“No, it isn’t eggs and it isn’t a groundhog,” said Charlie. It might easily have been either one, since the hens often laid eggs in the hay, and groundhogs, or woodchucks, were plentiful in the fields about the Brown home. Though the boys did not see them very often, for woodchucks are shy.
The Brown barn was not used now as much for a stable as it had been in years past. Mr. Brown formerly kept a number of horses to help in the boat and fish business. But when automobiles became common he sold his horses and bought autos. He kept one horse, however, to haul the fishing boats up the beach out of the water and away from the rising tide, and this horse was kept in the barn, as was Toby.
When you keep a horse you have to feed him on hay and that is why there was a mow, or place for storing hay, for the horse. There were also oat-bins and places for other fodder, though these were not as full as when a number of horses were kept.
“What’ve you found, Charlie?” asked Bunny, as the other boys climbed up to the haymow, which was reached by a short ladder from the main floor of the barn. “Where is it?”
“I’ve found a dandy trapeze,” answered the boy. “Look, it’s got ropes and a cross piece and everything! And it’s fastened up to the roof beam with iron rings, just like a regular circus.”
“Say, that’s a dandy!” cried George.
“One of the best I ever saw!” was Harry’s opinion.
“Did you put it up, Bunny?” asked Charlie.
“No, I didn’t even know it was there.”
“Maybe Bunker Blue did,” suggested George.