Serpent(MagicTree
House#31)
MaryPopeOsborne
Cove
DearReader,
SummeroftheSeaSerpentisthethirdinaspecial
groupofMagicTreeHousebookscalledTheMerlin
Missions.Inthesebooks,itisMerlinthemagician
whosendsJackandAnnieontheirtreehouse
InthefirstMerlinMission,
fantasytofindasecretcauldronthatheldtheWater
ofMemoryandImagination.
InthesecondMerlinMission,HauntedCastleon
themontheiradventure.Butbeware--
...
CONTENTS
1.SummerSolstice1
2.TheWaferKnight9
3.CaveoftheSpiderQueen21
4.WebWalk31
5.Barrh!Barrh!39
6.TheSelkie45
7.CoveoftheStormyCoast54
8.CloakoftheOldGrayGhost62
9.TheSwordofLight72
10.TheAncientQuestion79
11.SwordandRhyme87
12.TheIsleofAvalon97
ANotefromtheAuthor109
...
AlfredLordTennysonIdyllsoftheKing
CHAPTERONE
SummerSolstice
Jackwassittingontheporchreadingthe
newspaper.Itwasawarmsummerday,buttheporch
wasshadyandcool.
Momsaysshelldriveustothelakethisafternoon,
shesaid.
Whatsthat?askedAnnie.
Itstheofficialfirstdayofsummer,said
12
Jack.Theresmoredaylighttodaythanonany
otherdayoftheyear.
Cool,saidAnnie.
Startingtomorrow,thedayswillgetshorterand
shorter,saidJack.
Aloudscreechcamefromoverhead.
Look,saidAnnie,aseagull!
Jacklookedup.Alargewhitegullwascirclingin
thebrightnoonsky.Whatshedoinghere?asked
Thegullswoopeddownandscreechedagain.
MaybehesamessengerfromMorganorMerlin,
saidAnnie.Maybeoneofthemsenthimtotellus
thetreehouseisfinallyback.
Jacksheartbegantopound.Heput