April 01, 2009
In This Issue:
ARTICLE
NEWS
BOOK REVIEW
ADVENTURE STORY: THE CAVE DWELLERS
ADVENTURE STORY: THE GALLANT MYSTERY
ARTICLE
The Importance Of Reading
The importance of reading is usually accepted by those who can read. It is interesting to see that the second most visited page on our site [after the home page] is the "Why Is Reading Important?" page. Two of the three most popular key words used to find our site are: why is reading important and why reading is important. Many people may be questioning the importance of reading. Let's look briefly at the importance of reading in the four stages of life. The first stage is birth through grade one. Studies show that a child develops 80% of the attitudes, values, fears, and loyalties that he will carry through life during this time. It is a tremendously important time in a person's life. Also it is the time of the greatest learning curve. A child is learning primary relationships, eating, balance [walking], language, and a hundred other foundational things. There is no reason why, when a person's mind is so open to learning, that they should not be taught to read. Public, and many private schools, try to teach children to read by the end of grade 3. Most children between the ages of 4 and 7 can learn to read very well and so ideally they should enter school already reading. [Note: If the school is not prepared to handle children who can already read, then other problems may develop; however, I do not believe holding a child back and limiting their potential is the right answer.] The second stage is the mastery of academic subjects which is taught from grades two through grades 6. In the public, and many private schools, attention is switched from reading to other subjects at the end of grade 3. Any student who is struggling with reading at the point is a candidate for being left behind or put in a special education class when their only real problem is that they have not been taught to read [that's not their fault]. In any case, during this stage of learning students need to master reading, grammar, concrete math, and build on foundational knowledge. The third state is from grades seven through twelve. It is during this period that students are introduced to more abstract concepts in their studies. Again, if they have not mastered reading and the concrete math facts by this time they are likely to struggle in all subjects. The fourth stage is when they complete school. They can then apply all they have learned so far to further education or to life management skills. Lack of reading skills here can hinder employment, gaining new knowledge, relationships, and the pure pleasure of reading. Reading is important and no one is too old to learn. Even if you are in the fourth stage, you can learn to read. If you have children above four years of age teach them to read. Certainly, if your children are in school and struggling with reading, get them help. The ability to read is the foundation on which all other subjects are based. After grade 3 they will become more and more lost academically if they can't read.NEWS/LETTERS
This month we have begun teaching our reading course over the Internet. If you do not live in Prince George and are interested in the program, drop me an e-mail from the contact button on our site.Diane and Ruth have returned from their Mexico missions trip. Diane came back with a cold which moved down into her lungs, but she is recovering well. Her students began lessons again last week.
BOOK REVIEW
YOUTHThe Curious George books by Margret and H.A. Rey are great books to read with younger children. They are easy-to-read as they follow the adventures of a "good little monkey" who "was always curious." Naturally his curiosity gets him into endless trouble. If you and your children have yet to discover these delightful stories, now is the time. If you are a client in Prince George these books are in our library for you to borrow.
"I never look back at my childhood and wish I had watched more TV." Joel MinionADULT
Peter J Daniels is a man who went from being an illiterate brick layer to being a self-made billionaire. I personally heard him speak last year. His accomplishments have been fantastic. He has written several books of which How To Reach Your Life Goals is one. If all you are is a dreamer then this book is not for you; however, if you are serious about being a success in life then this practical book will help to put you on the right track. If you are a client in Prince George this book is in our library for you to borrow or you can pick up your own copy at the bookstore.
We trust we will see you here next month.
Yours in life building,
Glenn and Diane Davis
Learn To Read Prince George and the World
Held Fast For England
HELD FAST FOR ENGLANDBy G.A. Henty
Chapter 7
TROUBLES AHEAD
When Dr. Burke had left, Bob broke into an Indian war dance, expressive of the deepest satisfaction; and Captain O'Halloran burst into a shout of laughter at the contrast between the boy's vehement delight, and the dissatisfaction expressed in his wife's face.
