"Why, Muvver!" sobbed the littlest Bunker, "I just tumble in. I tumbled into this box and then they locked me in."
"How does he tumble into trouble?" demanded Vi, staring at Mun Bun.
"I know there is a riddle about it," said Laddie thoughtfully. "Only I can't just make it out yet."
They were all very glad that Mun Bun was not hurt. But it did seem that he would have to be watched very closely or he might disappear again.
"He's just like a drop of quicksilver," said Cowboy Jack. "When you try to put your finger on him, he isn't there."
Just then the great horn blew to call everybody to the fort, for Mr. Habback was ready for the big scene of the picture. The little Bunkers—at least, all but Mun Bun—were eager to respond, for they wanted to be in the picture. Mother, however, kept the little boy with her, and they only watched the picture when it was made. That satisfied Mun Bun just as well, for he did not believe that he looked nice enough to go to a photographer just then.
"I guess I'll have my picture taken when I get back to Pineville, Muvver," he said. "I'll like it better."
But the rest of the party would never forget that exciting day. The Indians led by Black Bear attacked the fort, and there was much shooting and shouting and riding back and forth. The shooting was with blank cartridges, of course, so that nobody was hurt.
But even the ponies seemed to be excited, and Russ told Rose he was quite sure Pinky and his pinto, who were both in the picture, enjoyed the play just as much as anybody!
"Only, they will never see the picture when it is on the screen. And daddy says we will, if nothing happens. When the picture comes to Pineville we can take all the children we know at school and show 'em how we worked for the picture company and helped make 'A Romance of the Santa Fé Trail!'"