The Berenstain Bears in Maniac Mansion Read Online Free PDF Page B

have some windows near the ceiling, she figured, or it would be pitch-black down there, too.
    Should she go down? Her heart thumped against her ribs. She could almost hear ghosts creeping up those stairs . . .
    Somehow Sister made her mind go blank. Slowly she stepped down the stairs. They went round and round in a spiral. Sister could barely breathe as she went. But at least there was enough light to see by.
    At last she reached the bottom of the stairs. A long, dark tunnel stretched off before her. She walked down it, running her hand along the cool wall. Her heart fluttered as a mouse scurried past.

    Finally, Sister came to a spot where the tunnel made a sharp turn to the left. What was that sound around the corner? More mice? Or was it . . . ghosts?
    Sister raised her riding crop just as three spooky figures jumped out from around the corner and began hitting her over the head. She screamed and struck back wildly. She had been right! The place was haunted! The ghosts screamed, too, as they swung at her with riding crops . . .
    â€œStop!” yelled Brother. “It’s just Sister!”
    The four cubs lowered their weapons and stood panting.
    â€œWhew!” said Brother. “We thought you were a burglar, Sis.”
    â€œI thought you were burglars!” said Sister. She was too embarrassed to say what she had really thought.

Chapter 17
To the Rescue
    â€œThere’s light coming from that direction,” said Fred. He was pointing back down the tunnel. “Let’s go check it out.”
    This time the cubs held hands to keep together. They made their way down the dimly lit tunnel as quickly as they could. The light at the end of the tunnel seemed to be coming from above. It fell on a clutter of large, dark objects.
    â€œFurniture!” cried Brother.
    â€œAuntie’s stolen antiques!” said Bonnie. “The burglars must have stored them here.”
    Fred pointed to a wooden ladder that led up to a square of light near the ceiling. “The light’s coming from that open cellar door,” he said. “They must have got out that way.”
    Just then a thumping sound came from somewhere nearby.
    â€œOr in ,” whispered Sister.
    Another thump. And another.
    Brother put a finger to his lips and pointed to a door just down the tunnel. With their crops raised, the cubs tiptoed toward it. Their hearts pounded.
    Sister’s knees shook so much, she could hardly walk. She kept telling herself that she didn’t believe in ghosts. But deep down, she was still terrified that the burglars would turn out to be the ghosts of Bad Bart and his band of thieves.
    As the cubs neared the door, they heard a new sound.
    â€œShhh!” said Brother.
    â€œVoices,” whispered Fred.
    â€œVoices moaning and groaning, ” whispered Bonnie.
    â€œThat’s it,” said Sister. “I’m outta here!”
    Sister turned to run, but Brother grabbed her by the arm. “You know I don’t believe in ghosts, Sis,” he said. “But the ghosts I don’t believe in don’t moan and groan like that.”
    â€œThey d-d-don’t?” said Sister.
    â€œNo,” said Brother. “Real live bears who are bound and gagged moan and groan like that! Let’s go!”
    Sure enough, inside the old storage room were three bears all tied up. Pieces of cloth were fastened tightly around their mouths. The bears were Lady Grizzly, Squire Grizzly, and Papa Bear.
    The cubs untied them by the light from a little square window near the ceiling.
    â€œGreeves!” bellowed Squire Grizzly the moment the gag was out of his mouth. “He and his phony exterminators! They tied us up!”
    â€œSee?” said Bonnie. “I told you the butler did it.”
    â€œThat traitor!” growled the squire. “When I get my hands on him—”

    A loud thump interrupted the squire. “What was that?” he said.
    â€œIt’s