5 RISE AND WHINE

CHAPTER 5 RISE AND WHINE BLAARP-BLARBLE-BLAAARP! Alexander woke to a buzzy, honking sound coming from outside. "What is that?" he asked. "A bird, maybe?" said Leo. Rip yawned. "Or a barfing buffalo." Or a super-loud monster! thought Alexander. He threw on some clothes. Then he peeked in the notebook while Rip and Leo were getting dressed.

BLUE-THORNED HONKFLOWER Beautiful plant, ugly sound HABITAT Hiking trails.

DOODLE-DEE-DEE! Honkflowers love clarinet music. DIET The tears of people who can't stand its terrible noise. BEHAVIOR This plant blows a foghorn sound when anything touches it. WARNING! Watch your step. Avoid touching the ground when hiking.

"Let's go see what's making that noise," said Alexander, snapping the notebook shut. The boys stepped out into the hot morning air. Nikki, Anna, and Dottie stood outside the girls' cabin, covering their ears. BLAARP-BLARBLE-BLAAAR! Ranger Harry marched along, blowing hard into a bugle. His cheeks were almost as red as his beard. "Rise and shine, critters," he said. "It's chow time." The ranger led the campers to a picnic table.

"For breakfast," he said, "we're having piping- hot salt mush. And to wash it down, a steamy mug of onion cider." Alexander sniffed a spoonful of salt mush. Rip pushed his bowl aside. "Yo! Papa Bear!" he said. "This porridge is way too hot for this weather!" Ranger Harry's eyes narrowed. "Camp Rule #81: Always eat a hot breakfast." Rip sighed. Alexander turned to Nikki. Her face was hidden by the brim of her floppy hat. "So," he said, "how was your first night in the girls' cabin?"

Nikki looked up. Her eyes were half-closed. "Lousy," she said. "I didn't get much sleep. I kept hearing this weird sound— "A clinking noise?" said Alexander. "Yes!" said Nikki. "Like someone ringing a glass bell." "Maybe it was a bunny!" said Dottie. "Bunnies can't ring bells," said Anna. DINK! DINK! Ranger Harry tapped his spoon against his canteen. "Listen up, muskrats. Each of you will learn one survival skill this week." He put a clipboard on the table.