"I am not at all pleased, Gerald, not at all; and I don't see that it is any laughing matter. I never heard a more ridiculous thing. Uncle entrusted Bob to our care, believing that we should do what was best for him; and here you go and engage the most feather-headed Irishman in the garrison--and that is saying a good deal, Gerald--to look after him." It was so seldom that Carrie took matters seriously that her husband ceased laughing, at once. "Well, Carrie, there is no occasion to put yourself out about it. The experiment can be tried for a fortnight; and if, at the end of that time, you are not satisfied, we will get someone else. But I am sure it will work well." "So am I, Carrie," Bob put in. "I believe Dr. Burke and I will get on splendidly. You see, I have been with two people, both of whom looked as grave as judges, and one of them as cross as a bear; and yet they were both first-rate fellows. It seems to me that Dr. Burke is just the other way. He turns everything into fun; but I expect he will be just as sharp, when he is at lessons, as anyone else. At any rate, you may be sure that I will do my best with him; so as not to get put under some stiff old fellow, instead of him." "Well, we shall see, Bob. I hope that it will turn out well, I am sure." "Of course it will turn out well, Carrie. Why, didn't your uncle at first think I was the most harum-scarum fellow he ever saw; and now he sees that I am a downright model husband, with only one fault, and that is that I let you have your own way, altogether." "It looks like it, on the present occasion, Gerald," his wife laughed. "I will give it, as you say, a fortnight's trial. I only hope that you have made a better choice for Bob's Spanish master." "I hope so, my dear--that is, if it is possible. The professor, as I call him, has been teaching his language to officers, here, for the last thirty years. He is a queer, wizened-up little old chap, and has got out of the way of bowing and scraping that the senors generally indulge in; but he seems a cheery little old soul, and he has got to understand English ways and, at any rate, there is no fear of his leading Bob into mischief. The Spaniards don't understand that; and if you were to ruffle his dignity, he would throw up teaching him at once; and I have not heard of another man on the Rock who would be likely to suit." On the following Monday, Bob began work with the professor; who called himself, on his card, Don Diaz Martos. He spoke English very fairly and, after the first half hour, Bob found that the lessons would be much more pleasant than he expected. The professor began by giving him a long sentence to learn by heart, thoroughly; and when Bob had done this, parsed each word with him, so that he perfectly understood its meaning. Then he made the lad say it after him a score of times, correcting his accent and inflection; and when he was satisfied with this, began to construct fresh sentences out of the original one, again making Bob repeat them, and form fresh ones himself. Thus, by the time the first lesson was finished the lad, to his surprise, found himself able, without difficulty, to frame sentences from the words he had learned. Then the professor wrote down thirty nouns and verbs in common use. "You will learn them this evening," he said, "and in the morning we shall be able to make up a number of sentences out of them and, by the end of a week, you will see we shall begin to talk to each other. After that, it will be easy. Thirty fresh words, every day, will be ample. In a month you will know seven or eight hundred; and seven or eight hundred are enough for a man to talk with, on common occasions." "He is first rate," Bob reported to his sister, as they sat down to dinner, at one o'clock. "You would hardly believe that I can say a dozen little sentences, already; and can understand him, when he says them. He says, in a week, we shall be able to get to talk together."I wonder they don't teach Latin like that. Why, I shall know in two or three months as much Spanish--and more, ever so much more--than I do Latin, after grinding away at it for the last seven or eight years." "Well, that is satisfactory. I only hope the other will turn out as well." As Mrs. O'Halloran sat that evening, with her work in her hand, on the terrace; with her husband, smoking a cigar, beside her. She paused, several times, as she heard a burst of laughter. "That doesn't sound like master and pupil," she said, sharply, after an unusually loud laugh from below. "More the pity, Carrie. Why on earth shouldn't a master be capable of a joke? Do you think one does not learn all the faster, when the lecture is pleasant? I know I would, myself. I never could see why a man should look as if he was going to an execution, when he wants to instill knowledge." "But it is not usual, Gerald," Carrie remonstrated, no other argument occurring to her. "But that doesn't prove that it's wrong. Why a boy should be driven worse than a donkey, and thrashed until his life is a burden to him, and he hates his lessons and hates his master, beats me entirely. Some day they will go more sensibly to work.
