Margy and Mun Bun toddled down the steps to look at Zip, who had stretched out on the grass, still hitched to the cart.
"Oh-oo-o-o! His nose is all scratched," said Margy. "Does it hurt you, Zip?" she asked, gently patting him, and the dog wagged his tail.
"Did some other dog bite him?" asked Mun Bun.
"No, a cat scratched him," answered Russ.
"What cat?" the children's mother wanted to know.
"It was the red-haired lumberman's cat," Russ went on. "We went to his cabin, over at Green Pond, where Mr. Barker lives. His name is Mike Gannon—the tramp lumberman, I mean. Mr. Hurd told us about him, and we went to see him and——"
"I forgot to ask him a riddle!" broke in Laddie.
"Never mind about riddles now, my dear," said Mother Bunker softly. "Let us hear what Russ is saying."
"Did you really find a red-haired tramp lumberman?" asked Mr. Bunker.
"Yes," answered Russ. "And he had your ragged coat, but the papers weren't in it, Daddy. And he was sorry and so were we and I'm hungry!"