From the lib'ary learned all we could 'bout salamanders. One of the reasons they ain't often seen is 'cuz they're nocturnal. That means they only come out at night. They're carnivorous, or meat eaters, so's they live off bugs and other smaller critters. When I think about it, a meat eatin' creature that only comes out at night sounds kind of creepy. That's what werewolves do, right? The god's honest truth is that they are way too small to harm anyone.

There's a method to catchin' 'First ya have ta dig a hole in the forest floor. The book said to make one end deeper than the other, then line the hole with plastic, if it's available, otherwise tamp down the dirt until it's real tight. Fill the deeper end with water. It's kinda like those clear plastic baby turtle bowls at the pet store. The lower end is the swimmin' pool part and the raised end is where the turtle can climb up and sun itself near the plastic palm tree if it wants. Cover the hole with cardboard or stiff canvass and gently spread dirt and leaves over the top to hide it.

If you build a trap, it warned, be sure to check back everyday. The salamander won't be able to climb out to get food. A salamander stuck in a trap would die of starvation.

It's best to wear gloves if handlin' one. The natural oils on our skin is dangerous to them. No wonder they're 'fraid of people. They should be afraid. To them we must seem just like hungry alligators. If we never have to face those wide open jaws we are lots better off. If salamanders don't have to come in contact with people they are lots better off too.

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The next mornin' we got ourselves prepared. We found some plastic sheetin' in Freck's garage. We got some cardboard from used boxes behind the grocery store. Gloves were a problem, but after digging around we found some old work gloves that would do the job. We didn't carry extra water because we figured that Locci Creek would be okay for that. We reasoned that since salamanders already lived there the black water wouldn't harm 'em. Most important of all, we packed a lunch.

We met in my backyard just like last time, then through the fence via the swingin' board, and crossed the field. This time we didn't stop to ask ourselves if we was goin' to do it. There was no question 'bout that. We just went in. I did remember my lesson about watchin' where I placed my feet. I didn't step on no dead branches. We heard some scurryin' and bird squawks in the bushes, but nothin' jumped out at us. Also, this time we stopped before the ground got mushy to put on our boots and hip-waders. Freck watched to make sure no snakes slithered into my britches. Freck covered us in stinky bug repellent again. Yuck.

"Which way should we go?" I asked Freck.

"It's prob'ly best not to too far in before makin' our first trap. How 'bout under that oak over there?"

It looked good to me and it was just outside the entrance to a murky canopy. I took out my daddy's army surplus foldin' shovel from my backpack. Near the trunk seemed like a good place so I dug a hole just the way we learned how from the library. Freck, smart enough to bring scissors, cut down the plastic sheetin' to fit the hole. I had a tin can to scoop up some water from the creek nearby. Its funny the stream looked black, but the water I poured was clear. We filled the deep end and left the higher side dry. We laid cardboard over the top and sprinkled dirt and leaves on it. If we didn't know that a trap was there we'd walk right by and not even see it.

"That didn't take long" I said. "How are we goin' ta remember where the traps are?"

"No problem Wishes," She removed a big red marker from her backpack. "I'll just draw an arrow on the trunk pointin' down to the spot." Mrs. Goodly said we was smart. I don't know 'bout me, but that sure was true 'bout Freck.

We were both still very loosie goosy. Any strange sound would startle us. I swear bein' calm ain't gonna happen in such a dangerous place. I felt like all my nerves was tight as the string on a tin can telephone. It's hard to concentrate on the job at hand when every pop, caw, or snort sends a freeze right up the spine. I knows Freck felt the same way. I could see it in her eyes and the way she was constantly movin' her head to scout out the area in front, behind, to the sides, and above. She looked like a scared baby bird. Ya never knew where danger lurked. Evil creatures could attack from any direction.

