The man whose hand Laddie had taken hold of in the crowd, thinking it was his father's, looked down at the little fellow and smiled. And when Laddie saw the smile he felt better.
What was it you were asking me, little boy? the man kindly inquired.
I was—I was asking you a riddle, said Laddie.
What about? the man wanted to know.
It was about a conductor punching tickets on the train, said Laddie. "But I don't know the answer."
First, what is the question? the man inquired, still smiling.
It's why don't the tickets get mad when the conductor punches 'em? Laddie repeated.
Hum, mused the man. "I don't believe that I know the answer to that riddle. Did you think I did?"
Well, I—I didn't know, said Laddie slowly. "Nobody seems to know the answer to that riddle. But, you see, I thought you were my father when I took hold of your hand."
Oh, you did! and the man laughed and gave Laddie's hand a gentle squeeze. "Well, I thought you were my little boy, for a moment. But then I happened to think that he is away down in New York City, so, you see, it couldn't be my little boy. But are you lost?"
Oh, no, answered Laddie. "That is, I'm not very much lost. You see, we're going to my Grandma Bell's, and we changed cars here."
How many of you are going to Grandma Bell's? asked the man as he stopped in the crowed and began looking around.
My father and my mother and six of us little Bunkers, answered Laddie.
Six little Bunkers! repeated the man. "Is that another riddle?"
Oh, no. But you see there are six of us. There's Russ and Rose, and Vi and Margy, and then there's me—I'm Laddie—and Mun Bun.
Mun Bun! cried the jolly man. "Is that some pet?"
No, he's my little brother, explained Laddie. "His real name is Munroe Bunker, but we call him Mun Bun for fun."
Oh, I see, and the man laughed again. "Six little Bunkers, on a train arrive, one gets lost and then there are five," he chanted.
Oh, that's like ten little Injuns! laughed Laddie, and though he had picked the wrong daddy out of the crowd of railroad passengers, he didn't feel at all lost now.
Yes, it is a little like 'ten little Injuns, standing in a line, one fell out and then there were nine,' the man went on. "But are you sure you are not lost?"
Oh, no. Only a little, answered Laddie. "My real daddy must be around here somewhere."
With the rest of the little Bunkers? asked the man.
Yes, I—I guess so, said Laddie, looking around for his father and mother, as well as brothers and sisters. "We came on the train from Pineville," he went on, "and we're going to Grandma Bell's. I stopped to look at some pictures by the news stand and then I——"
And then you picked me out of the crowd for your daddy, finished the man, as Laddie stopped, not knowing what else to say. "Well, there is no harm done. And, unless I'm much mistaken, here comes your daddy now, looking for you."
Oh, yes! That is my daddy! cried Laddie, as he saw his father pushing his way through the crowd, looking on all sides, as if hunting for something—or for somebody. Why, to be sure, for Laddie himself!
Better call to him, suggested the man. "I don't believe he sees you."
Here I am, Daddy! shouted Laddie, and, letting go of the man's hand, he ran straight into Mr. Bunker's arms.
Why, Laddie! where have you been? asked his father. "Your mother thought maybe you might have been left on the express train, but I was sure I saw you get off."
I did, Laddie said. "I walked along but I picked out the wrong daddy."
The wrong daddy? asked Mr. Bunker, not knowing just what to think. "Is this another riddle, Laddie?"
He means me, the man said, coming up just then. "I believe I got off the same train you did. Anyhow this little boy came along behind me in the crowd and began asking something about a conductor and punching tickets."
That is a riddle, but the other wasn't, Laddie explained. "Only I don't know the answer."
Well, never mind. You must hurry with me, said his father, "We missed you, and I had to come back to hunt you up. The other train is almost ready to start.
Thank you for taking care of the boy, went on Laddie's father to the man. "If you have ever traveled with children you know what a task it is to watch out for them."
Oh, indeed I know. I have four of my own, said the man. Then he waved his hand to Laddie, saying: "Good-bye, Little Bunker."
Good-bye! Laddie called to the man whose hand he had taken in mistake, then he hurried off with his father to where Mrs. Bunker and the others were waiting.
Laddie! where were you? asked his mother.
He had the wrong daddy, explained Mr. Bunker.
And he told me something like a riddle, only it wasn't, went on the little boy. "It was like the Injuns verse. 'Six little Bunkers in a bee hive, one got lost and then there were five.'"
But we weren't in a bee hive! cried out Russ.
I know. The man didn't say bee hive, either, Laddie admitted. "But I don't know what it was. Anyhow he was a nice man and it was a funny little verse."
A little later the family got aboard another train, and started off on a short ride that would bring them to Sagatook, whence they could drive to the lake where Grandma Bell lived.
This part of the railroad journey was not very long, and they rode in an ordinary day coach, and not in a heavy sleeping car with big seats.
Now and then the train passed through places where there were big trees growing.
Are they the woods? asked Russ with much interest.
Yes, his father told him. "Maine has in it many woods, and there are big forests around Lake Sagatook where Grandma Bell lives. You must be careful not to get lost in them."
I'll be careful, promised Russ.
A little later the train puffed in at a small station and there the Bunkers got out. They saw, waiting, a big automobile, though it was not as nice as the one they had at home.
Are you the Bunkers? asked a man standing near the automobile.
Yes, answered Mr. Bunker. "Were you waiting for us?"
I was. Mrs. Bell hired me to come over and get you. You see I'm about the only one that's got an auto in these parts, and as it's quite a drive through the woods for a team, Mrs. Bell thought maybe I'd better come in my machine.
I'm glad you did, said Mr. Bunker. "There will be room for all of us in it."
Yes, and the baggage too, said the man, who said he was Mr. Jim Mead. "When I get an auto I want one big enough for the whole family. Pile in now, children, and make yourselves at home."
Do you know our Grandma Bell? asked Russ of Mr. Mead.
I should say I did! he answered. "She and I are neighbors and good friends. Pile in and I'll soon have you out at the lake."
Is it a nice lake? asked Vi.
It is indeed, little pussy, answered Mr. Mead, playfully pinching her chubby cheek. "It's the finest lake in the world. And it's as blue as his eyes," and he pointed to Mun Bun, who was kicking the big auto tires with the toes of his shoes to see how hard they were.
I guess we'll like it there, said Rose, as she smoothed out her doll's dress.
I'm going to swim! declared Russ.
Well, pile in, and I'll soon have you at Grandma Bell's, said Mr. Mead, and very quickly the automobile was chugging along a woodland road, under tall, green trees.
There's the house, said Mr. Mead, in about half an hour, as he pointed through the trees. The children had a glimpse of a big white house near the shore of a blue lake amid the trees, and a little later they were getting out of the machine on the drive, while a dear old lady, with pretty white hair, was kissing Mother Bunker.
Oh, I'm glad to see you! Glad to see you—every one! cried Grandma Bell. "I'm very glad you came. Let me see if you're all here. Daddy, mother, and six little Bunkers, that's right. Now come right in and get something to eat! I'm so glad to see you!"
And as the six little Bunkers started to go into the house, suddenly a strange voice that seemed to come from the woods cried:
Let me out! Let me out! Take me! Don't leave me behind!
Every one looked at every one else. Were any of the little Bunkers missing?
"Mercy me!" cried Grandma Bell as she heard the strange voice. "What is that?"
As if in answer the call came again:
Take me out! Don't leave me here! I want to go! Take me! Oh, my eye, give me some pie!
It's in the automobile! said Daddy Bunker.
But who can it be? asked his wife.
You must have forgotten and left one of the children under a robe, though goodness knows it's hot enough without any covering to-day, said Grandma Bell. "Are all the children here?"
Once more she counted them, naming each one in turn: Russ, Rose, Vi, Laddie, Margy and Mun Bun—six little Bunkers.
All here—every one, said Grandma Bell. "Unless you bought a little baby on the way up."
Oh, I almost had one! exclaimed Rose. "I laid my doll down in a seat, and when I picked her up she was alive, but it was a lady's baby and——"
Once more the voice called from the auto:
Take me out! Don't leave me here! Oh my eye, give me some pie!
There is a child in there! said Grandma Bell "Who is it?" she asked of Mr. Mead, who had been taking some of the Bunkers' baggage into the house, and who came out just then.
Who is what? asked the man who had so kindly given the children a ride over from the station.
What child is hidden in that auto? asked Grandma Bell. "It isn't one of the six little Bunkers, for they're all here. But there is some child in that auto."
Why no, there isn't, said Mr. Mead. "There's nobody in my machine but——"
Let me out! Oh, let me out! cried the voice again.
There! exclaimed Grandma Bell.
A queer look came over Mr. Mead's face. Then he laughed. Once more the voice sounded.
Let me out! Let me out!
Who is it? asked Grandma Bell.
Why that's Bill Hixon's parrot! said the owner of the big auto. "I've got him in a cage in the back of my car. He's doing that yelling. I forgot all about him!"
Are you sure it's a parrot and not a child in there? asked Grandma Bell.
Oh, sure! answered Mr. Mead. "There he goes again. Listen!"
Again came the cry:
Let me out! Let me out! Take me with you! Oh my eye, give me some pie!
And this time it could be told that the voice was that of a parrot, though, at first, it had sounded like a little child crying.
Now you keep still there, Polly, said Mr. Mead.
Polly wants a cracker! Give Polly a cracker! shrieked the parrot.
I'll give you a fire-cracker if you don't keep still, said Mr. Mead with a laugh.
Well, I do declare! said Grandma Bell. "How did Bill Hixon's parrot get in your auto, Mr. Mead?"
Oh, Bill's sending him over to his mother's to keep for him while he's off in the woods lumbering, said Mr. Mead. "He knew I was coming up this way, Bill Hixon did, so he asked me to bring his parrot along. I put the bird in his cage under the back-seat of the auto, and I forgot all about him, or her, whichever it is. I guess Polly has been asleep all the while until just now."
