Mystery Map Read Online Free PDF

active. Every time he put his head down to sniff something, another scent capturedhis attention. He ended up mostly running around in circles.

    Finally Frank sighed. His great idea wasn’t turning out to be so great after all. “Maybe we can find a grown-up bloodhound somewhere,” he said. “Do you know of any, Biff?”
    Before Biff could answer, Chet let out a cry. He was poking around near the edges of the clearing.
    â€œWhat is it?” Phil asked him.

    Chet looked excited. “I just spotted some tracks over here,” he said. “They’re leading away in the direction the trail was going. Do you think whoever made the map might’ve left them?”
    The others raced over. Sure enough, several human footprints led out to the far side of the clearing.
    â€œWhoa!” Joe said. “Good work, Chet.”
    Iola looked surprised. “I can’t believe your tracking stuff actually worked,” she told her brother.
    At that moment the puppy let out a loud, happy bark. He jumped ahead so fast that Biff lost hold of the leash.
    â€œHey, come back!” Biff cried, rushing after the puppy.
    But the puppy stopped just a few steps beyond the clearing. He wagged his tail and jumped up on someone standing in the woods. It was Adam Ackerman!

8
A New Lead
    What are you doing lurking out there?” Joe demanded, rushing over and grabbing the puppy’s leash.
    Adam sneered at him. “It’s a free country. I can stand wherever I want.”
    â€œWere you spying on us?” Frank asked.
    â€œSo what if I was?” Adam looked around as the others caught up. “It’s not like you were doing anything interesting.”
    Joe and Frank traded a worried look. How much had Adam heard?
    At least he won’t dare try to grab the map or anything like that,
Joe thought.
Adam might be a big bully, but he’s not stupid enough to face down six other kids at once.
    Still, Joe knew it wasn’t going to be easy to continue their search as long as Adam was hanging around. How were they going to get rid of him?
    â€œGo away,” Iola told Adam with a frown.
    Adam folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against a tree. “Who’s going to make me?” he taunted. “You and your loser brother?”
    â€œHey, watch it,” Biff said. He took a step forward. He was even bigger than Adam.
    That made Adam shut up. But it didn’t make him leave.

    Suddenly Joe had an idea. He leaned closer to Frank. “Just play along,” he whispered.
    Frank looked confused. But he nodded.
    Then Joe grabbed the puppy’s leash off the ground. “Whatever, Adam,” he said loudly. “Just don’t get in our way, okay? This dog is a trackingmachine, so it’s not like you have any chance of finding the treasure before us.”
    â€œTreasure?” Adam stood up straight. “So that’s what you nerds have been doing out here?”
    â€œIt’s ours, okay?” Joe exclaimed. “So don’t even bother to follow us because you’re not getting any of it!”
    With that, he turned and raced off into the woods. He was careful to go in the opposite direction of the real trail. The puppy ran along with him, letting out an excited bark.
    â€œThat’s right, boy!” Joe yelled. “Follow your nose to the treasure!”
    Then he sneaked a peek over his shoulder. Biff had followed a few steps, looking confused. But Frank was whispering something in his ear.
    Adam was the only one running after Joe. “It’s a free country!” he shouted. “I can go anywhere I want, and you guys can’t stop me.”
    Joe didn’t answer. He just ran faster. “Find the treasure, boy!” he called out.
    After that he and the puppy led Adam on a twisting trail through the woods. Luckily, Adam didn’t seem to notice that the others weren’t following.
    Finally they reached a clearing behind a row of