"I'm afraid you and I will have to go," answered Mother Blossom.
"Chicks, if Daddy were here, you all should go; but I know Meg and
the twins will wait patiently for us and we will hurry back and
tell you exactly what Mr. Harley says and what he thinks he had
better do."

Meg and Twaddles and Dot wanted to go dreadfully, but they knew
that five could not go in one boat and neither Meg nor Bobby could
row well enough to manage a boat alone. So the three left behind
waited with the best grace they could until Mother Blossom and
Bobby came back. They brought Father Blossom and the fireworks
with them.

"Did you see Mr. Harley?" was Meg's first question. "Was he glad?
Is he going to Oklahoma?"

"Let me fasten the boat," pleaded Father Blossom. "If our boats
drift away some fine night we would be in a pretty fix. Yes,
Daughter, we saw Mr. Harley and gave him the letters. He has
telegraphed to Cordova, and as soon as he receives a reply he has
promised to come over and let us know."

"How long does it take to telegraph to Cordova?" Twaddles wanted
to know.

Father Blossom laughed as he gathered up his packages of
fireworks.

"I knew that would be the next question," he said. "Why, Son, it
takes several hours; it may be night, it may be to-morrow morning,