“And I’m glad you did,” said Mother Bunker.  “We’ll be all right, once we get there.”

“Another reason why I wanted you at Great Hedge,” went on Grandpa Ford, “is that I want you to help me find out about those queer noises, and what makes them.  If there’s a——­”

But just then Grandpa Ford saw Rose and Russ looking at him in a queer and interested way and as if they wanted to hear what was being said, so he stopped with: 

“Well, you know what I mean.”

“Yes,” said Daddy Bunker.  “We know.”

“I know what they were talking about,” said Russ in a whisper to Rose, a little later.

“What?”

“About the ghost.  Grandpa has a ghost at Great Hedge, and he wants to find it.  We’ll find it for him, Rose.”

“Yes, but we mustn’t tell any one else about it,” and Rose nodded toward Mun Bun and the others.

“No, we won’t tell them,” agreed Russ.  “We’ll hunt all by ourselves, and s’prise Grandpa and Grandma.”

The passengers were now settled in their seats again, and pretty soon the train started off once more.  It did not go as fast as at first, because there was so much snow on the tracks.  But there were no more sudden stops, and soon a brakeman came through the coach and said he thought everything would be all right.

“Will we get to Tarrington?” asked Daddy Bunker.

“Yes, I am pretty sure we shall,” was the answer.

The train did get to Tarrington, though not without some trouble and one or two more stops to clear snow out of the switches.  And when Tarrington was reached it was quite late.  It was dark, and cold, and snowing hard.

“I don’t know about going on to my place to-night,” said Grandpa Ford with a shake of his head as he looked at the six little Bunkers.  “I’m afraid it will be a long, cold drive for them.”

“Wrap them up in robes and we’ll try it,” said Daddy Bunker.  “Is your sled here?”

“Yes, my man is here with a strong team of horses and the big bob sled.  He says the roads are pretty good, but it is very cold.  Well, we’ll try.  And, if we can’t make it, we’ll come back and stay at the hotel here all night.”

They were in the Tarrington station now, where it was nice and warm and light.  Outside it was dark and cold and snowing hard.  But the children did not mind.

“We’ll soon be at Grandpa’s!” chanted Laddie.

“And have some bread and jam!” added Violet.  “What’s jam made of?” she asked quickly.  “Has it got honey in to make it sweet?”

“No time for questions now,” said Mother Bunker.  “Save them until we get to Grandpa’s.”

“I’m hungry!” wailed Margy.  “I want something to eat!”

“So do I!” added Mun Bun.

“There’s a lunch counter in this station,” said Grandpa Ford.  “If you want to we can get the children something to eat here, and perhaps we’d better, before we start on the long, cold drive.  It may be late before we get to Great Hedge.”