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