A dingo distraction Down Under!

  It took at least half an hour to find all the stray dingoes and corral them back to the yard. Meanwhile, no one had been inside to keep an eye on things—including the Reddimus box.

  The Aldens exchanged glances. They knew who might do such a thing.

  “Quickly, Dr. Webb,” Henry said. “We need to be sure the artifact is safe!”

  They hurried back to Dr. Webb’s office. Some of the books had been knocked off the desk and were on the ground, and the window was open where it had been closed before. Most importantly, the Reddimus box on the desk was open. There was nothing inside…

  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

  THE 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 HONEYBEE MYSTERY

  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

  THE SPY GAME

  THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY

  THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY

  SUPERSTAR WATCH

  THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS

  THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW

  THE PUMPKIN HEAD MYSTERY

  THE CUPCAKE CAPER

  THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN

  MONKEY TROUBLE

  THE ZOMBIE PROJECT

  THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST

  THE GARDEN THIEF

  THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE

  THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD

  THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT

  THE MYSTERY OF THE GRINNING GARGOYLE

  THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH

  THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING POP IDOL

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN DINOSAUR BONES

  THE MYSTERY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE

  THE SLEEPY HOLLOW MYSTERY

  THE LEGEND OF THE IRISH CASTLE

  THE CELEBRITY CAT CAPER

  HIDDEN IN THE HAUNTED SCHOOL

  THE ELECTION DAY DILEMMA

  JOURNEY ON A RUNAWAY TRAIN

  THE CLUE IN THE PAPYRUS SCROLL

  THE DETOUR OF THE ELEPHANTS

  THE SHACKLETON SABOTAGE

  THE KHIPU AND THE FINAL KEY

  Copyright © 2017 by Albert Whitman & Company

  Published in 2017 by Albert Whitman & Company

  ISBN 978-0-8075-0687-5 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-0-8075-068
8-2 (paperback)

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® is a registered

  trademark of Albert Whitman & Company.

  Printed in the United States of America

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 LB 22 21 20 19 18 17

  Illustrations by Anthony VanArsdale

  Visit the Boxcar Children online at www.boxcarchildren.com.

  For more information about Albert Whitman & Company,

  visit our website at www.albertwhitman.com.

  Contents

  1. Connecting the Dots

  2. Riddle behind the Scenes

  3. The Coin in the Box

  4. A Curious Acrostic

  5. Dingoes on the Loose!

  6. Owls and Penguins

  7. The Mysterious Continent

  8. Shackleton’s Semaphore

  9. Returning the Sixth Artifact

  10. The Man in the Red Hat

  Connecting the Dots

  Henry Alden traced his fingers over the colorful patterns painted on the boomerang. He sat with his two sisters, Violet and Jessie, in the comfortable cabin of the Reddimus Society’s private jet. The children had just received the boomerang in a package, and they knew it held a clue that would lead them to the next stop on their journey. But none of their clues had been as beautiful and detailed as the boomerang.

  Benny, the youngest Alden, was interested in the boomerang, but he couldn’t stop looking out the plane window. Below, Bangkok, Thailand, grew smaller and smaller in the distance. He watched the city as it disappeared behind a layer of puffy clouds. Then he turned in his seat to look at the boomerang too.

  “There are so many dots,” he said.

  There really were. Black and white dots formed wavy lines. Other dots were the colors of the sunset, orange and red. The bright red reminded Benny of the Alden’s boxcar. Benny knew the boxcar, Grandfather, and their dog, Watch, would all be waiting for them when the children were done returning the seven artifacts for the Reddimus Society. But he missed seeing them. And it had been nice to have Cousin Joe, Cousin Alice, and Soo Lee with them as they traveled through China and Thailand—especially with the archrival Argents constantly trying to throw them off course.

  Violet noticed Benny’s quietness. As if she knew what he was thinking, she said, “Don’t be too homesick, Benny. Cousin Alice told us someone will be waiting for us at our next stop. I wonder who it could be.”

  The idea that someone familiar would be waiting for them—wherever they were going—gave Benny a warm feeling of relief. He nodded. “Maybe Grandfather?”

  Jessie ruffled Benny’s hair. “Maybe! We have plenty of friends and family who might be there to pick us up. Think of it as a surprise!”

  Benny imagined Grandfather and Watch waiting for them at the airport when they arrived at their next stop. His worries about the Argents faded.

  “I can’t wait to see who it is,” he said. “Let’s think about our clue, so we can find out!”

  They all looked at it closely to see if there was a hidden message like the previous clues they had received. Violet noticed the figure of a wiggly snake and a fish among the painted shapes. She pointed at one of the animals.

  “That looks like a kangaroo. See the long feet and the tail?” she said. “I learned about this style of painting in art class. It looks like Aboriginal art.”

  “What’s Aboriginal?” Benny asked.

  “Aboriginal Australians were the first people to live in Australia,” Jessie explained. “There are many Aboriginal groups in Australia, like there are many groups of Native Americans in the United States.”

  “So that means—” Violet began.

  “We’re going to Australia!” Benny exclaimed. He had learned in school about the animals that live on the continent. Some are so special they can’t be found anywhere else in the world. “I want to see kangaroos. And koalas!”

  “But where in Australia?” Henry asked. As the oldest, he was not quite as excited as Benny. When he saw the boomerang, he had thought the Aldens might be going to Australia. But he hadn’t wanted to say too much around their pilots, Emilio and Mr. Ganert. When the children had been in Thailand, they had figured out one of the pilots was working for the Argents.

