lared Jan.

"Yes, I remember," said Teddy. "Here, Trouble, if you want to throw
things throw these," and he stopped to pick up some old acorns which he
gave his little brother. "You can't hurt anyone with them."

Trouble was delighted with his new playthings, and kept quiet the rest
of the way home tossing the acorns out of the goat-wagon at the trees he
passed.

Grandma Martin said it did not matter about the broken box of soda, as
there was enough left for her need; so Ted and Jan did not have to go
back to the store.

"But I'd like to ask that farmer more about the tramps on Star Island,"
said Ted to his grandfather, when telling what the man had said at the
grocery.

"I'll see him and ask him," decided Grandpa Martin.

It was two days after this--two days during which the Curlytops had much
fun at Cherry Farm--that Grandpa Martin spoke at dinner one afternoon.

"I saw Mr. Crittendon," he said, "and he told me that he had seen you
Curlytops at the store and mentioned the tramps on Star Island."

"Are they really there?" asked Jan eagerly.

"Well, they might have been. But we won't let them bother us if we go
camping. I'll make them clear out. Most of that island belongs to me,
and the rest to friends of mine. They'll do as I say, and we'll clear
out the tramps."

"I hope you will, Grandpa," said Janet.

"Did Mr. Crittendon say anything about the queer blue light Jan and Ted
saw?" asked Grandma Martin.

"No, he hadn't seen that."

"Where did the tramps come from? And is he sure they weren't gypsies?"
asked Jan's mother.

"No, they weren't gypsies. We don't often see them around here. Oh, I
imagine the tramps were the regular kind that go about the country in
summer, begging their way. They might have found a boat and gone to the
island to sleep, where no constable would trouble them.

"But we're not afraid of tramps, are we, Curlytops?" he cried, as he
caught Baby William up in his arms and set him on his broad shoulder.
"We don't mind them, do we, Trouble?"

"We frow water on 'em!" said Baby William, laughing with delight as his
grandfather made-believe bite some "souse" off his ears.

"That's what we will! No tramps for us on Star Island!"

"When are we going?" asked Ted excitedly.

"Yes, when?" echoed Jan.

"In a few days now. I've got to get out the tents and other things.
We'll go the first of the week I think."

Ted and Jan could hardly wait for the time to come. They helped as much
a