the boat to which Bunker had fitted a sail.

"He saw something floating in the water," said Bunker, "and he reached
for it, though I told him not to, as I was going about. But he did, and
he lost his balance, and in he went."

"But Bunker got him right out again!" Sue made haste to say.

"It wasn't Bunker's fault," added Bunny. "He told me not to lean over."

"Then you should have minded," said his mother. "It was very wrong of
you, Bunny, to do that. I told you to mind Bunker when you went out with
him. Now, as a punishment, you may not go sailing again this week."

And though Bunny cried and said he would never disobey again, he was
punished just as his mother said he must be. Sue was allowed to go for a
sail, while Bunny had to stay on shore.

"You must be made to understand that you have done wrong," his mother
said.

There was really very little danger, for the water in the cove was not
deep, and Bunker was such a good swimmer that he, very likely, could
have managed to get out both Bunny Brown and his sister Sue if they had
fallen in together.

After his days of punishment, however, Bunny was allowed to go sailing
again, and Bunker even let him steer a little, which made Bunny very
happy.

"Some day I am going to learn all about steering," declared Bunny to
Sue, "and then I'll be able to take out a boat all alone."

"You be careful, Bunny Brown, or maybe the boat will sail off with you,"
warned Sue, earnestly. "And it might sail 'way off to--to Boston, or--or
China--or--or Mexico."

"It couldn't sail that far. I wouldn't let it."

"It might run away with you."

"Boats can't run--they sail. You ought to know that."

"It could sail away ever so far, if it wanted to, Bunny Brown. An' if it
sailed 'way off to--to China, how ever would you get back?"

"I'd sail back."

"How could you if you didn't know the way?"

"I'd ask some--some Chinaman. I know how to talk to 'em. I can talk to
that Chinaman who has the laundry near the school."

"Huh! He ain't a real Chinaman--he's an American Chinaman. I mean a real
Chinaman Chinaman--that can't talk like we do."

"I'd find a way--just you wait and see," said Bunny confidently.

The summer days passed pleasantly at Christmas Tree Cove. Mr. Brown
found it possible to come up more often than he had expected, and he and
his wife, with the children, Uncle Tad and Bunker Blue, went on
excursions on land and water.

Often when her husband would arrive at the