and Pam who was ten Both were blond but the boy’s hair was crew cut and his sister’s was fluffy Behind them amid the suitcases and blankets sprawled red haired Ricky seven and next to him sat four-year-old Sue with her arm around Blackie The dog looked over Pam’s shoulder at the bird and gave a low woof The driver was Indy Roades a real Indian from New Mexico His sister Emmy an attractive young woman was seated beside him Indy had moved East some years before and now worked in the store owned by Mr Hollister in Shoreham Emmy had come to visit her brother and the two had agreed to take the youngsters on a trip to solve a mystery They had already done this and relaxed and happy were on their way back to Shoreham Now a new adventure had popped up in the form of a pink sea gull The bird lay contentedly in Pam’s lap and blinked its eyes now and then Emmy meanwhile studied the map in her lap and said There’s a big town about five miles up the road We can stop there and make an inquiry about the sea gull Okay Pam said as she stroked the bird’s head A stop light halted the vacationers as they entered the town and Indy asked a policeman standing nearby if there was anybody who knew about pink sea gulls You’re fooling the officer said with a smile as he glanced in at the five youngsters No we’re not Pam said Look here The policeman’s eyes widened Then he said The Audubon Society has a place on the other side
of town It’s right beside the highway You can’t miss it Maybe they can help you Thank you Indy said and drove on as the light turned green What’s an odd bon asked Sue You mean Audubon Society Pam told her It’s an organization of people who study and protect birds The Society is named for John James Audubon Pete added He was an early American naturalist who explored the wilderness to observe birds and made beautiful pictures of them I’ll bet he never saw a pink sea gull remarked Holly After riding through traffic for about fifteen minutes the travelers came to an arrow sign pointing into a driveway Off the highway stood a low red brick building Alongside it was a garage and behind it several wire pens This must be the place Pete said The car stopped in the drive and they all got out except Blackie Ricky held the door open for Emmy and Indy to enter and the children followed into an office Seated behind a desk was a young woman She glanced at Pam and the bird and said Oh so you found one Wait a minute please and I’ll call Mr Landon She picked up the telephone and several seconds later a tall man came through a door at the rear of the room He had a high forehead a boyish face and a rugged outdoors look Behind him was a
young man of eighteen with sandy hair and a big smile I’m Jim Landon the tall man said extending his hand to Indy This is Gary Dale he added indicating the boy After the visitors had introduced themselves Jim Landon took the sea gull from Pam and looked at it carefully Driven in by the storm I guess he said and exhausted that’s all With a smile he let Pam hold the bird again of the birds we colored on the coast disbelief But but it’s pink Pam said Oh sure Mr Landon said casually This is one You mean you paint sea gulls Pete asked in Yikes Tell us about it Ricky said I’ll be glad to Come in and sit down the man replied cordially He ushered them through the rear door into a large exhibit room Around the walls were cases filled with stuffed birds and on several open perches sat other birds looking very natural Sue wandered off to inspect them as the rest of the travelers listened intently to the birdman Mr Landon explained that several years before an airplane had crashed because sea gulls had been sucked into the jet engine As a result the Audubon Society was making a study of the habits of these birds We hire college students in the summer to trap and color them the man said Red green blue and yellow paint is used but the red fades to pink because of the bright sun and the salt water The dye is harmless of course
of course Gary Dale spoke up enthusiastically I’m one of those who catch and color the birds He explained that he was on his way to an island called Wicket-ee nock I’m going to meet a boy and girl there who are the rest of my gull-painting team he explained We live in tents But how do you catch sea gulls asked Pete We use net traps and fish lines without hooks Yikes I’d like to catch some Ricky said And paint them too Holly added brightly Can we go with you Gary A serious look came over the young man’s face and he shook his head I don’t think that would be wise he said Why not blurted Ricky The Audubon men exchanged looks There’s no harm in telling I guess said Gary There’s a mystery on the island had been scared off by a ghost horse Mystery Pete exclaimed What is it Gary replied that the last sea-gull-coloring team A ghost horse Pam said You mean it Gary nodded They say it’s a frightening thing a small white animal I’ve never seen it myself Maybe we could solve the mystery for you said Holly Mr Landon smiled Are you detectives he asked expecting the answer to be No The Hollisters nodded Yes and Indy quickly told about the most recent case they had solved
