“Oh, you funny boy!” she laughed. “Always thinking of something to eat! Don’t you ever think of something else?”
“Yes, right after I’ve had something to eat I think of when it’s going to be time to eat again,” chuckled Russ.
Deeper into the woods went the picnic wagon. The six little Bunkers were talking and laughing among themselves, and Farmer Joel was speaking to Mr. and Mrs. Bunker and Adam about something that had happened in the village that day.
Suddenly there was a cry from the children, who were in the rear of the wagon, sprawled about in the straw.
“Laddie’s gone!” exclaimed Rose.
“Did he fall out?” asked Mrs. Bunker.
“No, it looks more as if he fell up!” shouted Russ.
And that, indeed, is almost what happened. For, looking back, Mr. and Mrs. Bunker, saw Laddie hanging by his hands to the branch of a tree he had grasped as the wagon passed beneath it. The little fellow was swinging over the roadway, the wagon having passed from beneath him.
“Hold on, Laddie! I’ll come back and get you!” shouted Mr. Bunker.
“In mischief again!” murmured Russ.