"Laddie made up a riddle about 'why this boat is like a duck,' and when I told him 'cause it goes in water like a duck, he says that isn't the answer. It is, isn't it?" "That isn't the answer I mean!" exclaimed Laddie, before his mother had a chance to speak. "Well, I suppose Laddie can pick out the one answer he wants to his own riddles, if he makes them up," said Mrs. Bunker to the two boys. "I have an answer," said Laddie, "and Russ didn't guess it right." "Give me another chance," pleaded the older boy. "I know why the boat is like a duck--'cause it _swims_ in water! That's it!" "Nope!" said Laddie again, shaking his head harder than before. "Then there isn't any answer!" declared Russ. "Yes, there is, too," insisted Laddie. "I'll tell you. This boat is like a duck because it _paddles_! See? A duck paddles its feet in water and this boat paddles its wheels in water. I saw the paddle-wheels when we came on board." "Huh!" exclaimed Russ. "I could have thought of that if you'd given me one more turn." "Isn't that a good riddle?" demanded Laddie, smiling. "Pretty good," admitted Russ. "I'm going to think up one now, and I'm sure there can't anybody answer it. You wait!" and he went off by himself to think up his riddle. Margy and Mun Bun, after running about a bit, had heard some music being played on board, and had teased their mother to take them to hear it. This Mrs. Bunker was glad to do, as it gave her a chance to sit quietly with the smaller children. Across the waters steamed the boat, and Russ finally gave up trying to think of a hard riddle, and walked here and there with Laddie, finally getting to a place where they could watch the engines. Russ did not find it as easy to think up a hard riddle as he had thought he would, but he said he was going to try after they got back to Aunt Jo's house. "'Cause," he said, "there's so much to see now that I don't want to miss any of it." It was a ride of about an hour and a half from Boston to Nantasket Beach, and that pleasure spot was reached long enough before noon for the children to play about and have fun before lunch. They had brought some things to eat with them, but Daddy Bunker said they would also have something to eat at a restaurant. It was a good thing Mrs. Bunker and Aunt Jo did provide sandwiches, for the children were hungry as soon as they left the boat and insisted on eating. And then the fun began. There was plenty to do at Nantasket Beach, smooth slides to coast down on, funny tricks that could be played, and phonographs that one could listen to by putting the ends of rubber tubes in the ears after having dropped a penny in the machine. There were moving pictures and other things to enjoy. [Illustration: BEST OF ALL THE CHILDREN LIKED THE MERRY-GO-ROUND. _Six Little Bunkers at Aunt Jo's._--_Page 223_]