Boxcar Children 12 - Houseboat Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

CHAPTER 1
    Houseboat for Rent
    W hat 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