The children were awake early, and when they were dressed they went out on deck. They had breakfast on board, in the big dining-saloon.
"When shall we get to Aunt Jo's?" asked Rose, as she helped her mother pick up some of the things the other children had scattered about the stateroom.
"We'll be there in time for dinner," said Mr. Bunker. "But we haven't yet heard what happened to Margy. Why did you go to sleep in the strange bed?" he asked his little girl.
"'Cause I wanted the doggie," she answered. And then she told how it had happened, though they had to ask her many questions to get the whole story.
Soon after coming on board the steamer Margy, walking a little distance apart from the other little Bunkers, had seen the white poodle dog running about the deck. She made friends with him, and when the dog, who belonged to an elderly lady passenger, went off by himself, Margy followed.
The poodle went into the stateroom where his mistress was to sleep, and jumped up on the bed. Margy did the same thing, and then they both fell asleep. Through the open door the mate saw them and then Mr. Bunker came and got his little girl.
"But you mustn't do it again, Margy," he said.
"No, Daddy. I won't," she promised. "But he was an awful nice little dog."
"Could we have him?" Mun Bun wanted to know, for they had seen the white poodle running about the deck that morning.
"Oh, no," replied Mrs. Bunker. "We're going to Aunt Jo's, and she may have a dog herself."