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
But it’s time we were getting home Emmy put in I’m afraid we couldn’t stay on the island more than a day That’s not long enough to solve a mystery she added with a smile even for my favorite detectives But we might find a clue for Gary Pam said Please let us try We certainly could use some help on the mystery said Mr Landon and Gary agreed The Hollisters turned pleading eyes on Indy All right he said but just for one night and one day Holly gave Indy a bear hug and the other children chorused excited thank-yous It’s not far from here Gary told them We can make Cliffport by sundown That’s where we get the ferry to the island While the other children chattered happily about the trip Sue wandered off to the far side of the room There she went up to a low perch on which sat a small owl Curious she moved closer almost touching it Then she put out a chubby finger and poked at the bird The owl toppled but only for a second As Sue cried out it spread its wings and flew around the room Oh It’s not stuffed the little girl exclaimed as the bird came to rest on her left shoulder The other Hollisters were startled but not Mr Landon or Gary That’s a tame screech owl the birdman said We call her Fluffy As he set the bird back on the perch he explained that he had found it injured on Wicket-ee-nock Island I think she fell out of the
