The Creature in Ogopogo Lake Read online

  “She won’t back off until Abby sells the resort,” said Jessie.

  “What makes you so sure?” Violet asked in surprise.

  Jessie quickly told them about the phone conversation she’d overheard at the fruit and vegetable market. “Rilla said she needs this sale, and that she doesn’t want to come in second this year.”

  Henry nodded. “I bet she was talking about the top sales award.”

  “I have a hunch,” Jessie said after a moment’s thought, “that if Abby doesn’t sell the resort, Rilla won’t win.”

  “I think you’re right,” said Violet. “And she plans to do whatever it takes.”

  “Well, guess what?” said Benny. “We’ll do whatever it takes, too—to find the treasure.”

  “For sure, Benny,” said Henry.

  CHAPTER 3

  A Sighting

  “See that boat over there?” Benny was standing by the water’s edge. “The one at the end of the dock?”

  The four Alden children were helping Abby get ready for the picnic. Henry looked over. “What about it, Benny?”

  “I bet that’s the one Abby was talking about,” guessed Benny. “The one Patch left to her, I mean.”

  “You’re right on the mark, Benny,” Abby said, coming up behind them. She was carrying a bowl filled with pasta salad. “That’s the Seven Seas.”

  “What a great name for a boat!” said Jessie. She made room for Abby’s salad among the plastic containers and covered dishes.

  Abby nodded. “Patch spent most of his life sailing the seven seas searching for treasures. When he finally saved up enough to buy that old boat, he decided the Seven Seas was the perfect name for her.”

  “Was Patch a pirate?” Benny’s eyes were wide.

  “No, nothing like that, Benny.” Abby couldn’t help smiling. “When ships sailed the oceans long ago,” she explained, “they were often caught in terrible storms. Sometimes the ships would sink to the bottom of the ocean. Patch was part of a diving crew that searched for lost treasures on sunken ships.”

  “How exciting!” said Violet.

  “Wow,” added Henry.

  “Maybe that’s what he left you, Abby,”

  Benny exclaimed. “One of the treasures he found at sea!”

  “That’s not likely, Benny,” Abby told him. “Patch had nothing but the clothes on his back when he arrived on my doorstep. I’m afraid he never got rich looking for treasures on the ocean floor.”

  Violet shook her head sadly. “That’s a shame.”

  “Oh, not really, Violet,” said Abby. “You see, Patch never placed any importance on money. He always said it was the search he enjoyed.”

  The Aldens understood. They were never happier than when they were on the trail of clues.

  “Did Patch live around here?” Henry wondered.

  “Yes, he made his home in one of the cabins,” Abby told Henry. “He’d give me a hand with the chores in exchange for a roof over his head. Of course,” she added, “I got the better end of that deal.”

  “Why do you say that, Abby?” asked Violet.

  “Because Patch worked very hard. When he wasn’t helping me, he was busy painting or carving. And let me tell you, everything he made sold like hotcakes. That’s how he bought that old boat.”

  Just then, Grandfather came down the path, carrying a pitcher of lemonade. “Where do you want this, Abby?”

  Abby laughed. “Wherever you can find room, James.”

  “Who else is coming, Abby?” Jessie asked. She had noticed the two extra places at the table.

  “I invited Max Lowe and his son, Adam, to join us,” said Abby. “They’re staying in the second cabin down from yours.”

  “Will they be coming soon?” Benny asked hopefully.

  “Don’t worry, Benny.” Jessie smiled at her little brother. “I’m sure we’ll be eating before long.”

  Abby handed the youngest Alden a celery stick with cheese in it. “Here you go, Benny. This should tide you over.”

  “Hey, save some for us!” a voice called from the lakeside path.

  Everyone turned to see a tall man with a tumble of sandy curls walking towards them. Beside him was a boy about Henry’s age, his nose peeling from the sun.

  “There’s enough here to feed an army, Max,” Abby said with a grin. Then she introduced the Aldens to Max Lowe and his son, Adam. “We’ve been talking about the Seven Seas,” she told them, as everyone crowded around the long picnic table.

