Monday, December 24, 2012

If you have arrived in the middle of the adventure, you may start at the beginning by going HERE!


Erik chooses to search for a ford:



Erik wanted no part of that bridge.  He would not risk his pony’s life.  He turned to the left and rode downstream.



Although it was winter, the river wasn’t frozen solid, so they couldn’t cross that way. There were chunks of ice here and there, bobbing up and down in the river current like miniature icebergs. There was mud, too. Squelch, squolch, splorch went Benton’s hooves as he plodded through the muck on the riverbank.



Benton nudged Erik with his nose. He was trying to say, “Let’s go back to the bridge, this muck is not fun anymore,” but unfortunately, Erik didn’t understand Equine. 



“Hey!” Erik exclaimed, as his feet skidded in the mud. “What are you trying to...” He looked across the river. The water wasn’t so deep just where Benton had stopped. And someone was crossing the river ahead of them. Benton had found the ford! “You are one smart pony, Benton!”



Benton nodded his head and snorted. He knew he was a smart pony, even if Erik had misunderstood what he was saying. They started across the river, Benton placing his feet very carefully. This was not easy. Ponies really shouldn’t have to do this sort of thing... but with a prrrrrrr of his lips and a shake of his head, he reminded himself that it was in a good cause, helping his boy.



Just then, the wagon ahead of them lurched. The driver scrambled out and splodged through the muck on the other bank of the river, grabbed his donkey’s harness and tugged. Splooosh! He landed on his backside, while the donkey and cart just stood there.



“Oh no, Benton!” Erik exclaimed. “That cart is stuck! We have to help them!”



Benton knew it was no use arguing that they might get stuck, too, and besides, there was that problem of Erik -- bright boy though he was -- not understanding Equine. He plodged forward, his hooves getting heavier with mud at every step.



Once on the riverbank, Erik noticed all the tin cups and plates and other things hanging from hooks on the sides of the stuck wagon. The tinker! He went everywhere and knew everything! Maybe, just maybe...



Erik hitched Benton next to the tinker’s donkey, grabbed Benton’s harness to urge him forward and started tugging. Splodge, grunt, squoosh, oof, SWOOOOOOOSH! As the cart finally came loose from the mud, bits of water and muck flew everywhere. Erik and the tinker were covered in the stuff!



Spitting bits of mud out of his mouth, the tinker said, “Thank you, young fellow-mi-lad! I am forever in your debt! I will repay you if it takes every tin cup I own. Simply speak what you wish.”



Erik wiped his muddy face with an equally muddy sleeve. “All I wish is to find my birthday present. It was stolen from the box before I could even find out what it was! Someone said something about a rider on a black horse. I’ve been following clues all over the castle and now the forest.”



The tinker grinned from ear to ear. There was mud on his teeth, so it wasn’t really a pretty sight. “I believe I can help you! I saw that very rider just before I started across the river. It was a young girl with fair curly hair streaming in ringlets down her back. She was riding low on her horse, clutching something long and shining in her hand. She disappeared into the forest.”



Erik paced around rapidly, kicking up more and more mud. “Lady Josie! The young princess’s lady-in-waiting. Well, girl-in-waiting. But what would she be doing in the forest -- she belongs in the castle. And with something long and shining? Maybe that’s my present! Maybe SHE stole it! But why?” He stopped and stared at the tinker. “I must find her! Which way did she go?”



“She went thataway,” the tinker said, in the first recorded usage of that phrase in history. He pointed south. 



Erik slithered onto Benton’s back (he had to try three times, because the mud made him slide off the other side) and they headed off.



It quickly grew very dark and spooky as he rode into the forest. Benton was all for getting out of there, but he didn’t seem to have much say in the matter. Ahead of them loomed a huge, twisted tree. Benton neighed in alarm, and Erik reined him in.



There was a sign nailed haphazardly to the tree. It pointed right to “Soggybottom Swamp” and left to “Mystery Mountain”. 



“We have another choice to make, Benton,” Erik said.



Choose the Swamp and go HERE.


Choose the Mountain and go HERE.

17 comments:

  1. I've always wondered where "thataway" came from! ;) Thank you Ms. Campbell for helping with the adventure! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy birthday Erik! I hope your adventure is lots of fun! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting, Robyn! Happy Birthday, Erik! And a Merry Christmas to all.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love all the mud! This adventure has been so much fun! Happy Holidays Robyn!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for reading Janet! Merry Christmas! Yeah, yeah!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Merry Christmas Julie! Oh Susanna is oh wunnerful today and every day!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I couldn't help it. I had to take a peek at both, although my first pick was mountain.

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awesome adventures!

    Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year, Robyn!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy birthday Erik and happy new year!!
    Xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh these things are so fun. I love your bit: Squelch, squolch, splorch went Benton’s hooves as he plodded through the muck on the riverbank. I can tell you're a picture book writer! All so pleasing sounding.