"You see, in the old times, Carrie, men used to beat their wives; and you don't think the women were any the better for it, do you?" "Of course they weren't," Carrie said, indignantly. "But it was usual, you know, Carrie, just as you say that it is usual for masters to beat boys--as if they would do nothing, without being thrashed. I can't see any difference between the two things." "I can see a great deal of difference, sir!" "Well, what is the difference, Carrie?" But Carrie disdained to give any answer. Still, as she sat sewing and thinking the matter over, she acknowledged to herself that she really could not see any good and efficient reason why boys should be beaten, any more than women. "But women don't do bad things, like boys," she said, breaking silence at last. "Don't they, Carrie? I am not so sure of that. I have heard of women who are always nagging their husbands, and giving them no peace of their lives. I have heard of women who think of nothing but dress, and who go about and leave their homes and children to shift for themselves. I have heard of women who spend all their time spreading scandal. I have heard of--" "There, that is enough," Carrie broke in hastily. "But you don't mean to say that they would be any the better for beating, Gerald?" "I don't know, Carrie; I should think perhaps they might be, sometimes. At any rate, I think that they deserve a beating quite as much as a boy does, for neglecting to learn a lesson or for playing some prank--which comes just as naturally, to him, as mischief does to a kitten. For anything really bad, I would beat a boy as long as I could stand over him. For lying, or thieving, or any mean, dirty trick I would have no mercy on him. But that is a very different thing to keeping the cane always going, at school, as they do now. "But here comes Bob. Well, Bob, is the doctor gone? Didn't you ask him to come up, and have a cigar?" "Yes; but he said he had got two or three cases at the hospital he must see, and would wait until this evening." "How have you got on, Bob?" "Splendidly. I wonder why they don't teach at school, like that." "It didn't sound much like teaching," Carrie said, severely. "I don't suppose it did, Carrie; but it was teaching, for all that. Why, I have learned as much, this evening, as I did in a dozen lessons, in school. He explains everything so that you seem to understand it, at once; and he puts things, sometimes, in such a droll way, and brings in such funny comparisons, that you can't help laughing. But you understand it, for all that, and are not likely to forget it.
"Don't you be afraid, Carrie. If Dr. Burke teaches me, for the two years that I am going to be here, I shall know more than I should have done if I had stopped at Tulloch's till I was an old man. I used to learn lessons, there, and get through them, somehow, but I don't think I ever understood why things were so; while Dr. Burke explains everything so that you seem to understand all about it, at once. And he is pretty sharp, too. He takes a tremendous lot of pains, himself; but I can see he will expect me to take a tremendous lot of pains, too." At the end of a fortnight, Carrie made no allusion to the subject of a change of masters. The laughing downstairs still scandalized her, a little; but she saw that Bob really enjoyed his lessons and, although she herself could not test what progress he was making, his assurances on that head satisfied her. The Brilliant had sailed on a cruise, the morning after Bob's arrival; but as soon as he heard that she had again dropped anchor in the bay, he took a boat and went out to her; and returned on shore with Jim Sankey, who had obtained leave for the afternoon. The two spent hours in rambling about the Rock, and talking of old times at Tulloch's. Both agreed that the most fortunate thing that ever happened had been the burglary at Admiral Langton's; which had been the means of Jim's getting into the navy, and Bob's coming out to Gibraltar, to his sister. Jim had lots to tell of his shipmates, and his life on board the Brilliant. He was disposed to pity Bob spending half his day at lessons; and was astonished to find that his friend really enjoyed it, and still more that he should already have begun to pick up a little Spanish. "You can't help it, with Don Diaz," Bob said. "He makes you go over a sentence, fifty times, until you say it in exactly the same voice he does--I mean the same accent. He says it slow, at first, so that I can understand him; and then