y as he was, and carried him to the big tent where his
mother soon had him washed and in clean clothes.

Then Nora cleaned up the kitchen and made some real cakes and cookies
which Ted and Jan, as well as Trouble, ate a little later. The Curlytops
laughed when told of Trouble's attempt to make a cake, and for a long
time after that whenever they were telling any of their friends about
the queer things their baby brother did, they always told first about
the cake he made in his hat one day.

"Oh, Ted, I know what let's do!" cried Janet one day, about a week after
Trouble had played with the flour and water.

"What?" asked her brother. "Go fishing?"

"No, I don't like fishing. Anyhow we went fishing once, and I don't like
to see the worms wiggle. Let's make a little play tent for ourselves in
the woods."

"We haven't any cloth."

"We can make one of leaves and branches, just like the bower we made for
Nicknack before grandpa put up the little board barn for him."

"Yes, we can do that," agreed Ted. "It'll be fun. Come on."

A little later the two Curlytops were cutting down branches from low
trees, sticking the ends into the soft ground, and tying the leafy tops
together with string. This made a sort of tent, and though there were
holes in it, where the leaves did not quite come together, it made a
shady place.

Jan brought in her dolls, and Ted his sailboat and other toys, and there
the two children played for some little time. Trouble was not with them.

"But he'll be along pretty soon," remarked Janet, "and he'll want part
of the tent for his. Is it big enough for three, Teddy?"

"Well, we can make Trouble a little bower for himself right next door.
He'll want to bring in a lot of old stones and mud pies anyhow, and we
don't want them. We'll make a little bower for him when he comes along."

So, waiting for their little brother to hunt them out, which he always
did sooner or later if they went off to play without him, Ted and Jan
had fun in the little leafy house they had made for themselves.

They were having a good time, and were wondering if Grandpa Martin would
ever find the queer ragged man or if they would see the strange blue
light again, when Jan suddenly gave a scream.

"What's the matter?" asked Ted.

"Something tickled the back of my neck," explained his sister. "Maybe
it's a big worm, or a caterpillar! Look, Ted, will you?"

Teddy turned to look, but, as he did so, he gave a cry of surpris