The Clue Of The Whistling Bagpipes Part 5

"Perhaps. There is something you should know." She told about the bomb and the shattered note in the mailbox.

As Ned whistled in astonishment, Nancy went on, "I made a tracing of the note. Before you go I'll give it to you. Maybe you can find the person who wrote it."

Nancy also told Ned about Johnny Barto. "If you have a chance, you might drive over to see him."

"I'll do that."

Later, as he was about to say good night to Nancy, Ned told her he was spending the night with an aunt in town and would drive the Drews, Bess, and George to the airport. "Wonderful! We'll be ready on the dot of seven."

Next morning Ned arrived promptly, and helped stow the Drews' baggage. Nancy gave Hannah Gruen an affectionate hug and kiss, then they were off.

Bess and George were waiting on the sidewalk outside the Marvin home with their bags. When the three girls were settled in the rear seat, they looked at one another and burst into laughter.

Bess said, "We're three bluebirds!" The cousins and Nancy wore navy-blue coats and shoes.

Under Nancy's coat was a dark-blue-and-green striped sports dress which set off the shade of her hair to perfection. Blond Bess wore a two-piece powder-blue suit, while George had on a navy skirt and tailored white blouse.

At the airport Ned exchanged good-bys with the girls and Mr. Drew. To Nancy the youth whispered, "Don't forget-be back by June tenth!"

She gave him a quick kiss. "I'll do my best!"

Not long afterward, the plane took off for New York. During the trip Nancy brought her chums up to date on the mystery.

"It sounds dangerous to me!" said Bess. "I'll concentrate on the beautiful scenery of Scotland."

George retorted, "And while you're daydreaming, one of the villains may sneak up from behind and kidnap you, fair cousin!" Bess looked worried, but Nancy grinned.

Upon their arrival in New York, Mr. Drew announced that he had business to attend to and would have to meet the girls just before the evening plane took off for Scotland.

"You're going up to see your Aunt Eloise, aren't you, Nancy?" he asked.

"Yes, I am. Bess and George are going along."

Miss Eloise Drew, a schoolteacher, was Mr. Drew's sister. She was exceedingly fond of Nancy and her friends, and often entertained them. Nancy had phoned her aunt, who was having a half-holiday. When the three girls arrived at her uptown apartment, the tall, attractive woman, who looked very much like Nancy, welcomed the trio warmly.

"It's wonderful to see you! I do wish you could stay longer," she said.

Nancy grinned. "Since we can't, we'll just have to talk fast and cover a lot of ground!"

News was exchanged and Miss Drew was horrified to hear of possible dangers awaiting Nancy in Scotland. "Promise me you won't take any chances," she begged.

As Nancy did so, Miss Drew got up, opened a table drawer, and took out a long, narrow ebony object. Chuckling, she said, "This is a chanter from a bagpipe. Recently I attended a performance of bagpipe players and dancers, so I decided it would be fun trying to play a tune on one of these."

"How thrilling!" cried Bess. "Please play it."

Miss Drew laughed. She took out an instruction book, put the instrument to her lips, and played a tuneful phrase. "That's the first part of Scots, WhaHae," she explained.

"Why, Aunt Eloise, you're marvelous!" said Nancy. "By the way, what does Scots, WhaHae mean?"

With a twinkle in her eye, Aunt Eloise recited the first two lines of the song, using the broad Scottish accent of the lowlands:"'Scots, whahaewi' Wallace bled,

Scots, wham Bruce has aften led."'

Miss Drew told them that the song was composed by Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, to commemorate the Battle of Bannockburn fought in 1314. "Unfortunately," she added, "the battles were very b.l.o.o.d.y. The words mean:"'Scots, who have bled with Wallace,

Scots, whom Bruce has often led.' "

"May I try the chanter?" Nancy requested.

"Yes, indeed, but first I'll show you what the notes are and how you hold your fingers."

Nancy adjusted her hands properly, then Aunt Eloise said, "Now just blow into the chanter, raising your various fingers. Don't try any tunes until you get used to moving your fingers."

At first Nancy could not hold the chanter and play it at the same time, so her aunt suggested that she sit down and let the lower end of the instrument rest in her lap. In a few moments Nancy was playing the scales quite creditably. She asked Bess and George if they would like to take a turn, but both declined.

"I dare you to try Scots, WhaHae," George teased.

"Play it first without the grace notes," Miss Drew advised. "Of course, they're what give the charm to the music of bagpipes."

In a few minutes Nancy was playing the melody of Scots, WhaHae, and after some more practice she was able, by following the instruction book, to add the grace notes to the first phrase.

"Why, it really sounds like something!" said Bess. "I never thought you'd do it!"

Nancy was quite pleased herself. "I'll try it again later." She grinned.

Just before the girls said good-by to Aunt Eloise, Nancy picked up the chanter and played the first phrase of Scots, WhaHae several times.

Her aunt laughed. "It's a nice way to spend time," she said. "Perhaps while you're in Scotland you can learn more tunes."

"I doubt it," said George. "If Nancy's to find her missing heirloom and the men who are stealing sheep, she'll be kept much too busy!"

"I wish you every success," said Aunt Eloise. "But again, girls, please be careful."

Nancy and her friends hurried back to International Airport. Mr. Drew was waiting and they immediately boarded the plane. It was a luxuriously furnished one, with comfortable seats. Dinner was served, and shortly afterward the girls settled back to go to sleep. Their arrival in Scotland was scheduled for six A.M. by Greenwich time equivalent to one A.M. in the eastern part of the United States.

As pa.s.sengers awakened, George found it very difficult to arouse Bess. She was completely confused as to where she was, and insisted that it was not yet time to get up.

Finally, however, when she saw rolls and hot drinks being served, Bess became her cheerful self. Often teased about her weight, she frequently declared, "I'm going to begin dieting-tomorrow."

The girls were just starting breakfast when suddenly the plane began to toss violently. The girls felt a chill of fear. Had something gone wrong with the jetliner?

CHAPTER V.

An Angry Guest