.”
Trixie gulped. She knew she was wrong lots of times. She had been wrong about Eric and about Pat himself. Maybe she shouldn’t have sounded so confident when she said she knew where Ellen was.
Eric hurried to lead the way to the second cave. As he entered it, he yelled, “Mother!”
A muffled scream answered him.
By the time Trixie reached the happy twosome, Ellen Johnson was sitting up against the side of the cave, and Eric had removed her gag and was working at the ropes around her wrists and ankles. By the light of the lantern helmets, Trixie saw a couple of paperback novels and the charred remains of a fire. It did not look like a nice place to spend two weeks.
“How—how is Dad?” Ellen managed to ask. “He didn’t make the money for those crooks, did he?”
“He’s okay,” Eric said soothingly. “He made the money, but the crooks have been caught.”
“I’m so glad,” sighed Ellen.
The others gathered around Eric and Ellen, saying nothing, but grinning widely. Finally Pat said, “Honestly, Eric, the least you could do is introduce your mother.”
“Just a minute,” Eric mumbled, still working on the ropes around Ellen’s wrists.
“They’re very expertly tied,” said Ellen. “I tried constantly, but I wasn’t able to loosen these ropes.”
“Your kidnappers were merchant marines,” Trixie explained. “Sailors are very good at tying knots.” Then she was silent. Maybe no one cared about Bert and Jack, now that Ellen was safe.
“How are you? Did they hurt you?” Eric demanded. “I think I’m basically okay,” Ellen replied. “I’m just so glad to see you. I heard voices coming up the cliff, but I thought it was the kidnappers. I wasn’t about to get excited for them.”
Eventually Eric untangled the ropes and made the introductions. Ellen smiled at each of them. It was obvious that Eric had inherited his perfect white teeth and easy manner from her.
“I can’t thank you enough,” she said. When she tried to stand up, her wobbly legs wouldn’t hold her, and she collapsed into Eric’s arms. “All I need is a little practice,” she said weakly. “It’s been a while.”
“Oh!” Honey cried. “I was so happy to see you I’m forgetting myself. Katie sent some sandwiches and hot soup for you.”
“How thoughtful of her, whoever she is,” said Ellen. “One of the kidnappers—the short one, I believe— brought me sandwiches and fruit every day. But he didn’t come today, and I’d give anything for something warm to drink. The one bright spot in this whole thing is discovering that so many people I don’t even know care about me.”
After Ellen had taken some nourishment, Eric and Brian supported her back down the cliff to where Pat was arranging blankets in the litter. They helped her into it and secured the blankets around her. Then the whole group carefully made their way back down the narrow path and to the lodge.
Ellen protested vigorously against going to the hospital. The kidnappers had been taken into custody by the police, and she wanted to spend some time resting with Carl and Eric and her new friends. Mart and Jim built a toasty fire in the fireplace, while Carl and Eric helped Ellen onto the couch and the doctor began his check. Katie hurried to the lodge kitchen to bring back enough food for everyone, and Miss Trask made tea in the suite’s kitchen. Pat and Brian went to check on the party and tell Linda and Wanda to join the crowd in the Bob-Whites’ suite. Di and Honey ran to get pillows and blankets for Ellen, and Trixie just sat on the couch, so happy she couldn’t think of anything to do or say.
After everyone was settled around the fireplace, Trixie and the others told the whole story from the beginning.
“I just can’t believe how you figured this whole thing out, Trixie,” Pat said when she was through. “Did you always know it was Bert and Jack, or did you ever think it might be someone else?”
Trixie turned beet red. “Well, there were a couple of other suspects at one time, but that doesn’t matter now.”
“Why, Pat!” cried Katie. “I think by the way Trixie’s blushing that we must have been her other suspects. Is that true, Trixie?”
“We did jump to a few wrong conclusions,” Trixie admitted in a sheepish voice.
Mart nodded energetically.
“What could have possibly made you think it was us?” asked Pat.
“Well, you talked about how you were being forced to leave the lodge,” Trixie said hesitantly. “And you said you wished you had enough money to buy a place in the country. You had opportunity to do all the strange things that the ghost was supposed to have done. And you were there the night that Eric passed the phony money at the restaurant.”
“Heavens, it does sound as if we are guilty!” exclaimed Katie.
“Didn’t you know what I was talking about when I said that we had to leave the lodge?” asked Pat.
The Bob-Whites shook their heads.