Oh, let us see the parrot! begged Rose. "I love to hear them talk," and she tucked her doll under her arm and walked toward the auto.
Be careful, he might bite! said Mother Bunker.
Oh, he's in a cage—he or she—whichever it is, said Mr. Mead. "Bill said the parrot was a good one, and likes children. I guess it won't hurt any to let the tots see the bird."
Mr. Mead opened a sort of little cupboard under the back seat of his auto, and brought out a parrot's cage. In it was a green bird, which, as soon as it came out into the sunlight, began preening its feathers and moving about, climbing up on the wires, partly by its claw feet and partly by its strong beak.
Polly wants a cracker! A sweet cracker! squawked the parrot. "Lovely day! How are you? Here, Rover, sic the cats!" and the parrot whistled as well as Russ himself could have done.
Oh, what a nice parrot!
Could we keep him?
Doesn't he talk plain?
Listen to that whistle!
Oh, isn't she nice!
These were some of the things the six little Bunkers said as they listened to Bill Hixon's parrot, as it moved about in the cage on the back seat of Mr. Mead's auto.
Couldn't we keep it, Mother? asked Rose. "I'd like it almost as much as my doll!"
Oh, mercy no, child! We couldn't keep Mr. Hixon's parrot! said Mrs. Bunker.
Have you one, Grandma Bell? asked Russ.
No, I'm thankful to say I haven't, said Mrs. Bell with a laugh. "I like children, and I love to hear them talk and laugh; but I don't like parrots. I have a dog and a cat; so I think we'll let Mr. Hixon have his own parrot."
I don't care for 'em myself, said Mr. Mead. "Well, I'll be getting along with this one now. I guess I've got out all your baggage."
Yes, and thank you very much, said Mr. Bunker.
Come on! Gid-dap! Go 'long, horses! cried the parrot. "Give me a cracker! Go long, horses!"
He thinks you're driving horses, said Russ.
I don't know what he thinks, said Mr. Mead. "He talks a lot, that's sure. I won't be lonesome for the rest of the way. I'll let the parrot ride outside with me, I guess. He'll be sort of company for me."
Pretty Poll! Give me a cracker! Let me out and give me a cracker! cried the green bird.
Here's one! said Laddie, holding out a bit of cracker which he had left from a package his mother had bought for him on the train.
Look out! He might bite you! said Laddie's father.
Bill said his bird was gentle, but, still, maybe the little boy had better be careful, said Mr. Mead. "Here, I guess I had better feed him."
He held out the bit of cracker to Polly, who took it in one black claw, and then began to bite off pieces, saying, meanwhile:
That's the way to do it! That's the way I do it!
Oh, he's awful cute! said Rose. "I wish we had one!"
But if grandma's got a dog and a cat, maybe the parrot wouldn't like 'em, put in Russ.
Have you a dog and a cat, grandma? asked Rose, as Mr. Mead drove off in his auto with the parrot.
Yes, I have, my dear.
Oh, where are they?
Zip, my dog, is out in the barn, I imagine. He generally goes out there when Tom is working around.
Who's Tom? asked Laddie. "Is he the cat?"
No, Tom is the hired man. Thomas Hardy is his name.
And where's the cat? asked Vi, looking around the front yard, as if she might see the pussy under some flower bush.
Oh, Muffin is in the house, I presume, said Grandma Bell. "And that's where we'd better go. I guess you're all hungry after your trip, aren't you? My, but I'm glad to see you—every one!" and she smiled at the six little Bunkers through her glasses.
And I guess they're glad, to be here—I know we are, said Mrs. Bunker. "They've talked of nothing but Grandma Bell's ever since we got your letter inviting us to come here."
Well, I hope they'll like it, said the dear old lady.
We like it already, said Russ. "Please, may I go out and see the dog?"
I want to go, too, put in Laddie.
And I want to see the cat, added Rose, "Is her name Muffin?"
That's her name, said Grandma Bell. "And I call my dog Zip because he runs around so much. But you'd better rest a bit first, and eat. Then you can go out and see things."
I want to see the lake! exclaimed Laddie. "Can we sail boats on it?"
Now, first of all, said Mr. Bunker, and he spoke seriously, "I don't want any of you children to go near that lake unless some of us older folk are with you. Mind! Don't go too close unless we are with you, or until you have been here a little while and know your way about. You must be careful of the water."
The children promised they would; and then, when Grandma Bell's hired girl had set out a lunch, and it had been eaten, and the children had put on old clothes, out they ran—all six of them—to have fun.
Will they be all right? asked Mother Bunker.
Oh, yes. They can't come to any harm if they keep away from the lake, and that isn't deep near the shore. Don't worry about them. Let them have a good time.
And this the children seemed bent on having. They raced around, shouting and laughing. A big maltese cat came out on the porch to see what all the noise was about, and did not run away, even when all six of the little Bunkers charged down on her at once.
Oh, isn't she just too lovely! cried Rose, as she caught the cat up in her arms. "She's almost as big as my doll!"
Muffin seemed to like children, and did not mind being petted. Rose, Vi and Margy as well as Mun Bun, stroked the soft fur, but Russ and Laddie soon tired of this.
Come on, let's go out to the barn and find the dog, said Russ to his brother.
That's what we will! said Laddie, and away they went, Russ whistling a merry tune.
Grandma Bell's house was built on the edge of a patch of woods, with fields at the back and the lake to one side. There were some farms in that part of Maine, and about five miles from grandma's home was the village of Sagatook. It was a smaller place than Pineville.
The barn was back of the house. Once the place had been a big farm, but when Grandpa Bell died his widow sold off most of the land to other farmers, keeping the house, barn, a field or two and a patch of woods for her home. It was a lovely place, just the nicest spot in the whole world for the six little Bunkers.
I hear a dog barking, said Laddie, as he and Russ drew near the barn.
So do I, said Russ. "I guess that's Zip."
They went on a little farther, and saw a man standing in the barn door with a dog beside him. The dog barked, but wagged his tail, to show that he was friendly.
Russ and Laddie came to a halt, but the man waved his hand to them and asked:
Are you some of the six little Bunkers?
Yes, we're two of 'em, answered Russ.
Well, that leaves four. They're in the house, I suppose. Mrs. Bell told me you were coming to-day.
Are you the hired man? asked Laddie. "And is that Zip?"
That's who I am, and that's who he is. Come and meet Zip. He's a fine dog and loves boys and girls.
Zip soon made friends with Laddie and Russ, and the boys, who felt sure they would like Tom Hardy, the hired man, ran about the barn, seeing all sorts of chances in it to have good times.
Oh, I know we'll like it here! said Russ.
'Course we will, agreed Laddie.
Zip followed the boys about the barn as they poked into all the nooks and corners. Tom, as every one called the hired man, was busy about his work and paid little attention to Laddie and Russ.
It was about half an hour after the boys had gone out to the barn, and Mrs. Bunker was wondering if they were all right, when Laddie came running to Grandma Bell's house, very much excited and out of breath, crying:
Oh, come quick! Come quick!
Mercy me! what's the matter now? asked Mrs. Bunker.
Russ can't stop! Russ is going and he can't stop! panted Laddie.
For a moment or so no one seemed to know what answer to make to Laddie. He stood there, all out of breath, looking at his father and mother and Grandma Bell, who were sitting on the side porch.
What—what did you say? asked Mr. Bunker.
It's Russ, Laddie answered. "He's going and he can't stop! I tried to make him, and he tried himself, but he can't stop, and he's running like anything!"
What in the world does he mean? asked Mother Bunker.
Tell me about it! said Grandma Bell.
It's out in the barn, explained Laddie. "Russ got on something, and he can't stop running!"
Maybe he's in a trap! exclaimed Laddie's mother.
If he was in a trap he couldn't run, said her husband. "I'll go out and see what it is."
The other little Bunkers were still playing with Muffin, the big gray cat, as Mr. and Mrs. Bunker and Grandma Bell hurried out to the barn.
As they drew near it they heard a voice shouting:
Oh, make it stop! Make it stop going! I'm so tired! My legs are so tired!
At the same time a low rumbling could be heard, like that of very distant thunder.
Oh, what is it? gasped Mother Bunker. "Oh, Russ, what have you done now?"
But a moment later they were all relieved to see Tom, the hired man, come to the door of the barn, leading Russ by the hand. The boy looked frightened, but not hurt.
What was it? asked his father.
I got to going and I couldn't stop, explained Russ, who was breathing almost as hard as Laddie had done after his run.
What did you get to going on, and why couldn't you stop? his mother wanted to know.
Oh, it was a—a sort of wooden hill, explained Russ. "I was running on it and——"
What does he mean—a wooden hill in the barn? asked Mrs. Bunker.
It was the treadmill, explained Thomas Hardy. "I was in another part of the barn, and I guess Russ must have wandered upstairs, where we keep the old treadmill they used for the threshing machine and churn. He started to walk on the wooden roller platform, and it moved from under him. He had to keep running so he wouldn't slip down. That's what he meant when he said he couldn't stop."
That was it, explained Russ. "I saw a funny machine upstairs in the barn, and I got on it. I didn't know it would move."
Well, you couldn't get hurt on it, that's one good thing, said Grandma Bell. "At the same time it's better not to get on queer machines, or play with things you don't know about, Russ. The next time you might be hurt."
I'll be careful, promised the little boy.
What is the treadmill? asked Vi, who had come out to the barn to see what all the excitement was about.
It's a sort of engine, Grandma Bell explained. "You see out here, years ago, when Grandpa Bell ran the farm, we didn't have gasoline engines such as are now used in automobiles and for pumps and other farm work. So we had to use a sort of engine that one or two horses could make go. It was called a treadmill, and some were made so that even dogs, trotting on a moving wooden platform, could work a churn. We used to have one of those, but the one Russ got on was a treadmill for one horse."
I saw it, said Laddie. "Russ wanted me to get on, but I wouldn't. He did and then he couldn't stop. He couldn't stop running!"
