Meg Mackintosh Solves Seven American History Mysteries (2 page)

“We'll have to study each clue carefully, research the historical facts, ask questions, and use our imaginations,” declared Meg.

“And see the sights!” exclaimed Peter.

“And you thought this was going to be a boring summer.” Meg nudged her brother.

“Why don't I hang on to the envelopes so they don't get lost. I'll give them out to you as we get to each place,” Gramps suggested as they repacked the old trunk. “And please try not to bring too much stuff. Maybe one suitcase each?”

“And our detective knapsacks,” said Meg.

“And cameras,” added Peter.

Professor Brown also left a poem and some history fact cards.

“Plimoth, Massachusetts, should be our first stop, because it's where the Pilgrims landed and it's one of the oldest American historical landmarks,” Peter announced. Peter Mackintosh, his grandfather, and his sister Meg were on their way to solve a history mystery.

Gramps checked their list of traveling supplies while Meg and Peter loaded the minivan.

Lastly, they carefully placed the old chest between their seats in the back of the minivan so they could study the artifacts and clues as they traveled.

Meg flipped to a new page in her history-mystery detective notebook and started writing.

“We have to answer these questions for each mystery,” she showed them to Peter.

“Not necessarily in that order,” added Peter. “Do we know the
when
about Plimoth? And why do they spell it with an ‘I' not ‘Y'?”

“It's an old fashioned way to spell Plymouth,” said Meg. “We know the Pilgrims landed there in 1620, so the mystery must have happened during or after that year.” Meg filled in the date.

“Here are the clues from Professor Brown,” Gramps said, opening the envelope when they stopped at a traffic light. He gave them the first clue.

“Quick, let's read it,” said Peter as he anxiously unfolded the old paper.

“What about the symbol at the beginning of the clue? What do you suppose that means?”

Meg copied it in her notebook. “It looks like Egyptian hieroglyphics.”

“They might be Native American pictographs,” Gramps called from his front seat.

“Is that symbol a star?” asked Peter.

“…star saved ‘R'?” Meg wondered aloud. “What do you think happened?”

“Maybe there was a bad storm, and they were on the
Mayflower
, lost at sea,” suggested Peter. “A star could have helped them navigate to a safe place?”

“Hmmm,” said Meg. “I have an idea which artifact the first mystery is about.”

“I was thinking about this leather pouch. It looks like it could be Native American,” Meg said, examining it carefully.

“I'm not sure, but maybe the first history mystery is about the first Americans, a Native American child.”

“Maybe,” said Peter, “but the artifact could be the compass. A compass might be helpful if you're lost in a storm.”

Meg was carefully holding the leather pouch. “Look, there's something inside,” she said excitedly. She took out a folded-up piece of deerskin, which was fragile with age. Something was wrapped inside.

“What is it?” Peter said eagerly.

His sister unwrapped the deerskin to discover two small stones.

Meg took out her magnifying glass. “Hey, it looks like there's a picture carved on the stone!”

“It looks like the symbol in the clue. The pouch must be the artifact for the Plimoth mystery,” Peter concluded.

“It sounds like you're on to something,” said Gramps. “Here's another clue from Professor Brown,” he said.

“It's a map showing where different Indians lived,” said Peter, opening up the map.

“Now we know it has to do with the Wampanoag,” said Meg, “since they lived near Plimoth.”

“But a stone with a star drawn on it inside a leather pouch? I'm still stumped,” said Peter. “How could a stone save someone from a storm?”