“I’ve been wondering where you children were,” he said. “Your mother was getting anxious about you.”
“I’ve been off to the fish nets in the boat and I saw ’em catch a shark!” exclaimed Ted, not wanting his sister to get ahead of him in telling the news.
“You did what?” cried Mr. Martin, hardly able to believe what he heard.
“Yes, he was out in the fish boat,” added Janet.
“And the shark—he has a nose like a nellifunt, only it isn’t so long,” chimed in Trouble.
Then Mr. Martin had to laugh, though he looked a bit serious when Ted told about having fallen into the boat and being taken out to sea.
“Of course it wasn’t your fault, little Curlytop,” said his father. “But you must be more careful when playing about the beach, the ocean and the boats. The sea is deep and wide—it isn’t like the brook at home. So be careful, all of you.”
The children promised that they would, and when Mr. Martin saw how dirty Ted was, from the fish, he said to his son:
“You’d better go up to the cottage and get cleaned.”
“I will,” Ted answered. “Did they find Mr. Keller’s keys, and the wedding ring?” he asked.