That's right! exclaimed Russ. He could laugh now, as he remembered what had happened. "Then I told Laddie to run and get somebody to help me," he added.
I ran, but I didn't run on that funny machine, Laddie said. "And maybe I can think up a riddle about it, after a while."
By this time the rest of the little Bunkers had come out to the barn and, led by Tom, they went upstairs to see the treadmill. It was a big machine, with wheels and rollers; and a wooden platform, made of cross sticks, so the feet of the horse would not slip, was what Russ had run on. As he walked up a "wooden hill," as he called it, the slats moved from under his feet, for this is what they were meant to do when the horse should walk on them. And this moving platform of wood spun a wheel around, which, in its turn, would work a churn, a machine for threshing wheat or rye or do other work on the farm.
But we haven't used the treadmill for years, said Grandma Bell. "I forgot about its being in the barn. Well, I'm glad no one was hurt. But be careful after this."
I'd like to see it work, remarked Rose, so Tom Hardy got on the wooden platform and walked up the little hill it made. Then came the rumbling sound, and the faster Tom walked the faster the treadmill went around.
The weather was warm, it being early in July, soon after the Fourth, and a more delightful time of year would be hard to find during which to spend a vacation in the woods on the shore of Lake Sagatook.
May we go down and paddle in the water? asked Russ of his mother, after he and the other little Bunkers had wandered out to the barn and had seen Zip, the dog, and Muffin, the cat. "Mayn't we go down and wade in the lake?"
Do you think it will be safe? asked Mrs. Bunker of her husband.
Well, I'll go down there and have a look, he said. "If we are to stay here for a month or so the children will have to get used to playing near the water. If it's safe we'll feel we won't have to be with them all the while."
I think it will be safe if they keep near the shore out on the little point of land that extends into the lake, said Grandma Bell. "There is a sandy beach there, and the water is not deep. Let the children play there. You can see them from the house; so, if we look out every now and then, we'll be sure they are all right."
Very well, said Daddy Bunker. "We'll first have a look at the lake."
Oh, goody! cried Russ.
Now we can have a lot of fun and sail boats! added Laddie. "We can have a whole lot of fun."
I'll take my doll down and give her a bath, said Rose.
Oh, won't water spoil your doll, my dear? asked Grandma Bell.
I don't mean my big one, that the lady took for her baby, explained the little girl. "I mean my small rubber doll."
Oh! Well, I guess it will be all right to bathe her in the lake, said Grandma Bell with a laugh.
Daddy Bunker found that the sandy point, which Grandma Bell told about, was a very nice and safe place for the children to play. So, dressed in their old clothes which water and sand would not soil, they all trooped down to Lake Sagatook, and there, in the shade of the big woods, they began to have fun.
Russ and Laddie made little boats and set them adrift in the blue water. Rose and Vi played with their dolls, for they had each brought two or three of them. Mun Bun and Margy dug in the sand with sticks which they picked up on the shore of the lake.
It's almost like the seashore, said Rose, when she came back from having given her rubber doll a dip in the lake, "only the water doesn't taste salty like when you cry tears."
I like it here, said Vi. "I wish we could stay always."
The children were having lots of fun when, in the midst of their play, they heard the sound of water being splashed and the noise made by the oars of a boat. Looking up, they saw a rowboat not far from shore, and in it sat a big man.
And, at the sight of this man, Russ dropped the chip he was floating about, pretending it was a submarine, and, in a whisper, said:
Hi, Laddie! do you see his hair?
Yes—it's red, returned Laddie.
Well, maybe that's the tramp lumberman that took daddy's old coat and real estate papers, went on Russ. "He had red hair! Maybe this is the same one! Oh, Laddie! If it should be!"
For a little while Laddie and Russ watched the man in the boat as he rowed slowly toward the sandy point of land in the lake, on which the six little Bunkers were playing. The man's hair was certainly very red. The sun shone on it, and Russ and Laddie could see it quite plainly. And, too, he had on a ragged coat.
Rose and the other children were farther in toward shore, playing away. Laddie and Russ, as the two older boys of the family, thought they ought to do something toward getting back Daddy Bunker's papers.
He's coming nearer, said Laddie, in a whisper to his brother.
Yes, agreed Russ. "He'll soon be near enough for us to ask him if he's got 'em."
The red-haired man in the boat rowed nearer and nearer to the sandy point in Lake Sagatook. He did not seem to see the two small boys who were so anxiously waiting for him.
What's he doing? asked Laddie, for the man now and then would stop rowing and handle something he had in front of him.
He's fishing, said Russ. "I can see his pole."
Laddie saw it too, a moment later. The man in the boat was a fisherman.
Pretty soon he was near enough for the boys to call to him.
Hey! exclaimed Russ. "Have you got 'em?"
He supposed, of course, that the man would know what he was talking about. And so it might seem, for the man made answer:
Well, I had 'em but I lost 'em. But I'll get 'em again.
Oh, daddy will be so glad! cried Laddie. "Did you lose 'em out of your coat?"
The man looked up quickly.
Lose 'em out of my coat? Why, no, he said. "I lost 'em off my hook—two of the biggest fish I've caught this day! But I'll get 'em back—or some just like 'em which will be as good. Hello, youngsters," he added with a smile. "Do you live at Mrs. Bell's place?"
We're just visiting her, explained Russ. "She's our grandma. We're the six little Bunkers."
Oh, ho! exclaimed the man with a laugh. "That's so—there are six of you! I can see now," and he looked beyond Russ and Laddie to where Rose, Vi, Margy and Mun Bun were playing on the sandy point and having lots of fun.
But are you fond of fishing, that you ask if I lost 'em? the man went on.
If you please, replied Russ, "we didn't mean to ask about your fish, though we're sorry you lost any. But have you daddy's papers?"
Daddy's papers? I don't know what you mean, the man said.
Aren't you a lumberman? asked Laddie, not liking to use the name "tramp," as the man, though he did have on a ragged coat, did not seem like the lazy wanderers who prowl about the country asking for food but not wanting to work.
No, I'm not a lumberman, said the man. "What makes you ask that?"
Well, you look like the lumberman—only he was a tramp—that my father gave a ragged coat to, went on Russ. "And there were real estate papers in the coat, and daddy wants 'em back."
Ha! Is that so? asked the man, "Well, I'm sorry but I don't know anything about 'em. I never saw your father that I know of, though I do know Mrs. Bell. I live on the other side of the lake. But I come over here fishing once in a while."
And haven't you daddy's papers? asked Laddie.
No, I'm sorry to say I haven't.
But you have red hair, went on the little boy.
Yes, my hair is red all right, laughed the man, as he ran his hand through the fiery curls on his head. "My hair is very red. Sometimes I wish it wasn't so red. But it's of no use to worry about it, I suppose. But what has my red hair to do with your father's papers?"
Then Laddie and Russ, taking turns, told about their father's clerk in the real estate office giving the tramp lumberman the old coat, and how, in one of the pockets, were the valuable papers. The boys told of the search for the tramp, and also of their trip from Pineville to Lake Sagatook.
And so you haven't yet found the red-haired man with the papers, have you? asked the fisherman, smiling at the two boys.
No, said Russ, a bit sadly. "First we thought you might have 'em."
Do you know any red-haired lumberman—one that's a tramp? Laddie asked.
No, I can't say that I do. But tell your father, and also your Grandma Bell, that I'll be on the watch for one. My name is Hurd—Simon Hurd. Your grandma knows me. Tell her I'll be on the watch for a red-haired lumberman. We have all sorts up here in Maine, and some of 'em have red hair, though I don't know that any one will have your father's papers. Ha! There's one I've got, anyhow! the man suddenly exclaimed.
He dropped the oars, with which he had been slowly rowing the boat, and caught up his pole. Then, as the boys watched, they saw him reel in his line and lift from the water a big fish, which sparkled in the sun as it leaped and twisted, trying to get off the hook.
Hi, that's a big one! cried Russ, leaping up and down on the sand, he was so excited.
Yes, he's as big as one of the two I lost, the man went on.
He landed his prize in the boat, while the boys and, the other little Bunkers crowded to the end of the sandy point to watch what was going on.
I guess you children brought me good luck, said Mr. Hurd, the red-haired fisherman. "I'm going to row along now, but I'll keep my eyes open for the tramp lumberman that may have your father's papers."
Thank you, said Russ.
The six little Bunkers watched until the fisherman was out of sight around the next point, and then they started to play again.
I thought sure he was the one that daddy wanted, said Russ, a little sadly.
So did I, added Laddie. He, too, was disappointed. "Maybe I could make up a riddle about a red-haired man," he added more cheerfully.
Maybe you could, agreed Russ.
I guess I will, too, said Laddie. "I can think of a riddle the next time."
A little later the children heard a voice asking:
Well, are you having a good time?
They looked up to see Daddy and Mother Bunker walking toward them through the woods.
Oh, we're having lots of fun! said Rose, who had been amusing Vi, Margy and Mun Bun.
And we almost found your lost papers, added Russ.
How? asked Mr. Bunker.
Then the boys told about the red-haired man.
I'm afraid my papers are gone for ever, said Mr. Bunker with a shake of his head, "I'll have to lose that money. But it might be worse. Don't worry about it any more, children."
But, though the children were too little to worry very, much about their father's trouble, Russ and Laddie could not help thinking about it now and then.
This is a lovely place for the children to play, said Mother Bunker. "I shall never feel worried about them when they are here. The water is so shallow near the shore."
And so it was. The six little Bunkers—even Mun Bun, the smallest of them all—could wade out quite a distance from shore on the smooth, sandy bottom, and not be in danger.
All that day—except when it was time to go in to eat—the children played on the shore of Lake Sagatook. They saw boats come and go—some with fishermen in them, like Mr. Hurd, and others that carried lumber and other things from shore to shore.
Can we go out in a boat some day? asked Russ of his father.
