“Yes, it’s broken,” said Grandpa Ford as he looked at the sled.  “I shall have to get it mended before I can drive home again.  It’s too bad, but I’m glad none of you is hurt.”

He let Russ hold the horses, which stood very still, and the small boy was very proud of having charge of the animals.  Down the road stood a small house, which looked something like a log cabin.

“Could you get the sled fixed there, Grandpa Ford?” asked Russ, pointing to the cabin.

“No, I hardly think so.  I need to go to a blacksmith shop for a bolt to use in place of one that is broken.  But I know what I can do.  I can leave you children in the cabin until I come back.”

“Leave us there all alone?” asked Rose.

“Oh, no,” replied Grandpa Ford.  “Mr. and Mrs. Thompson live there.  I’ll leave you with Mrs. Thompson.  She is very good and kind.  She’ll look after you.  I’ll get Mr. Thompson to help me turn the sled right side up, and then I’ll go to the blacksmith shop and get a new bolt in place of the broken one.”

“Will you have to walk?” asked Russ.

“No, I’ll ride one of the horses.”

“Oh!  Could I ride the other?” begged Laddie eagerly.

“I’m afraid you’re too little,” said Grandpa Ford.  “Besides, I want to ride fast on the back of Major.  And if you rode on Prince, which is the other horse, he might jiggle you off into a snow bank.

“I think all you six little Bunkers had better stay at Mr. Thompson’s cabin until I come back,” went on Grandpa Ford.  “I won’t be any longer than I can help, and when I get the sled fixed we’ll all ride home.  I won’t make my trip to the country as I was going to, as it will be too late.”

“Can we get something to eat at the cabin?” asked Margy.  “I’m hungry.”

“Oh, I guess Mrs. Thompson has something to eat,” laughed Grandpa Ford.

Grandpa unhitched the horses from the overturned sled and then started to drive them toward the cabin, which was the only house for some distance on that road.  The six little Bunkers followed, the highway being well-packed with hard snow, so that walking was easy.

As the procession, led by Grandpa Ford driving the horses, approached the cabin, a door opened and a man came out.

“Had an accident, did you, Mr. Ford?” he asked.

“Yes,” answered the children’s grandfather.  “My sled upset in a drift and spilled out my six little Bunkers.  I also broke a bolt, and I shall have to ride to the blacksmith shop to get another.  I was wondering if the children couldn’t wait in your house until I came back.”

“Of course they may!” exclaimed a motherly-looking woman, coming to the door behind her husband.  “Bring them in, every one, and I’ll give them some bread and milk.  I have cookies, too, for I just baked to-day.”

“I’m glad of that!” exclaimed Laddie, and the grown folks laughed at him because he said it so earnestly.