Disney Book Group - Donald Duck Goes Camping

Y ippee! Huey, Dewey, and Louie cried. They had just found out that their uncle, Donald Duck, was taking them camping.

Donald and his nephews began to load their gear into the car.

Ive got the tent and the food, Donald said.

Here are the fishing poles, Huey said.

Dont forget the sleeping bags, Louie reminded them.

Im bringing a camping guidebook, said Dewey. Theres all kinds of great information in here about wildlife. You never knowwe might need it.

You dont need a guidebook, Donald said confidently. I know everything there is to know about camping.

Donald and his nephews hopped into the car and headed toward the forest. A couple of hours later, they arrived in the woods and found a camping spot.

Huey and Louie helped their uncle put up the tent while Dewey read from the guidebook.

When they were finished setting up the tent, they put their food inside a wooden locker to keep it away from wild animals. The guidebook says to hang the food locker from a tree, said Dewey. It says bears will eat almost anything!

I already told you, I know everything there is to know about camping, Donald said. Animals arent going to take food from me!

Just then, two squirrels scampered down from a big oak tree and snatched a bag of peanuts.

Hey! Donald shouted as the squirrels scurried back up the tree. Come back here!

The guidebook says its good to share with little animals, said Louie. But we shouldnt try to share with bears!

I dont care what the book says. Those are my peanuts! replied Donald. He grabbed an ax from the camping supplies.

With all his might, Donald swung the ax toward the base of the tree. Crack! He chopped a large hole in the tree trunk, and a stream of acorns spilled onto the ground.

Why did you do that, Uncle Donald? asked Dewey. You spilled the squirrels supply of acorns for the winter.

They stole my peanuts, said Donald, angrily.

The squirrels glared at Donald Duck and then darted away.

Donald chuckled. What silly little animals!

A little while later, Huey looked up from his camping book. Uh-oh! he said, pointing into the woods. A large bear was charging toward them!

Run! Donald shouted. He and his nephews scrambled up some nearby trees.

The bear thundered to a stop at the picnic table, and began to sniff at the food locker. The two squirrels had arrived with the bear, and they sat on a branch overlooking the campsite. With one swipe of his big paw, the bear broke open the food locker. Then he took a baked ham and ambled off.

The guidebook was right, said Huey. We should have hung the locker from a tree.

Donald climbed down to the ground. I dont need a book to tell me what to do! he said, annoyed.

The two squirrels ran along the tree branches and chattered at Donald again. This time, they seemed to be laughing at him.

Ill get even with you! Donald yelled. He climbed toward the squirrels. Just as he was about to grab them, they leaped onto a thin branch that was high above the river.

Ive got you now, said Donald. He crawled out onto the branch.

Unca Donald! Dewey shouted. The book says to stay off small branches!

Crrrrack! Suddenly, the branch broke, and Donald fell into the river.

The water swiftly carried him downstream. His nephews ran alongside him. Soon they heard the thundering sound of a waterfall.

Help! Donald cried. Pull me out! He tried to swim toward the riverbank, but the current was too strong.

Up in the trees, the squirrels chattered gleefully.

Shame on you! Louie scolded the squirrels. How would you feel if your uncle was headed toward a waterfall? The squirrels stopped laughing and darted into the underbrush.

In the river, Donald spotted a big rock and grabbed on to it. Do something! he called to his nephews. Anything! Look in the guidebook!

Huey, Dewey, and Louie started flipping through the camping guide, searching for a way to help their uncle. They only looked up when the squirrels returnedwith a brown beaver!

The beaver waddled to a tree that stood beside the river and began to gnaw at it.

Whats he doing? asked Louie.

Hes trying to help! Dewey replied. If the tree falls into the river, it might be long enough to reach Uncle Donald. Please hurry!

A few minutes later, the tree fell over with a crash. It landed next to the rock that Donald was clinging to.

Donald crept along the tree trunk toward dry land. Soon he was safely ashore. Huey, Dewey, and Louie gave him a big hug.

You made it! Dewey exclaimed.

Were you scared? Louie asked.

Dont worry, Uncle Donald, Huey said. I would have thought of something.

Donald didnt answer. Instead, he ran toward his car.

Where are you going? his nephews called. Arent you going to thank the animals who rescued you?

Donald just hopped in the car and sped away. Huey, Dewey, and Louie looked at each other and shrugged.

Donald returned in an hour. His car was filled with presents for the animals who had helped him. He had nuts for the squirrels, branches for the beaver, and a big bag of seeds for the birds.

The animals and birds were delighted and began to munch on their treats.

Donald also had a sack of cement and a trowel.

Whats that for? Louie asked.

Youll see, said Donald.

He mixed the cement into a thick paste, and spread it with the trowel over the hole in the squirrels big oak tree.