Part 27 (1/2)
”There it goes!” cried Ted, as the turtle swam away. ”Oh, what a whopper! It's bigger than the big muskrat!”
”Your muskrat didn't give you a ride Ted, and my turtle gave me a fine one,” said Jan. ”But I can't sail my boat any more.”
”Well, we'll have to empty out some of the water. Then it will float again and you can get in it.”
”I'm not going to let the rope drag in the water any more,” decided Janet, after Ted had helped her tip her box over so the water would run out. ”I don't really want any more rides like that. The next turtle might go out into the lake. I want to paddle.”
”I wish a big whale would come along and tow me,” laughed Ted. ”I wouldn't let him go loose.”
”He _might_ pull you all across the lake,” Janet said.
”I'd like that. Come on, we'll have a race.”
”All right, Ted.”
The Curlytops began paddling their box-boats about the cove once more.
Ted won the race, being older and stronger than Janet, but she did very well.
Then after some more fun sailing about in their floating boxes the children were called by their mother, who said they had been in the water long enough. Besides dinner was ready, and they were hungry for the good things Nora had made.
”And didn't you find any of them, Father?” asked Mrs. Martin as the farmer pushed back his chair, when the meal was over.
”No, I didn't see a sign of them, and I looked all over the cave, too.
Some persons have been sleeping in there, for I found a pile of old bags they had used for a bed, but I didn't find anyone.”
”Find who?” Ted inquired.
”The tramps, or the ragged man you and Jan saw,” answered his grandfather. ”I have been looking about the island, but I could not find any of the ragged men, for I think there was more than one. So I guess they've gone, and we needn't think anything more about them.”
”Did you see the blue light?” asked Ted.
”No, I didn't see that, either. I guess it wouldn't show in the daytime.
But don't worry. Just have all the fun you can in camp. We can't stay here very much longer.”
”Oh, do we have to go home?” cried the Curlytops, sorrowfully.
”Well, we can't stay here much longer,” said Mother Martin. ”In another month the weather will be too cold for living in a tent. Besides daddy will want us back, and grandpa has to gather in his farm crops for the winter. So have fun while you can.”
”Isn't daddy coming here?” asked Jan.
”Yes, he'll be here next week to stay several days with us. Then he has to go back to the store.”
The Curlytops had great fun when Daddy Martin came. They showed him all over the island--the cave, the place where Nicknack nearly ate up the bower-tent, the place where Ted saw the muskrat, and they even wanted him to go riding in the box-boats.
”Oh, I'm afraid I'm too big!” laughed Daddy Martin. ”Besides, I'd be afraid if a mud turtle pulled me along.”
”Oh, Daddy Martin! you would not!” laughed Janet.
And so the happy days went by, until Mr. Martin had to leave Star Island to go back to his business. He promised to pay another visit, though, before the camp was ended.