However, Mrs. Bunker had returned from her walk with Rose, Margy and Vi, and she gave the boys and girls, including the visitor, some generous slices of bread, spread thick with raspberry jam which she had made from berries the children picked on Captain Ben's place.
Just as the six little Bunkers finished this late afternoon lunch, there was a shouting down at the dock. At first Mrs. Bunker thought something had happened, but when she saw her husband and Captain Ben getting out of the motor boat, holding up long strings of fish they had caught, she knew the reason for the joyful noise.
"Oh, what dandy fish!" cried Russ. "I wish I could catch some!"
"We'll take you along next time," promised his father.
Laddie, who had gone to the boat to look in and see if any more fish were there, suddenly uttered a cry of pain.
"Oh, did you get stuck on a hook?" exclaimed his mother.
"No, but a big crab bit me!" cried Laddie, and he danced around with a crab clinging to his finger until his father took off the pinching creature.
"This crab took told of the bait on my hook," explained Mr. Bunker, "and he clung on until I lifted him into the boat. I forgot he was there. Never mind, Laddie, he didn't make your finger bleed." For the crab had taken hold of the little boy's finger at a thick part, and no blood was drawn.
The six little Bunkers looked at the fish their father and Captain Ben had caught, and a little later some of the fish were fried for supper.
"Oh, this is the nicest place we were ever at," said Rose with a happy little song, when the time came for Tad to take the trolley car back to Avalon.