"No, not yet," answered his father. "You think because we are looking at time tables we are going to leave. Well, we are, but we are only going on an excursion, or picnic." "Where?" asked Russ, and once more he felt happy. "Out to Nantasket Beach," said Aunt Jo. "That's a nice trip by boat. It takes about an hour and a half from Boston, and we are looking to see what time the boats sail and come back." "Oh, are we coming back?" asked Russ. "Yes. We can only spend the day there," said his mother. "But Aunt Jo says it is very nice. It's a sort of picnic ground, with all sorts of things at which you can have fun. There are merry-go-rounds and roller-coasters. And you can have nice things to eat, and can play in the sand near the ocean." "Oh, that'll be fun!" cried Russ. "When are we going?" "To-morrow," answered Aunt Jo. Russ jumped up and down, he was so happy, and ran out to tell the other little Bunkers. And the next day they all went out to Nantasket Beach. While they were there something very strange and wonderful happened, and I'll tell you all about it. CHAPTER XXIII THE MERRY-GO-ROUND "Oh, look over here!" "See this funny boat!" "Look, Daddy! What's that man doing?" "Oh, I hear some music!" These were some of the things the six little Bunkers said and shouted as they were on the boat going to Nantasket Beach. The day was a fine, sunny one, and they had started early in the morning to have as long a time as possible at the playground, for that is what Nantasket Beach really is. Russ and Rose, Violet and Laddie, and Margy and Mun Bun ran here and there on the boat, finding different things to look at and wonder over on the vessel itself, or in the waters across which they were steaming. Mother and Daddy Bunker sat with Aunt Jo in a shady place on deck, and watched the children at their play. Russ and Laddie and the two older girls were standing near the rail, toward the front, or bow, of the boat, and they had to hold their hats on to keep them from being blown away. "I would like a kite here," Laddie said. Then he watched some boats moving back and forth in the water, big ones and little ones, and, suddenly turning to his brother, said: "I've got a new riddle." "What is it?" Russ asked. "I can guess it." "Nope! You can't!" Laddie went on. "And it's an easy one, too." "Go on and tell it!" exclaimed Russ. "I know I can guess it." "Why is this boat like a duck?" asked Laddie. "Now, you can't answer that." "I can so!" cried Russ, as he thought for a moment. "That's easy. This boat is like a duck 'cause it goes in water." "Nope!" said Laddie, shaking his head with vigor. "It is so!" cried Russ. "I'm going to ask Mother." The two boys went in search of their mother, leaving Rose and Vi up in front. "What is it now?" Mrs. Bunker wanted to know, as the two boys ran up to her.