  “Patch did a great job restoring that old boat,” said Max, lifting some food onto his plate. “We sure make good use of it.”

  Abby nodded. “Max and Adam take folks out Ogopogo hunting,” she explained. “Visitors get a tour of the lake and a chance to catch a glimpse of the famous monster.”

  “Sounds like fun,” said Henry. Then he turned to Adam. “I bet you get all kinds of questions about the monster.”

  Adam nodded. “Everybody wants to know what Ogopogo looks like.”

  “We tell them as much as we can,” added Max.

  “They handle the boat tours for me,” put in Abby. “In return, they get a free cabin for the summer.”

  “Adam and I really look forward to getting away from the city in the summer,” Max explained.

  Grandfather helped himself to the coleslaw. “Sounds like it works out for everyone.”

  “It sure does,” said Adam.

  Benny was wondering about something. “Adam, have you ever seen the monster?”

  “Nope.” Adam smiled at the Aldens. “We’ve been around the lake about a million times and we haven’t spotted anything strange. I don’t think there is a monster out there, Benny.”

  Max put down his fork and looked around at the Aldens. “Why don’t we check it out? Who’s up for some Ogopogo hunting?”

  Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny waved their hands high in the air.

  Max looked pleased. “How about meeting us at the end of the dock around ten tomorrow morning?”

  “Sure,” said Jessie. “If that’s okay with you, Grandfather.”

  Grandfather nodded. “You can’t pass up a chance like that.”

  “I’ll bring my binoculars,” said Benny. He sounded excited.

  “And I won’t forget about my camera,” added Violet.

  “Then it’s settled.” Max looked pleased. “It’ll give us a good excuse to take the boat out. It’s been a while since we’ve booked a tour.”

  “Yes, business has been pretty slow.” Abby sighed. “What we need is a good Ogopogo sighting.”

  Grandfather chuckled. “I imagine that would bring the tourists into town.”

  “Oh, yes,” said Abby. “Business always picks up after a report of a strange creature in the water.”

  “If I remember right,” said Grandfather, “Peachland holds the record for the most sightings. Doesn’t it?”

  “It sure does.” Max reached for the pepper. “Every summer someone around here says they’ve seen Ogopogo.”

  “I bet I know why,” piped up Benny. “I bet it’s because Ogopogo makes his home right across the lake.”

  “You catch on fast, Benny.” Abby smiled at the youngest Alden. “Would you pass the butter, Adam?”

  Adam didn’t answer. He was staring out at the lake.

  “Adam?”

  Adam still made no reply. When Abby reached out and put a hand gently on his arm, he suddenly jerked his head around. “Oh!” He seemed to have forgotten where he was.

  “You’re a million miles away, Adam,” said Abby. “What are you thinking about?”

  “I’m … um, not feeling very well,” Adam said quickly. “Guess I got a bit too much sun today. Is it okay if I go back to the cabin?” Adam looked over at his father expectantly.

  “Go ahead,” Max answered, a note of concern in his voice. “I won’t be long.”

  Jessie couldn’t help noticing that Adam had eaten every bit of food on his plate. Was he really not feeling well?

  “I hop
e Adam’s better by tomorrow,” Benny said, as Adam hurried away. “For the Ogopogo hunt, I mean.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” said Max. “The truth is, Adam hasn’t been himself lately. I’m afraid he’s upset about the resort being sold.”

  Abby nodded her head sadly. “Believe me, the last thing I want to do is sell my home.”

  “What if you did some advertising, Abby?” Grandfather suggested. “It might bring in more business.”

  Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny all paid attention when their grandfather spoke. James Alden knew all there was to know about business.

  “Yes,” agreed Abby. “Advertising would help, James. But it takes money to advertise. And the truth is, I’m pinching pennies right now. Besides,” she added, “it’s awfully hard to compete with the fancier resorts. Some of them even have waterslides.” She let out a long sigh. “Waterslides are very popular right now.”

  Violet spoke up. “What if we painted the signs out front for you, Abby?” she offered. “Bright colors would really make them stand out.”

