“May I ask just one more question?” begged Bunny.

“Yes, and only one.”

“How did Fred come to go to Portland?  Did he know we were going there?”

“No, dear.  But he knew a man in a theater there who had promised to give him a trial at banjo playing if ever he wanted it.  So, when Fred ran away, he decided to go there.  At least so he told George.”

“Oh, Mother, when we get to Portland may we——­” began Sue, but Mrs. Brown laughed and cried: 

“No more questions until morning!”

Bunny and Sue talked in whispers for a little while, and then fell asleep.  They were awakened by the honking of an automobile horn, and Bunny, hopping out of bed and running to the window, cried to his sister: 

“Oh, Sue, it’s the big car we’re going touring in, and Bunker Blue has brought it up the hill.  Come on down to see it.”

“Oh what fun!” cried Sue.

She and Bunny dressed quickly, and without waiting for breakfast they ran out to look at the automobile.

Bunker Blue, the boy who worked at the dock for Mr. Brown and who had gone on the first trip in the Brown’s big car, smiled at Bunny and Sue.

“Well, you’ve got a fine car now!” he cried.

“Is it different?” asked Sue.

“A lot different.  Come inside.”

“Breakfast, children!” called their mother.

“Oh, Mother, just a second—­until we see how the auto is fixed different?” begged Bunny.

Mrs. Brown nodded, and Bunker Blue helped the little boy and his sister inside.

There were many things changed.  The electric lights were bigger and brighter, so they could see to read or play games better at night; a new cookstove had been put in; an extra bunk had been made, so five persons could sleep in the auto-van; a new tent had been bought; and in one corner of the tiny kitchen was a little sink, with running water which came from a tank on the roof.  This tank was filled by a hose and pump worked by the motor.  Whenever the water ran low the automobile could be stopped near a brook or lake, one end of the hose dipped in the water and the other stuck in the tank.  Then the pump could fill the tank, and the tank, in turn, could let the water down into the sink whenever needed.

“Your mother’ll like that,” said Bunker Blue.

“Indeed she will!” cried Sue.

“Is there anything else new?” asked Bunny.

“Indeed there is!” cried Bunker Blue.  “The auto-van’s got a self-starter on.  That’s the best of all, I think.  You don’t have to get out to crank up now.  It’s great.  See, I’ll show you.”

While the children stood on the ground near the automobile, Bunker Blue climbed to the seat near the steering wheel and pulled a lever.  All at once there was a grinding noise and the van started slowly off.

“That’s the self-starter,” explained Bunker.  “I didn’t throw in the gears.  The self-starter is strong enough to run the auto a little while all by itself, if it isn’t too heavily loaded.  That’s a big improvement.”