Part 24 (1/2)

”Oh, so it will!” cried Ted. ”We'll do it! And can we take the lemonade in a bottle, and the crackers in a bag, and put them in the goat-wagon?”

”Do you mean to give the crackers and lemonade a ride, too?” asked Mother Martin, who came out of her tent just then.

”No, but we can take them with us, and have a little picnic in the woods,” explained Teddy. ”We didn't find any berries, and so we didn't have any picnic.”

”All right, Nora, give them the lemonade and crackers to take with them,” said Mrs. Martin, smiling at the Curlytops.

”I'll go and make the cool drink now,” said the cook.

”And I'll get the crackers,” said the children's mother.

”And we'll go and get Nicknack and harness him to the cart,” added Ted.

He and Janet were soon on their way to the little leafy bower where the goat was kept, for it was so warm on Star Island that the goat did not stay more than half the time in the stable Grandpa Martin had made for him.

”Here, Nicknack! where are you?” called Teddy, as he neared the bower.

”Here, Nicknack!” called Janet.

But the goat did not answer. Nearly always, when he was called to in that way, he did, giving a loud ”Baa-a-a-a-a!” that could be heard a long way.

”Oh, Nicknack isn't here!” cried Jan, when she saw the empty place.

”Maybe he's run away, Ted.”

”He must be on the island somewhere,” said the little boy. ”He can't row a boat and get off, and he doesn't like to swim, I guess, though he did fall into the water once.”

”But where is he?” asked Janet.

”We'll look,” Teddy said.

So the children peered about in the bushes, but not a sign of Nicknack could they see. They called and called, but the goat did not bleat back to them.

”Oh, where can he be?” asked Janet, and her eyes filled with tears, for she loved the pet animal very much.

”We'll look,” said Teddy. ”And if we can't find him we'll ask grandpa to help us look.”

They wandered about, but not going too far from the leafy bower, and, all at once, Ted cried:

”Hark! I hear him!”

”So do I!” added Janet. ”Oh, where is he?”

”Listen!” returned her brother.

They both listened, hardly breathing, so as to make as little noise as possible. Once more they heard the cry of the goat:

”Baa-a-a-a-a-a!” went Nicknack. ”Baa-a-a-a!”

”He's over this way!” cried Teddy, and he started to run to the left.

”No, I think he's here,” and Janet pointed to the right.