The Boxcar Children Mysteries Box Set
Page 71
The Boxcar Children Mysteries
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN
SURPRISE ISLAND
THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY
MYSTERY RANCH
MIKE’S MYSTERY
BLUE BAY MYSTERY
THE WOODSHED MYSTERY
THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY
MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY
SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY
CABOOSE MYSTERY
HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY
SNOWBOUND MYSTERY
TREE HOUSE MYSTERY
BICYCLE MYSTERY
MYSTERY IN THE SAND
MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL
BUS STATION MYSTERY
BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY
THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY
THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY
THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN
PAINTING
THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO
THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY GIRL
THE MYSTERY CRUISE
THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST
MYSTERY IN THE SNOW
THE PIZZA MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY HORSE
THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW
THE CASTLE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE
THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE
THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL
THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC
THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH
THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT
THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN
THE MYSTERY ON STAGE
THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC
THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK
THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT
AIR BALLOON
THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN
BOXCAR
THE MYSTERY IN THE CAVE
THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN
THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE
THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY
THE HURRICANE MYSTERY
THE PET SHOP MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE
THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO
THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY
THE SOCCER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC
THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER
THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL
THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY
THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY
THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY
THE PANTHER MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS
THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY
THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY
THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP
THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN
THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL
THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK
THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY
THE POISON FROG MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE
THE HOME RUN MYSTERY
THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES
THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER
GAME
THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED
HOUSE
THE HOCKEY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG
THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL
THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY
THE COPYCAT MYSTERY
THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER
MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE
THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE
MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD
MOUNTAIN
THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE
THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S
CURSE
THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY
THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP
THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT
THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY
THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY
THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY
THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY
THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE
COOKIE
THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY
THE RADIO MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY
GHOST
THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED
BOXCAR
THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE
THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING
BONES
THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT
THE GAME STORE MYSTERY
THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN
THE VANISHING PASSENGER
THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY
THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE
THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY
THE SECRET OF THE MASK
THE SEATTLE PUZZLE
THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW
THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND
A HORSE NAMED DRAGON
THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE
THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE
THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING
TOMATOES
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
copyright © 1966 by Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN: 978-1-4532-0803-8
This 2010 edition distributed by Open Road Integrated Media
180 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014
www.openroadmedia.com
Houseboat Mystery
GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER
Illustrated by David Cunningham
ALBERT WHITMAN & Company, Chicago, Illinois
My thanks to
Commander Neal E. Williams
of the United States Coast Guard
for many courtesies.
G.C.W.
Contents
CHAPTER
1 Houseboat for Rent
2 Henry’s Invention
3 Trouble Brewing
4 The Auction
5 April Center
6 Something Wrong
7 Mystery in a Picture
8 A Discovery
9 The Plan
10 Trapped!
About the Author
CHAPTER 1
Houseboat for Rent
What a hot day in July! The four Alden children were sitting under the trees with their grandfather. This was the coolest place they could find.
“Oh, it’s so hot!” said Benny Alden. “Let’s go for a ride.”
“Good!” said Grandfather Alden, looking at his four grandchildren. He stood up. “I was hoping somebody would have a good idea. Henry—”
But Henry, who was older than
Benny, had gone. They could hear him in the garage getting out the station wagon.
Jessie wiped her face with a large handkerchief. “Let’s ride until it gets cooler,” she said. “The weather report says this heat is going to last for a week.”
The Aldens’ dog, Watch, wagged his tail as he lay at Jessie’s feet. “Yes, Watch, you can go, too,” Jessie said.
Watch gave a bark and trotted along with the family. They all walked across the grass to the drive. Violet put her arm through her grandfather’s and said, “This family has the best ideas. Don’t you think so, Grandfather?”
“Yes, indeed,” Mr. Alden replied as he smiled at his younger granddaughter. “Somebody always thinks of something to do when we need it.”
