The Canoe Trip Mystery Read Free Page A

haven’t met any other canoeists so far,” Jessie said. She pulled a large worn blanket from her backpack.
    â€œThis reminds me of when we lived in the boxcar,” Benny said, as he helped Jessie gather a big pile of pine needles to put under the blanket. Violet picked some wildflowers. “Things should look special for our first meal on the trail,” she said. She put the flowers in her tin cup and placed them in the middle of the picnic blanket.
    Jessie took five plates, cups, forks, and spoons out of the bag of cooking utensils and set them on the blanket. Aunt Jane wrapped five potatoes in aluminum foil to put on the coals. Benny helped Henry punch holes in the hot dogs with a fork. Violet cut up some of Mrs. McGregor’s fresh homemade bread for buns.
    Soon dinner was ready and everything was delicious. They finished a loaf of Mrs. McGregor’s homemade bread, ate up all the hot dogs and potatoes, and drank lots of water from the stream. Then they had fresh fruit and homemade brownies for dessert.
    After dinner, Jessie boiled a big kettle of water and they all helped wash and dry the dishes. When everything had been put away, they walked to the big rock in the woods.
    â€œEvery word in a riddle means something,” Aunt Jane said as she looked at the riddle on the rock.

    â€œSilver and gold coins, so well hidden
To seek and find them, you are bidden.
A cat with whiskers but no feet
Guards them near his silver sheet. ”
    â€œI wonder if they’re talking about those coins that were stolen,” Henry said.
    â€œCould be,” said Aunt Jane.
    â€œSomewhere in this riddle is the clue to where the coins are hidden,” said Jessie.
    â€œThey’re ‘well hidden,’” Henry said. “That doesn’t tell us much of anything.”
    â€œYou don’t know,” Aunt Jane answered. “Remember, every word in a riddle tries to tell you something.”
    â€œWhat do you think they mean by a cat with whiskers but no feet?” Benny asked. He looked a little discouraged.
    â€œWait a minute,” Henry said. He had just thought of something. “Maybe they’re talking about a place. Think of a place near here with the word cat in it.” Henry looked teasingly at his brother.
    â€œCatfish Lake!” Violet and Benny said at the same time.
    â€œGood,” Aunt Jane said. “Catfish certainly have whiskers but no feet.”
    â€œThe silver sheet is the lake,” Jessie said. “You know—when the water is calm it looks like a smooth silver sheet.”
    â€œNow we know the coins are hidden—well hidden—near Catfish Lake,” Henry said.
    â€œWhen will we be on Catfish Lake?” Benny asked.
    â€œIn a couple of days, at most,” Henry answered.
    â€œI think we’ve solved the riddle,” Benny said.
    â€œBut we haven’t found the coins yet,” Henry said, laughing.
    â€œMaybe there are more clues near the abandoned house,” Violet suggested.
    Aunt Jane and the Aldens searched the grounds around the house until it became dark. They found more piles of ashes in the woods.
    â€œSomeone sure is doing a lot of burning,” Violet said.
    â€œYes, it might be campers making fires,” Aunt Jane said.
    â€œOr maybe only one person is making all these fires,” Henry said.
    â€œMaybe he or she is trying to burn any clues that might lead us to the coins,” Jessie added.
    Aunt Jane and the children nodded. It seemed there was nothing to do but go back to their campsite.
    That night, all the Aldens fell asleep right away. Around midnight, Benny stirred. He thought he heard a sound.
    Owowowowooooo … owowowooooo. …
    Benny blinked and sat up in his sleeping bag. “Did you hear that?” he asked Henry.
    But Henry was still sound asleep. It was very dark in the tent. Staying in his sleeping bag, Benny rolled across the floor until he could touch Henry’s