Yes, some day I'll get a boat and take you all for a row, Mr. Bunker promised.
But there were many other things to do at Grandma Bell's to have fun besides going out on the lake in a boat. There were chickens and cows to look at; there was Zip to play with, and Muffin too; and there were lovely places in the woods where they could take their lunches and have picnics.
Grandma Bell's is the nicest place in the world! said Rose.
That's what! exclaimed Russ.
And Laddie tried to think up a riddle about why Grandma Bell's house was like fairyland, only he couldn't get just the right sort of answer, he said.
One day Russ, Laddie, and Rose went out to the barn with Tom Hardy to watch him feed the chickens. He gave them grains of yellow corn.
Where do you get the corn? asked Laddie.
Out of the corn crib, answered Tom. "See it over there," and he pointed to a shed, through the slat sides of which could be seen the yellow ears of corn.
How do you get the little pieces off the cobs? asked Rose.
Oh, I shell the corn in a sheller, answered Tom. "Come on, I'll show you," and he took the children to the corn crib where there was a queer machine, turned by a handle on a wheel. In an iron spout Tom dropped big, yellow ears of corn. Then he turned the wheel. There was a grinding noise, and out of one spout ran the yellow kernels of corn in a stream, while from another hole dropped the shelled cob, with nothing left on it.
That's how I shell the corn cobs for the chickens, said the hired man. "But be careful not to put your hands down the spout where I drop the ears of corn."
Why not? asked Rose, who was catching Vi's trick of asking questions.
Because if you do that it might shuck the fingernails off your hand, answered Tom. "Keep away from the corn-sheller."
It was later that same afternoon when Rose, who had been out to the barn with Russ and Laddie, came running back, tears streaming from her eyes.
Oh, Mother! Come quick! she cried, "Come quick!"
What's the matter? asked Mrs. Bunker.
Oh, it's my doll! answered Rose. "Laddie and Russ are shucking off all her buttons! Come quick!"
When Rose, with tears streaming from her eyes, came running to her mother, Mrs. Bunker felt sorry for her little girl; but she was just a little puzzled to understand what was wrong. "Shucking off all her buttons" certainly sounded queer.
What is it, Rose? she asked. "What are Russ and Laddie doing?"
They're shucking all the buttons off my doll.
Shucking the buttons off your doll?
Yes. In the corn shucker, where Tom shucks the ears of corn for the chickens.
Mrs. Bunker didn't yet quite know what Rose meant, for the mother of the six little children had not been out to the corn crib, and did not know what was there.
It's my middle-sized doll, explained Rose. "Please come and take her away from Russ and Laddie 'fore they shuck off all her buttons. Don't you know—she's got yellow shoe buttons on her dress—rows of 'em down the front and in the back. It's my messenger girl doll."
Mrs. Bunker followed Rose out to the corn crib. She began to understand what had happened. Among the many dolls Rose had was one she called her "messenger girl" doll It was about a foot tall, and the doll wore a blue dress, in color something like the suits worn by the telegraph messenger boys in the cities. To make the doll's dress more like a uniform, Rose had sewed on the back and front several rows of yellow shoe buttons, which she had cut from old tan shoes at home. The doll really had on her dress more buttons than she needed, but as some messenger and elevator boys in hotels and apartment houses have the same, I suppose Rose had a right to decorate her doll that way if she liked.
How did it happen? asked Mrs. Bunker, as she followed her little girl out to the corn crib.
It was after we saw Tom shuck some corn to feed the chickens—he showed us how he did it, Rose answered.
But what did Russ and Laddie do?
Oh, they went in and looked at the corn shucker. But they didn't put their hands in and turn the wheel, 'cause Tom said if they did that their fingernails would come off.
Mercy me! I shouldn't want that to happen, said Mrs. Bunker with a laugh. "But go on, Rose, tell me what they did do?" she went on, for she saw that Rose felt very sad.
Well, they wanted to shuck some corn, went on the little girl, "but they didn't durst do it. Then Russ saw me have my messenger girl doll, with the yellow shoe buttons down her back and front, and he said she looked just like an ear of corn."
That wasn't very nice of him, put in Mrs. Bunker.
Oh, well, I didn't mind, said Rose. "The yellow shoe buttons are like the grains of corn the chickens eat. One button did come off and a rooster picked it up and swallowed it." Rose was no longer crying.
Poor rooster! I hope it won't hurt him, laughed Mrs. Bunker.
I don't guess it will, said Rose, "'cause he crowed awful loud right after it. He must have liked it. But, anyhow, Russ said my doll looked like an ear of corn, so he asked me to let him take her to shuck off her buttons."
And did you? asked Mrs. Bunker.
Yes'm, I did, Mother. He and Laddie put my doll in the corn shucker and they started to turn the wheel. Then I thought maybe my doll would be hurt, and I wanted her back again. But they wouldn't give her to me, so I came to tell you! And once more the tears came into the little girl's eyes.
Well, I'll fix it all right, said Mrs. Bunker. "Don't cry, Rose. Even if her buttons are all shucked off we can sew more on. Don't cry!"
So Rose dried her tears and hurried on after her mother out to Grandma Bell's corncrib.
As they came near it they could hear a grinding noise, and then the voice of Laddie called:
Oh, Russ! here come some of the buttons.
Yes! A lot of 'em! Russ added. "Oh, she's shucking fine, Laddie—just like an ear of corn!"
Dandy! exclaimed Laddie. "It's too bad Rose didn't wait to see what we were doing. This is fun!"
I'm here now! And you just give me my doll! cried Rose. "I told mamma on you, that's what I did!"
The grinding noise kept up for a moment or two longer, and the laughter of the two little boys could be heard. Then Mrs. Bunker, followed by Rose, went into the corncrib. Mrs. Bunker saw a curious sight.
Standing at one side of the corn-shelling machine was Russ, turning the big wheel, which went round quite easily. On the other side was Laddie, and in his hat he was catching a little stream of yellow shoe buttons that came down through the spout.
Boys! Boys! What are you doing? cried Mrs. Bunker.
Hello, Mother! cried Russ. "She shucks dandy. All the buttons are coming off, just the way Tom made the kernels of corn come off the cobs for the chickens! Look!" and he pointed to the buttons dropping from the tin spout into Laddie's hat.
Oh, my doll! My nice doll! cried Rose. "She'll be spoiled now. She won't have any buttons left! Oh, I—I'm mad at you!" and she cried again and stamped first one foot and then the other at Laddie and Russ.
Oh, you mustn't do that, said Mrs. Bunker gently.
I don't care! pouted Rose, half tearfully. "They ought not to shuck all the buttons off my doll!"
Are you doing that, Russ? asked his mother.
Yes'm. But Rose said we could, and then, after she let us take her doll, she wanted it back, and we can't get her out till she goes through the shucker and all her buttons come off. Then she'll pop out the other spout like an ear of corn.
Here she comes! shouted Laddie. "All the buttons are off now! But, gee! you can sew more on, Rose. And here's your doll!"
As he spoke the doll dropped from a tin spout on the other side of the machine, at the place where the shelled cobs dropped out. And there wasn't a single yellow shoe button left on the doll.
Oh—oh, dear! sobbed Rose. "She's all spoiled!"
Never mind, said Mrs. Bunker. "We can sew the buttons on again. But you boys shouldn't have done it," she told Russ and Laddie. "What made you?"
Well, we wanted to shuck something, said Russ, who was beginning to feel a little sorry for what he had done, "Tom told us not to shuck any kernels off the corn, 'cause he'd fed the chickens enough. And he said we mustn't put our hands or any sticks in the machine. But we wanted to shuck something."
And the yellow shoe buttons on Rose's doll looked just like corn, added Laddie.
Mrs. Bunker wanted to laugh, but she did not even smile. Rose felt too bad.
There's a wheel inside this machine, Tom told us, said Russ, "and it's got a lot of sharp points on it. And when it goes around and the ears of corn get down inside, the points on the wheel knock and pull all the kernels off.
We didn't durst take any ears of corn, so we took Rose's doll and we put her through the sheller. Rose said we might. And all her buttons came off just like kernels.
So I see, said Mrs. Bunker. "Well, don't do it again."
We won't, promised Laddie. "Here's your doll, Rose," he added, as he picked it up off the floor. Every button had been pulled off in the machine.
Oh, dear! sighed his sister. "She's spoiled!"
Oh, no. I'll help you make her look like a messenger again, Rose, said her mother "But you boys had better keep away from the corn-shelling machine. You might be hurt."
Russ and Laddie promised. They had not really meant to annoy Rose, but they had just not stopped to think. They did so want to see the yellow shoe buttons pulled off their sister's doll. And that's just what happened. The doll was shaped something like an ear of corn, and the yellow buttons stuck out like kernels. And so the doll was "shucked."
After a while Rose got over feeling bad, and the next day all the yellow buttons were sewed back on the doll. And Tom kept the corncrib locked, so Laddie and Russ could not get into it again.
But it was lots of fun seeing the yellow buttons drop out the spout, said Russ.
And I could almost make up a riddle about it, added Laddie.
I don't want any riddles about my doll, objected Rose. "She's too nice. I'm going to sew some yellow buttons on now, and black ones too, 'cause you lost some of the yellow ones."
Well, we won't shuck her any more, promised Russ.
These were happy days at Grandma Bell's. Something new could be played by the children all the while. They loved it in the woods, and on the shores of beautiful Lake Sagatook.
When are you going to get the boat, Daddy, and take us out? asked Russ one afternoon, when they had seen the red-haired fishermen once more. He came close to the sandy point, and talked to the six little Bunkers, but he said he had not yet found the lumberman who had been given the ragged coat with Mr. Bunker's papers in the pocket.
I'll get a boat next week, promised Mr. Bunker. "Then we can all go for a row."
And fish, too? asked Russ.
Yes, we'll fish also, said his father.
But, as it happened, Laddie got tired waiting for the boat, and made one himself. At least he made a sort of raft.
