The Detour of the Elephants
Trouble strikes at the Great Wall!
The cable car to take them up to the Great Wall pulled onto the platform, and the attendant directed the children inside. Jessie, Benny, and Violet were already in when someone behind Henry yelled “Watch out!” in a scared voice. Henry stumbled forward into the car, but a person outside the car reached in and took hold of the strap on the duffel bag. Henry tried to grab it back, but the bag was yanked off Henry’s shoulder as the door closed. “Wait!” Henry yelled, but the car was already moving away from the station. The duffel bag was gone…
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 978-0-8075-0684-4 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-8075-0685-1 (paperback)
All rights reserved. No part of thi
s 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. Flight to the Far East
2. A Riddle over Dumplings
3. The Place of Many Puzzles
4. Cable Car Caper
5. On the Earth Dragon’s Back
6. The Man in the Green Van
7. A New Suspicion
8. The Detour of the Elephants
9. Caught in the Act
10. Back on Track
Flight to the Far East
“I wish we could have stayed longer in Italy,” ten-year-old Violet Alden said as she watched the streets of Rome flash by from the window of the car.
“I know,” Violet’s older brother Henry said. “But if there is a bad storm coming, we need to get to the plane right away.” Henry, who was fourteen, had received a call from the copilot of the private jet they had been traveling on. Emilio told them to hurry to the airport, because if they didn’t take off soon, they might have to stay in Rome for several days. A late-spring ice storm was bearing down on the city. “We’ll come back to Rome someday when we can spend more time here. The Reddimus Society is counting on us to deliver the rest of the artifacts safely and as quickly as possible.”
A secret society had recruited the Alden children to return stolen art and artifacts to their rightful owners. When the head of the society, Mrs. Silverton, had asked the Aldens to help, she hadn’t realized a family of thieves, the Argents, would be trying to get the artifacts away from the children before they could be delivered.
“Yes,” twelve-year-old Jessie said. “We’ll come back when we don’t have to worry about the Argents following us.” She was worried because they still had four artifacts left and didn’t yet know where to deliver them. With each artifact, they had received clues to help them find its destination. They had already been to New Mexico to deliver a Native American piece of pottery, Egypt to return a valuable figurine of an Egyptian pharaoh, and England to deliver a small gold piece of jewelry from the time Stonehenge was built.
“We’ll be back,” Benny, the youngest Alden said, “because we threw the coins in the fountain.” Mrs. McGregor had told them about the legend that if a person threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, that person would come back to Rome. Benny, who was six, had a lot of fun at the fountain. “I wish I knew where we are going now though,” Benny added, sighing. “I like the plane a lot, but we can’t just fly around in circles. And I wish Mrs. McGregor were coming with us.” Their housekeeper, Mrs. McGregor, had been with them in England and Italy. Benny was sad when she said good-bye to them as they got in the car.
“Remember she promised there will be other people to help us at our next stops,” Jessie told him. “Besides, Mrs. McGregor needs to get home. I’m sure Grandfather misses her.” The Aldens lived with their grandfather. After their parents had died, the Aldens ran away, afraid their grandfather would be mean. They lived in an old boxcar in the woods until he found them and they discovered he wasn’t the least bit mean. He even moved the boxcar to the backyard of his house so they could play in it whenever they wanted.
“Watch must be missing her too,” Violet said. “Without us there, Watch will be lonely.” Watch was the Aldens’ dog. Sometimes he got to go with them on their adventures, but this time it wouldn’t have been easy to take him along.
Jessie picked up the package they had received at their hotel right before Emilio called. They had opened it there but hadn’t had a chance to work out what the clues meant. “Don’t worry, Benny. The answer to our next destination is in here. We just have to figure out what the clues mean. Once we are on the plane, we’ll work on it.”
The driver took them to the terminal where the private planes were parked. Then an airport official escorted the children out to their plane, where Emilio was waiting at the top of the steps.
He waved when he saw them. “All aboard!” he yelled. It began to rain just as they went up the steps. The rain was very cold.
The pilot, Mr. Ganert, came out of the cockpit. “The front edge of the storm is already here, but we can’t take off until we know where we are going,” Mr. Ganert said. “I need to file a flight plan. You Aldens are supposed to be so clever; let’s hear the plan.”
“We’re working on it,” Jessie said, opening up the package once more. She took out the red silk bag with a gold design on it that held the clues.
Mr. Ganert frowned at the sight of the bag. None of the children liked Mr. Ganert. He was a good pilot, but he was not very friendly. He hadn’t wanted the Aldens to be in charge of the artifacts, and they knew he didn’t trust them to keep the items safe.
