"Because he is Captain Ben," answered Mrs. Bunker. "And he is one of our relations, children!"
"My, what a lot of relations we have!" exclaimed Laddie. And when they all laughed he made haste to add: "But I like 'em all and I like you." He said this as he stood near the knees of Captain Ben.
"I'm glad you do," said the sailor-soldier. "And I hope we shall all become better acquainted and have good times together."
"Will you tell us about the war?" asked Rose. "Jerry Simms tells us lots of funny stories about the war he was in."
"This was a different war," said Captain Ben, "and I may be able to think of something funny about it. I'll try, anyhow. But now let's talk about going away. I want to get as far from the war as I can, and I think my place at the seashore will take my mind off it—especially if I can have you children with me."
"I'll have to see about that," said Daddy Bunker, with a smile. "But at least we can talk about it."
So they talked, and Mother Bunker told the children that Captain Ben was a distant relative of hers, whom she had not seen for a long time. But his picture had been printed in the paper as one of the heroes of the war, and though Mrs. Bunker had not seen him for some years, she knew him the moment he rushed up on the porch to help in putting out the fire.
"Is Captain Ben like Cousin Fred?" asked Russ, when the matter of relationship was being talked about.
"He is a sort of cousin," answered Mother Bunker, "but I think it will be better if we all call him Captain Ben."
"I am most used to hearing that," said the soldier. "That is what I was in the marine corps—a captain. And though I am discharged now, many of my friends still call me captain."