man said, coming up just then. "I believe I got off the
same train you did. Anyhow this little boy came along behind me in the
crowd and began asking something about a conductor and punching tickets."

"That is a riddle, but the other wasn't," Laddie explained. "Only I don't
know the answer."

"Well, never mind. You must hurry with me," said his father, "We missed
you, and I had to come back to hunt you up. The other train is almost
ready to start.

"Thank you for taking care of the boy," went on Laddie's father to the
man. "If you have ever traveled with children you know what a task it is
to watch out for them."

"Oh, indeed I know. I have four of my own," said the man. Then he waved
his hand to Laddie, saying: "Good-bye, Little Bunker."

"Good-bye!" Laddie called to the man whose hand he had taken in mistake,
then he hurried off with his father to where Mrs. Bunker and the others
were waiting.

"Laddie! where were you?" asked his mother.

"He had the wrong daddy," explained Mr. Bunker.

"And he told me something like a riddle, only it wasn't," went on the
little boy. "It was like the Injuns verse. 'Six little Bunkers in a bee
hive, one got lost and then there were five.'"

"But we weren't in a bee hive!" cried out Russ.

"I know. The man didn't say bee hive, either," Laddie admitted. "But I
don't know what it was. Anyhow he was a nice man and it was a funny little
verse."

A little later the family got aboard another train, and started off on a
short ride that would bring them to Sagatook, whence they could drive to
the lake where Grandma Bell lived.

This part of the railroad journey was not very long, and they rode in an
ordinary day coach, and not in a heavy sleeping car with big seats.

Now and then the train passed through places where there were big trees
growing.

"Are they the woods?" asked Russ with much interest.

"Yes," his father told him. "Maine has in it many woods, and there are big
forests around Lake Sagatook where Grandma Bell lives. You must be careful
not to get lost in them."

"I'll be careful," promised Russ.

A little later the train puffed in at a small station and there the
Bunkers got out. They saw, waiting, a big automobile, though it was not as
nice as the one they had at home.

"Are you the Bunkers?" asked a man standing near the automobile.

"Yes," answered Mr. Bunker. "Were you waiting for us?"

"I was. Mrs. Bell hired me to come over and get you. You see I'm ab