“It’s funny,” said Jessie. “Things always seem to happen to this family when we don’t expect them. I was thinking I’d never feel cool again. But we will be cooler just as soon as the car is moving.”
Henry stopped the car in the driveway. The children, Grandfather, and Watch all got in and away they went. Every window was open as they rode along a straight highway.
Henry said, “Benny, I’m glad you thought of this. I feel better already.”
The Aldens rode for over an hour. Then Henry saw a sign at the left saying River Road. Henry turned left. Soon he was driving along a small river.
“Good,” said Benny. “This is even cooler. And I don’t think we’ve ever been here before.”
Jessie said, “You don’t have to drive so fast, Henry. My hair is blowing out straight.”
It was a good thing that Henry slowed down. If he had not, the Alden family might have missed an exciting adventure. But no one guessed it then.
The pretty little river flowed slowly along. There were cool green banks and trees on both sides. All at once Henry slowed down still more.
“I hear whistling,” he said. The family listened. They could hear it, too, down by the river.
Suddenly they came to a short side road that led to the river itself. Henry stopped the car, and they all looked down the side road.
“What in the world is that thing?” asked Benny. “Is it a boat?” He pointed to a little house that seemed to be sitting in the water.
“It’s a houseboat, I do believe!” said Mr. Alden. “I haven’t seen one for years and years.”
“Let’s drive down,” said Henry. “We can see what’s going on. My, this is a rough road! Lucky for me it is so short.” Henry drove slowly down the rough side road to the edge of the river.
They all looked at the little house. It had four windows and two ladders which led to the roof. At one end was a blue awning that covered the front deck. A railing ran all the way around the boat. Another railing ran around the roof. On the lower deck of the houseboat a man was sitting in a chair, whistling.
“Hello, there!” he called. “Want to see the houseboat? My name is Rivers.”
The family got out of the car and went down to see the strange man and the strange boat. The houseboat was anchored at a small dock, and also tied to the dock with a rope.
Benny looked at the dark blue letters on top of the boat. “Its name is The Blue Heron,” he said. “How did you happen to name it that?”
“I didn’t,” said Mr. Rivers. “The couple who just left named it that. You see, the people who rent this boat can name it anything they like. Come on board, and I’ll show you. Just step from the dock over here.” He took off a chain to make an opening in the railing. Watch began to whine. “Never mind, Watch,” said Jessie. “You don’t have to come. You just sit here and wait.”
The Aldens stepped on board the houseboat, leaving Watch sitting on the dock.
Mr. Rivers took down a rack that was fastened against the wall.
“Here are all the letters of the alphabet,” he said. “People who rent the boat pick out the letters and spell any name they like. You’d laugh at some of the names this boat has had. One couple named it Rock and Roll. Another named it Moon Rocket. And another tired family named it The All Inn.”
Benny laughed. “It would be fun to name a boat,” he said. “It could even be a different name every day. Now the first day we could name it for Grandfather, The James H. Alden. The next day it could be The Henry James Alden, then The Jessie Alden, and so on.”
Everybody laughed. Mr. Rivers said, “I guess you’re the one in the family with grand ideas. Comical, I’d say.”
“Benny talks as if we were really going to rent your houseboat, Mr. Rivers,” said Jessie. “And it really would be fun. There are chairs on the deck and everything. I suppose you can sit here under the awning and stay out of the hot sun.”
Mr. Rivers smiled. He pointed to the flat roof of the houseboat. “Yes, and if you want to get tanned, just climb up the ladder and lie down in the sun.”
Violet said, “Just look at the pretty white curtains in the windows. They make it look like a big dollhouse.”
Mr. Alden had been looking at the houseboat, too, and now he looked at Mr. Rivers. He seemed to like what he saw. “Do you own this boat?” he asked.
“Yes, I do,” Mr. Rivers answered. “I rent this boat by the week. Everybody seems to like it. The last family went today, and they were very sorry to go. I have just cleaned it all up for the next customer. Why don’t you look around?”
“Oh, let’s look at it, Grandfather,” said Jessie.
“It’s made like a flatboat,” said Henry. He was looking down over the railing into the water. “It’s like a raft. I’m sure it can’t go very fast.”
