The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes Read Online Free PDF Page A

practice she was able, by following the instruction book, to add the grace notes to the first phrase.
    “Why, it really sounds like something!” said Bess. “I never thought you’d do it!”
    Nancy was quite pleased herself. “I’ll try it again later.” She grinned.
    Just before the girls said good-by to Aunt Eloise, Nancy picked up the chanter and played the first phrase of Scots, Wha Hae several times.
    Her aunt laughed. “It’s a nice way to spend time,” she said. “Perhaps while you’re in Scotland you can learn more tunes.”
    “I doubt it,” said George. “If Nancy’s to find her missing heirloom and the men who are stealing sheep, she’ll be kept much too busy!”
    “I wish you every success,” said Aunt Eloise. “But again, girls, please be careful.”
    Nancy and her friends hurried back to International Airport. Mr. Drew was waiting and they immediately boarded the plane. It was a luxuriously furnished one, with comfortable seats. Dinner was served, and shortly afterward the girls settled back to go to sleep. Their arrival in Scotland was scheduled for six A.M. by Greenwich time equivalent to one A.M. in the eastern part of the United States.
    As passengers awakened, George found it very difficult to arouse Bess. She was completely confused as to where she was, and insisted that it was not yet time to get up.
    Finally, however, when she saw rolls and hot drinks being served, Bess became her cheerful self. Often teased about her weight, she frequently declared, “I’m going to begin dieting—tomorrow.”
    The girls were just starting breakfast when suddenly the plane began to toss violently. The girls felt a chill of fear. Had something gone wrong with the jetliner?

CHAPTER V
    An Angry Guest
     
     
     
    THE plane continued its tossing. Bess, speechless with fear, closed her eyes, while Nancy and George gripped their chair arms.
    As cups and dishes flew in every direction, their contents spattered passengers and seats. Then the jetliner suddenly leveled off.
    The captain explained apologetically, “Our automatic pilot is malfunctioning. We will continue our journey on manual control.”
    The girls heaved sighs of relief. There were no more scares and soon the plane was circling in for a landing at Prestwick International Airport.
    “We’re in Scotland!” George exulted. “Now our sleuthing begins!”
    Bess frowned. “Oh, George! Can’t we enjoy this lovely country without being reminded of villains?”
    The others laughed as they walked into the terminal to claim their bags and have their passports checked. When they left the building, Mr. Drew hailed a taxi. Its driver, a man of about forty, had black hair, high color, and a pleasant smile. He said his name was Donald Clark. Mr. Drew asked him to drive them to Glasgow, and climbed in front.
    The three girls, seated in the rear, were delighted with Donald’s broad accent and keen sense of humor. As he pointed out various sights, he would sometimes quote from Robert Burns’s poems.
    “Ye must get up to Bobby’s cottage,” he said. “And up there ye’ll be seein’ the Brig o’ Doon.”
    “Oh, that’s the famous bridge Tam o’ Shanter rode over, isn’t it?” Nancy asked.
    “That it be.” Donald chuckled. “A man can think of funny things when he lets his imagination get the better of him. Poor Tam—he near killed his naig makin’ him go sae fast to get awa’ frae the witch hangin’ on to his tail.”
    As the taxi reached the outskirts of Glasgow, Nancy and the cousins were intrigued by the numerous flocks of sea gulls. Donald told them that the birds followed the ocean-going ships to eat refuse thrown overboard. The girls were also interested in the rows of old stone houses with their many clay chimney pots. On one house they counted nine!
    When Nancy mentioned this to Donald, he told her that the houses had no central heating. Each room had its own fireplace.
    “And the apartment houses—you can look right through