The Mysterious Howling Read Online Free PDF Page A

voluminous bosom.
    â€œHello?” Penelope said, in a soft, soothing tone. “Oh, you unfortunate creatures, are you all right?”
    Slowly, noiselessly, something moved inside the barn. Three sets of eyes glinted from the dark corners of the rearmost stalls, where the sun did not reach.
    â€œCome here.” Penelope wished she had thought to bring some scraps of meat with her to lure the poor frightened things. “Come out where I can see you.”
    The creatures obeyed.
    They were not dogs, or ponies, or any other kind of four-legged animal. They were three children, and they stared at Penelope with the shining, watchful eyes of wild things.

    They were three children, and they stared at Penelope with the shining, watchful eyes of wild things .
    All three were wrapped in coarse saddle blankets but wore no other clothing, not even shoes. Their hair was long and tangled and of the same distinctiveauburn color, which marked them unmistakably as siblings.
    They were a boy, whom Penelope guessed to be in the vicinity of ten; another boy, of a size and age approximately three years younger than the first; and a little girl, no more than four or five.
    â€œWell, hello,” Penelope said again, even more gently, to hide her astonishment.
    One of the children (it was impossible to tell which one) let out a low growl. Mrs. Clarke gasped, but Penelope paid her no mind.
    â€œIt is a pleasure to meet you,” she said to the children, with all the professionalism she could muster. “I am Miss Lumley, your new governess.”
    The girl displayed her teeth. The younger boy licked his lips in a most animal-like fashion, while the elder boy merely stared at Penelope. Penelope, who had spent many a useful hour assisting Dr. Westminster at Swanburne, was not in the least bit alarmed. She stiffened her spine and stared back.
    He narrowed his eyes.
    Penelope narrowed hers as well. Very carefully, so as not to frighten anyone, she made a quiet rumble in the back of her throat that was half purr, half growl.
    After a moment, the boy smiled and flopped downon the hay, rolling over on his back and waving his limbs in the air. The other two watched him carefully; as soon as he was on the ground, they relaxed their tense postures and joined him. Soon the hay was flying everywhere as the children yapped and tumbled over one another quite playfully, until all three lay at Penelope’s feet.
    Penelope allowed herself a small sigh of relief. “Well, I am glad that’s all settled. Now, can you say ‘hello’?” She repeated it slowly. “Hello, hello, hello.”
    â€œ Hallooooo, ” the eldest boy replied, in a soft, lilting howl.
    â€œ Ahwooooo? ” the middle boy added, with a questioning tone.
    â€œ Woof, ” barked the girl, rolling happily on her back. Then she grinned. “ Woof, woof! ”
    I T WAS ALTOGETHER IMPOSSIBLE to believe, and yet, standing there in the big wooden barn, with the sunbeams coming in slantwise through the cracks in the shutters to illuminate these three alarmingly unkempt children, Penelope realized there was something strangely familiar about the discovery she had just made. It was poor Silky she was thinking of: His chestnut coat dulled with lack of care, burrs stuck in hisforelock, he was distrustful of humans, and prone to bite, at least at first. . . .
    â€œBut Silky’s behavior was not his fault, for he had known no kindness or tender care in his life. Alas, his new owners, the Krupps, were so cross at having been tricked into buying such a difficult pony for their darling Drusilla that they could not find one grain of sympathy in their hearts for the untrained, unfriendly beast .
    â€œPoor Silky! Soon he would have even more reason to be mistrustful, for in their frustration the Krupps arranged to sell him to Mr. Alpo, the dreaded horse retirer. Mr. Alpo was a shady character who bought unwanted ponies like Silky and promised to