 CHAPTER XII. Out from behind the bush where they had hidden, on hearing the rustling in the underbrush came Bunny Brown and his sister Sue hand in hand. The hermit, as they called the man who lived all alone in his little cabin, looked up and saw them. So did the dog, and with a bark and a growl he rushed toward the two children. Down-trapped down called the hermit, and the dog sank to the moss-covered ground, beating his tail up and down on the dry leaves. "'He wouldn't hurt you for the world,' said the old ragged man. He loves children, but he's so fond of them that he jumps up on them and tries to kiss them. Sometimes he tries to love them so hard that he knocks them down, so I have to tell him to be careful. "'We're not afraid of good dogs,' said Bunny. "'And we've got a dog of our own,' added Sue. His name is Splash, because he splashes through the muddy puddles so much that he gets us all wet when he's with us. That's why we don't take him so often. Lesson we know it's going to be a dry day.' "'I see,' said the ragged man. Well, Tramp is pretty good, except that he loves children so much. By this time the dog must have felt that it was time for him to get up, and he arose and leaped toward Bunny and Sue. Sue turned to one side and held her arm over her face, but Bunny waited for the dog to come near enough so he could be padded, and this the dog seemed to like. When he tried to jump up and put his paws on Bunny's shoulders, the little boy cried, "'Down, down, Tramp!' and at once the dog sank down and wagged his tail so hard that Sue said afterward she thought it would almost wag off. The dog seemed to like Bunny and Sue, running about them, giving little barks of joy and licking their hands. "'I like him,' said Sue. "'He's most as good as our dog. How did you come to name him Tramp?' "'Well, he looked like a Tramp when he came to me,' said the ragged man, who seemed to be clean enough though his clothes were in tatters. He was all stuck up with burrs from the woods, one foot was cut and he was covered with mud and water. I took him in, washed him, bound up his paw which had been cut on a piece of broken glass, and gave him something to eat. He has been with me ever since. I should think he would stay with you,' said Bunny. You were kind to him. "'Well, I like animals,' said the man. "'But what are you children doing off here in the woods? Do you want more milk?' "'Not this time, thank you,' said Bunny. "'When we go to the farmhouse now we have a cover on our pale, and when we set it down on the road no dog can come and drink the milk. But we don't set it down any more,' said Bunny. Mother told us not to. "'That's good,' said the ragged man, whose name was Bixby. "'It's a good thing. You didn't want any milk, because I haven't any left. I used up most of what my cow gave, and sold the rest to a party of automobile folks that came along, dreadfully thirsty.' "'We have two automobiles,' said Bunny. One my father rides back and forth to the city in, and the other a big one like a moving van that we can live in, and go where we want to. When night comes we just go to sleep in it beside the road. "'That's what my dog Tramp and I would like,' said the ragged man. "'It's no fun staying in one place all the while. "'But if you children are not away off here looking for milk, what are you here for, I'd like to know?' "'I'm looking for my teddy bear with the blinking electric lights for eyes,' said Sue. "'What makes you think you'll find him here off in the woods?' asked Mr. Bixby after a pause. "'Well, somebody took my teddy bear, which is a her, not a him, and is named Sally Melinda, from our tent,' went on the little girl, and, of course, as a bear likes a wood, maybe they brought her here. "'And my train of cars has gone too,' said Bunny, as he told of that having been taken from the tent. "'Why, that is surprising,' cried the ragged man. "'Both your nice toys taken. Who could have done it?' "'Well, I did think maybe I left my train on the track with the battery switched on, so it would go,' said Bunny. "'But I left the track made into a round ring. And, of course, if my train did get to going by some accident, it would just keep on going around and around like splash chasing his tail, and wouldn't go out of the tent.' Of course, agreed the ragged man. And Bunny thought Sally Melinda had walked off by herself, said Sue, but Daddy said she couldn't, for there is nothing in her to wind up, so that couldn't happen. "'Then who took her?' asked the ragged man. "'We thought Eagle Feather or some of his tribe might,' replied Bunny, for they thought our toys were heap-big medicine, but we went to their village and no one there knew anything about them. That's what they said, did they? Yes, that's what they said,' agreed Bunny. But they might not have told the truth, went on Mr. Dixby with a sort of wink at Bunny. "'Oh, everybody tells the truth,' said the little boy. "'Not always,' returned Mr. Dixby with a laugh. But never mind about that now. You have come a long way from your camp.' "'Oh, that's another thing we forgot to tell you about,' said Bunny. "'We're lost.' "'Lost,' cried the ragged man. "'Terrible loss,' said Sue. "'We don't even know which is east where the sun gets up, you know.' "'Oh, I can easily show you that,' said Mr. Dixby. "'And you're not lost any more, for I know where your camp is.' "'We hoped you would,' said Bunny. "'That's why we were glad to see you through the bushes. Can you take us home?' "'I can, and I will,' said the ragged man. "'I can take you back straight through the wood, or around my cabin, which