the
car, or asked for drinks of water. They looked at picture books, and
played with games that Uncle Fred and Daddy Bunker bought for them from
the train boy.

At night they all went to sleep in the car where beds were made out of
what were seats in the daytime. It was not the first time the six little
Bunkers had traveled in sleeping-cars, so they were not much surprised
to see the colored porter make a bed out of a seat.

I will tell you about one funny thing that happened on the trip, and
then I'll make the rest of the story about the things that took place on
Uncle Fred's ranch, for there the children had many adventures.

"This is our last night of travel," said Mother Bunker to the children
one evening, as the berths were being made up.

"Shall we be at Uncle Fred's ranch in the morning?" asked Russ, who,
with Laddie, had been counting the hours when they might begin to lasso
something.

"No, not exactly in the morning," said Uncle Fred himself. "But when you
wake up, to-morrow morning, you can say: 'We'll be there to-night.' For
by this time to-morrow night, if all goes well, we'll be at Three Star."

"Then can I see the ponies?" asked Violet.

"Yes, and have a ride on one if you want to," her uncle told her. "There
are some very gentle ones that will just do for you children."

"That will be lovely!" exclaimed Rose. "I'll give my doll a ride, too."

"So will I," decided Violet.

They had taken with them their Japanese dolls, that had been found in
such a funny way on the beach, as I told you in the book called "Six
Little Bunkers at Cousin Tom's."

"The berths are ready, sir," said the colored porter to Daddy Bunker,
and soon the children were undressed and put to sleep in the queer beds
for the last time on this journey.

The grown folk stayed up a bit later, talking about different things,
and the queer spring on Uncle Fred's ranch.

"I hope I can find the men who have been taking my cattle," said the
Westerner, as he got ready for his berth, as the beds in the
sleeping-car are called.

"We'll help you find the bad chaps," said Daddy Bunker.

"And the children will want to help, too," added Mrs. Bunker.
"Especially Russ and Laddie. They think they are getting to be quite big
boys now. They may find out what is the matter with your spring, Fred."

"I hope they do, but I don't see how they can," answered the ranchman.
"I've tried every way I know, and so have my cowboys. Well, we'll wait
un