Part 7 (1/2)
”What is going on at Christmas Tree Cove that you should want to take us there?” asked Mrs. Brown, as she pa.s.sed her husband some sliced peaches.
”I have been trying to think of a nice place where you and the children might spend the summer,” he answered, ”and when I heard that Captain Ross had his motor boat _Fairy_ to hire for trips, I thought it would be just the chance for us.
”There is a bungalow at Christmas Tree Cove I can hire for the summer, and, if you want to go, we can all pile on board the _Fairy_ and make the trip.”
”Would you come, too?” asked Bunny.
”Yes, I would be with you part of the time,” said Mr. Brown. ”Of course I should also have to be at my dock down here in Bellemere part of the time to look after business, but I could come up and down. Christmas Tree Cove is not far away, and there are boats going up and down the river and the bay each week. So, if you think you will like it, we will spend the summer in a bungalow at Christmas Tree Cove.”
”Oh, we'll just love it!” cried Sue, dancing around and clapping her fat hands.
”Will you like it, Mother?” asked Bunny. ”Even if you don't find your diamond ring?”
”Yes, my dear, I think I shall like it there,” said Mrs. Brown, with a smile. ”Though, of course, I want to find my diamond ring that the dog carried away. I hope Bunker Blue finds it in the shavings or the sawdust of Mr. Foswick's shop before we go.”
”I hope so, too,” said Bunny.
”Then it's decided. We shall go to Christmas Tree Cove,” said Mr.
Brown. ”I am sure you will have a nice summer. I'll tell Captain Ross that we will hire his boat for the trip and the voyage back.”
”Is he the funny Captain Ross who is always cracking jokes or asking riddles?” Mrs. Brown asked.
”Yes, that's Captain d.i.c.k Ross,” her husband replied. ”He's very jolly, and I'm sure the children will like him. In fact, they may see him and his boat this afternoon if they wish.”
”How?” asked Bunny eagerly. And Sue waited for the answer.
”He is down at my dock, with his boat _Fairy_,” was the answer. ”He is having some repairs made to it. The boat is a sailing boat with a motor in it, so it can travel both ways. If you like, Bunny and Sue, you may come down to the dock with me and see Cap'n d.i.c.k!”
”Oh! Oh!” exclaimed the children in delight, and they hurried through their meal that they might go with their father.
On the way to the boat and the fish dock, where Mr. Brown carried on his business, the children and their father stopped at Mr. Foswick's carpenter shop to ask if anything had been found.
”No, not yet,” answered the old man, looking at Bunny and Sue through his spectacles all dim and dusty with wood dust. ”But I haven't got all the sawdust and shavings out yet. I hope to find your wife's ring.”
”So do I,” said Mr. Brown. ”She feels quite bad over the loss, and I'm afraid she will not have a happy summer even at Christmas Tree Cove.”
”It is too bad,” agreed Mr. Foswick. ”Well, when Bunker Blue comes this afternoon, he and I will go all over the place. You haven't seen anything of the dog since, have you?” he asked.
”No,” answered Bunny, while Sue shook her head.
”I'll send Bunker Blue back as soon as I get to the dock,” promised Mr.
Brown, and then he and the children went on.
Tied up at the end of the wharf was the boat _Fairy_, of which jolly Mr.
Ross was captain.
”May we go on board?” asked Bunny, as they ran down the pier while their father was telling Bunker Blue to make a good search in the sawdust and shavings for the pocketbook containing the diamond ring.