will put you on the road along which you went to get your milk that night. Then you'll have an easier walk to camp rest awhile, though a little longer one.' "'Let's go by the road, though it is longer,' said Sue. "'I'm tired of walking in the woods. All right, and I'll carry you part of the way,' said Mr. Dixby. "'Will you give me a piggyback?' asked Sue, who was not too old for such things. "'A pick-a-back is just what you shall have,' said Mr. Dixby, and Sue soon got up on his back by stepping from a high stone, to the top of which Bunny helped her. "'Please go slow, beg the little boy, because we might happen to see Sue's teddy bear, or my train of cars, where the Indians or somebody else dropped it, though I don't believe Eagle Feather would do such a thing.' "'Oh, I don't think Eagle Feather would take your toy,' said Mr. Dixby. He is quite honest, but some of his tribe are not, I'm sorry to say. So he walked on with Sue on his back and Bunny trudging along beside, and tramped the dog first running on ahead and then coming back barking as though to say everything was all right. "'We'll soon be at my cabin,' said the ragged man, and then you can rest before starting on the road home. "'Have you got anything to eat at your house?' asked Sue. Bunny, who was walking along behind her as she rode on Mr. Dixby's back, reached up and pinched one of his sister's little fat legs. "'Stop, Bunny Brown,' she cried. "'Then to Mr. Dixby,' she said again, "'Have you got anything to eat at your house?' Once more Bunny pinched her leg and Sue cried. "'Now you stop that Bunny Brown, I'm not playing the pinching game to-day.' "'Well, you mustn't say that,' said her brother. "'Say what?' demanded Sue. "'About Mr. Dixby having anything to eat in his house,' went on Bunny. "'You know Mother has told you it isn't polite.' "'Oh, that's right, Bunny, I forgot. So that's why you were pinching me?' "'Yes,' answered Bunny. Sue leaned over from the back of the ragged man and said, right in his ear, "'Please don't give us anything to eat when you get to your house. It wouldn't be polite for us to take it, after me asking you the way I did.' "'Hey, what's that?' asked the ragged man, seeming to wake up from asleep. "'Did you ask me not to go so fast?' "'No, I asked you. Once more, Bunny pinched his sister's leg. "'Don't tell him what you asked him, and he won't know, and then it will be all right,' said Bunny. "'All right,' whispered Sue, then aloud she said, "'Is it much farther to your house, Mr. Dixby?' "'Why, no,' answered the ragged man. "'So that's what you asked me, was it? "'I wasn't listening, I'm afraid. My cabin is only a little farther on, and then after you rest a bit I'll put you on the road to your camp.' "'And maybe he'll give us something to eat without our asking,' muttered Sue to her brother, who was behind. "'Hush,' he whispered. "'Don't let him hear you.' They were soon at Mr. Dixby's cabin. "'Now, if you'll sit down a minute,' said the ragged man, "'I'll get you a few cookies. I baked them myself. Maybe they are not as nice as those your mother makes. But tramp, my dog, likes them.' "'And sure we will, too,' said Sue. "'There, what did I tell you, Bunny Brown?' She asked in a whisper. I knew he'd give us something to eat, and it isn't in polite to take it when he offers it to you.' "'No, I guess it's not,' said Bunny. "'Anyhow, we'll take them.' The ragged man appeared with a plate of cookies. The children said they were very good indeed, fully as good as mother Brown baked, and tramp the dog ate his share, too, sitting up on his hind legs and begging for one, when the ragged man told him, too. Then the dog would sit up with a cookie balanced on his nose, and he would not snap it off to eat until the man told him, too. "'Well, I'd like to have you stay,' said the hermit, but it is getting late, and perhaps I had better take you to the road that leads straight to your camp.' "'Yes, we had better go,' replied Bunny. "'We'll know our way home now. Thank you for taking care of us and for the cookies.' "'Which we didn't ask for,' said Sue quickly, did we, Mr. Bixby. "'No, you didn't,' he answered with a laugh, and he seemed to understand what Sue meant without asking any questions. As Mr. Bixby started away from his cabin to lead the children down the road, they met an Indian coming up the path. He was not eagle-feather but one of the tribe. "'How?' and the Indian nodded to the ragged man. "'How?' answered Mr. Bixby. "'You got heap-big medicine ready for make Indians' pain better?' asked the red man. "'Yes, but not now. Pretty soon,' answered Mr. Bixby. "'All right, me wait. You come back soon, by and by?' asked the Onondaga. "'Yes, in a minute.' "'You don't need to go any farther with us,' said Bunny presently. "'We can see the road from here, and we know our way all right.' "'Are you sure?' asked Mr. Bixby, who seemed anxious to get back to the Indian, who appeared to be ill. "'Of course we can,' said Bunny. "'Of course,' added Sue. "'Then I'll leave you here,' went on the ragged man. "'I doctor some of the Indians, and this is one of them. "'I'll say goodbye, and the next time you're lost you must send for me.' "'We will,' laughed Bunny and Sue, as they went on toward the road. They knew where they were now as they had come along this road after the milk. As they reached the highway they heard from the cabin of the ragged man a curious buzzing sound. "'What's that?' asked Sue. "'Is it bees?' "'No, I don't think so,' answered Bunny. "'It sounds more like machinery.' "'Yes, it does,' agreed Sue. "'I wonder what kind it is.' "'Sounds