“All right, you may,” promised her brother. “First we have to find Sunny a clam shell to dig with.”
The others were carrying pails and shovels, and Ellen had also a set of sand dishes with which she could, as she explained to Sunny Boy, make wonderful cakes and pies.
“Wet sand is the best,” she informed him, “but we’ll have to get along with dry till your mother comes down. Then you and Stephen can go wading and get us some water.”
Stephen was the cousin’s name.
As they climbed over the sand dunes and came out on the shining sandy beach, a big black and white spotted dog came running up to them.
“Hello, Queen!” said Ellen, putting her arms around the dog’s neck. “Have you had any breakfast, dear?”
CHAPTER IX
THE FORT BUILDERS
“Is that your dog?” Sunny Boy asked Ellen curiously.
“She isn’t anybody’s dog,” declared Ellen seriously. “At least, not really. Queen did belong to Dr. Maynard over in the town, but she learned to ride on the trolley cars, and now she won’t stay at home. Every summer she’s down on the beach all day, playing.”
“But dogs get hungry,” protested Sunny. “An’ where can she sleep?”