“That’s right,” said Mr. Rivers. “In fact, it just floats down the river all by itself. If you want to land, you can use those two poles to push it ashore. Coming back up the river, you have to use the motor on the back.”
Grandfather said, “Well, this river seems to be very slow. I must say that living here would be a nice quiet rest. Of course, these grandchildren of mine are all tired out by a whole year in school. They would just love to do nothing.”
The Aldens looked at their grandfather. They knew he was joking because no Alden ever liked to do nothing.
“Let’s go inside,” said Jessie.
Benny was inside already. He sat on one of the bunk beds. “I don’t think this boat is big enough for us, Mr. Rivers,” he said. “We need five beds and there are only two.”
“There are six beds,” said Mr. Rivers, smiling.
“Where?” asked Benny. He looked all around, but he didn’t see any more bunks.
Mr. Rivers said, “A houseboat has to be small. Everything has to be shipshape. That means that things must be in perfect order or you can’t get everything in. Here are the other beds.” He pulled one down out of the wall.
“What do you know!” said Benny. “That’s pretty smart. Now I see the others. They all have curtains.”
“I suppose this is the water tank under the sink,” said Henry. He took off the cover. “You can’t drink the river water, can you?”
“No, you have to go ashore for drinking water and supplies. There are many places along the river where you can stop for water and ice and other things. You can use the river water for washing, though.”
“Let’s go, Grandfather!” said Benny.
The Aldens knew what Benny meant. He wanted to rent the houseboat and start out tomorrow. That was how the Aldens liked to do things—in a hurry.
But Mr. Alden was not in a hurry this time. He put his hand on Benny’s shoulder and said, “We’d better go slow, Benny. We have to know how to handle this boat for one thing.”
“I know how,” said Henry.
Everyone stared at him. “How do you know, Henry?” asked Benny.
“Well, you remember one weekend I visited a fellow in school? His family had a boat something like this, and I learned how to steer it. We had a grand time. Benny can help me pole the boat when we want to land, and I know how to run the outboard motor when we want to come home.”
“Well, how lucky!” said Jessie. It was plain that she
wanted to try living on the houseboat.
Violet said, “If we don’t like it, we can always come back, can’t we?”
That settled it for Mr. Alden. He really wanted to try it himself.
Mr. Rivers said, “It is really very safe. This river has no dangerous places. Every night it is easy to find a place along the bank to drop anchor. There aren’t many boats on this river, but still you don’t want one of them to run into you. Do you understand about lights, young man?”
“Yes,” said Henry. “From sunset to sunrise there must be white lights about eight feet above the water so that other boats can see you for one mile.”
“Well, well!” said Mr. Rivers. “Good for you! What else do you know?”
“I suppose you have a fire extinguisher and life jackets?” answered Henry. “And a bell? Yes, I see the bell right up there on top.”
Mr. Rivers said, “Life jackets right there. Six of them.” He pointed to the wall of the first cabin. “And it’s the law to have a fire extinguisher. I have a fire pail and a sandbox, too. You know that you can put out a fire by pouring sand on it.”
Benny got down and read the printing on the pail. It said, “Keep water up to this line.” On the sandbox it said, “Keep sand up to this line.”
Mr. Rivers explained, “We never had a fire yet. Everyone is careful. I had one family that let the baby play in the sand. I soon stopped that.”
“You don’t have to worry about us,” said Benny. “We promise not to play in the sand. And besides, I lost my last pail and shovel a long time ago.”
“You’re good-natured,” said Mr. Rivers. “You always see the funny side, don’t you? Comical.”
Benny looked at Henry and said, “I guess you should be the captain.”
“Then you can be my first mate,” said Henry.
Mr. Rivers said, “That’s fine! This boat is registered with the Coast Guard. They know all about it, even when its name is something different.”
“Oh, let’s go! “said Benny.
“When?” asked Mr. Rivers.
“Tomorrow,” said Grandfather, before Benny could answer. “We’ll be here at ten o’clock.”
Watch was whining and barking when his family stepped on the dock. “You don’t like this, do you, old fellow?” Henry said to the dog. “Come and get in the car.”
He turned the car around while Mr. Alden talked with Mr. Rivers about the rent.