cart back toward Grandma
Bell's house. They went slowly because it was uphill from Green Pond, and
Zip was tired. He had chased after a rabbit and a cat, and he had pulled
Russ and Laddie all the way. No wonder the dog was tired. So the boys did
not try to drive him fast.

And the two boys were sad because, though they had found the right
red-haired tramp lumberman--the same one that had Daddy Bunker's ragged
coat--still the real estate papers were not in it.

"It's too bad," said Russ, as Zip walked along.

"Yes," agreed Laddie.

"I thought surely we'd get the papers," Russ went on.

"And I didn't ask him any riddle," said Laddie.

"Oh, well, never mind that," went on Russ.

"Maybe I can ask him again, though," said Laddie, brightening up. "We can
have daddy take us there, and I can ask him then."

"What would daddy want to take us there for?" asked Russ.

"To see the old coat. Maybe Mr. Gannon has another, and that has the
papers in."

"I don't guess so," answered Russ. "Gid-dap, Zip."

Zip didn't "gid-dap" very fast, but he kept on going. And when he came to
the top of the hill, and began to trot down toward Lake Sagatook, he went
faster. I think he knew he could have a good rest in the barn, and also
have some hot supper.

For it was getting near to supper-time. The sun was going down in the
west, and in a little while it would be dark. Already the shadows were
longer, and it was already a little dark when the boys drove through
little patches of wood.

But they did not get lost, for Zip knew the way back, and soon the
dog-cart was rattling up the gravel drive of Grandma Bell's house.

"There they come!" cried a voice, and there was a general rush to the
porch. Daddy and Mother Bunker, with Grandma Bell, Jane the hired girl,
and the four little Bunkers looked at the wanderers.

"Where in the world have you two been?" cried Mother Bunker.

"We were worried about you," said her husband.

"And we were just going to get Tom to hitch up the horse and go to look
for you," added Grandma Bell.

"Were you lost?" Rose asked.

"Did the old ram chase you?" Vi wanted to know.

Margy and Mun Bun toddled down the steps to look at Zip, who had stretched
out on the grass, still hitched to the cart.

"Oh-oo-o-o! His nose is all scratched," said Margy. "Does it hurt you,
Zip?" she asked, gently patting him, and the dog wagged his tail.

"Did some other dog bite him?" asked Mun Bun.

"No, a cat scratched hi