For it was getting near to supper-time.  The sun was going down in the west, and in a little while it would be dark.  Already the shadows were longer, and it was already a little dark when the boys drove through little patches of wood.

But they did not get lost, for Zip knew the way back, and soon the dog-cart was rattling up the gravel drive of Grandma Bell’s house.

“There they come!” cried a voice, and there was a general rush to the porch.  Daddy and Mother Bunker, with Grandma Bell, Jane the hired girl, and the four little Bunkers looked at the wanderers.

“Where in the world have you two been?” cried Mother Bunker.

“We were worried about you,” said her husband.

“And we were just going to get Tom to hitch up the horse and go to look for you,” added Grandma Bell.

“Were you lost?” Rose asked.

“Did the old ram chase you?” Vi wanted to know.

Margy and Mun Bun toddled down the steps to look at Zip, who had stretched out on the grass, still hitched to the cart.

“Oh-oo-o-o!  His nose is all scratched,” said Margy.  “Does it hurt you, Zip?” she asked, gently patting him, and the dog wagged his tail.

“Did some other dog bite him?” asked Mun Bun.

“No, a cat scratched him,” answered Russ.

“What cat?” the children’s mother wanted to know.

“It was the red-haired lumberman’s cat,” Russ went on.  “We went to his cabin, over at Green Pond, where Mr. Barker lives.  His name is Mike Gannon—­the tramp lumberman, I mean.  Mr. Hurd told us about him, and we went to see him and——­”

“I forgot to ask him a riddle!” broke in Laddie.

“Never mind about riddles now, my dear,” said Mother Bunker softly.  “Let us hear what Russ is saying.”

“Did you really find a red-haired tramp lumberman?” asked Mr. Bunker.

“Yes,” answered Russ.  “And he had your ragged coat, but the papers weren’t in it, Daddy.  And he was sorry and so were we and I’m hungry!”

“So’m I!” added Laddie, before the words were fairly out of his brother’s mouth.  “I’m awful hungry!”

“But what does it all mean?” asked Mrs. Bunker.  “Have you two boys really been somewhere?”

“We found the red-haired tramp lumberman, I told you,” said Russ, “but he didn’t have those papers.”

“Let me hear all about it once again,” begged Daddy Bunker.  He seemed as much excited as Russ and Laddie had been when they first saw Mr. Gannon.

“First let me get them something to eat,” said Grandma Bell.  “We had our supper—­an early one,” she went on, “but I saved some for you boys.  You shall eat first, and then tell us your story.”

“I guess Zip wants to eat, too,” said Laddie.  “He didn’t catch the rabbit and the cat scratched him.”

“I’ll have Jane give Zip a good supper,” said Grandma Bell.  “And there is strawberry shortcake for you boys.”