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, Grandfather,” 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.”
Benny said, “It’s not nice to trick people.”
“No, it isn’t,” agreed Violet.
Adam, who was sitting up front beside his father, said, “Still, it’s possible Nessie’s cousin might be living in the lake.”
“Nessie’s cousin?” Benny frowned again.
“That’s the name of Scotland’s famous monster,” Max explained. “Nessie’s supposed to live in a lake called Loch Ness.”
“Wow,” said Benny. “You mean there’s more than one leftover dinosaur?”
Adam shrugged. “Anything’s possible.”
Jessie looked at him in surprise. At dinner the night before, Adam had made it clear he didn’t believe in the monster. Had he changed his mind?
“There’s no proof that Nessie exists, Benny,” said Henry. “And there’s no proof that Ogopogo exists, either.”
As Max turned the boat around, Adam looked back at Henry. “If Ogopogo doesn’t exist, then why would the government give Ogopogo wildlife status?”
“Wildlife status?” Henry echoed in surprise.
Max nodded. “Ogopogo was given protected wildlife status in 1989. It’s illegal to capture or harm it in any way.”
Violet looked relieved. “I’m glad.”
They were all lost in thought as they made their way back to the dock.
“Thank you so much for the tour,” Jessie said, as they scrambled out of the boat. Henry, Violet, and Benny echoed her words.
“You’re welcome aboard the Seven Seas anytime,” Max told them. “I wish we could have stayed out longer, but I’m afraid Adam and I have some errands to run.”
“No problem,” said Henry, waving goodbye.
As they headed back up the path, Violet said, “How about a swim before lunch?” The others were quick to agree.
After splashing around in the lake for almost an hour, the Aldens went back to the cabin to make lunch.
“I have an idea,” said Jessie. “Why don’t we eat by the water?” She got out the cold cuts, bread, lettuce, and mustard.
“Sure!” said Benny, washing a handful of cherries under the tap. “I love picnics.”
“Maybe we should invite Adam to join us,” Violet suggested.
Benny shook his head. “Adam and Max are running errands. Remember?”
“Oh—right,” said Violet.
“Speaking of Adam,” said Jessie, “the way he was talking today, it sounded as if he believed the monster just might exist. But last night he said he didn’t believe in it at all.”
“Yeah, that was kind of weird, wasn’t it?” said Henry.
“Maybe Adam saw Ogopogo, too.” Benny’s eyes were wide. “Last night, I mean.”
“Maybe,” said Jessie. “But I doubt it.”
“I think we should concentrate on one mystery at a time,” Violet suggested. “Let’s work on finding that treasure before it’s too late.”
Nobody argued. They knew it would take all their detective skills to solve Patch O’Brien’s riddle.
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