He nailed some boards and pieces of wood together, and when he pushed the raft into the shallow water, near the shore of Sandy Point, as the children called their play-spot, Laddie found that he could stand up on his raft and push himself along. The raft floated with him on it, as though it were a boat. Of course the water came up over the top, but as Laddie went barefooted this did not matter.
One day he went down to the lake with a piece of clothesline. On the way he whistled to Zip, the playful dog.
What are you going to do with him? asked Russ.
I'm going to see if he'll give me a ride, answered Laddie.
A ride? How? There isn't any express wagon here.
I don't need an express wagon, said Laddie. "I'm going to make Zip be a whale, or maybe a shark, and pull me on my raft-boat."
How can you? asked Russ.
I'll show you, Laddie answered.
He tied one end of the piece of clothesline to his raft, and on the other end of the line he made fast a round stick.
Here, Zip! Zip! cried Laddie, "Go after the stick!"
He threw the stick, still tied to the rope, into the water of the lake, as far as he could from shore.
You run down the shore a little farther and whistle to Zip, said Laddie to Russ. "You can whistle better than I can. When Zip swims to you with the stick in his mouth he'll pull me on the raft."
Oh, I wonder if he will! exclaimed Russ.
Zip, the big dog, was already swimming out to get the floating stick, and Laddie took his place on the raft, which he had pushed out from shore.
I'll have a fine ride! said the little boy.
"Here, Zip! Ho, Zip! Come here!" called Russ, and he whistled to the dog, which was swimming along with the stick in his mouth.
The dog heard, and, turning toward the shore of the lake, made his way to Russ, who was standing on the little sandy beach. And, as Zip swam along, and pulled on the clothesline, which was fast to the stick in his mouth, and also fast to the raft on which stood Laddie Bunker, the little boy was given a ride.
Zip was a strong dog, and as the raft was light, and as Laddie was not heavy, the swimming animal had no trouble in pulling the queer boat after him.
Oh, I'm having a fine ride! shouted Laddie, as he stood in his bare feet on the raft, over which the water washed. "Come on, Russ! You can have a ride after I do."
Will your raft hold me? asked his brother.
We can put some more boards on and make it, Laddie answered. "Oh, we'll have lots of fun!"
Come on, Zip! Come on! That's a good dog! called Russ, and the dog, which was used to swimming out into the lake and bringing back sticks that the children threw, swam on toward shore with the round piece of wood to which the clothesline was fastened still in his mouth. And of course as Zip pulled on the line he also pulled the raft along, and so gave Laddie a ride.
Oh, it was lots of fun! shouted the little boy, as the raft came into shallow water where it would no longer float. For Zip had reached shore by this time, and had dropped the stick at the feet of Russ. Then Zip stood there, wagging his tail, and shaking the water off his shaggy coat, waiting for Russ to toss the stick into the water again.
Here you go, Zip! Bring it back! cried Russ. "Bring the stick back again!" and, once more, he tossed it into the water.
Don't you want him to give you a ride? asked Laddie.
Wait till we see if he gives you another one, suggested Russ.
And Zip did. Out he swam to where the piece of wood floated, still tied to the clothesline that was fast to the raft. And when Zip swam along, of course he pulled the raft after him.
Oh, he does it! He does it again! cried Laddie, capering up and down on the raft. "Now we'll make the boat bigger, Russ, and you can have a ride, and so can——"
But then, all of a sudden, something happened. Laddie was doing too much capering about on the raft. Before he knew it he stepped off with one foot, and, though he tried to get back on, he couldn't.
Off he fell, right into the water, splashing down with his clothes on. Zip pulled the raft along without the little boy on it.
Hi! What are you doing? asked Russ.
I—I didn't mean to! I slipped off! answered Laddie. "But the water isn't cold."
You're all wet, though, Russ said. "Oh, you'll get it!"
These are my old clothes, answered the smaller boy. "Mother said it wouldn't hurt to get 'em wet."
Did she say you could fall in with 'em on? asked Russ.
No, answered Laddie slowly, "I didn't know I was going to fall in, so I couldn't ask her. But I'm glad I did, 'cause it feels so nice, and he kicked around in the water. The bottom being of clean sand, there was no mud, and, as Laddie had said, he wore old clothes."
Say, Zip is a regular steamboat engine! exclaimed Russ, as the dog kept on pulling the raft, though Laddie had fallen off. "We'll make it bigger, Laddie, and then I can ride on it."
Maybe we both can, said Laddie, who got up out of the water, and waded to shore.
No, I guess the two of us would be too heavy for Zip to pull. We'll take turns, said Russ. "Come on, we'll make a bigger raft. There's lots of wood out by the barn."
And so the boys did. Russ was stronger than Laddie, and could handle bigger boards and pieces of wood. Soon the raft was made big enough so that Russ could stand up on it and not have it sink to the bottom of the lake near the shore.
"
Do you like it? asked Laddie. It's lots of fun,"" answered Russ. ""I'm glad you thought of this.""
"
I was trying to think of a riddle, said Laddie. "It was something about what makes the lake wet when it rains, and then I saw some pieces of board floating along and I thought of a raft and I made one."
And I'm glad you thought of it instead of the riddle, said Russ with a laugh. "You can't ride on a riddle."
You could if a riddle was a train or a boat, Laddie said. "And I made up a riddle about the conductor punching the tickets and they didn't get mad. Don't you 'member?"
Oh, yes, I remember, said Russ. "But come on, we'll have some more rides."
So the boys took turns having Zip pull them along on the raft until the dog, much as he liked to go into the water after sticks, grew tired and would not splash out any more.
Well, we'll play it to-morrow, said Laddie.
Or this afternoon, maybe, said his brother.
They tied the raft to a tree near shore, leaving the stick fast to the rope, ready for more fun.
Mercy, Laddie, what happened to you? asked Mrs. Bunker, as she saw the two boys come through the garden up to Grandma Bell's house. "Did you fall into the water?"
I—I sorter—sorter—stepped in—off the raft, answered the little boy. "Oh, it was lots of fun!"
But you must be more careful, said his mother. "Was the water deep?"
No, Mother. It was near shore, explained Russ, and he told how Zip had given them rides.
Well, come into the house, and get on dry clothes, said Grandma Bell. "And, to make sure you won't catch cold—though I don't see how you can on such a hot day—I'll give you some bread and jam!"
Oh, goody! cried Laddie, for he knew how nice the bread and jam made by Grandma Bell tasted.
I wish I'd fallen in, said Russ.
Well, you may have some bread and jam also, said his grandmother, laughing. "And we'll call one, two, three, four more little Bunkers, and they may have bread and jam, too."
That afternoon and the next day the other little Bunkers had rides on the raft pulled by Zip. And when the dog got tired of splashing out in the water to bring back the stick and tow the raft, Laddie and Russ, in their bare feet, pulled it themselves, giving Rose, Vi, Margy and Mun Bun rides along the shore.
They had lots of fun, and thought Lake Sagatook the nicest place in all the world to spend part of their vacation.
Daddy Bunker and Mother Bunker liked it, too. They took long walks in the woods, and also went for rows in the boat Daddy Bunker hired.
For the children's father did as he had promised, and got a large, safe rowboat, in which they went for trips on the lake, and also went fishing. Mrs. Bunker did not care to fish, but she went along to hold the smaller children and keep them from falling out of the boat.
Several times Laddie, Russ or the other children saw Mr. Hurd, the red-haired fisherman. Each time they asked him if he had seen the tramp lumberman with the papers Mr. Bunker wished so much to get back, and each time the fisherman had to say that he had not seen the man wanted.
Once Mr. Hurd came in his boat and showed Daddy Bunker a good place to fish. Russ and Laddie went along also, and Russ caught two fishes. Laddie got only one, but as it was bigger than either of those his brother caught, Laddie felt very proud.
One day, when Laddie and Russ had gone with their father for a row in the boat, Mrs. Bunker, who was in the house with Grandma Bell helping her sew, said to Rose:
You might take the smaller children down to the woods by the lake and play there. It's cool and shady, and you may take some cookies, or other little lunch with you, and have a sort of picnic.
And may we take Muffin? asked Vi.
Yes, take Muffin, said Grandma Bell, for the maltese cat liked to be with the children as much as they liked to have her. Zip, the dog, had gone off with Tom Hardy.
Grandma Bell put up a lunch for the children, and then Rose led them down to the shady shore of the lake, where they were to have some fun.
I'm going to make a dress out of green leaves for my doll, said Vi.
And I'm going to make a new bathing suit for my rubber doll, said Rose. "What are you two going to do?" and she looked at Margy and Mun Bun, who were toddling along hand-in-hand.
We's goin' in swimming', said Mun Bun.
He means wading with his shoes and stockings off, said Vi. "He asked mother if he could, and she said yes."
Did she say Margy could, too? asked Rose.
Yes. Both of 'em.
Soon the two smaller children were paddling about in the water near the shore of the lake, while Rose and Vi sat under the shade of trees, not far away, and sewed.
The two older girls were trying on their dolls' dresses when, all of a sudden, Mun Bun came running up from the lake, his eyes big with wonder, and after him ran Margy.
Oh, I saw it! I saw it! cried Mun Bun. "It's a great big bear! He came right up out of the lake! Oh, come and look, Rose!" and he ran to take his sister's hand, while Margy hid behind Violet.
What is it, Mun Bun? asked Rose.
Oh, I saw something big—an animal—I—I guess it's a bear—come up out of the lake! cried the little fellow. "Come and look!"
When Mun Bun had said that a bear had come up out of the lake, at first Rose felt she was going to be frightened, but when she saw that her littlest brother and sister were also afraid, Rose made up her mind that she must be brave.
She looked at Vi, and Vi was a little frightened, too, but not as much so as Mun Bun and Margy.
What was it you saw, Mun? asked Vi, even now not able to stop asking questions. "Where was it?"