    Happy birthday, Erik.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy birthday Erik and Happy New Year Robyn.
    Sorry I've been a stranger recently.

    ReplyDelete
  12. [url=http://www.23planet.com]Online casinos[/url], also known as accepted casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of memorable ("chunk and mortar") casinos. Online casinos authorization gamblers to display and wager on casino games persistence the Internet.
    Online casinos normally invite odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos contend higher payback percentages with a censure toss up implement games, and some spread payout stake audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an politely programmed indefinitely epitomize up generator, episode games like blackjack clothed an established borderline edge. The payout participation after these games are established at closest the rules of the game.
    Multifarious online casinos sublease or be established their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Global Dexterity Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The US is no different. [url=http://www.ukdresshop.co.uk]Formal Dresses uk[/url]
    [url=http://www.expeditionparkaca.com]canada goose vest[/url] Rather, he waits for the proper, dramatic lull both for his own concentration and the inevitable expectant murmur that will add to his adrenaline flow.
    Her fashions mirror the lifestyle of the Fifties: she had outfits for parties, the beach and tennis as well as cotton dresses, pajamas and poplin suits. [url=http://www.londongenuinepandora.com]thomas sabo bracelet[/url] By no means inquire about female relatives and do not uphold direct eye contact when speaking.. Rather than that it can prove extremity valuable to have interaction within your social network. Red Grange, a famous player, popularized the raccoon coats.
    Take into account striving super-wide waistbands, big bows, and equipped outfit variations with rear dresses to generate your wedding outfit exclusive. [url=http://www.femmescanadagoose.com]canada goose femme[/url] These are the design creators, developers, textile professionals, display room salespeople as well as product business managers.
    It is both a source and means of social attributions and associations to various social groupings. Remember the importance of carrying yourself with the most amount of class but the least amount of items in your pockets, by investing in one of the aforementioned carryall options. It is a great read. [url=http://www.promkleidde.com/]Chiffon Prom Kleid[/url]

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just adored these books when I was a kid - what a great blog idea!

    ReplyDelete
  15. pyzve [url=http://beatbydreonlinesales.co.uk]beats by dre[/url] clilj http://beatbydreonlinesales.co.uk ubzzf [url=http://beatsbydrebestsales.co.uk]beats by dre[/url] hcmgq http://beatsbydrebestsales.co.uk lfelh [url=http://beatsbydrecheapsales.co.uk]beats by dre[/url] knvlz http://beatsbydrecheapsales.co.uk jvfeb [url=http://drebeatsheadphonesforsale.com]cheap beats by dre[/url] dhibf http://drebeatsheadphonesforsale.com fyumq [url=http://cheapbeatsbydreoutletforsales.com]cheap beats by dre[/url] ssozl http://cheapbeatsbydreoutletforsales.com lcqeq [url=http://monsterbeatsdreheadphoneoutlet.com]beats outlet[/url] frigs http://monsterbeatsdreheadphoneoutlet.com wddt

    ReplyDelete
  16. wpkov [url=http://beatbydreonlinesales.co.uk]beats by dre[/url] mhtdx http://beatbydreonlinesales.co.uk alxwj [url=http://beatsbydrebestsales.co.uk]beats by dre[/url] liwdd http://beatsbydrebestsales.co.uk rrhti [url=http://beatsbydrecheapsales.co.uk]cheap beats by dre[/url] axptu http://beatsbydrecheapsales.co.uk bupkj [url=http://drebeatsheadphonesforsale.com]beats by dre[/url] coebl http://drebeatsheadphonesforsale.com vvkig [url=http://cheapbeatsbydreoutletforsales.com]beats by dre[/url] oybks http://cheapbeatsbydreoutletforsales.com ixoaq [url=http://monsterbeatsdreheadphoneoutlet.com]beats by dre[/url] xkogl http://monsterbeatsdreheadphoneoutlet.com lrmq

    ReplyDelete
  17. oaqwo [url=http://beatbydreonlinesales.co.uk]dr dre beats[/url] loqld http://beatbydreonlinesales.co.uk soavw [url=http://beatsbydrebestsales.co.uk]dr dre beats[/url] mjrny http://beatsbydrebestsales.co.uk mgbtz [url=http://beatsbydrecheapsales.co.uk]beats by dre[/url] uwdio http://beatsbydrecheapsales.co.uk drcxn [url=http://drebeatsheadphonesforsale.com]cheap beats by dre[/url] iwtgd http://drebeatsheadphonesforsale.com kofpe [url=http://cheapbeatsbydreoutletforsales.com]beats by dre[/url] yphzk http://cheapbeatsbydreoutletforsales.com bligs [url=http://monsterbeatsdreheadphoneoutlet.com]beats by dre[/url] bamlz http://monsterbeatsdreheadphoneoutlet.com vdep

    ReplyDelete

Leave me a note! :)