Molly Twinkletail Runs Away

Chapter Six The Paddlefoots

Goldie led the way through the forest, turning onto a sloping stony path.

Suppose Molly falls into the waterfall? Lily thought. Can she swim?

Jess looked worried, too. They hurried along the path even more quickly, toward the roar of the waterfall.

They turned a corner and suddenly, right in front of them, there was a sparkling, rushing curtain of water. It tumbled over a steep rock face, foaming and bubbling as it crashed into the pool below.

“Sparkly Falls!” gasped Lily. “It’s beautiful!”

“And dangerous,” said Goldie quickly. “Watch where you step. The water makes everything slippery.”

They clambered over rocks, getting as close to the waterfall as possible.

“The spray’s soaking us!” Jess shouted over the water’s roar. “Molly must be so frightened.” She cupped her hands around her mouth and called, “Molly!”

“Molly Twinkletail!” echoed Lily.

Goldie darted from rock to rock. “Where can she be?” she said anxiously. “Little Molly will be hard to spot.”

“Look!” yelled Lily. “There’s a dark patch behind the waterfall—I think it’s a cave.”

“It is!” cried Jess. “And there’s Molly!”

Lily couldn’t see her at first, but as the water swished and poured she suddenly made out the little mouse’s shape. She was running from side to side in panic.

“Molly, don’t be frightened,” Lily called. “We’ll get you out of there!”

Jess ran over to the jagged rocks at the side of the falls and began to climb, hoping to get behind the curtain of water. But suddenly she slipped and fell, sliding down toward the foaming, swirling pool beneath!

“Jess!” yelled Lily, her dark eyes wide with horror.

She and Goldie lunged toward Jess as she slithered past. Goldie stretched out a paw to grab her, and together she and Lily pulled Jess to safety.

“Thanks.” Jess gasped. Her heart was hammering with fright.

“Let me try to reach Molly,” said Lily, but Goldie stopped her.

“It’s too dangerous,” Goldie said, pointing at the churning water. “If you fall in, you’ll be swept away.”

Lily felt tearful. “Then what can we do?” She groaned. “If only we could slow the water down, we could get behind it and rescue Molly from the cave.”

“That’s it!” Goldie cried. “And I know who can help. Come on!”

“Don’t worry, Molly. We’ll be back!” Jess yelled, then she and Lily followed the cat upstream. Goldie stopped beside a little yellow cottage with a waterwheel outside.

“Who lives here?” asked Lily.

“The Paddlefoots,” said Goldie, knocking on the door.

A moment later the door opened and a family of beavers rushed out. They were wearing boots, and between them they carried rugs and several picnic baskets.

“Goldie!” the beavers cried. “What a lovely surprise!”

“This is Mr. and Mrs. Paddlefoot,” Goldie said, “their children Bobby and Betsy, and Grandpa and Grandma Paddlefoot.”

“And you must be Jess and Lily!” said Mrs. Paddlefoot. “We’ve heard all about you, haven’t we, children?”

Bobby and Betsy bounced excitedly. “You beat Grizelda!” they chanted.

“Quiet, little ones,” said Mr. Paddlefoot. “Goldie, we’re off to the fair. Aren’t you three going, too?”

Goldie quickly explained about Molly. “We need your help, Mr. Paddlefoot. If you could build a dam to block the waterfall, we could rescue her.”

The adult beavers dropped everything. “Ready and willing we are, Goldie,” said Mr. Paddlefoot. “The Twinkletails are old friends of ours.”

“Bobby and Betsy will help, too, won’t you, children?” added Mrs. Paddlefoot.

“Yay!” they cried.

Mrs. Paddlefoot chose a spot a little upstream, so their cottage wouldn’t be flooded when water built up behind the dam. Lily and Jess ran back downstream and shouted their plan to Molly over the thunder of the waterfall. The little mouse nodded her head to show she’d understood.

“We’ll save you as soon as we can,” Jess yelled. “We promise!”

The girls and Goldie helped the beaver family gather sticks, twigs, and stones, which Mr. and Mrs. Paddlefoot then put across the stream to start the dam. The two grandparents packed mud between the twigs to hold them together.

“How will the dam work, Goldie?” Jess asked, dropping another load of branches on top of the growing pile.

“Water will build up behind the dam instead of flowing down toward the waterfall,” Goldie explained. “The thick branches will support it at the front.”

Soon the dam had almost blocked the stream, and a pool had formed behind it.

“Go and check the waterfall, please, girls,” called Mr. Paddlefoot. “It should have almost stopped.”

Lily and Jess ran to the waterfall. The rush of water had slowed to just a trickle.

Jess jumped up and down in excitement. “The dam’s working!” she yelled.

Lily cheered. “Now we can save Molly!”