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"Why, Teddy Martin! Nicknack got dried out hours ago!" "Well, anyway, a goat isn't like a dog. We don't want a goat along when we are going out walking." So Nicknack was left to nibble the grass, while the Curlytops wandered on and on. Grandpa and the hired men, having finished putting up the tents, were getting the stove ready so Nora could get supper.
"Well, let him eat all he wants, and then he won't be hungry any more and he'll pull us where we want to go," advised Hal. They did this, after setting the cart up on its wheels. When Nicknack turned away from the bush, and looked at the two waiting boys, Ted said: "Well, I guess we can go on now." "Yes," added Hal, "and I hope we'll find those blue rocks. But I don't believe we're ever going to."
But the timid woodland creature had hopped away, probably to go to its burrow and tell a wonderful story, in rabbit language, about having seen some giants in a big wagon drawn by an elephant for to a rabbit a goat must seem as large as a circus animal. "I guess Trouble can't hit much that he throws at," observed Ted, as he started Nicknack once more toward Cherry Farm.
"Oh, but we're so scared!" exclaimed Jan, and as Grandma Martin put her arms about the little girl she felt Jan's heart beating faster than usual. "Why, what is the matter?" asked the old lady. "Me wants a wide wif Nicknack!" demanded Baby William, as he stood beside his mother in the doorway. "No, Trouble. Not now," answered Ted. "Nicknack is tired and has to have his supper.
At last the day came when the Curlytops were to go camping on Star Island. The boat was loaded with the tents and other things, and two or three trips were to be made half-way across the lake, for the island was about in the middle. Nicknack and his wagon were to be taken over and a small stable made for him under a tree not far from the big tent.
We hasn't got Nicknack, but maybe you got a goat," and he looked up at his father's uncle. "No, I haven't a goat," laughed Uncle Frank, "though there might be some sheep on some of the ranches here. But I guess ponies will suit you children better. When you Curlytops learn to ride you can take Trouble up on the saddle with you and give him a ride. He's too small to ride by himself yet."
"We'll be good, I won't tease Jan anymore." "You'd better not!" warned his sister, and, though she was a year younger than Ted, she did not seem at all afraid of him. "If you do I'll take my half of the goat away and you can't ride." "Pooh! Which is your half?" asked Ted. "The wagon. And if you don't have the wagon to hitch Nicknack to, how're you going to ride?" "Huh! I could ride on his back.
"Trouble couldn't hitch the goat to the wagon and drive off with him." "Oh, yes he could, Mother!" said Teddy. "He's seen me and Janet hitch Nicknack up lots of times, and he's helped, too. At first he got the straps all crooked, but I showed him how to do it, and I guess he could 'most hitch the goat up himself now all alone." "Then that's what he's done," said Mr. Martin.
"What is it?" asked Grandpa Martin from the curtained-off part of the tent where he slept. "It's a bear!" cried Janet. Just then, from outside came a loud: "Baa-a-a-a-a!" Teddy looked very much surprised. Then he smiled. Then he laughed and cried: "Why, it's our goat Nicknack!" "I guess that's what it is," added Grandpa Martin. "But he seems to be in trouble. I'll go outside and look."
"It's your goat, Nicknack, who's buried under the sand. But his nose is sticking out so he won't smother, and I'll soon have him all the way out." "But where is Trouble?" cried Baby William's mother. "There he is, safe and sound, tied to a tree so he can't get in the way of the dirt I'm shoveling out. I didn't want to throw sand in his eyes!" cried the lollypop man. "Trouble is all right!"
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