We went inta the hammock next. If we thought it was scary just outside of the canopy it's much worse inside. It's darker because of all the leaves and branches nearly blockin' out all the sunlight. There was thick mist everywheres. Since ya cain't see clear through dense ground fog ya don't know what is lyin' in wait just ahead. The gloom is good cover to anythin' hidin' in the trees, or behind bushes. No wonder town people who had been here would never come back willingly. It's more spine chillin' than an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Freck found another big oak inside the canopy and we dug a hole for a second trap. She marked it just like before and stepped back to make sure we could see it when we returned. All of a sudden she slipped. Actually she didn't slip, the ground just gave way under her. Down she went, slidin' on a thick muddy river. "Help!" she screamed.

"Grab onto somethin'!" I hollered. There warn't anythin' I could see that was near enough to reach. I was standin' in what I thought was a safer place next to the oak. Wouldn't ya know it the earth gave way under me too. I was knocked down on my back slippin' into that same mud flow. Fortunately there was a large messy tree root in my path. My feet hit it. Schlumk I came ta a hard stop. Thank goodness, my muddy descent wasn't too far from the top, or what used to be the top. Freck was probably twenty feet down in what looked to be a short ravine. On our side of the drop there was nothin' but clawed black mud that started at about the middle of the oak and went nearly straight down. It was gouged and pitted with some struggling foliage desperately trying to stay in place. What remained looked like an eyeless face of a monster in a horror movie.

When she hit bottom it seemed at first, she would be okay. Freck was able to roll out of the slop and stand up. She started to call out right before she panicked and attempted to get away. "Wi..." was all I heard.

A sinkhole as large as two Buick's side-by-side opened up under her. She fell. Whomp she hit bottom. It looked to be about a ten feet deep mud pit. At first she just laid there in the muck. I didn't know if she was conscious. I didn't know if she was hurt. I did know that she was trapped in that stinkin' hole. I was helpless. What could I do? If I let go I would slide down and we would both be stuck. So I felt around the root and found some smaller roots I could grab. Half the oak was danglin' its roots over the ravine. I managed to work my way slowly up usin' slick wet roots to gain footholds and grab onto. It was slow treacherous work. It took a few minutes to go some five feet up to firmer ground.

On top I grabbed a hold'a branch so I could lean over and see inside the pit. Freck was sittin' up rubbin' her elbow. "Freck," I hollered "Are ya okay? Ya ain't got a broke leg or anythin' do ya?"

"No," she yelled back. She tried to standup. The slippery wet mud was makin' it difficult for her, but she struggled to do it. "I can stand so that's good. What are we going to do?" There was a worried tone in her voice.

"Don't worry, Freck. Just stay put," as if she had any other choice. "I'm going to go see if I can find some vines or somethin' to help ya get outa that hole."

"Wishes!" She sounded really scared. "Just hurry Wishes!"

I could see that she was desperately tryin' to find purchase and climb out by herself. "Freck, don't fight it. Try to keep still. Ya don't know if the sides will fall in on you. Just stay calm. Wait for me I'll be back quick as I can."

"Okay, Wishes. I'll try." I could tell she was miserable, but there was nothin' else we could do. I thought of going home for help. If'n we wanted to find our mommas, and we did, if I told anyone it would end the search.

The backpacks were still on top. I opened mine and got out the hatchet and knife. The hammock was very jungle like. Finding vines should be easy. Cuttin' them and gettin' back to Freck would take some work. I found a nearby blackwood tree that was just drippin' in ivy vines. The problem was that most were very sturdy and too thick. I could cut them with the hatchet, but how would I lug them back to where Freck was stranded?

