n
home had been shut up, the things that were needed had been put on board
the boat, Mrs. Brown was keeping an eye on the children to see that they
did not stray away, and Uncle Tad was stowing away the baggage in the
cabin.

Soon Mr. Brown, Bunker Blue, and Captain Ross would come on board and
the voyage would start.

The _Fairy_ was large enough for the whole family, as well as the
"crew," to sleep on board. The crew generally was made up of Captain
Ross and a man and a boy. But this time Mr. Brown was going to take the
place of the man, and Bunker Blue would be the "boy," so that it was
more of a family party. Mr. Brown had known Captain Ross for many years,
and the children felt as though he were as nearly related to them as was
Uncle Tad.

"All aboard!" called the captain, as he came down the wharf from Mr.
Brown's office, accompanied by Mr. Brown and Bunker Blue. "Are you all
aboard?" and he smiled at Bunny and Sue.

"Yes, we're here," Bunny answered.

"Isn't he funny, Mother?" whispered Sue. "He can look right at us, and
yet he wants to know if we're here!"

"It's just his joking way," said Mrs. Brown.

"I've got another good riddle for you, youngsters," called Captain Ross,
as he made his way along the deck. "What kind of tree would scare a
cat?"

"There wouldn't any tree scare a cat," declared Bunny. "I've seen a cat
climb up a tree lots of times. Cats aren't scared of trees!"

"Well, wouldn't a dogwood tree scare a cat?" chuckled the sailor. "Ha!
Ha! I'm sure it would. I don't believe you could get a cat to climb a
_dog_wood tree!" he went on.

"That _is_ a funny riddle!" declared Bunny. "I'm going to tell it to
Charlie Star when we come back from Christmas Tree Cove."

"We'd better get there first," went on Captain Ross, still chuckling at
his riddle. "Cast off, Bunker Blue!"

Bunker loosed the ropes that held the _Fairy_ to the wharf, and the boat
slowly drifted away.

"Oh, we've really started!" cried Sue, as she saw the open water between
the rail and the string-piece of the wharf.

"We'll go faster than this!" exclaimed Bunny. "Wait till Bunker Blue
starts the motor."

As there was not enough wind to allow the sails to be used, it was
needful to start the motor, and soon it was chugging away, sending the
_Fairy_ swiftly along through the water.

Bunny and Sue were delighted with the trip. They sat in camp-chairs on
deck and watched the different sights. They expected to cruise about