oking. Trouble led the goat up on top of the pile of
sand near the hole. I called to him to be careful.

"Just as I did so the sand slid down and I saw the goat go down into the
hole. Baby William fell down, but he didn't slide in with the dirt. Then
I ran and picked him up, and I tied him to the tree with a piece of rope
I found fast to a pail. I thought that was the best way to keep him out
of danger while I dug out the goat."

"I guess it was," said Grandpa Martin.

"Poor Trouble cried when I tied him fast, but I knew crying wouldn't
hurt him, and falling under a lot of sand might. I dug as fast as I
could, for I knew how you Curlytops loved your goat. He's all right, I
guess."

And Nicknack was none the worse for having been buried under the sliding
sand. As they learned afterward Trouble had slipped off to have some fun
by himself with the pet animal. Baby William had, somehow, found his way
to the "gold mine," and pretending the pile of sand was a mountain had
led Nicknack up it. Then had come the slide down into the big hole which
Hal and the Curlytops had dug. If it had not been for Mr. Sander
appearing when he did, poor Nicknack might have died.

"But, Trouble. You must never, never, never go away again alone with
Nicknack!" warned Mother Martin. "Never! Do you hear?"

"Me won't!" promised the little fellow.

"And you children mustn't dig any more deep holes," said Grandpa Martin.
"There isn't any gold on this island, so don't look for it."

"But what are the tramps looking for?" Ted asked.

"I can't tell you. But, no matter about that, don't dig any more deep
holes. They're dangerous!"

"We won't!" promised the Curlytops and Hal.

"How did you come to pay a visit to Star Island, Mr. Sander?" asked the
children's mother.

"Well, I'm stopping for the night on the main shore just across from
here," was the answer, "so, having had my supper and having made my bed
in my red wagon, I thought I'd come over and pay you a visit. I heard
you were camping here, so I borrowed a boat and rowed over. I walked
along this path, and I happened to see Trouble and the goat. Then I knew
I had found the right place, but I did not imagine I'd have to come to
the rescue of my friend Nicknack," and with a laugh he patted the shaggy
coat of the animal, that rubbed up against the kind lollypop man.

"Well, come back to the tent and visit a while," was Grandpa Martin's
invitation. "We're ever so much obliged to you."

"