ox is in our shed, and you are welcome to it at any time. But won't you
have lunch with us? The children were so anxious for you to come that I
thought this would make the time pass more quickly. We did not dream of
your coming to us here."

"I'm glad I did," said the young man, as he took a sandwich which Sue
passed him.

Then there was a happy time on the beach, different parts of the strange
stories being told over and over again. Sandy seemed to be thoroughly
enjoying himself, and he eagerly ate the pieces of bread and meat the
children tossed to him.

At last, however, the time came to go home. Mr. Brown was expected up
from Bellemere and Mr. Ravenwood said he would wait over and meet him.

"We can all get in my boat, and ride to the dock," proposed the young
pattern-maker.

"Oh, that will be fun!" cried Bunny. "Come on!"

The lunch baskets were gathered up, and as they went down the beach to
Mr. Ravenwood's boat Sue put her arms around Sandy's neck, looked into
the brown eyes of the dog, and said very seriously:

"Can't you tell what you did with my mother's pocketbook and diamond
ring?"

Sandy only wagged his tail, gave a little bark, and raced off after
Harry and Bunny, who were getting into the boat.

"All aboard!" called Mr. Ravenwood, as he helped in Mrs. Brown and Mrs.
Slater. "All aboard!"

"I'll push off and you can start the engine," offered Bunker Blue. "I'm
used to it and I can hop on after she gets started."

"All right," said Mr. Ravenwood, and he went back to the stern of the
craft where the gasolene motor was placed under a cover made of wood, to
keep out the rain and the salty spray.

Bunker pushed the bow of the boat free from the sand and then leaped on
board himself.

"Start her up!" he cried to Mr. Ravenwood.

CHAPTER XXV

WHAT STOPPED THE ENGINE

With a chug-chug the motor boat started down along the sandy shore of
Christmas Tree Cove. The children sat up in front, at the bow, as it is
called, and Harry's recently recovered dog was with them, being petted
first by one and then the other of the three little friends. Mrs. Brown
and Mrs. Slater sat behind the children, and in the back, or stern, near
the engine, were Mr. Ravenwood and Uncle Tad and Bunker Blue.

"Which dock shall I steer for?" asked Mr. Ravenwood, as the boat moved
out from shore.

"Right there," and Uncle Tad pointed to the one nearest Bark Lodge.

"It certainly is strange how things happen in th