  The Aldens’ friend from the Reddimus Society, Tricia Silverton, had worried someone was giving information to their rivals. That’s why she hid all her instructions in riddles and clues. It was like a code only the Aldens could crack. Henry knew they would need to tell their pilots where they were going, but he didn’t want to give them any more information than he needed to.

  “Isn’t Australia an island?” Benny asked.

  “Yes, but it’s a very big island,” Jessie explained. “It’s almost the size of the continental United States.”

  Violet was still looking at the boomerang. It wasn’t long before she noticed something.

  “Look,” she said. “Some of the dots in the pattern have smaller dots inside them.”

  They all looked closer. Inside some of the red dots were tiny yellow dots. They were hard to see unless the children looked closely.

  “Good eyes, Violet,” Henry said.

  Together, they found all the red dots with yellow centers. Violet drew an invisible line with her finger. The invisible line made letters, which she spelled out loud so she wouldn’t forget.

  “S…Y…D…N…E…Y,” she spelled. “Sydney!”

  “Just like connect the dots!” Benny said. “Is Sydney a place in Australia?”

  “Not just a place, but one of Australia’s most exciting places!” came a jolly voice from behind them. “It’s the capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities.”

  The Aldens looked up. Emilio walked into the cabin. He and the other pilot, Mr. Ganert, took turns flying the plane.

  “Ready for a great joke about Australia?” Emilio asked.

  “Not right now,” Henry said politely. In the beginning, he had enjoyed Emilio’s silly jokes. But now that they knew Emilio might be working for the Argents, they wondered if maybe his jokes were part of his disguise. “It does look like we’re headed to Sydney, though. Is it a long flight from here?”

  “Hmm, from here it’s about nine hours. I’ll tell Mr. Ganert to set a course right away. I’m glad you figured out the clue, even if you all seem very serious right now…We’ll save the joke for another time.”

  Emilio winked before he went back to the cockpit. Benny sighed.

  “I kind of wanted to hear the joke,” he said.

  “I’ve got a joke that has to do with Australia,” Jessie said. “What do you call a lazy baby kangaroo?” She paused and looked at her siblings. “A pouch potato!”

  Benny imagined a baby kangaroo lazing about in its mother’s pouch, and it made him laugh.

  “A pouch potato! That’s a good one, Jessie.”

  The four children were getting used to long flights, so the trip to Australia was not bad at all. Jessie spent the flight reading about Sydney on her laptop. Henry played checkers with Benny while Violet drew dot animals like the ones on the boomerang. She drew animals they had seen in their travels: a camel from Egypt, a giraffe from Kenya, and an elephant from Thailand.

  By the time the Reddimus plane began to descend, all four Aldens went to the windows. Sydney looked like a big city, and it stretched right up to the coast. There were many little islands in the bay and a big arched bridge. The children could see boats going back and forth between the ports.

  “What’s that?” asked Benny, pointing to a building that looked like a white seashell.

  “That must be the Sydney Opera House,” Jessie exclaimed. “I was reading about it. It’s a very famous building where all sorts of performances take place.”

  “Operas? Lik
e singing?” Benny asked.

  “Yes. They also have a ballet, a theater company, and an orchestra.”

  “It would be so wonderful if we could listen to the orchestra,” Violet said as the opera house passed out of sight. The airport came into view, and Mr. Ganert’s grumpy voice came over the speakers to tell them they were going to land soon. Henry checked on the three remaining Reddimus boxes. To keep the boxes safe, the Aldens had put one in each of their three remaining camera cases. The fourth case belonged to Violet. But they had used it as a decoy in Thailand to help them figure out if one of their pilots was working for the Argents. Now they had three cases left, one for each Reddimus box.

  When the children exited the plane onto the tarmac, they were surprised to see a familiar face waiting for them. It was Grandfather’s sister, Great Aunt Jane! She was dressed up in a splendid yellow dress and blue hat. She even had a string of pearls around her neck. She gave them all hugs when they met her.

  “My, look at you all in your fancy private jet!” she exclaimed.

  “Aunt Jane! It’s so good to see you,” Jessie said. “You look very fancy yourself! What’s the occasion?”

  “The four of you, of course. Your grandfather called to chat the other day and told me what you have been up to. Then this morning, I got a call from Mrs. Silverton asking if I had any interest in visiting Australia! She said her granddaughter Tricia believed I was the perfect person to meet you. I couldn’t tell you why, but I’m glad to be here! She even booked tickets for the five of us to see the orchestra and tour the Sydney Opera House! That’s why I’m all done up like this. It’s a very special occasion.”

  Violet and Benny exchanged looks and jumped with joy. They calmed themselves when Emilio and Mr. Ganert joined them on the tarmac. Henry introduced Aunt Jane but did not say anything about the tour or the orchestra.

  “Be sure to call and let us know when you find the next clue,” Emilio said. “I’m sure Trudy will be glad to know we’re one step closer to returning all the items.”

  Trudy was Mrs. Silverton’s other granddaughter and Tricia’s sister. While Tricia secretively left the clues for the Aldens to follow, Trudy was the Silverton the Aldens talked to most. She helped them make travel arrangements.

  “Don’t dawdle,” Mr. Ganert added gruffly.

  The Aldens said good-bye to the pilots and went with Aunt Jane to check in with their passports. After that was taken care of, Aunt Jane called a taxi, and the five of them left the airport. Violet was especially glad to see Aunt Jane. She sat next to her in the taxi. When they first met Aunt Jane, she was unfriendly, but as the children spent more time with her, Aunt Jane had grown to like them. After a little while, she mended her relationship with Grandfather and became close to the family again.