Most of that island belongs to me,
and the rest to friends of mine. They'll do as I say, and we'll clear
out the tramps."
"I hope you will, Grandpa," said Janet.
"Did Mr. Crittendon say anything about the queer blue light Jan and
Ted saw?" asked Grandma Martin.
"No, he hadn't seen that."
"Where did the tramps come from? And is he sure they weren't gypsies?"
asked Jan's mother.
"No, they weren't gypsies. We don't often see them around here. Oh, I
imagine the tramps were the regular kind that go about the country in
summer, begging their way. They might have found a boat and gone to
the island to sleep, where no constable would trouble them.
"But we're not afraid of tramps, are we, Curlytops?" he cried, as he
caught Baby William up in his arms and set him on his broad shoulder.
"We don't mind them, do we, Trouble?"
"We frow water on 'em!" said Baby William, laughing with delight as
his grandfather made-believe bite some "souse" off his ears.
"That's what we will! No tramps for us on Star Island!"
"When are we going?" asked Ted excitedly.
"Yes, when?" echoed Jan.
"In a few days now. I've got to get out the tents and other things.
We'll go the first of the week I think."
Ted and Jan could hardly wait for the time to come. They helped as
much as they could when Grandpa Martin got the tents out of the barn,
and they wanted to take so many of their toys and playthings along
that there would have been no room in the boat for anything else if
they had had their way.
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