It was a big bear, I guess, answered the little fellow.
Pooh! cried Rose, in a voice she tried to make sound brave. "There aren't any bears in these woods. Grandma Bell said so."
Well, anyhow, it was a—a something! said Mun Bun. "It came up out of the water and it made a big splash."
It splashed water on me, said Margy.
What did you think it was? asked Vi.
Maybe—maybe a—a elephant, replied the little girl. "It had a big long tail, anyhow."
Then it couldn't be a elephant, declared Rose.
Why not? Vi wanted to know.
Because elephants have little, short tails. I saw 'em in the circus.
But they have something long, don't they? Vi went on.
That's their trunk, explained Rose. "But it isn't like the trunk we put our things in. Elephants only put peanuts in their trunks."
Then what makes 'em so big? Their trunks, I mean, asked Vi.
I don't know, Rose confessed. "Only I know elephants have little tails."
This animal had a big tail, declared Mun Bun.
Maybe it was the elephant's trunk they saw, suggested Vi. "Do you think it was?"
Elephants don't live in the lake, decided Rose. Then she started down toward the shore where Mun Bun and Margy had been paddling in their bare feet.
In truth, she did not want to go very much. That was why she had done so much talking before she started.
Where are you goin'? asked Violet.
I'm going to see what it is! declared Rose.
Oh-o-o-o! exclaimed Vi. "Maybe it'll bite you. Did it have a mouth, Mun Bun?"
I didn't see its mouth, but it had a flappy tail.
I'm going to call mamma! exclaimed Vi, "Don't you go, Rose!"
But Rose was already halfway to the shore of the lake. In another moment she called out:
Oh, I see it! I see it!
What is it? asked Mun, made brave by what he saw Rose doing, and he followed her. Vi and Margy trailed after them. "What is it?"
It's a big rat, that's all, but it isn't the kind of rats we saw the hired man catch in a trap at the barn. It's a nicer rat than that, and it's eating oysters on a rock near the shore.
Oh, is it really eating oysters? asked Vi.
They look like oysters, replied Rose. "Oh, there he goes!" and, as she spoke, the animal, which did look like a rat, plunged into the water and swam away, only the tip of its nose showing.
Tisn't a bear, said Rose, "and 'tisn't an elephant."
Then what is it? asked Vi.
Rose did not know, but when the children went to the house and told Grandma Bell about it, she said:
Why, that was a big muskrat. They won't hurt you. There are many of them in the lake, and in the winter the men catch them for their skins to make fur-lined coats from. It was only a big muskrat you saw, Mun Bun.
And was he eating oysters? asked Vi, who liked to know all about things.
They were fresh-water clams, said Grandma Bell. "There are many of them in the lake, too. The muskrats bring them up from the bottom in their paws, and take them out on a rock that sticks up from the water. There they eat the clams."
Well, I'm glad it wasn't a bear I saw, put in Mun Bun.
So am I, said Mother Bunker with a laugh. "But you needn't be afraid—there are no bears here."
While this had been going on Laddie and Russ, with their father in the boat, had been having a good time. They rowed up the lake, and once or twice Mr. Bunker let the boys take the oars so they might learn how to row.
If you are going to be around the water, said Mr. Bunker, "you ought to learn how to row a boat as well as how to swim."
I can swim a little, said Russ.
Yes, you do very well, returned his father. "And before we go back I must teach Laddie."
I like to wade in my bare feet, said the smaller boy.
Well, when you learn to swim you'll like that, replied his father. "But now let's see if we can catch some fish. I told mother I'd try to bring some home, and I guess Muffin is hungry for fish, too. So we'll bait our hooks and see what luck we have."
Mr. Bunker stopped rowing the boat and got his own fishing-rod and line ready. Russ could fix his own, but Laddie needed a little help. Soon the three, sitting in the boat, were waiting for "bites."
All at once there was a little shake and nibble on Laddie's line. He grew excited and was going to pull up, but his father whispered to him:
Wait just a moment. The fish hasn't taken hold of the hook yet. He is just tasting the bait. If you pull up now you'll scare him away. Wait a little longer.
So Laddie waited, and then, as he felt a sudden tug on his line, he quickly lifted the pole from the water. Up in the air went the dripping line, and on the end of it was a fine fish.
Laddie has caught the first one, said Mr. Bunker. "Now we'll have to see what we can do, Russ."
I think I have one now, said Russ in a low voice.
Mr. Bunker looked at his son's pole. The end of it was shaking and bobbing a little, and the line was trembling.
Yes, you have a bite, said Mr. Bunker. "Pull up, Russ! Pull!"
Russ pulled, as Laddie had done, and he, too, had caught a fine fish.
Well, well! exclaimed Mr. Bunker, as he took this second one off the hook. "You boys are beating me all to pieces. I'll have to watch out what I'm doing!"
Why don't you pull up your line. Daddy, and see what you've got on your hook? asked Laddie.
I believe I will, his father answered. "Here we go! Let's see what I have!"
Up came his line, and the pole bent like a bow, because something heavy was on the hook.
Oh, daddy's got a big one! Daddy's got a terrible one! cried Laddie.
It's bigger than both our fishes put together, added Russ.
I certainly have got something, said Mr. Bunker, as he kept on lifting his pole up. "But it doesn't act like a fish. It doesn't swim around and try to get off."
Something long and black was lifted out of the water. At first the two little boys thought it was a very big fish, but when Mr. Bunker saw it he laughed and cried:
Well, look at my luck! It's only an old rubber boot!
And so it was. His hook had caught on a rubber boot at the bottom of the lake and he had pulled that up, thinking it was a fish.
Never mind, Daddy, said Russ kindly. "You can have half of my fish."
And half of mine, too, added Laddie.
Thank you, said their father. "That is very nice of you. But I must try to catch one myself."
And he did, a little later, though it was not as big as the one Russ has caught.
But after that Mr. Bunker caught a very large one, and Russ and Laddie each got one more, so they had enough for a good meal, as well as some to give to Muffin.
Then Daddy Bunker and the boys rowed home, and were told all about the muskrat that Mun Bun had seen come out of the lake to eat the fresh-water clams.
How would you all like to go after wild strawberries to-day? asked Grandma Bell of the six little Bunkers one morning, about two days after the fishing trip.
Oh, we'd just love it! said Rose.
Well, get ready then, and we'll go over to the hill across the sheep meadow, and see if we can find any. There used to be many strawberries growing there, and I think we can find some to-day. Come on, children!
Mrs. Bunker got ready, too, but Daddy Bunker did not go, as he had some letters to write. Margy wore a little red coat her mother had made for her, and she looked very pretty in it.
Down by the brook, and along the shore of the lake they went, until they came to a meadow, around which was a fence.
What's the fence for? asked Violet.
To keep the sheep from getting out, said Grandma Bell. "There are sheep in this meadow belonging to Mr. Hixon, the man who owns the funny parrot."
They climbed in between the rails of the fence and started across the sheep meadow. Grandma Bell and Mother Bunker were talking of the days when the children's mother was a little girl. Russ and Rose were walking along together, and Laddie was trying to think of a riddle. Violet walked with Mun Bun, and, for a moment, no one thought of little Margy in her red coat.
Are you all right? asked Mrs. Bunker, turning to look back at the children. And then she saw Margy straggling along at the rear, all by herself. Margy had lagged behind to pick buttercups and daisies.
Come, Margy! Come on! cried Mrs. Bunker. "You'll get lost."
Doesn't she look cute in her red coat? asked Rose.
And hardly had she said that when there came from a clump of tall weeds near Margy the bleating of a ram, and the animal himself jumped out and started for the little girl, whose red coat made her look like a bright flower in the green meadow.
"Oh! Oh, Margy!" cried Mrs. Bunker.
Oh, the poor little dear! exclaimed Grandma Bell. "The old ram has seen her red coat and doesn't like it! I must get her away."
I'll help! cried Mother Bunker. Meanwhile they were both running toward Margy, where she stood with her back turned toward the ram, picking flowers.
You had better leave the old ram to me. I know how to drive him off, said Grandma Bell. "You take the children, Amy, and get on the other side of the fence. It isn't far," and she pointed to the fence ahead of them.
Won't the ram hurt you? asked Rose, who had taken Mun Bun and Violet by their hands to lead them along.
No, I'm not afraid of him, said Grandma Bell. "I've seen him before. You see he's like a bull—or a turkey gobbler—they don't any of 'em like the sight of red colors. Run, children! Amy, you look after them," she said to Mrs. Bunker. "I'll get Margy."
Mrs. Bunker knew that Grandma Bell knew a lot about farm animals. So, calling to Violet, Mun Bun and Rose, and seeing that Russ and Laddie were on the way to the fence, Mrs. Bunker followed the two boys.
I could throw stones at the ram, said Russ.
So could I, added his brother. "Let's go do it!"
No. You do as grandma told you, and get on the other side of the fence, said his mother. "Grandma Bell can take care of the ram."
The ram, which had big, curving horns, walked toward Margy, now and then stopping to stamp his foot or give a loud:
Baa-a-a-a!
What's he saying? asked Vi.
Never mind what he's saying, said Mrs. Bunker. "Run! Don't stop to ask questions."
I guess the ram's saying he doesn't like red coats, put in Russ.
They were soon at the fence and out of any danger from the ram. Grandma Bell was now close to Margy, who had stopped picking flowers, and was looking at the animal with his shaggy coat of wool and his big, curved horns.
Come to me, Margy! cried her grandmother, and Margy ran, and was soon clasped in Mrs. Bell's arms.
Baa-a-a-a! bleated the old ram, again stamping his foot, as he shook his lowered head.
Oh, he's going to bunk right into Grandma Bell! cried Laddie, on the safe side of the fence.
I'll go back and help her drive the ram off, said Mother Bunker. "You children stay here."
Will the old ram-sheep come and get us? asked Vi.
No, he can't get through the fence, her mother answered after a look around. "Don't be afraid."
