to take us
there?" asked Mrs. Brown, as she passed her husband some sliced peaches.

"I have been trying to think of a nice place where you and the children
might spend the summer," he answered, "and when I heard that Captain
Ross had his motor boat _Fairy_ to hire for trips, I thought it would be
just the chance for us.

"There is a bungalow at Christmas Tree Cove I can hire for the summer,
and, if you want to go, we can all pile on board the _Fairy_ and make
the trip."

"Would you come, too?" asked Bunny.

"Yes, I would be with you part of the time," said Mr. Brown. "Of course
I should also have to be at my dock down here in Bellemere part of the
time to look after business, but I could come up and down. Christmas
Tree Cove is not far away, and there are boats going up and down the
river and the bay each week. So, if you think you will like it, we will
spend the summer in a bungalow at Christmas Tree Cove."

"Oh, we'll just love it!" cried Sue, dancing around and clapping her fat
hands.

"Will you like it, Mother?" asked Bunny. "Even if you don't find your
diamond ring?"

"Yes, my dear, I think I shall like it there," said Mrs. Brown, with a
smile. "Though, of course, I want to find my diamond ring that the dog
carried away. I hope Bunker Blue finds it in the shavings or the sawdust
of Mr. Foswick's shop before we go."

"I hope so, too," said Bunny.

"Then it's decided. We shall go to Christmas Tree Cove," said Mr.
Brown. "I am sure you will have a nice summer. I'll tell Captain Ross
that we will hire his boat for the trip and the voyage back."

"Is he the funny Captain Ross who is always cracking jokes or asking
riddles?" Mrs. Brown asked.

"Yes, that's Captain Dick Ross," her husband replied. "He's very jolly,
and I'm sure the children will like him. In fact, they may see him and
his boat this afternoon if they wish."

"How?" asked Bunny eagerly. And Sue waited for the answer.

"He is down at my dock, with his boat _Fairy_," was the answer. "He is
having some repairs made to it. The boat is a sailing boat with a motor
in it, so it can travel both ways. If you like, Bunny and Sue, you may
come down to the dock with me and see Cap'n Dick!"

"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed the children in delight, and they hurried through
their meal that they might go with their father.

On the way to the boat and the fish dock, where Mr. Brown carried on
his business, the children and their father stopped at Mr. Foswick's
carp