  Grandfather nodded approvingly. “It would certainly catch a tourist’s eye.”

  “That would be wonderful.” Abby looked surprised—and pleased. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”

  “It’s fun to paint!” Benny piped up. And Henry and Jessie nodded.

  “That’s very kind of you,” said Abby. “Now, there’s a paint store in town, but it’s closed tomorrow. Why don’t you stop by the gift shop on Monday. I’ll give you some money from the cash register, and you can get what you need. Oh!” Abby touched a hand to her mouth. “I almost forgot! I have something for you, Benny.”

  “For me?” Benny pointed to himself.

  Abby reached into her straw bag and pulled out a stuffed Ogopogo. She held it out to the youngest Alden.

  Benny was grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you very much!”

  “Ogopogo will be good company for Stockings,” Violet said, smiling over at her little brother. Stockings was a rag bear made from old socks. Violet and Jessie had made the rag bear for Benny when they were living in the boxcar.

  Over dessert, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny took turns telling Abby and Max all about their boxcar days. When they were finished, they gave Abby a hand clearing the picnic table.

  After the dishes were finished, Abby led the way into her living room.

  “Is that the carving Patch made for you, Abby?” Henry asked. He pointed to the Ogopogo carving beside the fireplace. The carving was attached to a wooden stand.

  Abby nodded. “Yes, isn’t it wonderful?” she said with a smile. “Oh, speaking of Patch, why don’t I show you that riddle?”

  As they made themselves comfortable on the sofa, Abby reached for the photo album on the coffee table. She began flipping through the pages. “Here it is!” She handed a snapshot to Violet.

  “Somebody sure likes cats,” Violet said, as she studied the photograph of seven cats curled up along a weathered green bench.

  “Patch had a real soft spot for them,” said Abby. “He was always taking in strays.”

  “What happened to them?” Benny wanted to know. “After Patch died, I mean.”

  “Well, I couldn’t take them in myself,” Abby told him. “You see, they always made me sneeze up a storm. But I made sure they all went to good homes.”

  Violet passed the photograph to Henry. Henry passed it to Benny. Benny passed it to Jessie. They were each wondering the same thing. What did a snapshot have to do with the riddle?

  “Flip it over, Jessie,” Abby instructed.

  On the back of the photograph, Jessie found a verse printed in black ink.

  “What does that say?” Benny asked, checking it out over her shoulder. He was just learning to read. Jessie read the riddle aloud:

  An awesome treasure

  you can find

  with the clue

  I’ve left behind.

  “Wow,” said Benny. “That’s not much to go on.”

  “You got that right!” agreed Henry. “What clue did he leave behind?”

  “I don’t know! I haven’t had any luck figuring it out,” Abby told them.

  “None at all?” asked Violet.

  “Zero.”

  The Aldens looked at one another. How in the world were they going to find the answer to such a strange riddle?

  CHAPTER 4

  Ogopogo Hunting

  It was dark by the time the Aldens headed back to their cabin. They were just climbing the porch steps when Benny stopped so suddenly that Violet almost bumped into him.

  “I forgot Ogopogo!” he cried. “The one Abby gave me.”

  “Oh, you probably left it by the picnic table,” guessed Jessie. “First thing in the morning, we’ll—” But Benny was gone before she could finish.

  Running full speed along the path, Benny made his way to the water’s edge. Sure enough, his stuffed Ogopogo was right where he’d left it—on the bench beside the picnic table. He was just about to hurry back to his brother and sisters when he heard something—a splashing sound. For a long moment, he stood frozen to the spot, his heart pounding. Then, turning slowly, he looked out at the moonlit lake.

  “Uh-oh!” The youngest Alden could hardly believe his eyes! In the water, not far from the dock, was the inky outline of a strange creature with three humps, a long neck, and a head like a sheep!

  In a flash, Benny wheeled around and raced back along the path. He soon ran smack into Henry, Jessie, and Violet, who were on their way to find him.

  Jessie could tell by her little brother’s face that something had happened. “What’s going on, Benny?” she asked in alarm. “Are you okay?”

  Benny pointed to the lake. “Ogopogo!” he gasped, trying to catch his breath.