By this time Margy's grandmother had caught the little girl up in her arms, and was walking away from the ram.
I must cover your red coat up with my apron, and then the ram can't see it, said Grandma Bell. "It's the red color he doesn't like."
'Cause why? asked Margy.
I don't know why—any more than I know why turkey gobblers and bulls don't like red, answered her grandmother. "But we had better get out of this meadow. I didn't know the ram was so saucy, or we should have gone around another way."
Will he bite us? Margy went on.
Oh, no. He may try to hit us with his head. But that won't hurt much, as his horns are curved, and not sharp. Go on back, Bunko! called Grandma Bell to the ram, Bunko was his name. "Go on back!"
But Bunko evidently did not want to go back. He bleated some more, stamped his feet, and shook his head. Margy's red coat was almost all covered now by her grandmother's big apron that she wore when she want to pick wild strawberries. But still the ram came on.
Go on, Mother! called Mrs. Bunker to Grandma Bell. "You take Margy to the fence and I'll throw clumps of dirt at the ram."
This she did, hitting the ram on the head with soft clods of earth, while Grandma Bell hurried to the fence with Margy.
There we are! cried the grandmother, as she set the little girl safely down on the far side, away from the ram. "Now Bunko can't get us."
Baa-a-a-a! bleated Bunko. He shook his big, curved horns at Mrs. Bunker, but he did not try to run at her and strike her with his head. Perhaps he felt that, as long as the little girl with the red coat had gone out of his meadow, everything was quite all right again.
Well, that was quite an adventure, said Mother Bunker, as they were all together again, and on their way to the strawberry hill. "Did the ram ever chase you before, Mother?"
Oh, no, but he often comes up to sniff at my dress when I take a short cut through the pasture. But I'm not afraid of him, and he knows it. I suppose he wondered what sort of new red flower Margy was.
I picked some flowers, said the little girl, "but I dropped 'em when you carried me, Grandma."
Never mind. We can get more, returned Mrs. Bell.
On they went to the place where the wild strawberries grew. They brushed aside the green leaves, and saw the fruit gleaming red underneath. They filled little baskets with the berries, though I think the children ate more than they put in the baskets.
The old ram wouldn't like it here, said Russ, as he popped a berry into his own mouth.
Why not? asked Vi.
'Cause there's so much red here. He wouldn't like it at all.
Oh, I think he wouldn't mind strawberries, said Grandma Bell with a laugh. "However, the next time we won't go through the ram's meadow. We can go back another way. Now let's see who will get the most berries. We'll take some home to Daddy Bunker!"
The children had lots of fun on the warm, sunny hillside, picking the sweet, red, wild strawberries, but if Daddy Bunker had had to depend on the six little Bunkers to bring him home some of the fruit he would have got very few berries, I'm afraid. For the children ate more than they picked. But then, one could hardly blame them, as the strawberries were good.
However, Grandma Bell and Mother Bunker saved some for daddy, so he had a chance to taste them, and he ate them at supper that night as he listened to the story of the ram and Margy's red coat.
The next day, as Laddie, Russ and Rose were out in front of Grandma Bell's house, playing under the trees, they saw a farmer going down the road with a box under his arm.
Do you suppose he's going after strawberries? asked Rose.
If he is we'd better tell him to look out for the old ram, remarked Laddie.
I will, said Russ. And then he called out loudly:
Hey, Mr. Parker! for that was the farmer's name. "Hey, Mr. Parker, you'd better look out!"
Look out for what?
For the old ram. He chased my grandma and my sister Margy yesterday, went on Russ. "But Margy had a red coat on."
Well, I haven't anything red on, the farmer said with a laugh. "But I'm much obliged to you for telling me. And, as it happens, I'm going right where that old ram is."
Oh, aren't you 'fraid? asked Laddie.
No, answered the farmer. "The ram will be glad to see me. You see, I'm taking him and the sheep some salt," and he showed the children that he had salt in the box under his arm. "I'm going to give my cattle some salt," went on the farmer, "and Mr. Hixon, who owns the sheep, asked me to salt them, too. So I'm going to. The ram will be so glad to see me with the salt that he won't hurt me at all."
It's funny sheep like salt, said Laddie.
It is. But they do, said the farmer, as he went on down the road.
It was a little later that afternoon that Russ, who had been making a toy sailboat, whistling merrily the while, wanted to go down to the lake to sail it.
Come on, Laddie! he called. "Let's go to the lake to sail the boat."
Laddie went in the house, said Rose. "I'll find him then," returned Russ, and into the house he went, calling:
Laddie! Laddie! Where are you? Come on and help me sail the boat!
Laddie was here a minute ago, said Jane, the hired girl, when Russ reached the kitchen in his search. "He asked me to give him some sugar in a cup."
What'd he want of sugar? asked Russ.
I don't know, answered Jane. "But I gave him some and he went out in a hurry."
Maybe he's going to make candy, said Russ.
No, I don't believe so. He'd have to cook sugar on a fire to make candy, and you know your grandmother or your mother wouldn't let you play with fire.
That's so, agreed Russ. "I wonder what Laddie wanted of the sugar. I've got to find him."
Russ went out of the kitchen and looked all around the house for his brother Laddie. He did not see the little fellow, but, on the side steps he saw some white grains of sugar, and Russ could follow them a little way. The trail led down across the brook and toward the meadow.
He went this way, Russ thought to himself, "and he had the sugar with him. Maybe he's going out to the woods to feed the birds. Or maybe he's going to have a play party with Rose and the others. I'll find 'em and have some fun myself."
But Laddie was not with the other little Bunkers, for Russ saw Rose, Vi, Margy and Mun Bun playing under one of the trees.
Hi, Rose! called Russ. "Have you found Laddie?"
No, Rose answered, "I didn't look for him."
I saw him, said Tom, the hired man. "He went over that way," and he pointed across the brook.
Do you mean over to Strawberry Hill? asked Russ, for so they had come to call the place where the wild red berries grew.
Well, yes, I s'pose you might say towards Strawberry Hill, replied Tom.
Across the brook hurried Russ, and, a little way ahead of him, he saw his brother.
Hi, Laddie! he called. "Wait for me! Where are you going?"
Laddie waited, and Russ soon caught up to him. But Laddie did not at once answer his older brother's question. So Russ asked again:
Where are you going? Then, before Laddie had a chance to say anything, Russ went on: "I know! You're going to pick wild strawberries, and put sugar on 'em."
No, I'm not, returned Laddie slowly. "I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to give some sugar to the sheep."
Give sugar to the sheep? cried Russ in surprise. "What're you going to do that for?"
'Cause they don't like salt, I guess, answered Laddie. "I don't like salt, and I don't guess a sheep does. The farmer said he was going to give salt to the sheep, but they must like sugar better. So I got Jane to give me some, and I'm going to take it to the sheep."
I'll help you take it, said Russ. "I should think sheep would like sugar better than salt."
Together the two little boys kept on over the meadow until they came to the field where the sheep were grazing. There were quite a number of them.
What'll we do if the old ram runs at us? asked Russ, as he and Laddie crawled under the fence.
He won't run at us, said the smaller boy, who seemed to have thought it all out. "We haven't got anything red on, and he only runs at you if you have red on. Anyhow, if he does, we can give him some sugar and that will make him like us."
Yes, I guess it will, agreed Russ.
With Laddie holding the bag of sweet stuff, the two boys walked toward the sheep. They were eating grass, but soon some of the woolly creatures noticed the two little fellows and stopped eating to walk toward them.
Here they come! exclaimed Russ. "Get the sugar ready, Laddie. And there comes the old ram over from the other side of the field. Save some sugar for him."
I will, Laddie said. Then he poured some of the sugar out from the bag on the ground, and the sheep began to nibble at it.
I am not sure whether sheep like sugar better than salt or not. I should think they might, and yet salt on some things is better than sugar would be. I wouldn't like my roast chicken with sugar on it, but I do like it with salt. Anyhow, the sheep licked up the sugar that Laddie sprinkled on the grass for them.
Let me give 'em some! begged Russ, and he reached for the bag. Just how it happened the boys did not know, but the bag was knocked from Laddie's hand, and the rest of the sugar was spilled out on the ground. More sheep came up and soon all began eating it.
They like it lots better'n salt! said Laddie.
Sure they do! agreed Russ. "We'll bring more sugar, and we'll tell Mr. Hixon about it. I guess he'd like to give his sheep the things they like best. They like 'em to grow good and fat."
The boys were so interested watching the sheep eat the sugar, that they forgot all about the ram that had seemed so angry because of Margy's red coat. The first they knew was when they heard a loud:
Baa-a-a-a-a!
Then they heard a pounding of hoofs on the ground and the ram came running at them.
Oh, look! cried Russ. "Here he comes! We'd better get on the other side of the fence! Come on, Laddie!"
I'm coming! answered the little fellow. "Hurry!"
It—it's too bad we didn't save him some sugar, panted Russ, as he and Laddie ran on. "Maybe that's what makes him mad at us."
Maybe it is, agreed Laddie. "Hurry, Russ!" he shouted, looking over his shoulder. "He's coming closer!"
The ram was, indeed, running faster than the boys, and only that they had a start of him he would have caught them before they got to the fence, and then he might have butted them with his head.
But, as it was, Russ reached the fence first. He turned to wait for Laddie, who was a little behind him.
And if that old ram had hurt you I'd 'a' thrown stones at him, said Russ afterward. But Laddie, with an extra burst of speed, managed to get to the fence, and Russ helped him through. The ram was so close that his head struck the rails with a bang.
It's a good thing it wasn't us he hit, said Russ, as they found themselves safe on the other side.
That's right, agreed Laddie. "He's terrible mad 'cause we didn't save him any sugar. I was going to, but it all spilled."
They stood on the safe side of the fence looking at the ram, which shook its head, stamped its feet, and, now and then, uttered a loud "Baaa-a-a-a-a!"
