“Did they, Daddy?” Vi wanted to know.

“Well, you have a questioning streak on to-day,” laughed her father.  “I’m sorry I can’t tell you how Coney Island got its name.”

So the children looked, first on one side of the boat and then on the other as they steamed along.  Now and then Vi asked questions.  Russ whistled and thought of many things he would make when he reached Cousin Tom’s.  Laddie tried to think up a riddle about why the smoke from the steamer did not stack up in a pile, instead of blowing away, but he couldn’t seem to think of a good answer.  And, as he said: 

“A riddle without an answer isn’t any fun, ’cause you don’t know when people guess it wrong or right.”

Finally the boat turned toward land and, a little later, Daddy Bunker said they were near Atlantic Highlands.  Then the steamer slowly swung up to a big pier, the gangplank was run out, and the six little Bunkers, with their father and mother and the other passengers, got off, their tickets being taken up as they left the boat.

A train was waiting at the pier, and soon, with the Bunkers in one of the coaches, it was puffing down the track, along the edge of the water.  Above the train towered the high hills which gave Atlantic Highlands its name.

On the heights, at a station called “Highlands,” are two big lighthouses.

The Highland light is as bright as ninety-five million candles, and on a clear night can be seen flashing for many miles.

“Could we come down and see the light some night?” asked Russ, as his father told him about it.

“Yes, I think so,” was the answer.  “But get ready now.  We shall soon be at Cousin Tom’s place.”

The train rumbled over a bridge across the Shrewsbury river, which flows into Sandy Hook Bay, and then, after passing a few more stations, the brakeman cried: 

“Seaview!  Seaview!  All out for Seaview!”

“Oh, now we’re at Cousin Tom’s!” cried Rose.  “Won’t we have fun?”

“Lots!” agreed Russ.

“And don’t forget about digging for gold!” added Laddie.

They got off the train, and Cousin Tom, who was waiting for them, hurried up, all smiles.  Behind him came his pretty wife.

“Oh, I’m so glad to see you!” said Cousin Ruth.

“Are all the six little Bunkers here?” Cousin Tom wanted to know, with a grin.

“Every one!” answered Mother Bunker.  “But we nearly lost Margy.  She crawled under a fruit stand after a kitten.  Where is she now?  Margy, come back!” she called, for she saw the little girl running toward the train.  “Don’t get on the cars!” cried Mrs. Bunker.  The train was beginning to move.  “Come back, Margy!  Oh, get her, some one!”

But Margy was not going near the train.  Suddenly she stooped over and caught up in her arms a little, white, woolly poodle dog.

“Look what I found!” she cried.  “If I can’t have a kittie cat, I can have a dog.  He is a nice dog and he jumped off the train ’cause he likes me!”