  Henry wasn’t having any of that. “There’s no monster out there, Benny,” he said firmly.

  Violet glanced over at Henry. She knew her older brother was probably right. But Benny’s words still sent a chill through her.

  “There’s only one thing to do,” Jessie said, putting a comforting arm around her little brother. “Let’s go check it out.”

  Benny wasn’t too sure about this. Still, he followed his brother and sisters back to the picnic table.

  “Where did you see it, Benny?” Henry asked him.

  “Over there.” Benny pointed. “Close to the dock.”

  But when Henry, Jessie, and Violet looked out at the moonlit lake, they could see nothing but the old boat at the end of the dock. There was no sign of any monster.

  “Whatever you saw, Benny,” said Henry, “it’s gone now.”

  “It was Ogopogo,” Benny insisted, as they headed back along the path. “I saw it with my own eyes.”

  “Remember what Grandfather told us, Benny?” Jessie reminded him. “When he was growing up, he was sure he’d spotted Ogopogo, too.”

  Henry nodded. “But it was just logs floating in the water.”

  “I’m sure that’s all it was, Benny,” said Violet. She wasn’t really sure, but wanted her little brother to believe she was.

  The next morning at breakfast, the children decided not to say anything about Ogopogo, but they told their grandfather about the strange riddle. Jessie finished by saying, “Patch left a clue behind, but we don’t know where.”

  Grandfather helped himself to a few strips of crispy bacon. Then he passed the platter to Benny. “It won’t be long before you figure things out,” he said with a chuckle.

  Violet, who was spreading honey on her toast, looked up. “I hope you’re right, Grandfather. We have to find the treasure before Abby sells the resort.”

  Henry agreed. “We’ll get started on it the minute we get back from the boat tour.”

  “Don’t forget to wear your hats,” Grandfather reminded them. “The sun can get pretty hot on Okanagan Lake.”

  “You mean, Ogopogo Lake!” Benny corrected.

  Grandfather nodded and smiled.

  “Don’t worry, Grandfa
ther,” Jessie assured him. “We’ll be careful.”

  After leaving the kitchen spic and span, the four Alden children said good-bye to their grandfather, then raced down to the dock. True to their word, Max and Adam were waiting for them by the boat.

  “Glad you remembered your camera, Violet,” Max told her. “It’s a beautiful day for taking pictures.”

  As Max untied the boat from the rings on the dock, everyone put on their life jackets. Henry and Violet perched on the padded bench seat along one side of the boat. Jessie and Benny sat down across from them.

  Max hopped aboard. “Ready to head out?”

  Henry gave him the thumbs-up. “We’re ready!”

  Max started up the motor, sending the seagulls scattering. The Seven Seas was soon speeding across the water. For a while, no one said a word. They were all too busy enjoying the warm sun on their faces and the wind in their hair. Every now and again, passing boaters waved as they went by. The Aldens were quick to wave back.

  When Jessie looked up, she noticed an airplane trailing a banner behind it. The banner read: FUN IN THE SUN AT THE OGOPOGO RESORT. With that kind of advertising, Jessie realized, it was no wonder Abby’s resort was overlooked.

  “That’s Rattlesnake Island over there,” Max told them. “According to local legend, Ogopogo makes its home in an underwater cave somewhere between Rattlesnake Island and Squally Point. Native tribes once called the creature N’ha-a-itk, or ‘lake demon,’”

  Jessie spoke up. “How did it get the name Ogopogo?”

  “Somebody wrote a song about the creature years ago,” Max explained, “calling it Ogopogo. I guess the name just caught on.”

  “Grandfather thought he saw Ogopogo once,” Benny said, peering through his binoculars. “But it was just logs.”

  “Just about anything can play tricks on the eye,” Max told them. “Even waves from a passing boat or a school of fish. And, of course, there’s always the occasional hoax.”

  Benny frowned. “Hoax?”

  Henry explained, “A hoax is when somebody tries to fool people.”

  “That’s right,” said Max. “I’m afraid fake Ogopogos crop up every now and again.”