“No,” answered Mr. Todd. “They got away, and they took with them a queen worth fifty dollars. I wish I could have seen where they went, for then I might get them. But they are lost, I guess.” “Don’t you think you’ll ever find them again?” Rose wanted to know. “I’m afraid not,” answered Farmer Joel. “I’ve lost one of my best swarms and a fine queen bee. Yes, I’d give even more than fifty dollars for her if I could get her back. Well, it can’t be helped, I suppose.” The six little Bunkers felt sorry for Farmer Joel, and they wished they might help him, but they did not see how they could go after a queen and a swarm of stinging bees. “Come to supper!” called Mrs. Bunker, a little later, when Russ and Laddie were working over their water wheel and mill, and when Rose was swinging Margy and Violet under the apple tree. “Where’s Mun Bun?” asked his mother, as the other little Bunkers came hurrying to the house at her call. “I saw him a little while ago,” answered Violet. “He had a shovel and he was going toward the garden.” “I guess he was going to dig worms so he could go fishing,” suggested Laddie. “He asked me if there were fish in the brook.” “See if you can find him, Russ,” begged his mother. Russ went toward the garden where he soon saw Mun Bun busy making a hole, tossing the dirt about with a small shovel. “Hi there, Mun Bun!” called Russ. “You shouldn’t dig in the garden. You might spoil something that’s planted there.” “Nuffin planted here,” said Mun Bun, as he kept on digging. “I did ast Adam, an’ he said taters was here but he digged ’em all up. Nuffin planted here, so I plant somethin’.” “What are you going to plant?” asked Russ, with a smile, while Rose and the other children drew near. “I goin’ to plant bones,” answered Mun Bun, hardly looking up, so busy was he with the shovel. “Bones!” cried Russ. “You’re going to plant bones?” “Yes,” answered Mun Bun solemnly, “I plant bones. Look out—you’re steppin’ on my bones!” he cried, and he pointed to the ground where lay a pile of chicken bones that Norah had thrown out from dinner. “Well, what kind of a garden are you making, anyhow?” asked Russ. “Planting bones!” “Yes, I plant bones!” declared Mun Bun, the youngest of the Bunkers, while the other children looked on in wonder. CHAPTER XII A STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE Mrs. Bunker, seeing the group of children gathered about Mun Bun, hurried across the garden to see what it was all about. “I hope nothing has happened to him,” she said. “Probably the worst that has happened is that he’s dirty and you’ll have to scrub him before he can come to the supper table,” chuckled Daddy Bunker. “That wouldn’t be so bad,” replied his wife. “I’m used to dirt, and I expect the children to get grimy. That will wash off.” “I’ll walk over with you and see what it’s about. Something is going on, that’s sure!” said Mr. Bunker. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker found five little Bunkers grouped about the sixth, and youngest, little Bunker.