MORE THINGS GONE
Rose Bunker gave one look toward the thick clump of trees, through which wound a path, along which Laddie and Vi had gone for a little distance.
"Come on!" exclaimed Rose, taking her small brother and sister by their hands. "We'll all go back to daddy and mother."
Russ, who was still looking for stones, and any other curious things he could pick up, glanced toward the other three Bunkers.
"Where are you going?" Russ wanted to know.
"Back home. I mean back to daddy, mother and Captain Ben," explained Rose.
"What for?"
"'Cause I saw a lot of ragged men in the bushes," answered Laddie. "They were awful ragged, and they had a fire, and some of 'em were asleep, and——"
"Tramps!" exclaimed Russ, and he started toward the path, down which Laddie had pointed as leading to the place where he had seen the tramps. "I'm going to look at 'em!"
"No, you're not!" cried Rose. "You're coming right back with us, Russ Bunker, or I'll tell father on you!" and she spoke in a low but very earnest voice. Russ looked at her a moment, and then at the dark clump of trees.