"What made you fasten your boat to the motor boat, and why did you get in the rowboat at all?" asked Daddy Bunker, a bit sternly.
"We just wanted to sit in the boat a minute," explained Laddie. "I was trying to think of a riddle about a boat, and I thought maybe I could think of a better one if I got in one, and so did Vi, and then we got a ride and we got scared."
"Did you get into a boat and row out to the motor boat?" asked their father, in surprise.
"I'll tell you how it must have happened," said Mr. Wade. "This boat tied to the stern of the motor craft is ours. We kept it tied so we could row back and forth while we were fixing our big boat. We pulled up our anchor to get ready to take a trial ride, and our rowboat must have swung in near the dock. Then the children must have got in when we weren't looking, and we started off. Our engine made so much noise that we didn't hear their cries or the shouts of the children on shore, for both Mr. Thompson and I were up forward fixing the steering wheel."
"Is that how it happened?" asked Captain Ben of Laddie.
"Yes," answered the little boy. "We got in the little boat and it was fast with a rope to the big boat, and then we began to move, and I couldn't think of any riddle at all."
"Well, you'd better keep out of boats unless your mother or I or Captain Ben is with you," said Daddy Bunker, and the children promised.
"Now I'll take you all for a ride in my motor boat," offered Captain Ben, when the excitement had quieted down. "We'll take a trip around the bay."
Mother Bunker put up a lunch for the children, and they were soon in Captain Ben's big motor boat, speeding over the blue waters of the bay. Daddy and Mother Bunker also went along.
"Are there any nice places to have picnics here?" asked Rose of the captain, as she sat near him at the steering wheel.