Chapter 3

Chapter 3 The kids stared at Wallis in silence. She winked at them. "Don't worry, that's just his way of saying hello. Shall we go down?" The kids glanced at each other, then followed Wallis down the wooden stairs. At the bottom they found a small, sandy beach. Dink and Josh set the basket in the shade of some boulders while Wallis and Ruth Rose spread the blanket. "Look! A cave!" Josh said, pointing at a tunnel at the bottom of the cliff. The sea snaked into the dark hole, making a narrow river. "How far does it go in?" Josh asked, peering into the black space. "I don't know," Wallis said. "Walker told me that it's full of bats."

They picnicked on chicken sandwiches, apples, chocolate chip cookies, and cold lemonade. Wallis pointed down the shoreline. "Walker's house is beyond those trees." "Where is he?" asked Dink. "Out on his boat," Wallis said, waving a cookie at the ocean. "His lobster pots are scattered over about a half mile of very deep water." "How does he find them?" Josh asked. Wallis wiped her fingers on a paper napkin. "Well, he has a good compass aboard Lady Luck

— that's his boat—and he knows the water." After their picnic, Wallis put everything back into the basket. "Ready for a walk?" They hiked along the rocky beach. Ruth Rose poked into tide pools and picked up shells. Josh hung his sneakers around his neck and waded along the shore. "Better watch out for lobsters," Dink teased. "They like smelly toes." Josh grinned and splashed Dink. Rounding a curve in the shoreline, Wallis pointed. "There's Walker's place." It was a gray cottage with a red roof, surrounded by dune grass and sand. Just then they heard a shout. Dink looked around and saw someone waving from the end of a dock. Wallis waved back. "Kids, come and meet our friend Ripley Pearce." They walked out on the dock toward a long green boat tied at the end. The boat's brass and wood trim gleamed in the sunlight. A man stood next to the boat, holding a dripping sponge. He had dark slicked-back hair and blue eyes.

"Hi, Rip," Wallis said. "Meet Dink Duncan, Josh Pinto, and Ruth Rose Hathaway." The man smiled and stuck out a hand. He had dazzling white teeth and a deep tan. "You're fans of this lady's books, right?" "I've got all of them!" Dink announced. "I met these three in Connecticut," Wallis explained. "They're spending a week up at the castle. Why don't you come for supper with us tonight?" "I like your boat," Ruth Rose said. "It's so shiny and clean!" Rip flashed her a grin. "Thank you very much, little lady. I'll see you tonight at dinner." Then he looked at Josh. "Want to untie me?" he asked, pointing to a rope tied to the end of the dock. Josh untied the rope and handed it to Rip. "Nice meeting you kids," he said, stepping aboard his boat. He started the engine, and the boat pulled smoothly away from the dock. Dink watched the boat cut through the water. "Maybe I won't be a writer when I grow up. Maybe I'll get a lobster boat."

Wallis grinned at Dink. "Better stick to writing, Dink. Lobsters are getting scarce in Maine." "I can't wait to go out on Walker's boat," Ruth Rose said. "My brother's boat is nothing like Rip's," Wallis said. She shook her head. "I don't know how Rip keeps his so clean. Walker's boat looks and smells like a lobster boat." They walked back toward their picnic spot. Josh kicked water on Ruth Rose, and she chased him down the beach, yelling all the way. Dink walked quietly along with Wallis. Overhead, a sea gull cried out. Dink looked up at Wallis. "Do you really think that scream we heard was the ghost of Emory Scott?" Wallis laughed. "All I know is I've been hearing those screams since I moved in. The first time, I searched the castle. But I never found a thing." Dink shivered. "Do you hear the noises a lot?" he asked. Wallis shrugged. "Sometimes weeks go by and there's not a peep. Then I'll hear them for a few days in a row."

Wallis smiled down at Dink. "To tell you the truth, Dink, this is one mystery that's got me stumped. If those screams aren't the ghost of Emory Scott, I don't know what they are!"