"I wonder if daddy and Captain Ben are catching the tramps," said Mrs. Bunker, after a while, when it seemed as though it was time for the searching party to return.
Suddenly there was a crackling in the bushes.
"Here comes some one now," said Russ.
The noise in the bushes grew louder, and there was the sound of several voices. Captain Blake, who had been having fun with Mun Bun and Margy on the grass, rose to his feet and picked up a stout club. The other sailor did the same, and they stood in front of Mrs. Bunker and the children, looking in the direction of the noise.
Russ moved up as though to take his place beside the two protectors, but his mother called to him to come back to her, where Rose and the other little Bunkers were now gathered.
Then they all waited to see who should come through the bushes. Would it be Daddy Bunker and Captain Ben returning with the tramps they had caught, or the ragged men themselves, scattering and running away?
CHAPTER XXIII
THE OLD SATCHEL
"I see Captain Ben!" suddenly called Rose, pointing toward the bushes which could now be seen to be moving.
"I'm glad of that!" exclaimed Mrs. Bunker, and Captain Blake and his sailor friend dropped the clubs they had taken up.