asked Bunker, and he went on hammering away at the boat.
It was another craft than the one Mr. Brown had hired for the use of his
family.

"What are you making?" Bunny wanted to know, satisfied, now that he had
told the story of the crab.

"Oh, I'm making a little sailboat," answered Bunker. "A man on the other
side of the cove, where your Uncle Tad and I were fishing to-day, sold
me this boat cheap, and I'm going to rig up a sail for it. I don't want
to row around all summer, so I'm going to sail."

"Oh, can we go with you?" asked Sue.

"I can help you sail, can't I, Bunker?" questioned Bunny.

"Yes, if your mother lets you," was the answer.

After supper Uncle Tad helped Bunker put the sail on the boat. It was
not a very large boat nor did it have a very large sail, but the fish
boy said it would do for cruising about the cove.

"May we sail with him, Mother?" asked Bunny the next day, when Bunker
announced that the boat was ready for a trial.

"Is it safe?" asked Mrs. Brown of the tall lad.

"I think so," he answered. "I'll give it a tryout by myself first,
though."

Bunny and Sue watched Bunker Blue sailing to and fro in Christmas Tree
Cove, and finally he headed back for the dock.

"I'll take Bunny and Sue out now if you'll let them come with me," said
Bunker to Mrs. Brown, who, with the children, was watching the trial of
the new sailboat.

"Very well. But be careful and don't go too far!" cautioned the
children's mother.

Delighted by the prospect of a ride before the wind around the cove,
Bunny and Sue got into the boat. There was just about room enough for
three. Bunker had rigged up a rudder on the boat and there was a small
centerboard in the middle to keep the craft from tipping over in a hard
blow.

"All aboard!" cried Bunny, pretending to help Sue to her place.

"All aboard!" answered Bunker, as he pulled over the tiller and let the
boat swing out from the dock. Then for some time the children sailed
about the cove, while Mrs. Brown watched them from the bank. Mr. Brown
was to come up to the cove that night on the evening train, to stay for
several days.

As Mrs. Brown was watching, she saw something dark slide suddenly over
the side of the sailboat, and at the same time she heard Sue's screams
and saw Bunker let go the sail and make a grab for an object in the
water.

"Bunny has fallen overboard!" cried his mother, springing to her feet
and running down to the dock. "Uncle Tad, come