"

"A train doesn't whistle," declared Russ. "It's only the engine that
whistles. Isn't that so, Grandpa?"

"Well, the engine whistles, of course. But the engine is the main part
of the train. If it wasn't for the engine there wouldn't be any train,
so I guess Laddie's riddle is all right there. A train-engine is like a
boy, because it whistles. There it goes now."

As he spoke the engine gave several loud, shrill blasts.

"What makes it do that?" asked Violet. "What makes the engine whistle?
Was it 'cause Laddie asked that riddle?"

"You children will make Grandpa Ford sleepy with your questions and
riddles," observed Mrs. Bunker to Laddie and Violet. "Please be quiet
now, and let him rest."

"Oh, I don't mind," said the old gentleman. "I love the children, and I
like Laddie's riddles and Vi's questions. Only don't ask me such hard
ones that I can't answer," he went on.

Margy was in the seat with her mother, playing with one of the Japanese
dolls that had come ashore on the beach at Cousin Tom's, as I have told
you in the book just before this one.

"My doll wants a drink," suddenly announced the little girl. "She's
awful thirsty."

"You probably mean you are," laughed her mother. "Rose, will you take
Margy to the water tank and get her a drink? Be careful, and hold on to
the arms of the seats so you don't fall down. It isn't far."

"I wants a drink, too," announced Mun Bun. "I'm going to drink it
myself, too," he announced, "and not give it to any doll."

"Well, Rose can take both of you," said Mrs. Bunker. Rose was a real
"mother's helper," and often looked after the two smaller children in
such things as getting them drinks of water. The tank was at the end of
the car, not far from where the Bunkers were sitting.

Mr. Bunker bought a picture book for Laddie, from the train boy who came
through the car every half hour or so, and the little riddle-chap curled
up in his seat to look at this.

Russ, with some bits of string, some little sticks he had in his pocket
and some paper, was making "something," though just what it was not even
he seemed to know. Violet got in the seat with Laddie to look at his
picture book. At the same time she may have been thinking up more
questions to ask, for all I know.

Mr. and Mrs. Bunker sat together now, near Grandpa Ford, and they talked
together in low voices. Russ was too busy with his string and sticks to
listen, though, if he had, he might have heard something m