it down, and that's all you can do to it, isn't it?"

"You can sit in the shade of it," said Rose.

"Oh, yes, well, but that doesn't count!" said Russ.

"Anyhow it's a riddle," went on Laddie. "What kind of a tree would you
like to drive?"

"We haven't any time for riddles now," said Mother Bunker. "Come along,
children, Grandpa is waiting!"

And, with Laddie's riddle still unanswered, they went out into the
darkness and the storm.

At first it rather took away the breath of the children--that is, of the
four oldest. Mun Bun was carried by his mother, while Daddy Bunker took
Margy in his arms. Thus they were cuddled up so the cold wind and snow
could not blow on them. Grandpa Ford wanted to carry Violet from the
depot out to the waiting sled, but she said she was big enough to walk.

The sled stood near the depot platform, and the lights from the station
shone on it, so it was easy to tuck the children in. Down in the warm
straw, and under the warm blankets, the six little Bunkers were placed,
until no cold wind nor snow could get at them.

[Illustration: DOWN IN THE WARM STRAW AND UNDER THE BLANKETS THE SIX
LITTLE BUNKERS WERE PLACED.
_Six Little Bunkers at Grandpa Ford's._ --_Page 100_]

"Well, I guess we're all ready, Dick," said Grandpa Ford to his hired
man, who was to drive. "Think we can make it?"

"Oh, yes, Mr. Ford," was the answer. "The horses are anxious to get
home, and the roads aren't as bad as they'll be in the morning."

"Well, when we get to Great Hedge we can stay there a long time," said
Grandpa Ford. "Go ahead, Dick."

"Go 'long, horses!" called Dick, at the same time cracking his whip. Of
course he did not hit the horses with it. He just snapped it in the air
over their backs.

Away they sprang, with a jingle of bells, their feet making no noise in
the soft snow. Away they went, and on down the road which was white with
the crystal flakes that sparkled in the light of a lantern that was hung
underneath the big sled.

"How long a drive is it?" asked Mrs. Bunker.

"Oh, about half an hour," answered Grandpa Ford. "We'll be there before
you know it. It's downhill, and the horses are anxious to get to their
warm stable."

And this seemed to be true, for the animals, with the jingling bells
around them, raced bravely along. Mun Bun and Margy fell asleep almost
at once, it was so warm and cosy in Grandpa's sled. But the other
children peered out now and then fro