the house. This brook was not very deep or wide. It flowed into Rainbow
River, and was a safe place for the children to play.

Laddie and Vi had taken off their shoes and stockings before going down to
paddle in the water, and after a while Russ, stopping in his work of
hammering the box to look for more nails, heard Laddie calling out in a
loud voice:

"Oh, Vi! what made the boat sink? What made the boat sink?"

At the same time Vi gave a loud shriek.

Russ dropped his hammer and started to run toward the brook.

"What's the matter?" called his mother, who saw him running.

"I don't just know," answered Russ, over his shoulder, "but I guess Laddie
has a new riddle. He's hollering about why does a boat sink. But Vi's
crying, I think."

"Oh, my!" exclaimed Mrs. Bunker, again stopping in her work of packing a
trunk. "I hope those children haven't fallen into the brook!"




CHAPTER VIII

"WHERE IS MARGY?"