like a little sawmill,' said Bunny. "'Say,' cried Sue, when they had walked on a little way. "'Wasn't it queer that Indian asked about heap-big medicine? Just the way Eaglefeather spoke of my teddy bear and your electric train?' "'Kind of,' admitted Bunny. "'I wonder what he meant.' "'Oh, I guess it's some medicine Mr. Bixby has for curing the stomach,' went on Sue. The Indian might have eaten too many green apples. "'Oh, here comes Splash looking for us,' he cried, as he saw the dog running along the road toward them.' CHAPTER XIII Mr. Brown Makes a Search The brown children ran to meet Splash, and he was quite as glad to see them as they were to see him. Up and down he jumped, trying to kiss them, making believe to bite them in all the while whining and barking in joy. "'Did you think we were lost, Splash?' asked Sue. "'Bow, wow,' answered the dog, and that, I think, was his way of saying. "'I did, but I'm glad I found you.' And we were lost, Splash, went on Bunny. But now we're on our way home again. "'Bow, wow,' barked the dog, and that meant he was glad. Together the children and their dog walked on along the road, and Splash went on so far ahead and so fast that often Bunny and Sue had to run to catch up to him. "'But we'll get home all the quicker,' said Bunny. "'Maybe they sent Splash to find us,' suggested his sister. "'Well, Splash is smart enough to do that if he had to,' said Bunny. "'We'll soon be home now.' In a little while they made a turn in the road that brought them within sight of the tents of Camp Restowile. "'Now we're all right,' cried Sue. "'Bow, wow,' barked Splash. "'Oh, children, where have you been?' cried Mrs. Brown, coming out to meet them. I sent Uncle Tad off one way to look for you, and Splash in the other. I was just thinking of starting off myself.' "'We were lost in the woods,' said Bunny. "'But the ragged man found us, and then we met Splash. We didn't see Uncle Tad.' "'Oh, maybe he's lost,' cried Sue. "'We can go look for him,' said Bunny. "'No, you don't,' exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "'Two of you getting lost is enough in one day. Uncle Tad knows his way back to Camp from any part of the big woods. But who was the ragged man?' "'Oh, he's the man that gave us the milk that timed the dog drank it up, when we chased the squirrel,' explained Sue. "'He's awful nice. And he gave me a piggyback ride and took us to his cabin, and gave us cookies without us really asking.' "'What do you mean by not really asking?' inquired Mrs. Brown. "'Oh, Sue means she sort of hinted. For spoke of him easy like,' Bunny explained. "'I pinched her leg without Mr. Bixby. He's the ragged man, seeing me. And then Sue stopped asking him if he had anything to eat at his house. He offered the cookies, all by his own self. "'Well, I'm glad of that,' said Mrs. Brown with a smile. But after this don't go into strange houses and even hint for something to eat. That isn't polite.' "'Oh, but this isn't a real house,' said Bunny quickly. It's a log cabin. "'But it's home for the ragged man, as you call Mr. Bixby.' "'It's a funny home,' said Bunny. He's got a buzzing machine in it and an Indian that came while we were there, asked for heap-big medicine. That's the way Eagle Feather spoke of my toy train. "'That's how we got lost in the woods, looking for my teddy bear and Bunny's electric train,' explained Sue. "'We went on and on until we didn't know where we were. "'Well, you mustn't do it again,' said her mother. "'Don't go far into the woods unless your father, Uncle Tad, or I, am with you. Then you won't get lost.' "'Wouldn't Splash do?' asked Bunny. "'Yes, Splash is all right. He'd know the way home,' said Mrs. Brown. "'Now come in, wash, and get ready for lunch.' "'We don't want very much,' said Bunny. The ragged man gave us so many cookies.' "'I hope they weren't too rich for you,' said Mrs. Brown. "'Oh, no, mother, they couldn't be exclaimed, Bunny, because he's an awful poor ragged man.' "'Oh, rich cookies means they have too much shortening, butter or lard or something in them,' said Sue. "'I know, for I've taken a cooking lesson, haven't I, Momsy?' "'Yes, Sue, and you must take some more, for you are getting older.' "'And some day I'll get up a real dinner for you and Bunny and Daddy and Uncle Tad, and the ragged man and Eagle Feather,' said the little girl. "'You wouldn't know how to cook for Indians,' said Bunny. "'They eat bearmeat and deermeat and roots in the bark of trees and maybe berries.' "'Well, I could give Eagle Feather berries and a pie,' declared Sue, and I could make slippery-owned tea and roast some acorns for him. "'That would be quite an Indian feast,' laughed Mrs. Brown. "'But come now and get what you want and don't go so far off into the woods again.' The children promised that they would not, though both said they wanted to hunt farther, for their lost toys, or taken away toys, which was probably what had happened to them. When lunch was over, the children played about the tents, using some of the games and toys they had had, before Mr. Brown brought the wonderful electric train and the teddy bear with the shining electric eyes. "'We can have lots of fun,' said Sue. "'Yes, but anyway, I want my train back,' declared Bunny, and I want Sally Melinda exclaimed Sue with a sigh. "'She was just like a real baby bear to me.' "'Why don't you call a teddy bear,' he asked Bunny, "'cause she's a girl.' "'Can't you tell by the name Sally Melinda,' asked Sue?' Bunny was about to continue talking to the effect that the teddy bear ought to have a boy's name, when there came the