“Well, hurry up,” Mr. Ganert grumbled as he went back into the cockpit.
Jessie opened the bag and took out the clues, which were some wooden stamps, an ink pad, and an envelope with a riddle inside. The envelope had a little drawing of an owl on it. Reddimus Society agents used the owl on their messages because owls moved quietly and without anyone noticing, just like the agents tried to do.
Six of the seven wooden stamps had letters on them. Benny picked up the one without a letter. It pictured a dragon instead. “A country of many dragons? Dragons aren’t real. I wish they were. I’d like to go to a country full of dragons.”
Violet looked over Benny’s shoulder to get a better look at the stamp. “This dragon doesn’t have wings. Pictures I’ve seen of dragons show them with wings.”
“It’s really long and skinny too,” Benny said. “It almost looks like a snake with legs and arms.”
Jessie handed Henry the envelope. “I’ll get my laptop going. If this riddle is like the others, we are going to have to research parts of it. Would you read it out loud again?”
Henry took out the riddle and started to read.
You are going to need to be very, very clever.
There will be riddles here, riddles there, riddles everywhere.
The path grows more twisted to confuse those who follow you.
He looked up. “That part means the Argents. It sounds as if we will have to solve more riddles than before to find the place to deliver the next artifact.”
“I hope we can do it,” Violet said. “The riddles have been hard.”
“We’ll manage,” Henry said. He kept reading.
Something that changed the world started with blocks like these,
Though the symbols carved on them few could read today.
To have books, you must first have a way to make words.
Handwriting is good, but to spread words far and wide, something more is needed.
Figure out what these blocks do and where they first were made,
And you will find your next destination—a city where the dragons ruled.
Violet picked up the ink pad and one of the stamps. “We can stamp letters with these and make words. I don’t understand the invention part. Is it where wooden stamps were invented?”
“I think I get it,” Henry said. He read part of the riddle again. “To have books, you must first have a way to make words.
“It’s printing. Wooden stamps like these were the way things like scrolls and then books were first printed. Later on, the stamps were made of metal, and then the printing press was invented, but it all started with these stamps.”
“Henry is right. We need to find out where printing was invented,” Jessie said. She typed a question into her laptop. “It’s China!?
?? she announced. “Printing was invented in China.”
“We’re going to China!” Henry called to Emilio and Mr. Ganert.
They came out of the cockpit. “Are you sure?” Mr. Ganert asked. “That is a long way. I had hoped we were going somewhere closer.”
“We’re sure,” Jessie said.
Mr. Ganert sighed. “I’ll start on a flight plan. You’d better figure out which city in China. It’s a big country.” A gust of wind shook the plane. “And you’d better figure it out fast,” he called over his shoulder as he went back into the cockpit.
“It’s going to be hard to figure out,” Henry said. “There are thousands of cities and towns in China. It’s a big country, like Mr. Ganert said. It’s about the same size as the United States.”
“I’m sure you can do it,” Emilio said. “I suppose I’d better go help with the flight plan.” He went back to the cockpit.
“We have a C, a J, an E, an I, a G, an N, an A, an H, and a B,” Benny said, looking at each stamp.
“We know we’re going to China. We can spell that out.” Violet sorted the letters, taking out the ones for China and stamping the word on a piece of paper. “That leaves J, G, E, and B,” she said as she stamped those letters one by one on another piece of paper.
“That isn’t much of a clue,” Henry said. “There is only one vowel. Jessie, can you find a list of Chinese cities on your laptop?”
They tried all different combinations of the letters but couldn’t find any cities that matched. The wind grew stronger, and they could hear pellets of icy rain pinging on the airplane.
Benny picked up the stamp with the N on it. “This stamp is scratched,” he said. “It has two little marks in one corner.” His siblings weren’t paying attention. They had gone back to reading the riddle.
“The riddle said something about a city where the dragons ruled. What does that mean?” Violet asked.
“Let me see if I can figure it out,” Jessie said, going back to her laptop.
Benny looked at the other stamps. The I had three scratches on it, but the others didn’t have any.
“I found something,” Jessie said. “China used to be ruled by emperors, and some emperors thought they descended from dragons. The emperors lived in Beijing, and that’s the capital of China. That could be the city where the dragons ruled.”
“How do you spell Beijing?” Benny asked. “Do these letters help spell it?” He pushed the two stamps with the scratches on them toward Jessie. “They have scratches on them. What if we use the N two times and the I three times? My name has two Ns in it. I would use the same stamp twice to spell my name.”