I found one that was maybe an inch in diameter. I pulled on it to find out how long it was. It barely budged. It was hard work, the vine's leaves resisted all my efforts, but I kept it up. I had to save Freck. It was hand over hand. Progress was real slow. I needed about thirty feet and was gettin' only about a half-foot per tug. Finally it appeared that I was reachin' the end. I breathed deep and gave it a mighty pull and to my surprise it all came squirrelin' out, that and something I really didn't want to see. A snake! Yikes! I jumped back, raised my hatchet, and prayed the darn thin' would just slither away. I couldn't tell what kind of snake it was, but it was black as night, and stretched out full it looked to be as long as our driveway. It gave me a slow once over as if it was decidin' whether I was worth it. I swear it shook its head no after seeing my hatchet, and returned to the bushes. I hate snakes. I really do. This one looked dangerous. Thank goodness it decided not to challenge me.

There I was with hatchet in hand and my heart beating a mile a minute. I would have sat down to recover from the fright, but I couldn't, I had to save Freck. I was windin' up the vine when..."Wishes." I spun around and faced what looked like a swamp creature made of mud, leaves, and sticks. I shook my head and realized that it was Freck, but how could that be? She was stuck in that big sinkhole.

"Good Lord! Freck!" I shouted when I realized who it was. I was drippin' from workin'. I didn't even know if she made me wet myself, but I might have. "You scared the bejesus out me, if my hair wasn't already white it would be now," I gasped gulpin' air.

"Sorry Wishes. I didn't mean to startle you."

"How did you get here out of that mud pit?" I'm sure I yelled it, rather than spoke it. Which warn't nice, but I was far from calm.

"Well," she said in a voice that was surprisingly full of excitement, "ya didn't come back for quite awhile."

I interrupted, "Sorry Freck, findin' a vine that would work and I could drag back took some time. Then I had to pull it free from the blackwood tree. It was real slow goin', but I was hurryin' as fast as I could."

She nodded like she understood and continued, "I was worried that you were lost or had fallen somewhere and couldn't get back to rescue me. It was gettin' late. The mud was all around and I was sure I might die there. Just when I felt my lowest, I heard the whistle. It was just as ya said, Wishes. It was high pitched and breathy. Ya were right, the Whistlin' Salamander doesn't sound like anythin' I ever heard before. And wouldn't you know it, the rest of the hill gave way just then and and tipped that big oak all the way over. Some of the branches plopped right down into the sinkhole. I was able to grab hold and climb out usin' them branches like a ladder.

"I was saved by the Whistlin' Salamander. I know that I was. Now I want more than ever to kiss that salamander on the head so that all my wishes will come true. We can do it. We can catch it, kiss it, and find our mommas.

"There's another thing too. Remember when we crashed after speedin' down Hawks Hill? You said that you saw somethin' colorful and shinnin' just over your shoulder. You also said you heard it scream out in panic, right?"

"Sure Freck. That's what happened. I cain't forget it."

"Well," Freck said, " I saw somethin' too. I almost don't wanna tell you because you are goin' ta think I hit my head too hard. What I saw reminded me of a butterfly, but it wasn't like any other butterfly I'd ever seen before. It circled the pit several times so I got a real good look. It was a little larger than most butterflies and very colorful. In fact, it glowed. It was like it was lighted from the inside. Then, and you ain't goin' to believe this, but I swear it had a face. Not a butterfly face, but a human face. "

If it warn't Freck tellin' me this, I would have thought she was soft-in-the-head. I decided to wait until we knew more 'bout it. B'sides Freck was so thrilled that I got excited too. I had my doubts about this mission succeedin'. I knew we was riskin' a lot being in this horrible place. Already we'd been scared by a wild pig, had a snake in my pants, experienced a mud slide, a sink hole, and faced an enormous black snake. All of that was in just two trips into Howlin' Woods. Mr. Samuels, my neighbor, was right. There is more evil per square foot in this place than in all the Nazi's in Hitler's army. Despite all of that, we had to go on; 'specially now that Freck had heard the good luck whistle too. Now we had another mystery to investigate. The butterfly with the human face.

We were in forest longer than I thought. By the time we reached the field, the sun was startin' to set. Would our daddies be home from work? Would we have time to wash off all the mud and gunk, or would we get caught?

We got caught.