But finally the empty second truck was safe on the other side of the stream, near the first one, and rails were put across the road to warn other vehicles not to try to cross the bridge. It was safe enough for a person to walk across, but it would not hold up an auto or a horse and wagon. "We may as well go on to the picnic grounds," said Mr. Blake, when the smaller, frightened children had gotten over their crying. "How we going to get home again if we can't cross the bridge?" asked Flossie, looking at the sagging structure. "Oh, there's another bridge over the creek, about two miles down," the driver of the second truck said. "That will be all right." Soon the children and grown folks were on the autos again, and moving toward the picnic grounds. This time there was not so much merry laughter and singing, for all felt that there had been a narrow escape from a terrible accident. But gloom does not long remain with a party of jolly boys and girls, and by the time they alighted at Pine Grove each one was in high spirits again. There were plenty of amusements at the picnic grounds. Little rustic pavilions here and there formed places where one could sit in the shade and eat lunch. There were swings for those who liked them, and boats for the older ones. A green meadow, not far away, made a fine baseball field, and Bert, Charlie, and Dannie, with some of the older boys, at once made a rush for the field to start a baseball game. "You take care of the lunch, Nan," Bert begged his older sister. "I'll come back when it's time to eat." "Oh, I know that all right!" laughed Nan. "Can't I play ball?" Freddie called, starting to follow Bert. "You stay and sail your boat," Bert advised. "I made it for you to sail on the lake." "That means I'll have to stay and watch him so he doesn't fall in," sighed Nan. "Well, you can't sail it all day, Freddie. I want to have some fun, too." "You can sail it when I get tired," Freddie offered. "I want to go in a big boat--a rowboat!" declared Flossie. "I'll take you all for a row after the ball game," Bert promised, and Nan held this pleasure out to them to get them to do what she wanted. The fun was now in full sway at the picnic grounds. Over in the meadow the boys were playing ball and shouting, and out on the little lake were many rowboats containing jolly parties. Some of the picnic folks had already started to eat their lunches. "I'm hungry!" declared Freddie, seeing some children with sandwiches. "So'm I!" added Flossie. "Well, we can eat a little," decided Nan. She opened one of the smaller boxes, and took out a few sandwiches. "Let's go over under that tree and eat," she suggested, and soon they were sitting beneath a big pine tree, where the ground was covered with the smooth, brown needles. Flossie had taken only a few bites of her sandwich when she suddenly jumped up and ran to Nan. "Oh!" cried the little girl. "There's a snake! A snake!" CHAPTER III THE MERRY-GO-ROUND