The Canoe Trip Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner Read Free Book Online Page B

and oak trees. The trees were so tall, they blocked out what little light there was that day.
    Benny walked on ahead while Jessie waited for Violet to catch up.
    â€œI wish it weren’t so overcast,” Violet commented when she reached her sister. “It makes this forest look very eerie.”
    â€œThere’s a big meadow up ahead,” Benny said, running back to his sisters. “I also saw another old house.”
    â€œReally? Let’s go see it,” Jessie said. By then Henry and Aunt Jane had joined them. Together, they all walked quickly through the woods to the meadow.
    The meadow around the house was large and overgrown. Clumps of buttercups and daisies grew near the house.
    â€œOh, look at all these beautiful flowers!” Violet said. Her eyes were shining.
    â€œOh, Violet, don’t waste time pickingflowers. Come see the big old house.” Benny took his sister’s hand.
    â€œOkay. Benny, I’m coming.” Violet laughed and ran toward the house with her brother.
    â€œCareful, those steps don’t look too safe,” Aunt Jane warned Benny and Violet.
    The house was built of wood and painted a faded mustard yellow. It had white shutters and a porch that sagged. The porch steps were broken and so were many of the windowpanes.
    â€œThis house must be about one hundred years old,” Henry said.
    Benny climbed onto the porch. “I don’t think anyone lives here,” he said.
    â€œNo, it looks abandoned,” Henry agreed.
    Benny pulled on the ornate doorknob. “It’s locked,” he reported. He tugged some more, but soon gave up and went around to the back.
    â€œHey!” he called to the others. “I’ve found something else!”
    They found Benny standing by an oldstone well near the back of the house.
    â€œThat’s an old well, Benny,” Henry said. “It must belong to the house. It was probably built before there was running water.”
    â€œThat’s it!” Violet’s eyes were shining. The others looked puzzled.
    â€œWhat’s it?” Henry asked.
    â€œRemember the riddle?” Violet asked. Jessie smiled and pulled a piece of paper out of her big pocket.
    â€œâ€˜Silver and gold coins, so well hidden,’” she read.
    â€œOf course,” Henry smiled. “The coins are hidden in a well !”
    â€œAnd we are near Catfish Lake,” Jessie reminded them all.
    Henry leaned over the edge of the well.
    â€œCan you see anything?” Benny asked a bit impatiently.
    â€œBe careful,” Aunt Jane warned Henry.
    â€œDon’t worry, Aunt Jane,” Henry said. He was leaning so far into the well, his voice sounded muffled.
    â€œWell, do you see anything?” Benny repeated.

    â€œNo,” Henry answered. “Maybe I should go back for my flashlight.”
    â€œI have an idea,” Jessie said. “Why don’t we first see if any of these stones are loose?” She began prying the stones on the top.
    Henry, Violet, Benny, and Aunt Jane set to work helping her. To Benny it seemed as if more than an hour had gone by before Violet shouted, “I found a loose stone.”
    The others crowded around her. The loose stone was three rows down from the top of the wall.
    â€œCareful,” Henry warned. “You don’t want all the stones around it to fall out, too.”
    â€œThis is the only stone that’s loose,” Jessie pointed out.
    Slowly, Jessie and Violet wiggled and pried the stone until it came out from the wall of the well.
    â€œIs there anything behind it?” Benny asked.
    â€œYes, I see something,” Jessie reported excitedly. She reached in the hole and slowly pulled out a brown leather pouch.
    â€œWow, it’s really heavy,” she said as shedropped it onto the ground.
    They all sat in the long grass by the well and watched Benny unbuckle the pouch. Inside were almost one hundred gold and silver coins.
    â€œOh, some