sound of wheels outside the tent and a cheery voice called, "'Hello, everybody!' "'Oh, it's Daddy,' cried Bunny and Sue together. "'Daddy has come home.' They rushed out of the tent to meet him, to hug and kiss him, and for a while he pretended to be smothered by the two little children who hung about his neck. "'We went hunting for our toys, which are lost,' said Bunny, "'and we got lost ourselves,' added Sue, "'but we got found again by a dog and a man, "'and we had cookies, "'and an Indian came to get heat-big medicine. "'And I'm going to cook a dinner.' "'Thus the children called one after the other, "'and I leave you to guess who said what, "'for I can't do it myself as they talk too fast.' "'But at last they quieted down, "'and Mrs. Brown had a chance to talk to her husband "'and tell him the news.' "'Uncle Tad had, in the meanwhile, come back, "'not being able to find the lost ones, "'and he was very glad to see them safe in the camp.' "'Mr. Brown had come home early that day, "'but before long it was time for supper. "'Bunny and Sue ate nearly as much as though they had had no lunch "'and had eaten no cookies at the ragged man's cabin. "'And so you heard a queer buzzing noise in the hermit's cabin, "'as you were coming away?' asked Mr. Brown. "'Yes,' said Bunny, we did. "'I think I'll take a look up around there myself,' said Mr. Brown, with a nod at his wife across the table. "'Oh, is something going to happen, asks Sue? "'And will you find our lost toys?' asked Bunny eagerly. "'No, I don't promise you that. "'In fact I have given them up for lost "'and have ordered new ones for you, though not such fancy ones. "'They are altogether different. "'I'll have them for you to-morrow night.' "'This set the children into a wild guessing game "'as to what their father had got, "'and they amused themselves until nearly bedtime. "'They did not notice that Mr. Brown left camp, "'nor that he wandered down the road in the direction "'of the home of the ragged man. "'When Mr. Brown came back after the children were in their "'cots, his wife asked him, "'Did you find anything?' "'No, I can't say I did.' "'I made a search around Bixby's cabin "'and went over into the Indian village to talk to Eaglefeather, "'but I didn't find out anything about the missing toys. "'I guess wandering traps must have taken them.' "'I'll get the kiddies new ones. "'By this time Bunny and Sue were fast asleep, "'dreaming of the new playthings they were to have.' End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods By Laura Lee Hope This LibriVox recording is in the public domain The Ragged Boy "'Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong,' rang the breakfast bell, "'in camp rest a while. Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, snug in their cots, heard it, stirred a bit, turned over and shut their eyes. "'It's too early to get up, murmured Bunny. "'Yes, muttered Sue, much too early. "'I can sleep more. "'And off to sleep she promptly went, "'Bunny doing the same thing.' "'What's the matter with those children?' asked Uncle Tad, who was ringing the bell. He waved it through the air, all the faster, so that it seemed to sing out, "'Ding, ding dong, ding dong, ding, ding, dingity, ding dong, ding.' "'Maybe that's a fire,' said Bunny, wide awake now. "'Oh, maybe it is,' agreed Sue. "'What's the matter? Aren't you ever going to get up?' asked Uncle Tad, looking into that part of the tent where Bunny and Sue had their cots. "'Where's the fire?' asked Bunny, though now that he was wide awake he knew there was no fire. "'And will you take us to it?' asked Sue, making a grab for her clothes which were on a chair near her cot, and still believing in the fire. "'There isn't any fires,' said Uncle Tad, except the one out in the stove and that's getting breakfast. "'Come on, what makes you so slow?' asked Uncle Tad. "'Oh, but they were so tired yesterday from getting lost that I let them sleep a little longer this morning,' said Mrs. Brown. "'It's long past getting up time,' went on Uncle Tad. "'If Bunny is going to be a soldier and Sue a trained nurse, they'll find they will have to get up much earlier than this.' "'That's so,' cried Bunny. "'I forgot I was going to be a soldier, and as you're going to go to nurse me, Sue, you'd better get up, too.' "'All right, I will, Bunny, but I'm dreadful sleepy.' However, now that the two were awake from the ringing of Uncle Tad's bell, in his talk about soldiers and nurses, Bunny and Sue found it was not so very hard to get dressed. Then they fairly danced to the breakfast table, which was set out of doors as it was a fine day. "'Where's Daddy?' asked Bunny. "'Oh, he had an early meal and said he was going fishing out in the lake,' said Mrs. Brown. "'He promised to take me the next time he went,' said the little boy. "'He's coming back in a little while to get you both,' said their mother. He wanted to have some good fishing by himself, while it was nice and quiet in the early morning hours. When you children go with him, you laugh and chatter so, and get your line so tangled up that your father can't fish himself in comfort. But he likes to take you, and as soon as he has a chance to catch some fish himself, he'll come back and take you out in the boat. "'Oh, that'll be great,' cried Bunny. "'I'm going to get my fish pole and line ready.' "'I don't want to catch any fish,' said Sue. "'I don't like to have him bite on the sharp hook. I'll go and get one of my dolls and give her a boat ride. But I wish I had my teddy bear.' "'He'd catch fish,' said Bunny, winding up his line on the little