faster and faster, till he speaks in his regular voice. Then I have to make up another sentence, in answer. It is good fun, I can tell you; and yet one feels that one is getting on very fast. I thought it would take years before I should be able to get on anyhow in Spanish; but he says if I keep on sticking to it, I shall be able to speak pretty nearly like a native, in six months' time. I quite astonish Manola--that is our servant--by firing off sentences in Spanish at her. My sister Carrie says she shall take to learning with the Don, too." "Have you had any fun since you landed, Bob?" "No; not regular fun, you know. It has been very jolly. I go down with Gerald--Carrie's husband, you know--to the barracks, and I know most of the officers of his regiment now, and I walk about a bit by myself; but I have not gone beyond the Rock, yet." "You must get a long day's leave, Bob; and we will go across the neutral ground, into Spain, together." "Gerald said that, as I was working so steadily, I might have a holiday, sometimes, if I did not ask for it too often. I have been three weeks at it, now. I am sure I can go for a day, when I like, so it will depend on you." "I sha'n't be able to come ashore for another four or five days, after having got away this afternoon. Let us see, this is Wednesday, I will try to get leave for Monday." "Have you heard, Jim, there is a talk about Spanish troops moving down here, and that they think Spain is going to join France and try to take this place?" "No, I haven't heard a word about it," Jim said, opening his eyes. "You don't really mean it?" "Yes, that is what the officers say. Of course, they don't know for certain; but there is no doubt the country people have got the idea into their heads, and the natives on the Rock certainly believe it." "Hooray! That would be fun," Jim said. "We have all been grumbling, on board the frigate, at being stuck down here without any chance of picking up prizes; or of falling in with a Frenchman, except we go on a cruise. Why, you have seen twice as much fun as we have, though you only came out in a trader. Except that we chased a craft that we took for a French privateer, we haven't seen an enemy since we came out from England; and we didn't see much of her, for she sailed right away from us. While you have had no end of fighting, and a very narrow escape of being taken to a French prison." "Too narrow to be pleasant, Jim. I don't think there would be much fun to be got out of a French prison." "I don't know, Bob. I suppose it would be dull, if you were alone; but if you and I were together, I feel sure we should have some fun, and should make our escape, somehow." "Well, we might try," Bob said, doubtfully. "But you see, not many fellows do make their escape; and as sailors are up to climbing ropes, and getting over walls, and all that sort of thing, I should think they would do it, if it could be managed anyhow." Upon the following day--when Bob was in the anteroom of the mess with Captain O'Halloran, looking at some papers that had been brought by a ship that had come in that morning--the colonel entered, accompanied by Captain Langton. The officers all stood up, and the colonel introduced them to Captain Langton--who was, he told them, going to dine at the mess that evening. After he had done this, Captain Langton's eye fell upon Bob; who smiled, and made a bow. "I ought to know you," the captain said. "I have certainly seen your face somewhere." "It was at Admiral Langton's, sir. My name is Bob Repton." "Of course it is," the officer said, shaking him cordially by the hand. "But what on earth are you doing here? I thought you had settled down somewhere in the city; with an uncle, wasn't it?" "Yes, sir; but I have come out here to learn Spanish." "Have you seen your friend Sankey?" "Yes, sir. I went on board the frigate to see him, yesterday afternoon; and he got leave to come ashore with me, for two or three hours." "He ought to have let me know that you were here," the captain said. "Who are you staying with, lad?" "With Captain O'Halloran, sir, my brother-in-law," Bob said, indicating Gerald, who had already been introduced to Captain Langton. "I daresay you are surprised at my knowing this young gentleman," he said, turning to Colonel Cochrane, "but he did my father, the admiral, a great service. He and three other lads, under his leadership, captured four of the most notorious burglars in London, when they were engaged in robbing my father's house. It was a most gallant