"I mean something that made the boat sink--something that pulled it down
in the water with Vi. A shark maybe, or a whale!"

"Nonsense!" laughed Mrs. Bunker. "There are only little baby fishes in the
brook."

"But something made the boat sink!" insisted Laddie.

"We'll see about that when we get Vi to shore," said Mrs. Bunker. "Come
on," she called to the little girl. "Wade to shore, Vi. You have your
shoes and stockings off, haven't you?"

"Oh, yes, Mother."

"Then wade to shore. You're all right."

So Vi stepped out of the soap box, which Laddie had called the boat, and
started for shore. The box floated down the brook, and Russ ran out on a
little point of land to catch hold of it when it should float to him.

"Now you're all right," said Mrs. Bunker to her little girl, as Vi came
ashore. "But what happened?"

"We were playing sailor," explained Laddie, "and I made the boat out of a
box. Then Vi went for a ride, but the boat sank. What made it sink, Vi?"

"'Cause it's full of cracks and holes--that's why!" answered Russ, who had
caught the soap box as it floated down to him. "Look! It let in a lot of
water, and that's what made it sink," he went on, as he held out the play
boat.