“I never would have mentioned it if I’d known that,” said Pat apologetically. “My contract as caretaker for the lodge is with the corporation that owns it now,” he explained. “That contract terminates as soon as someone else buys the lodge, putting me out of work and out of a home.”
“I’m sure that Daddy will want to keep you on,” Honey insisted.
“No, one of the consultants for your father has already told me that professional lodge directors will be brought in to run the lodge. Your father’s plans really put me in a bind. As much as I’d love to keep this job, I still want to see Mead’s Mountain turned into a natural recreation area.”
Trixie jumped up. “Jeepers! You and Katie are what make this lodge so special. I
t’s not like going to a big professionally run ski resort. It’s like—like visiting someone else’s home for a few days!”
“You’ve got to stay,” Di wailed. “You and Katie are number one on my like list.”
The other Bob-Whites all agreed enthusiastically that the O’Briens’ creation of a homey atmosphere was a tremendous part of the lodge’s appeal.
Miss Trask spoke up. “Don’t forget that Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Kimball are going to take your report into careful consideration, although heaven knows what they’re going to make of all your adventures here! Perhaps you could recommend that Pat and Katie be made the lodge directors, with some assistants to help them.”
“Fantastic idea!” whooped Trixie. “This lodge is going to need lots of people. Maybe even some architectural help,” she added, throwing a sly glance at Eric.
“And people like Linda and Wanda,” Honey put in. “Why, the lodge would be a perfect place to sell Jenny’s puzzles!”
By this time, everyone in the room was beaming at the Bob-Whites, and Pat was leaping up to hug Katie.
“You’re going to recommend that Mr. Wheeler buy the lodge and keep us on as managers?” asked Pat incredulously.
“This is too good to be true!” Katie exclaimed.
“What a week this has been,” said Mart lightly. “Ghosts, Trixie Belden, counterfeiting, Trixie Belden, kidnapping, Trixie Belden....”
“Don’t forget the avalanche, ‘twin,’ ” teased Trixie, giving him a poke.
“Trixie Belden and the Bob-Whites have been solving everyone’s problems today,” Carl mused. “I’ve decided to make you a special, one-of-a-kind print of a Bob-White as my special thanks.”
The Bob-Whites all gasped with pleasure.
“Wow!” Di breathed. “Our very own Carl Stevenson print!”
“Gleeps, you’re terrific, sir!” cheered Trixie. “We’ll give it a place of honor in our clubhouse!”
Suddenly the door to the suite flew open, and Rosie burst into the room.
“Rosie,” Katie scolded. “We’ve taught you better manners than that. Now, go back outside and knock.”
“But, Mama, it’s almost midnight. Listen!”
Sure enough, the people in the lobby were counting down the seconds till midnight. “Five... four... three... two... one...”
In one voice, the Bob-Whites and their friends shouted, “Happy New Year!” and then they all were hugging each other. As Pat and Katie left to get champagne for everyone to toast in the new year, Trixie slipped into her bedroom and out onto the balcony.
Above the dark woods was the peak of Mead’s Mountain, gleaming in the moonlight. What a wonderful place to finish off a great year, she thought. I wonder what new places and mysteries this year will bring. If it’s anything like last year, what a very happy new year it will be, indeed!
Mr. Wheeler’s Plan • 1
Swirls in the Snow • 2
A Dubious Welcome • 3
Locked Doors, Missing Quarters ● 4
A Ski Lesson ● 5
A Cabin in the Woods • 6
Snowfield Danger ● 7
Clues and Conversations • 8
Mr. Moonshine ● 9
An Evening to Remember • 10
A Brush with Death ● 11
An Accident—and a Warning • 12
Some Answers ● 13
Evidence! • 14
In the Cabin ● 15
Suspects ● 16
A Meeting at Porcupine Pond • 17
Where is Ellen? ● 18
A Very Happy New Year • 19
Table of Contents
Mr. Wheeler’s Plan • 1
Swirls in the Snow • 2
A Dubious Welcome • 3
Locked Doors, Missing Quarters ● 4
A Ski Lesson ● 5
A Cabin in the Woods • 6
Snowfield Danger ● 7
Clues and Conversations • 8
Mr. Moonshine ● 9
An Evening to Remember • 10
A Brush with Death ● 11
An Accident—and a Warning • 12
Some Answers ● 13
Evidence! • 14
In the Cabin ● 15
Suspects ● 16
A Meeting at Porcupine Pond • 17
Where is Ellen? ● 18
A Very Happy New Year • 19
The Mystery at Mead's Mountain Page 15