affair, I can assure you; and the four burglars swung for it, a couple of months later. I have one of the lads as a midshipman, on board my ship; and I offered a berth to Repton but, very wisely, he decided to remain on shore, where his prospects were good." "Why, O'Halloran, you never told me anything about this," the colonel said. "No, sir. Bob asked me not to say anything about it. I think he is rather shy of having it talked about; and it is the only thing of which he is shy as far as I have discovered." "Well, we must hear the story," the colonel said. "I hope you will dine at mess, this evening, and bring him with you. He shall tell us the story over our wine. I am curious to know how four boys can have made such a capture." After mess that evening Bob told the story, as modestly as he could. "There, colonel," Captain Langton said, when he had finished. "You see that, if these stories I hear are true, and the Spaniards are going to make a dash for Gibraltar, you have got a valuable addition to your garrison." "Yes, indeed," the colonel laughed. "We will make a volunteer of him. He has had some little experience of standing fire, for O'Halloran told me that the brig he came out in had fought a sharp action with a privateer of superior force; and indeed, when she came in here, her sails were riddled with shot holes." "Better and better," Captain Langton laughed. "Well, Repton, remember whenever you are disposed for a cruise, I shall be glad to take you as passenger. Sankey will make you at home in the midshipmen's berth. If the Spaniards declare war with us, we shall have stirring times at sea, as well as on shore and, though you won't get any share in any prize money we may win, while you are on board, you will have part of the honour; and you see, making captures is quite in your line." The next day, Captain O'Halloran and Bob dined on board the Brilliant. Captain Langton introduced the lad to his officers, telling them that he wished him to be considered as being free on board the ship, whether he himself happened to be on board or not, when he came off. "But you must keep an eye on him, Mr. Hardy, while he is on board," he said to the first lieutenant. "Mr. Sankey," and he nodded at Jim, who was among those invited, "is rather a pickle, but from what I hear Repton is worse. So you will have to keep a sharp eye upon them, when they are together; and if they are up to mischief, do not hesitate to masthead both of them. A passenger on board one of His Majesty's ships is amenable to discipline, like anyone else." "I will see to it, sir," the lieutenant said, laughing. "Sankey knows the way up, already." "Yes. I think I observed him taking a view of the shore from that elevation, this morning." Jim coloured hotly. "Yes, sir," the lieutenant said. "The doctor made a complaint that his leeches had got out of their bottle, and were all over the ship; and I fancy one of them got into his bed, somehow. He had given Mr. Sankey a dose of physic in the morning; and remembered afterwards that, while he was making up the medicine, Sankey had been doing something in the corner where his bottles were. When I questioned Sankey about it, he admitted that he had observed the leeches, but declined to criminate himself farther. So I sent him aloft for an hour or two, to meditate upon the enormity of wasting His Majesty's medical stores." "I hope, Captain O'Halloran," the captain said, "that you have less trouble with your brother-in-law than we have with his friend." "Bob hasn't had much chance, yet," Captain O'Halloran said, laughing. "He is new to the place, as yet; and besides, he is really working hard, and hasn't much time for mischief; but I don't flatter myself that it is going to last." "Well, Mr. Sankey, you may as well take your friend down, and introduce him formally to your messmates," the captain said; and Jim, who had been feeling extremely uncomfortable since the talk had turned on the subject of mastheading, rose and made his escape with Bob, leaving the elders to their wine. Is war with Spain coming? How will Bob be involved if it is? Wait and see!
STAR ACTION
Peter and Janet inStar Action
By Glenn Davis
copyright 2009
Chapter 7
ARRESTED FOR MURDER
Henderson looked over at Commander Smith. Commander Smith's eyes bore into him while his hand hovered over the gun butt. Henderson knew the Commander wanted him to draw first. He knew about the speed of Commander Smith's hand, but it was either take that chance or be shot down in cold blood.
