Bunker pushed the bow of the boat free from the sand and then leaped on board himself.
"Start her up!" he cried to Mr. Ravenwood.
CHAPTER XXV
WHAT STOPPED THE ENGINE
With a chug-chug the motor boat started down along the sandy shore of Christmas Tree Cove. The children sat up in front, at the bow, as it is called, and Harry's recently recovered dog was with them, being petted first by one and then the other of the three little friends. Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Slater sat behind the children, and in the back, or stern, near the engine, were Mr. Ravenwood and Uncle Tad and Bunker Blue.
"Which dock shall I steer for?" asked Mr. Ravenwood, as the boat moved out from shore.
"Right there," and Uncle Tad pointed to the one nearest Bark Lodge.
"It certainly is strange how things happen in this world," said Uncle Tad, as he and Mr. Ravenwood were talking about the finding of the floating box and the recovery of Sandy. "If we could only find the lost pocketbook and the diamond ring now, I would say it might be almost like a fairy story."
"Yes," agreed Mr. Ravenwood, "it certainly might be called that." He was listening to the noise of the engine as he sat with one hand on the steering wheel.