ves," he
said, rather stumbling over his words.

At first Ted had been going to say that perhaps they would look for a
bear's den, but then he happened to remember that even talk of a bear,
though of course there were none on Star Island, might scare his little
brother and Jan. So he said "fox" instead.

"Is there a fox here?" Jan asked.

"Maybe," said Ted. "Anyhow, let's go off and look."

"Don't go too far!" called Grandpa Martin after them, as he started to
unload the boat and get the camp in order. "And don't go too near the
edge of the lake. I don't want you to fall in and have your mother blame
me."

"No, we won't!" promised Ted. "Come on," he called to his little brother
and sister. "Oh, there you go again!" he cried, as he saw Trouble
stumble and fall. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"It's these pine needles. They're awfully slippery," answered Janet. "I
nearly slipped down myself. Did you hurt yourself, Trouble?" she asked
the little fellow.

He did not answer directly, but first looked at the place where he had
fallen. He could easily see it, because the pine needles were brushed to
one side. Then Baby William tried to turn around and look at the back of
his little bloomers.

"No, I isn't hurted," he said.

Janet and Ted laughed.

"I guess maybe he thought he might have broken his leg or something,"
remarked Teddy. "Now come on and don't fall any more, Trouble."

But the little fellow was not quite ready to go on. He stooped over and
looked at the ground where he had fallen.

"What's the matter?" asked Janet, who was waiting to lead him on,
holding his hand so he would not fall.

"Maybe he lost something," said Teddy. "Has he got any pockets in his
bloomers, Jan?"

"No, mother sewed 'em up so he wouldn't put his hands in 'em all the
while--and his hands were so dirty they made his bloomers the same way.
He hasn't any pockets."

"Then he couldn't lose anything," decided Ted. He was always losing
things from his pockets, so perhaps he ought to know about what he was
talking. "What is it, Trouble?" he asked, for the little fellow was
still stooping over and looking carefully at the ground near the spot
where he had fallen.

"I--I satted right down on him," said Trouble at last, as he picked up
something from the earth. "I satted right down on him, but I didn't bust
him," and he held out something on a little piece of wood.

"What's he got?" asked Ted.

"Oh, it's only an ant!" answered Jan