Mysteries in Our National Parks: Running Scared: A Mystery in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Mysteries in Our National Parks: Running Scared: A Mystery in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Gloria Skurzynski

Alane Ferguson

National Geographic Kids

Jack and Ashley’s search for eight-year-old Sammy has left them hopelessly lost in a twisted maze of tunnels deep inside Carlsbad Caverns.Bats are everywhere, and the echoes of their screeching cries sends a chill through the trio. The only light is the candle in their lantern. What will happen when it burns out, leaving them in total darkness?From the Paperback edition.

RUNNING SCARED

A MYSTERY IN CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK

GLORIA SKURZYNSKI AND ALANE FERGUSON

To Tom “Boomer” Bemis,

a true hero and an inspiring role model

Text copyright © 2002 Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson

Cover illustration copyright © 2008 Jeffrey Mangiat

All rights reserved.

Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents is prohibited without written permission from the National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.

Map by Carl Mehler, Director of Maps

Map research and production by Joseph F. Ochlak and Equator Graphics

Mexican free-tailed bat art by Joan Wolbier

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to living persons or events other than descriptions of natural phenomena is purely coincidental.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Skurzynski, Gloria.

Running scared / Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson. p. cm.—(Mysteries in our national parks; #11)

Summary: While lost in a tunnel at Carlsbad Cavern, thirteen-year-old Jack, eleven-year-old Ashley, and their eight-year-old foster brother, Sam, think bats and darkness are their worst problems, until they stumble across thieves.

ISBN: 978-1-4263-0974-8

[1. Lost children—Fiction. 2. Bats—Fiction.

3. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (N.M.)—Fiction. 4. Foster home care—Fiction.

5. National parks and reserves—Fiction. 6. Mystery and detective stories.]

I. Ferguson, Alane. II. Title. III. Series.

PZ7.S6287 Ru 2002

[Fic]—dc21

2002005277

Version: 2017-07-07

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to those at

Carlsbad Caverns National Park who shared

information and their expertise with us, especially Bob Hoff,

Park Historian;

Myra Barnes, Wildlife Biologist;

Stan Allison, Cave Resource Specialist;

David Roemer, Biologist;

Laura Denny, Park Ranger, Law Enforcement Division; Stacey

Haney, Park Ranger,

Interpretive Division;

and of course Tom Bemis

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN