sure neither Bunny nor Sue
loosened the cable."

"I'm positive they didn't," said Captain Ross. "It must have been that
greenhorn cabin boy I had. I hired him yesterday, and let him go this
morning because he didn't know one end of a rope from the other. I told
him to make the _Fairy_ fast to your dock while I came up here to talk
to you. But he must have tied a grannie's or a landlubber's knot, and
she pulled loose. I'm glad I'm rid of that boy!"

"Yes," agreed Mr. Brown, "a boy who doesn't know enough to tie a safe
knot isn't of much use around boats. But there's no great harm done. She
isn't drifting fast, and the motor boat will soon pick her up."

"I'll go along with you," offered Captain Ross, and soon he and Mr.
Brown, with one of the dock men, were racing after the drifting _Fairy_.

On deck Bunny Brown and his sister Sue watched the rescue.

"It's just like being shipwrecked, isn't it, Bunny?" suggested Sue, as
they sat down on deck to wait.

"Yes. It's fun when you know daddy is coming," said the little boy.

In a short time the motor boat reached the drifting _Fairy_. Mr. Brown
and Captain Ross went on board, and you can just imagine how glad Bunny
and Sue were to see them.

"Guess you'll have to tow us back," said Captain Ross to Mr. Brown. "The
motor of my boat needs fixing. That's one reason why I tied up at your
dock. There isn't enough wind to blow us back against the tide that's
running out now."

"My motor boat will tow you back all right," said Mr. Brown.

And while this was being done Bunny and Sue sat on the deck of the
_Fairy_ with their father and Captain Ross.

"Well, you had quite an adventure, didn't you?" laughed Captain Ross,
taking Sue up on his knees. "And it reminds me of a riddle. When is a
boat not a boat?"

"When is a boat not a boat?" repeated Bunny. "Why, a boat is always a
boat, Cap'n Ross, lessen you mean it's like a house 'cause people
sometimes live in it."

"No, I don't mean that," chuckled Captain Ross. "I'll ask you again.
When is a boat not a boat? Can you guess?"

Bunny and Sue shook their heads sideways to say "No."

"Do you give up?" asked Captain Ross.

Bunny and Sue shook their heads up and down to say "Yes."

"When is a boat not a boat?" asked the Captain again. "When she's a
_drift_, of course, like this one of mine was! Ho! Ho!" and he laughed
heartily. "You see a boat's not a boat when she's adrift--a sort of snow
_drift_! Ha! Ha! That's a riddle