"Oh, I'm so hungry!" cried Vi. "Mayn't we stay there, Daddy?"
"At least we'll go there for dinner," said her father. "And then, later, we'll decide about to-night. Come on, children, I'll take you to Mr. Brown's country farm hotel, and then I'll come back to help Captain Ben."
Mr. Brown's place proved to be a sort of wayside boarding house, where automobile parties often stopped. He and his wife said they would look after the children while the men worked on the automobile. And, if need be, the party could stay all night.
"The only thing is I must get word to my wife. I'd like to talk to her on the telephone," said Daddy Bunker.
"I have a long distance telephone right in the house," said Mr. Brown. "You call her up and see what she says."
This Mr. Bunker did, managing to get his wife on the telephone in Grand View. He told her briefly what had happened, and said they might not be at Captain Ben's bungalow that night even, on account of the accident.
Mrs. Bunker told her husband not to worry, as she was all right with Margy and Mun Bun, though of course lonesome for him and the other little Bunkers.
"Then we'll remain here to-night if we can't get the car fixed," said Daddy Bunker to Mr. Brown. "I'll let the children stay here now, and Captain Ben and I will come and get our dinner a little later."
Russ, Rose, Laddie and Vi thought the Brown homestead was one of the nicest places they had ever visited. While dinner was being got ready they sat on the broad porch and told Mr. Brown some of their adventures so far on this trip.
"My, you've had a lot happen to you," he said. "Automobiling is a risky business I take it. I'll stick to horses. I remember once I was in an auto and I——"