The children laughed at this story of the funny side of war, and by this time the automobile was well away from Pineville and on the way to Grand View.
"I think this is the nicest summer I ever knew," said Rose to Russ. "We are having two vacations."
"It is lots of fun," he agreed.
Laddie was saying little. He seemed very sober.
"What's the matter?" Rose asked him.
"I know a good riddle about an automobile, but I can't just think of it," said the little boy. "I want to ask Captain Ben a riddle, but I can't think of the right one."
"Don't worry!" laughed the sailor-soldier. "I'll be with you the rest of the summer, and you can ask me all the riddles you think of."
"Oh, I can think of a lot!" declared Laddie. "But I have an extra good one about an auto, only I don't know what it is."
As the automobile was passing through a little country village, Vi saw a candy store, where, also, soda water was sold.
"Can't we stop here and get a drink?" she asked. "I'm thirsty!"