"I was going after gold," he said. "We can't find any here," and he pointed to the holes he and his little sister had dug.
"But if you went out in the boat alone, or with Vi, you might fall into the water," said his mother. "Never get into the boat unless some big person is with you, Laddie. And I mean you, too, Vi."
"All right," said the two children. "We won't."
"Come on!" called Rose to them, now that the dispute was over. "We will go farther down the shore and dig. And if we don't find any gold maybe we'll find some pretty shells, or a starfish."
"Does a starfish twinkle, Mother?" asked Vi.
"No, I don't believe it does, my dear."
"Then what makes 'em call it a starfish?" the little girl wanted to know.
"Because it has five arms, or perhaps they are legs, and as a star, such as you see in our flag, has five points, they call the fish that name. It is shaped like a star, you see. It doesn't twinkle, and it eats oysters, so I have read."
"How does it crack the oyster shells?" asked Vi.
"Oh, now you are asking too many questions for a little girl, and some that I can't answer," said Mrs. Bunker with a laugh. "Run along and play in the sand with Rose. But don't go too far, for it will be time for supper soon. And don't forget about the boat!"