Henderson's hand shook as he reached for his gun butt. Clammy fingers grasped it and began to pull it out. Commander Smith, in a single lighting-like movement, drew and fired! Henderson's gun never even cleared the holster before the killing beam hit him square in the chest. Instantly, his body crumpled into ashes with a thin spiral of smoke rising from it.
Peter and Janet continued to watch as Commander Smith slowly walked over to where Henderson had stood. He stared at the small pile of ashes for a moment as if lost in thought. Then he kicked it, spreading the ashes over a meter so that they blended in with the ground. Bending down, he picked up Henderson's gun. It was the only thing which had not been incinerated. He threw it into some bushes on the far side of the clearing. Peter was careful to note where it had landed. Then Commander Smith turned around and left the clearing the same way he had entered.
Peter waited until he was sure Commander Smith had had enough time to clear the area. He wanted to be armed with such a dangerous man about so he and Janet crept around the edge of the clearing until they came to place where the gun had been thrown. It was not hard to find. Peter fished it out of a bush. He brushed the dirt off of it. Cautiously, he and Janet looked around, but they failed to see Commander Smith hiding behind a tree on the opposite side of the clearing watching them!
Peter made sure the gun was set to stun and then stuffed it in his belt and pulled his shirt over it. If he didn't make any sudden moves it should stay there.
"How are we going to explain where we were when we get back to camp?" asked Janet.
"We will pick up some loose branches on our way back and say we were collecting firewood, after all, we all want to stay warm."
Half an hour later Peter and Janet arrived back at the beach with their arms full of small branches. Commander Smith was already there. Janet set her pile down and Peter dropped his on top of it without bending over. He was afraid if he bent over the gun would fall out.
"We were just getting worried about you two," said Commander Smith.
"We were getting firewood so people could dry off after coming out of the lake. We don't need people getting sick on top of everything else," said Janet.
"That was very foresightful of you," commented Commander Smith as he knelt down to arrange the sticks so he could make the fire, "but don't go wandering off again. We don't want you to get hurt."
The fire was soon blazing. Commander Smith sent two security men into the woods to gather more wood so they could keep it going.
Janet spotted Captain Caspian and Tifter coming back from the shuttle.
She whispered to Peter, "Look, here comes Captain Caspian. Let's tell her what happened."
"Are you crazy?" Peter whispered back. "Do you think she is going to believe us over her Security Commander?"
"What are you going to say when she starts asking where Henderson is?"
"She won't be asking us. I'm sure Commander Smith will do all the talking and you can bet he won't tell the truth!"
"Which is why we should," persisted Janet.
"Think about it," responded Peter. "If I go up to Captain Caspian and tell her the truth, she will question Commander Smith. He isn't going to admit it, is he?"
"No, but we can take her to the spot and that will prove what happened."
"Exactly, but all that will prove is that Henderson was shot. Commander Smith will then be force to put the blame on someone else...and we are the only outsiders here."
"I still think it would be the right thing to do."
"Maybe, but I am going to wait and see how things develop first."
"By then it may be too late," muttered Janet in disagreement, "but I'll go with your decision."
Captain Caspian and Tifter were now warming themselves by the fire. The two other security men returned with more wood which they added to the fire causing it to blaze up.
"Are we going to be able to repair the shuttle, captain?" asked Commander Smith.
"Not down here. It would take the facilities aboard the Courage to fix it."
"So what's going to happen now?" asked Janet.
"There is nothing we can do except wait for the Courage to find us, and that may take several days."
"Several days?" responded Peter, "How do you know they will find us at all?"
Tifter answered, "Because every shuttle has an emergency signal that can be picked up by its mothership. When we were out at the shuttle I channelled the remaining power of the engines into boosting the signal. If the Courage is anywhere in this galaxy, they should be picking it up."
