"I have an answer," said Laddie, "and Russ didn't guess it right."
"Give me another chance," pleaded the older boy. "I know why the boat is like a duck—'cause it swims in water! That's it!"
"Nope!" said Laddie again, shaking his head harder than before.
"Then there isn't any answer!" declared Russ.
"Yes, there is, too," insisted Laddie. "I'll tell you. This boat is like a duck because it paddles! See? A duck paddles its feet in water and this boat paddles its wheels in water. I saw the paddle-wheels when we came on board."
"Huh!" exclaimed Russ. "I could have thought of that if you'd given me one more turn."
"Isn't that a good riddle?" demanded Laddie, smiling.
"Pretty good," admitted Russ. "I'm going to think up one now, and I'm sure there can't anybody answer it. You wait!" and he went off by himself to think up his riddle.
Margy and Mun Bun, after running about a bit, had heard some music being played on board, and had teased their mother to take them to hear it. This Mrs. Bunker was glad to do, as it gave her a chance to sit quietly with the smaller children.
Across the waters steamed the boat, and Russ finally gave up trying to think of a hard riddle, and walked here and there with Laddie, finally getting to a place where they could watch the engines.