as not angry.
"What are you boys doing?"

"Please, it's a fountain we made," said Russ.

"And we're goin' wadin' in it!" added Laddie. "Oh, look, Russ! It
squirts fine! I'm going to take off my other shoe!"

He sat down to do this. Really the fountain made from the hose, was
sending out a fine shower of water that sparkled in the sun. The water
was beginning to fill the hole the boys had dug.

"What are you going to do?" asked William, wiping the water from his
face.

"We're goin' wadin' in the fountain," explained Laddie. "That's what we
made it for."

"Oh, no, you'd better not," said William. "I'm sorry, but your aunt
wouldn't like a fountain in her garden. It'll only be a mud-hole, and
you'll get all dirty. Your father and mother wouldn't want that. I guess
I'd better shut off the water. When your aunt comes home, if she lets
you do it, why then it will be all right. But I'm afraid I can't let you
do it now."

Russ and Laddie looked disappointed. After all their work not to have
the fountain! It was too bad!

"We--we're sorry you got wet," said Russ, thinking perhaps William felt
a little vexed at them.

"Oh, that's all right," said William. "I don't mind. These are my old
clothes, anyhow. But I'd best shut off the water."

He started toward the faucet to do this. Already the hole Laddie and
Russ had dug was half full, and would have made, as Russ said, a "dandy"
place to wade. But it was not to be.

As the boys stood beside the hole half filled with water, and as William
was at the faucet, ready to turn it off, a loud barking was heard, and
into the garden came racing a little dog, chased by big Alexis, who was
barking loudly.

"Oh, look!" cried Russ.

And then something else happened.

CHAPTER X

ROSE MAKES AN AIRSHIP

The little dog that Alexis was racing after must have thought the puddle
of water Russ and Laddie had made would be a good place in which to
hide. For right into it he ran, and he splattered some of the muddy
water over the two boys, who stood near the hole they had dug. William
was over at the garage, turning off the faucet, so he did not get wet
this time. And it was a good thing, too, as he was quite wet enough
already.

The little dog kept on paddling in the puddle, but big Alexis did not
stop when he came to the edge. With a loud bark, in he jumped, and as he
was almost as big as a small Shetland pony you can easily imagine what a
big splash he made.

"Oh! Oh!"