"Since, as you say, we may be here for several days, why don't we form a hunting party. Fresh meat would supplement our supplies and make them last longer," said Commander Smith.
Captain Caspian nodded. A frown appeared on her face as her green eyes swept the group,"Someone is missing." She paused. "Henderson...where is he, commander?"
Commander Smith looked surprised, "I don't know. We separated on the way back to cover more ground. He never buzzed me on the communicator to say he was in trouble."
Commander Smith knows better than to split up in dangerous places, though Captain Caspian. Maybe experience has made him careless. She turned to Peter and Janet, "You were in the woods. Did you see anything?"
Always tell the truth, thought Peter. What should he do. He saw Commander Smith watching him intently. "We did not speak to him after he left the beach."
Captain Caspian wondered why Peter had changed her 'see' into 'speak.' Commander Smith was acting strange and Peter was obviously hiding something. Something had happened in those woods, but what? The answer would have to wait until they had found Henderson.
"We will have to change our hunting trip into a search party," said Captain Caspian. "He can't be too far."
"I think I can guess what happened," said Commander Smith.
Captain Caspian fixed her eyes on him,"What do you think happened?"
"I suspect Peter and Janet came across him alone in the woods. Took him by surprise and killed him."
"Are you calling us murderers," demanded Peter.
"Why would we do that?" asked Janet.
"That's a pretty heavy charge," said Captain Caspian. "Can you prove it?"
"Yes, captain. I think I can prove it."
Commander Smith stepped up to Peter, staring into his eyes with his cold, unblinking eyes. It sent a shiver down Peter's back. Without warning he shot his hand under Peter's shirt. Before Peter knew what was happening Commander Smith pulled out the gun. He examined it, then turned and handed it to Captain Caspian.
"That is Henderson's gun," he announced.
Peter was speechless, but Janet demanded, "How did you know it was there unless you know more than you are telling yourself?"
"I saw the outline under his shirt. There was no place else he could have gotten a gun."
"No one else saw it, "responded Janet.
Janet may have a point, thought Captain Caspian. I know I don't notice it; however, Commander Smith is a professional security man and... "How do you explain the gun?" she asked Peter.
Peter recovered his voice, "I found it in a bush. Considering all that was happening I wanted to be armed."
"You expect us to believe that?" sneered Commander Smith.
Peter ignored him, "Captain, I have never killed anyone in cold blood. I couldn't do that."
"You want us to take your word on that, too?" questioned Commander Smith.
"Didn't you wonder where the gun at come from? They don't normally grow on bushes," said Captain Caspian.
"Of course, I wondered, but there was no one about and no way of finding out."
"Do you have anything to say, Janet?"
Janet glanced at Peter, but kept quiet.
"One gun does not a killing make; however, something has happened to Henderson. Until I find out, I have no choice but to place you both under arrest for suspicion of murder," said Captain Caspian."A wise precaution," approved Commander Smith.
"Right now we are going to search those woods for Henderson. If he is still alive, we'll find him." She turned to Tifter, "Tifter, you will stay and guard the prisoners. The rest of us will move out and search. With luck we should be back in a few hours...with Henderson."
Tifter immediately objected, "Captain, I am Security Elite..."
"Does that mean you are too good for guard duty?" responded Captain Caspian.
"No, Captain. But it is my job to protect you. I should be at your side."
"I could leave Garvin as a guard," suggested Commander Smith.
"No, my decision stands," said Captain Caspian.
"May I respectfully remind the Captain of section 23 point 7 of the code which states 'that the captain is to be accompanied on any dangerous mission by the Security Elite?" continued Tifter.
"Thank you, I am aware of the regulations. Now that is the end of the subject," her voice was final. Although it was unusual, Captain Caspian had a hidden reason for wanting Tifter left behind.
Tifter looked to Commander Smith for support. Commander Smith was obviously not pleased with Captain Caspian's decision but did not think further discussion was necessary.
Next week Chapter Eight: Captain Caspian Captured