The Rideau River Mystery: A Billings Kids History Mystery Book One

The Billings Kids History Mystery series begins with 12-year-old Elkanah Stowell, who ventures into the wilderness with his uncle, Braddish Billings, to help found what will become the Billings Bridge settlement. He’s an orphan, so he has to grow up quickly. He helps his uncle build a log cabin, plant crops for the upcoming winter, and drive log cribs down the Rideau River into the Ottawa – and eventually to Quebec.
Then he’s left alone with a hired hand, William Blakey for a month, readying things for Braddish’s imminent return with his 17-year-old bride, Lamira Dow.
But while Uncle Brad is away, funny things start to happen. All the salt pork disappears, for instance, and is replaced by a heap of moccasins. Elkanah finds a dead beaver floating outside its lodge, unskinned, its head torn off. Then, one day, on Elkanah’s own special island in the Rideau River, he finds strange footprints. Are the Indians planning an attack? Or is someone else lurking around, someone who wants their land and the gold pieces they earned for taking the timber to Montreal. Elkanah knows Uncle Brad buried it somewhere, but he’s not sure where, so he doesn’t even know where to keep watch.
Then one night, William tells him the terrifying story of the Windigo – a huge stone monster that can shape-shift – and which eats humans! William warns him not to go out anymore at night, just in case. But Elkanah knows he has to find out who (or what) is lurking in the woods before Uncle Brad gets back with his new aunt Lamira.
Follow the clues and see if you can solve the Rideau River Mystery on your own!