Erhalten Sie Zugang zu diesem und mehr als 300000 Büchern ab EUR 5,99 monatlich.
- Herausgeber: Little Tiger Press
- Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
- Serie: Holly Webb Animal Stories
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
Amelia and her family are walking their two dogs when disaster strikes and Poppet the puppy disappears during a game of fetch. After searching high and low, Amelia discovers that Poppet has fallen down an old mine and has no way of escaping.Amelia is so worried at the thought of Poppet all alone in the cold, dark mine, but can she find a way to get Poppet out safely?A new story from best-selling author Holly Webb, perfect for animal-loving children, and fans of ZOE'S RESCUE ZOO and MAGIC ANIMAL FRIENDS.
Sie lesen das E-Book in den Legimi-Apps auf:
Seitenzahl: 60
Das E-Book (TTS) können Sie hören im Abo „Legimi Premium” in Legimi-Apps auf:
Ähnliche
12
Contents
4
For all the amazing volunteers who work for Mountain Rescue teams around the world
Chapter One
Amelia peered through the long grass at the side of the footpath, hunting for Poppet. Mum and Dad had persuaded Amelia and her older brother, Luke, to come for a walk up the rocky hillside above their village. It was a sunny spring afternoon, and Amelia could hear birds chirruping in the bushes and a hawk calling overhead. The sun 6was warming the back of her jacket too – it was blissful.
“Poppet, where have you gone, silly?”
Poppet was still so small that she disappeared sometimes, hidden by the thick weeds and grasses, until she bounced up to see where she was going. Amelia spotted the grass shivering slightly before the little black-and-tan terrier appeared for a second at the top of her bounce and was gone again.
7“Poppet!” she called, and the grass wobbled again before Poppet whooshed out and leaped all over her, whining happily and scrabbling at Amelia’s leggings.
“Oh, you’re such a good girl,” Amelia murmured, crouching down to rub the puppy’s ears and make a fuss of her. They’d had Poppet for a couple of months now but she was only just old enough to start going for longer walks with their Labrador, Mickey. It was so much fun being out with both dogs.
Mickey stopped sniffing at a clump of brambles and looked over at Amelia as if he thought this was a bit unfair. He hadn’t gone running off through the grass and had to be called back. Why wasn’t he getting all the praise 8and fussing? Luke noticed and leaned over to run his fingers along Mickey’s spine, and the big dog closed his eyes and pointed his nose up to the sky. That was his favourite place to be scratched – it made him go all wobbly.
9“Do you think the dogs need a rest?” Amelia’s dad asked, sitting down on one of the large rocks by the edge of the path. “I could do with some water. Maybe a biscuit…”
Both Poppet and Mickey swung their heads round hopefully to stare at him. They knew exactly what biscuits were.
Mum laughed. “Well, you’ll have to give them something now,” she said, taking off her backpack and starting to hunt for snacks – for both people and dogs. “But it’s definitely time for a break. We must have been walking for over an hour and this path’s pretty steep.”
“It’s really hot,” Amelia said, wriggling out of her backpack too – inside she had a bottle of water and the special collapsible dog bowl they always brought on long walks. She sat down in the grass and unfolded the bowl, pouring in a drink of water for Poppet and Mickey. 10
Mickey lumbered over at once but Poppet was still begging hopefully for treats, her paws up against Mum’s knees.
“You’ve already had two,” Mum scolded gently. “No, Poppet, look, I’m putting them away. More later.”
Poppet slumped down sadly and then shook her ears and trotted over to the water bowl. There was plenty of room for both dogs to drink but she nudged up close against Mickey, barging him with her shoulder.
11“Poppet, you’re so bossy!” Amelia said, rubbing Mickey’s ears to make up for it. “Isn’t she, Mickey? She’s stealing your water… It’s not fair, is it?”
The big Labrador stretched himself out in the cool grass and panted gently. He loved long walks. He didn’t usually go very fast, just kept plodding along, slow and steady, while Poppet raced around. The little terrier probably covered three times as much distance as he did because she zigzagged back and forth, sniffing at interesting smells, chasing butterflies and checking on Amelia and Luke. She was a little busybody, Dad said. The two dogs were very different but Amelia’s family adored them both, and Poppet and Mickey were best friends, even after 12only a couple of months.
Now Poppet settled down next to her older brother, snuggling close against him and laying her dark nose on top of his golden paws. Mickey looked up at Amelia and she was almost sure he rolled his eyes.
“You love her really,” she whispered, rubbing his ears again and scratching Poppet under the chin when the little dog nudged at her in a demanding way.
After a few more minutes’ rest they set off on their walk again, but Poppet had definitely slowed down. She was trailing along next to Amelia, puffing a little.
“Did you wear yourself out?” Amelia asked, crouching down next to her. Poppet sagged down on the path, 13looking up at her hopefully. She whined and Amelia giggled.
“Shall I carry Poppet for a bit?” she called to her parents, who were further ahead with Mickey.
“Oh dear, has she given up?” Mum said, turning round to look.
“It looks like she doesn’t want to go any further,” Dad agreed. “Are you sure you can carry her, Amelia? She gets heavy after a while.”
“I don’t mind.” Amelia took off her backpack again and pulled her waterproof out, tying it round her middle instead. Now there was just enough room in there for a small, demanding dog. Poppet sat up hopefully, peering into the open bag.
“Yes, that’s a space for you,” Amelia 14told her. “Come on then.” She opened the bag invitingly and Poppet hopped in, snuggling down gratefully inside.
“I wish someone would carry me,” Luke said, with a huge yawn. “You said this was a short walk, Mum.”
“Well, it is…” Mum glanced over at him apologetically. “I’d forgotten how much hard work this path is though. We haven’t been up here for a while.”
Amelia slung her backpack carefully back on to her shoulders, feeling Poppet shift her weight inside. There was a snorty sort of yawn and then the little dog settled down for a nap.
“It’s beautiful up here, even if it’s tiring,” Dad pointed out. “Just look at the view back down to home.” He pointed across the hillside to their village, nestled 15in the valley, with the river running through the middle. It did look really pretty from this height. It made Amelia think of their grandad’s model railway, with all the houses so perfect and neat.
She smiled to herself as she heard a wheezy little snore from inside her backpack.
Poppet napped comfortably curled up in the bag, rocking gently as Amelia walked along. The bag was warm and she fitted neatly on top of Amelia’s sweater. She snorted a little and padded her paws against the side of the backpack, chasing after Mickey in her sleep.
Then at last she blinked, yawned hugely and sat up, peering out of the open top of the bag. She gave a loud yap, and then wriggled round and licked affectionately at the back of Amelia’s neck.
“Oh! You’re awake again! Good timing, Pops. We’re on our way down now.” 17
