Dinosaur Hideout by Judith Silverthorne Read Free Book Online Page A

stared hard at Daniel.
    “Yeah,” Daniel added confidently, “So that proves it, too. If there’s oil, there are dinosaurs.”
    Pederson raised his eyes skyward, then said, “Not quite. You’re kind of on the right track, but oil comes from a much earlier period than dinosaurs.”
    “Okay.” Daniel thought for a moment. “But it seems wherever there is oil, it’s also dinosaur country.”
    “Again partly true,” Pederson nodded.
    Then although he seemed about to comment further, Daniel plunged ahead. “That’s bad news for me this time, though. The oil company wants the land where my hideout is, and I heard they probably want your land, too.”
    “Well, they won’t get it,” Pederson bristled. “Are you sure about this?”
    “Sure as I’m standing here with you,” Daniel regretted his choice of words, but blundered on. “My parents were at a meeting last night.” He paused for effect. “Do you know what it could mean?”
    Pederson nodded. “Of course I do. Can’t let that happen.” He muttered something to himself. Daniel thought he heard him say, “I’m too close.”
    “Too close to what? You can tell me. I promise I won’t say anything,” Daniel looked as sincere as he could.
    Pederson hesitated, staring at him. Both of them shifted their feet, eyeing one another. Bear sat silently beside his master.
    “Look, why would I tell anyone?” Daniel asked. “No one would believe me anyway. You’re the only one that’s ever seen my hideout. Not even my best friend, Jed, has been there.”
    Daniel crossed his fingers inside his mitts – true, Jed had never been there, but he did know the hideout existed.
    “No one knows its location?” Pederson eyed Daniel.
    “No one. I swear.” Daniel looked up earnestly at the old man.
    Pederson still hesitated, eyeing Daniel, as he coughed and spat.
    Daniel hoped he sounded convincing. “Look, I’ll tell you about some of my finds, if you like.”
    “Like what?”
    Daniel stomped around as he talked, trying to get warm. “Like where I think there might be something big, like maybe a duck-billed dinosaur, maybe even an Edmontosaurus.”
    Pederson’s interest was obviously piqued now. “Go on, I’m listening.” He coughed again.
    “Well, my theory is that because scientists have already found eggs from other duckbills just across the borders in Montana and Alberta, why not here? So far they’ve only found a few pieces of the Edmontosaurus in Saskatchewan. It would be cool to find a whole one, but even better to find their eggs,” Daniel explained.
    “And?”
    Daniel looked at him incredulously, “And? Isn’t that enough?”
    “No.” Pederson wheezed. “What’s your proof?”
    Daniel shifted anxiously. “Oh, all right. But you have to promise not to tell.”
    Pederson nodded.
    “This fall, I found what I think might be a nest site.”
    “Really?” Pederson’s eyes widened.
    Daniel nodded and motioned with his head for Pederson to follow him. They climbed a little ways up a hill with Bear at their heels. Then Daniel pointed. “Just over there in the next gully – where our properties border. I found some coprolite there.” Coprolite was fossilized dung. Proof that something had been out here, eons ago.
    Pederson gasped in surprise, and then seemed to become even more agitated. He sputtered and coughed violently. Then he spat again, and held his chest.
    Daniel looked on with alarm. It was a wonder the old guy hadn’t choked to death. He must have pneumonia or something.
    “Geez. Maybe you should do something about that cough?” Daniel could see the huge puffs of breath on the cold air as the fit finally subsided.
    “It’s nothing. Go on.” Pederson commanded. He studied Daniel through watery eyes.
    Daniel shook his head. “No, now it’s your turn. You’re digging up something, aren’t you? What?”
    Pederson looked away. He stood still for some moments staring mutely out at the landscape, before he turned a curious gaze back