spool, called a reel, on his pole. "'She's a she. In any way, teddy bears can't catch fish,' said Sue. "'No, but reel bears can,' our teacher told us. They lean over the edge of a river and pull the fish out with their claws. Bears likes fish.' "'But my Sally Melinda isn't a reel bear,' said Sue. "'You could make believe he was,' insisted Bunny. And if you put his paw in the water and sort of let it dingle-dangle, a fish might bite at it.' "'She,' sighed Sue. "'But just as if I let a fish bite my nice teddy bear. Besides, I haven't got her.' "'No, that's so,' agreed Bunny. "'Well, I guess you'll have to take a regular doll, then.' "'And don't you let her make believe fall into the water, either, and get her sawdust all wetted up,' said Sue. "'I won't promise Bunny.' Then the children began to get ready for their father's return with a boat. And when Sue's doll was laid out in a shady place on the grass, and Bunny's pole and line were where he could easily find them, the little boy said, "'Let's walk down to the edge of the lake, and maybe we can see Daddy quicker.' "'All right, let's,' agreed Sue. And the two were soon walking hand in hand, down the slope that led to the water. "'Where are you going?' called Mother Brown. "'Oh, just down to the shore,' answered Bunny. "'Very well, but don't go into the water, and don't step into any of the boats until Daddy comes. "'We won't promise Bunny Brown and his sister, Sue.' Their mother could always depend on them to keep their promises, though sometimes the things they did were worse than those they promised her not to do. They were just different, that was all.' Sue and Bunny went down to the edge of Lake Wanda. They could not see their father's boat, so they walked along the shore. Before they knew it, they had gone farther than they had ever gone before, and all at once in the side of the hill that led down to the beach of the lake, they saw a hole that seemed to go a way back under the hill. "'Oh, what's that?' asked Sue, stepping a little behind Bunny. "'It's a cave,' answered her brother. "'What's a cave?' Sue next asked. "'Well, a cave is a hole,' explained Bunny. "'Then a hole and a cave are the same things,' said Sue. "'Yes, I guess they are, pretty much,' admitted the little boy. "'Only in a cave you have adventures. And in a hole you only fall down and get your clothes dirty.' "'Don't you ever get your clothes dirty in a cave?' Sue demanded. "'Oh, yes, but that's different. Nobody minds how dirty your clothes get if you have an adventure in a cave,' Bunny said. "'And can we go into this one?' Sue asked. "'I guess so,' answered Bunny. Mother told us not to get in any boats, and we're not. A cave isn't a boat. Come on.' "'See, Splash is going in,' pointed out Sue. If he isn't afraid, we oughtn't to be.' "'Who's afraid?' asked Bunny. "'I'm not.' And with that he walked into the cave. As he still held Sue's hand he dragged her along with him, and as Sue did not want to be left alone on the beach of the lake, she followed. Bunny saw Splash running ahead. For a little way into the cave it was light, but it soon began to darken as the sun could not shine in that far. "'Oh, I don't want to go any farther,' said Sue. "'It's dark. If I had my teddy bear I could make a light with her eyes.' "'I've got something better than that,' said Bunny. "'What?' asked Sue. "'My pocket flashlight I got for Christmas. That gives a good light. Come on, now we can see.' From his pocket Bunny took the little flashlight. It was the same kind made with the same storage dry battery that ran his train and lighted the teddy bear's eyes. "'Yes, now I can see,' cried Sue. "'I'm not afraid any more.' With Bunny holding the light the two children went farther on into the cave. They were looking about wondering what they would find when all of a sudden there was a noise farther in. "'Oh,' cried Sue. "'Did you hear that?' "'Yes,' answered Bunny. "'I did. What was it?' Splash began to bark. "'Quiet,' ordered Bunny, and the dog whined. Then the noise sounded again. It was like someone crying. "'Oh, I don't want to stay here,' exclaimed Sue, clasping Bunny's hand. "'Wait a minute,' he said. Then came a voice from out of the darkness saying, "'Please don't run away. I won't hurt you, and I'm all alone.' "'I want to get out. I'm lost. I can just see your light. Stand still a minute, and I can see you. I'm coming.' Bunny and Sue did not know whether or not to wait, but in the end they stood still. Splash whined, but did not bark. They could hear someone walking toward them. A moment later there came into the light of the flashlight a slim, ragged boy. He was even more ragged than Mr. Dixby. "'Please don't run away,' he said. "'I won't hurt you. I need someone to help me.' Bunny and Sue felt sorry for the boy. End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Hidden in the hay For two or three seconds the two children and the ragged boy stood in the queer cave looking at one another. Splash had come to a stop near his little master and mistress, and with one four-legged raise from the ground was looking sharply at the boy. It seemed as if the dog were saying, Just say the word, Bunny or Sue, and I'll drive this boy away from here. He doesn't look like a proper person for you to be with. But Bunny and Sue had no such feeling. They did not mind how ragged a person was if he were only clean. Of course a dog is different. Splash never did like ragged persons, though in a good many cases they were just as good as the well-dressed ones, with whom he had made friends. So in this case seeing the ragged boy coming near to