The Message in the Hollow Oak

by Carolyn Keene

  Nancy slid her finger into the tube. “Something’s in here!” she exclaimed, and pulled out a tiny roll of paper. “It must be the message that tells about the treasure!”

  The handwriting on the paper proved to be in French and some of the words were old-fashioned, but Nancy managed to translate them. She read aloud:

  “‘This tree is quarter of a mile east from an ancient Indian burial mound. It is large, overgrown, and the rounded top is gone. I dug into it from the side and found fine objects. Then war came. I put them back and filled in the hole.

  “‘The Iroquois are destroying the Algonquin. The last village I was in was attacked and I fled, but the arrow wound I received is festering and I shall die. I will hide my few precious possessions in this hollow oak. Then I will put a note in a light crock, seal it, and send it downstream. I pray the note will be picked up by a settler. These belongings were brought by me from France to New France.’”

  As Nancy paused, George remarked, “New France is now Canada, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Nancy answered, then went on reading:

  “‘I have marked my journey from one Indian village to another by placing lead plates I brought from France upon oak trees near Indian settlements. Arrows I made on the signs show the direction of my travels. One plate is left which has no arrow. I will use it to mark this tree.’ ”

  The young people stood silent, awed by what they had just seen and learned.

  Finally Ned said, “Nancy, I don’t think you realize what a tremendous find you’ve made.”

  The young detective merely smiled. “Evidently someone found the crock with the note, and the story became a legend.”

  George patted her friend on the back. “And then Nancy Drew turned the legend into a true story.”

  Carrying the copper box with the fabulous hunting horn with them, Nancy and her friends returned to the farmhouse. As the truck clattered in, Theresa and the young archaeologists began appearing from all directions to find out what their friends had learned.

  “It must have been a good day,” said Julie Anne. “You’re all smiling!”

  Nancy jumped down and said, “My smile is as wide as the Illinois river country.” She told of their finding Bob and the capture of Kadle and his pals.

  “How marvelous!” Julie Anne exclaimed. Ned and Dave now lifted down the copper box. Nancy opened it and displayed the beautiful hunting horn.

  The first one to speak up was Claire Warwick. “What kind of a message is that?”

  The others ignored her and asked Nancy to show them the other treasures. Finally she came to the note and once more translated it.

  “You have done an amazing job, Nancy,” said Theresa. “As for that burial mound, I can’t wait to see it!”

  She determined that as soon as the present dig site had been thoroughly excavated, she would ask for permission to work on the new one.

  All the young people said they would like to join in the expedition. Todd remarked, “I doubt that what we’ll find will be as valuable as this hunting horn.”

  “But much older,” Julie Anne reminded him. She was standing very close to Art and from the looks they were exchanging Nancy was sure they were now very good friends.

  “We have a surprise for you, Nancy,” Art said. “We found the rest of the baby’s skeleton that matched the fingers and forearm you unearthed.”

  “Great!” Nancy said. “And thanks for finishing my job.”

  Bess gave a little shudder. “I’m glad I wasn’t here when you brought it up. The poor little baby!”

  A short time later Burt and Bob arrived in a state trooper’s car. A rousing cheer went up for Bob. When the acclaim subsided, the boys reported that the two fake guards were in jail.

  “I called my parents,” said Bob. “Nancy, they’re very grateful to you and your friends for rescuing me. And I am, too.”

  He and Burt were told of the capture of Kadle and his companion.

  “That’s a relief,” said Bob. “I never want to be kidnapped again!”

  Stories were exchanged by diggers, treasure hunters, and Bob Snell. It seemed unbelievable that so many things had occurred during one morning.

  Nancy had a suggestion. “Let’s ask the state for permission to donate the lead plates to Paulson University.”

  Theresa smiled. “They’ll be delighted to receive them.”

  That evening after supper Nancy said, “Since it’s a beautiful clear night and there are no longer kidnappers or thieves around, I’d like to go to town and phone my father, my Aunt Eloise, and Boycey Osborne.”

  Art offered his motorcycle to her and Ned.

  “And we should stop and tell Clem,” Nancy said.

  When she telephoned Boycey Osborne, he was so amazed he almost lost his voice. “You’ve actually tracked down the message in the hollow oak and found a treasure!” he exclaimed. “Well my congratulations, Nancy. And please stay at the dig until I come out and see everything. To tell the truth, I’m very much embarrassed that my friends and I weren’t able to solve this mystery!”

  “All you needed was more time,” Nancy told him kindly. “Now that my work here is finished, I’ll have to get home. When can you come?”

  “I’ll take a plane tonight,” was the quick answer.

  Mr. Drew, Hannah Gruen, and Aunt Eloise were equally amazed. All praised the young detective, but she insisted that her friends deserved a great deal of credit for solving the mystery.

  On the way back to the dig, Nancy and Ned stopped at Clem’s house. The old farmer’s astonishment was immense. He thumped his thighs and danced around with as much glee as if he had found the message and treasure himself.

  “That beats all!” he said. “I’ll be up tomorrow mornin’ to see that there huntin’ horn. You folks sure brought excitement to this place. We haven’t had so much goin’ on around here since one o’ the town girls eloped with the postmaster’s son.”

  Embarrassed by Clem’s comment, Nancy and Ned smiled.

  By noontime the next day the farmhouse and yard were full of visitors. Not only were Clem and his wife there, but Mr. Drew, Aunt Eloise, and all the members of the New York Detective Club! Nancy blushed at the praise showered on her.

  “Nancy, after a meeting with my friends, we voted unanimously to make you an honorary member of our club!”

  For a moment Nancy felt like crying, but she regained her composure and thanked them all.

  “This is a marvelous honor,” she said, then chuckled. With a wink at Boycey Osborne, she said, “Any time I can help you on such a fascinating mystery as this one, let me know.” Everyone laughed and applauded.

  Nancy’s next case did not come through Boycey, but it proved to be a particularly intriguing one called, Mystery of the Ivory Charm.

  Theresa now stepped forward and put one hand on Nancy’s shoulder. “I hurried into town this morning,” she said, “and made some phone calls. I have permission from the property owner to dig the mound discovered by Père François. It is probably a Hopewell burial. Paulson University has promised to finance the expedition and I am to lead it. Nancy, I want you to have the honor of digging the first shovelful of dirt.”

  Again everyone clapped and Nancy gave Theresa a hug and whispered, “I’ll never forget this wonderful experience as long as I live!”

  Postscript

  The Hopewell mound was excavated the following summer and found to contain many perfectly preserved artifacts and fossils, including several bird effigies in stone, and a rare baby’s cradle. At a luncheon celebration which followed the event, Nancy was praised for having added valuable information to the archaeological knowledge of America.

  With a smile she said, “All the credit belongs to Père François and his message in the hollow oak.”

 

 

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