I don't really believe the ram was angry at Russ and Laddie for not giving him sugar. I think the leader of the flock thought perhaps the boys might be troubling the sheep, and wanted to drive them from the field. That's just what he did, anyhow—drive them from the field.
For a little while the boys stood watching the sheep. Those that had come to eat the sugar seemed to have licked up all there was on the grass, and they came with the others, to stand behind the ram, near the fence. They all looked at the boys.
I guess they like us, said Laddie.
All but the ram, said Russ. "And I don't like him."
Neither do I, agreed his brother.
Well, come on, said Russ, after a bit. "We can't have any fun here. Let's go and sail the boat I made. I was looking for you when Jane said she gave you the sugar. I couldn't think what you were going to do."
I thought about the sugar for the sheep when I saw the man going with the salt, explained Laddie. "But I guess I won't do it any more—not while the old ram is in the field. Come on, we'll go and sail your boat."
The boys went back to the house and got the new sailboat Russ had made. Going down to the sandy shore of the lake with it, they found Rose and Violet sitting in the shade, playing with their dolls.
Oh, I know what we can do! exclaimed Russ, who was carrying the boat.
What? asked his brother.
We can take the dolls—those Rose and Vi have—and give 'em a ride on the boat.
Give Rose and Vi a ride on the boat? asked Laddie, who had not been listening very closely. "It isn't big enough."
'Course 'tisn't! agreed Russ. "I don't mean that. I mean give the dolls a ride."
Oh, yes, we can do that! cried Laddie. "It'll be fun! Will you let us?" he called to the two little girls.
Let you what? asked Rose.
Let us give your dolls a ride on the boat?
Russ had taken a board, whittled one end sharp, like the prow, or bow, of a boat, and had rounded the other end for the stern. In the middle he had bored a hole and stuck in this a stick for a mast. On the mast he had tied a bit of cloth for a sail. And when the boat was put in the shallow water of the lake, near shore, the wind blew it along nicely.
Oh, yes! Let's give our dolls a ride! cried Vi.
You can give yours a ride, but I'm not, declared Rose.
Why? Russ wanted to know.
'Cause she might fall off into the water.
I can put a stone on her so she won't fall off the boat, said Russ.
Huh! Think I'm going to let you put a stone on my doll? I will not! Rose exclaimed.
I could tie her on, suggested Laddie. "I've a piece of string."
Well, maybe that's all right, Rose agreed, and then she and Violet let Russ and Laddie take the dolls, which they tied on the sailboat. Then along in the little sheltered cove of the lake the boat sailed, giving the dolls a ride.
But, suddenly, there came a strong puff of wind, and the boat tipped to one side. Laddie could not have tied the string on Vi's doll very strong, for she slipped off into the water.
Oh, your doll will be drowned! cried Rose.
No, she can't drown! She's rubber, answered Vi. "I'll just play she had a bath in the lake."
Well, it's a good thing it was your doll and not mine, that fell in, went on Rose, "'cause my doll's a sawdust one—this one is. But I have a rubber doll up at the house, a nice one.
Go and get her! suggested Russ. "Then I can sail the boat in deeper water and it won't hurt if it tips over with two rubber dolls on."
So Rose got her other doll, and then the children had fun sailing the boat with two make-believe passengers, who did not mind how wet they got. If the boat didn't tip over of itself, Russ or Laddie made it, just to see the dolls go splashing into the water.
The children played at this game for some time, and then Jane called them to come to lunch. At the table Laddie and Russ told about taking sugar to the sheep, and how the ram chased them.
You mustn't do it again, their father said. "Not only that it isn't good to waste sugar by giving it to the sheep, but the old ram might hurt you. Don't do it again."
The boys promised they wouldn't, and then Rose and Vi told of their fun with the rubber dolls and the boat.
In the afternoon, when Mrs. Bunker and Grandma Bell were getting ready to go for a walk with the children, Russ came running up to the house, from down near the barn, crying:
Oh, Rose! Margy took your rubber doll, and now she's down in the well! She's down in the well!
Oh, mercy sakes! cried Grandma Bell, who heard what Russ said. "Is Margy in the well or the doll?"
But Russ didn't stop to answer. Back toward the well he ran, as fast as he could go, having picked up the rake near the fence of the kitchen garden.
Mrs. Bunker saw Grandma Bell hurrying down toward the barn, halfway between which and the house, was the well, and at once the children's mother began to fear that something was wrong.
Has anything happened? asked Mrs. Bunker.
I'm afraid there has, answered Grandma Bell. "Russ came running up to the house, and said something about a doll having fallen into the well. Then he grabbed up the rake and ran back before I could ask him what he meant."
Oh, I do hope none of the children will try to get it out! cried Mrs. Bunker.
Then Grandma Bell and Mother Bunker ran down to the well. There they saw Mr. Bunker with the long-handled rake fishing down in the round hole, at the bottom of which was deep water.
What has happened? demanded Mrs. Bunker.
It's all right—don't be frightened, her husband told her, as he looked around. "It's only a doll that has fallen into the well. I'm trying to get it out with the rake."
Only a doll—that isn't so bad, said Mrs. Bunker. "Whose doll is it?"
Mine, answered Rose. She and the other children now stood about the well house. "Margy took it, Russ says, and dropped it into the water."
I was givin' the dollie a bath, Margy explained. "The other dolls had a ride on Laddie's boat, and they felled in the water and had a nice swim, but this doll didn't have any and I was givin' her one."
Oh, but you shouldn't have done that without asking mother, said Mrs. Bunker. "And besides, I've told you to keep away from the well. You might fall in."
Oh, I didn't go very near, said Margy. "I—I just throwed the dollie in. I stood 'way back and I throwed her in 'cause I wanted her to have a swim like the other dolls."
Can you get it out? asked Mrs. Bunker.
I think so, answered her husband. "The doll is caught on one of the buckets, halfway down the well. I sent Russ up to get the rake, for I'm afraid If I pull up the bucket the doll will drop off and fall to the bottom of the well."
All watched Daddy fishing for the doll. The rake was not quite long enough, but by fastening a stick onto the handle it could be reached down far enough so the iron teeth caught in the doll's dress, and up she came.
Why—why! exclaimed Margy, "she isn't wet at all."
No, said Daddy Bunker, "she didn't get down to the water. If she had I don't believe I could have gotten her up, as the well is very deep. But don't do it again, Margy."
Rose took the doll, whose dress had been torn a little by the rake.
I'll make believe she's had a terrible time and been sick, said the little girl, "and I'll give her bread pills."
The rake was carried back to the kitchen garden, Daddy Bunker put on his coat, which he had taken off to get the doll up from the well, and then Grandma Bell brought some pails and baskets from the kitchen.
What are we going to do? asked Russ.
We are going after berries, his mother told him.
Strawberries? cried Laddie.
Not this time, said Grandma Bell. "This time we are going to gather huckleberries."
Then you must be going to bake huckleberry pies! exclaimed Daddy Bunker.
Well, I'll bake some if the children don't eat more berries than they put in the pails and baskets, said Grandma Bell, with a funny twinkle in her eyes.
We won't eat very many, promised Russ. "We'll pick a lot of berries for the pies, won't we, Laddie?"
Sure we will!
Off to the place where the huckleberries grew went the six little Bunkers, with their mother and their grandmother.
And I'm coming, too, said Daddy Bunker. "I'm too fond of huckleberry pie to risk having all the berries go into the children's mouths. I'll go along and pick some myself, then I'll be sure of one pie at least."
But the six little Bunkers were really very good. Of course, I'm not saying they didn't eat some berries. You'd do that yourself, when they grew on bushes all around you. But the children put into the pails and baskets so many that Grandma Bell said there would be a big pie for daddy, and several smaller ones for the children.
As the little party of berry pickers came back from the fields late that afternoon, Russ and Laddie, walking ahead, saw Zip, the dog, dragging along a piece of rope, fastened to a heavy bit of log.
He's terrible strong, Zip is, said Laddie. "Look at him pull that log."
Yes, he is strong, agreed Russ. And then he suddenly cried: "Oh, I know what we can do!"
What? asked Laddie, always ready for anything.
We can make a cart and have Zip pull us in it. If grandma had a pony I guess she'd have a pony-cart, but she hasn't, so we can make a dog-cart.
How can we do it? asked Laddie.
Well, you just take an old box—we saw some of the kind I want down at the grocery store—and you put wheels on it.
Where are you going to get the wheels? asked Laddie.
Russ had to stop and think about that part. Then he happened to remember that he had seen two wheels from an old baby carriage out in the barn. Grandma Bell had once had a woman working for her who had a little baby, and this woman had kept the carriage at the Bell farmhouse. But after a while it broke, or wore out, and when the woman and her baby went away there were only two wheels of the carriage left.
We can take them, said Russ, "and maybe we can find two more somewhere. We'll ask daddy or grandma."
Say, it'll be lots of fun if we can make a dog-cart! cried Laddie. "Could we really ride in it, do you s'pose?"
Why, yes! answered Russ. "Zip is strong enough to pull us both. Look at him pull that log. Feel how hard he pulls on the rope!"
The boys took hold of the rope and tried to hold back on it. But Zip was so strong that he dragged them along a little way, as well as the log. And Zip growled and snarled, pretending he was very angry.
Look out! cried Mother Bunker. "He might bite you!"
Zip is only playing, said Grandma Bell. "He never bites. But what are you doing?" she asked Russ and Laddie.
We're trying how hard Zip can pull, to see if he can pull us when we make a dog-cart, explained Russ.
Please, Grandma, may we? asked Laddie. "And may we have the two old baby carriage wheels out in the barn?"
Yes, certainly, his grandmother said. "But I don't know where there are any more wheels. You'll have to get along with two."
Well, we could do that, Russ said. "But four would be better. Oh, Laddie! We'll have a lot of fun making the dog-cart!"
That's what we will! said the smaller boy.