Sue and Bunny in the dark, where the only light was that of the little boy's electric lamp, the dog growled and seemed about to spring on the lad. The boy took a few steps backward. What's the matter, asked Bunny? You're not afraid of us, are you? No, little fellow, I'm not. But I don't like the way your dog acts. He seems as if he didn't like tramps, and I expect he thinks I'm one. Well, I expect I do look like one, counting my clothes, but I ain't never begged my way yet, though many a time I've been hungry enough to do it. Splash, behave yourself, cried Bunny Brown. Charge, lie down. Splash did as he was told, but it was easy to see he did not like it. He would rather have run toward and barked at the ragged lad. Don't be afraid of him, said Sue. We won't let him hurt you. Bunny, why don't you make Splash shake hands with this boy, and then they'll be friends forever. You ought to introduce him. That's so, I will, said Bunny. I forgot about that. Splash, come here, he ordered, and the dog obeyed. Now go over and shake hands with him, went on the little fellow, pointing to the strange boy. Don't be afraid and move away from him, or Splash won't like it, said Sue. As she saw, drink back a little. Just stand still and Splash will shake hands, and be friends with you. The boy seemed to be a bit afraid still, but he stood quietly, and surely enough Splash advanced and held out his right paw, which the boy took and shook up and down. Then the boy patted the dog on the head, and Splash barked, afterward licking the boy's hand with his tongue. Now he's friends with you, and he'll always like you, announced Sue. And no matter where he meets you, he'll come up to you and shake hands, said Bunny. Once Splash makes friends, he keeps them. My name is Bunny Brown, he went on, and this is my sister, Sue. We live at Camp Rest awhile on the edge of the big woods. We came out to see if my father had come back from fishing, and we saw this cave and came in. Is there a way out, asked the ragged boy? I hardly know how I got in here, but I've been trying to find a way out, and I couldn't. Oh, we can show you that, said Sue. It's only a little way back, and it comes right out on the lake shore. And how did you get in here? You look as ragged as the ragged man, she went on. But that's nothing. Sometimes Bunny and I are raggeder than you. We like it. I don't know who the ragged man is, said the boy, who gave his name as Tom Fleming. But I work for a man named Mr. Bixby, and his clothes have lots of holes in. That's the ragged man we mean, said Bunny. But please don't ever say we called him ragged, because we like him just as much ragged as if he wasn't. Oh, I guess he doesn't mind being called ragged, said Tom. He's got other clothes, but he won't wear them. If you're working for him, what are you doing in this cave, Sue asked? Lesson it's his. Well, maybe he calls it his and, said Tom. It joins on to his cow stable, and that's how I got in it. After I got in I couldn't find my way out until I saw your light. What did you run away for, asked Bunny? Please tell us. We won't tell on you. No, I don't believe you would, said Tom. Well, I'll tell you. You see, I live at the poor house, having no relations to take care of me and no place to live. But in the summer I hire out to the farmers around here that want me, and work to earn a little spare change. This year Mr. Bixby hired me. At first I liked the work. I had to do a few chores, milk the cow, and take the milk to the few families that bought it. But the other day he did something I didn't like, and so today, after I found the hole in the cow stable, that leads to this cave, I ran away. What did he do to you, asked Bunny? Did he beat you? No, he stuck pins and needles in me. Step pins into you, cried Sue. How horrid! I never heard of such a thing. How did you get them out? That was the funny part of it, said the boy. They weren't real pins. He'd make me take hold of some shiny brass knobs, and then pins and needles would shoot all over me. And all of a sudden he'd pull them out and I wouldn't feel them, until he did it again. That was funny, said Bunny Brown, thinking very hard. Could you see the needles? No, but I could feel them, and that was enough. I got away as soon as I could, when he wasn't looking. And I made for the hole I'd found in the cow shed. But from there I got into the cave, and I thought I was lost. For I couldn't find my way back, and didn't know what to do when I saw your light. And then I didn't know whether to go and meet you, or hide in the dark. Well, it's a good thing you came on, said Sue, because we were getting scared ourselves, weren't we, Bunny? Oh, no, not much. I wasn't scared. But I was, admitted Sue, and I think Splash was, too. For he was sort of whining in his throat. Well, we're all right now, said Bunny. But what are you going to do, Tom? Are you going back to Mr. Bixby? I certainly am not. I've had enough pins and needles stuck in me, though you can't see him now. And he glanced down at his long red hands. I'm going to run away, that is, if I can find my way out of this cave. Oh, we can show you the way out, all right, said Bunny. But where are you going to run to? I don't know, said the boy slowly. You can run to our camp, put in, Sue. And we'll never tell Mr. Bixby you are there. That's right, cried Bunny. And maybe you can show us how he stuck pins and needles into you so we could do it to ourselves. I don't believe I could, said Tom, with a shake of his tousled head. But I'll be glad to run to your camp. I never want to see Mr. Bixby again. What made him stick pins and needles into you? Maybe he didn't exactly do that. Maybe it only felt that way, for you couldn't see anything. He said he was doing it for an experiment. That's what the teacher does for the boys in the high school where we go. Only we're in the lower class, said Bunny. Some of the experiments make a funny smell. Well, there's no smell to this, said Tom. Now let's get out of here. Led by Bunny and Sue with Splash running on ahead, the ragged boy was soon out of the cave. Bunny and Sue looked across the lake for a sight of their father in his boat coming back. But as they did not see him, Bunny said, I know what we can do to have some fun. What, asked Sue, always ready for a good time? We can go in Mr. Bailey's barn and slide down the hay. He said we could do it any time without asking. Oh, let's do it then, Sue cried. You'll come, won't you? She asked the ragged boy. Of course I will. I like hay sliding. I don't mind being stuck with prickers that way. The three were soon sliding down the hay in the mow, coming to an end with a bump in a pile of hay on the barn floor. All at once Bunny gave a cry as he was partway down the slide, and he dug his hands into the hay to stop himself from going further. What's the matter, asked Sue? Did you slide on a thistle? No, not a thistle, but I slid over something sharp. I'm going to find out what it is. Bunny poked around in the hay and uttered a cry of astonishment as he brought out one of his toy cars from his electric railroad that had been stolen. End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Angry Gobbler Oh, what is it, asked Sue? Where'd you find it, Tom, questions? It's part of my lost railroad, explained Bunny, answering the first question, and I found it hidden under the hay. I must have stuck myself on one of the sharp corners of the little car as I slid down, and I stopped right away, because I thought it might be an egg. An egg, exclaimed Tom. Yes, answered Bunny, once I was sliding down hay just like now and I slid into a hen's nest. It was partly covered over with hay and I didn't see it. There were thirteen eggs in the nest and I busted every one, didn't I, Sue? No, you didn't, Bunny Brown, that was me. Oh! Bunny looked very queer for a moment, and he laughed as he remembered what really had happened. Well, Sue got all messed up with the white and yellow of the eggs. Maybe there weren't just thirteen, but there was a lot anyway, but I'm glad this wasn't a hen's nest. Maybe I'll find the rest of my railroad now. Let's look. Somebody must have hid the car here in the hay after they took it, said Tom. Who do you suppose it was? We thought it might be some of the Indians, said Bunny, but my father made a search down in their village. He couldn't find anything, though. Now we have found something. You don't suppose Mr. Bixby would take it, or my teddy bear with flashing lights for eyes, do you? asks Sue of the ragged boy. I never saw anything like that around his place, and I was there two or three weeks, said Tom. We didn't see you when we were there, said Bunny. No, I was mostly weeding up in the potato patch on the hill. I'd have my breakfast, take a bit of lunch with me, and then not come home till most dark. That's why you didn't see me. But I never took notice of any electrical trains or toy bears around his place. I don't guess he took them. Nor I, said Bunny, but I'm going to look in the hay for more. He did, the others helping, while even Splash pawed about, though I don't suppose he knew for what he was searching. More than likely he thought it was for a bone, for that was about all he ever dug for. But search as the two brown children and Tom did, they found no more parts of the toy railroad. The one who took it must have thrown the car away because it was too heavy to carry, said Bunny. It was a pretty heavy toy, and I always carried it in two parts, myself. Besides, the car wasn't any good to make the train go. The electric locomotive pulled itself and the cars. I guess they just threw this car away. But I'm going to keep it, for I might find the tracks and the engine and the other cars, and then I'd be all right again. Yes, said Tom, you would. But it is funny for somebody up in these big woods to take toy trains and teddy bears. That's what I can't understand. And I can't understand that man sticking needles into you. A funny kind of needles he didn't have to pull out, and that stopped hurting you so soon, said Bunny. It's all queer, declared Sue. Come on, we'll have some more fun sliding down the hay. This they did, and even Splash joined in. But though they slid all over the hay and kept a sharp lookout for any more parts of Bunny's train, they found nothing. I wish I could find part of my teddy bear, said Sue. If you did that, your Sally Melinda wouldn't be much good, said Bunny. For you can take an electrical train apart and put it together again, and it isn't hurt. You can't do that way with a teddy bear. If you pull off one of his legs or his head, he's not much good any more. That's right, agreed, Sue. I want to find my dear Sally Melinda all in one piece. And with his eyes blazing, added Bunny. Oh, of course, with her eyes going, said Sue. Now for a last slide, and then we'll go out and see if Daddy has come. And I guess I'd better go back to the poor house and get a meal, said Tom. Mr. Vixby won't give me any dinner, because I ran away from him. But if I tell the superintendent back at the poor house how it happened, I know he'll feed me until I get another place. And I can get work easy now. I'm good and strong, and the farmers are beginning to think of getting in their crops. But I'm not going to be stuck full of needles again. You come right along with us, said Bunny. My mama and papa will be glad to see you when they know you helped us look for our lost toys, even if we didn't find but one car. And I slid over that. But they'll take care of you until you can get some work to do. My mama does lots of that in the city when tramps come to us. Of course, you're not a tramp, he said quickly, because you have a home to go to. Folks don't generally call it much of a home, but it's better than nothing, said Tom. But I'm thankful to you, I'll come. Only maybe your maw mightn't be expectant company, least wise such as I am. And he looked down at his ragged clothes. Never mind that, said Bunny. You ought to see the picture of my uncle Tad when he was in the war, captured by the Confederates as a prisoner. He had only corn husks for shoes, and his coat and trousers were so full of holes that he didn't know in which ones to put his legs on arms. He'll give you some of the clothes he don't want. Now come right along. What about meeting Daddy to go fishing, ask Sue? I guess he isn't going to take us today, or he's forgotten about it. Maybe the fish are biting so good out where he is in his boat that he doesn't want to come in. Maybe, said Bunny. Anyhow, we'll go on back to the camp. It must be getting near dinner time, for I'm feeling hungry. Aren't you, he asked, Tom? Yes, but then I'm most allers that way. I never remember when I had all I wanted to eat. On the way along the lake road to camp, rest a while they passed a farmyard where many geese, ducks, turkeys, and chickens were kept. Just as Sue, who happened to be wearing a red dress, came near the yard, a big turkey gobbler, who seemed to be the king of the barnyard, rushed to the gate, managed to push his way through the crack. In a moment later he was attacking Sue, biting her legs with his strong beak, now pulling at her red dress and occasionally, flying up from the ground trying to strike his claws into her face. Oh, dear! cried the little girl. Won't somebody please help me? Drive him away, Bunny. I will, cried her little brother, and, catching up a stick, he bravely rushed at the angry turkey gobbler. End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue In the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Sue decides to make a pie. Here, you're too little for such a job as this, cried Tom, as he stepped in front of Bunny. That's an old tough bird, and he's a born fighter. Better let me tackle him. Bunny was a brave little boy, but when he saw how large and fierce the gobbler was, his heart failed him a little. The big thanksgiving bird just then made a furious rush at Sue, and as she jumped back, Tom stepped up in her place. The turkey did not seem to mind whom he attacked, as long as it was someone, though probably Sue's red dress had excited him in the first place, though why bulls and turkeys should not like red I cannot tell you. Look out, Tom, called Bunny he's a bad one. He certainly is fierce all right, answered Tom. He's coming with a rush. As he spoke, the turkey made a rush for him, keeping off the ground with outstretched wings and claws. He went gobble-obble-obble in loud tones as though trying to scare the children. Tom was ready with a heavy stick he had caught up, and as the big bird sailed at him through the air, the lad aimed a blow at the gobbler. But the turkey seemed to be on the lookout for this and dodged. Then, before Tom could get ready for another blow, the gobbler landed back of the lad and came on with another rush. Look out, cried Bunny, but his warning came too late. The turkey landed on Tom's back and began nipping and clawing him. Get off, get off, cried the poor house lad, trying in vain to reach up with his club, and hit the gobbler hard enough to knock him to the ground. But Tom's club was of little use with the big bird on his back. Bunny saw this and cried. Wait a minute and I'll throw some stones at him. You might hit Tom instead of the gobbler, said Sue, who was safe out of harm's way behind a big pile of wood. Don't throw any stones, Bunny. No, you better not, said Tom. I'll try to shake him off. So he rushed about here and there, swaying his back from side to side, trying to make the turkey fall off. But the gobbler had fastened his claws in the back of Tom's ragged coat. And there he clung, now and then nipping with his strong bill, Tom's head and neck. Here comes Splash, cried Bunny. He'll soon make that turkey gobbler behave. Up the sandy beach of the lake shore came Splash racing. He had stopped to look at a little crayfish and it had nipped his nose, so Splash was not feeling any too pleasant. Most of you children know that a crayfish is like a little lobster. Here, Splash, Splash, cried Bunny. Come and drive this bad turkey off, Tom. Bow, wow, barked the big dog as he came running. Tell him to hurry, beg Tom. I can't shake him off and he's biting deep into my neck. I'm feared he'll bore a hole in it. Hurry up, Splash, hurry up, urge, Bunny. Bow, wow, barked Splash again. Which, I suppose, was his way of saying he would. On he came, and all this while the gobbler was on top of Tom's back, gobbling away, fluttering his wings, and now and then making savage pecks at the boy's shoulders and neck. Splash will make him go away, said Bunny. Splash likes you now, Tom. He's a friend of yours, for he shook hands, and he'll do anything you want. Well, all I want is for him to get this gobbler off of me, said the ragged boy. Hi, Splash, cried Bunny. Get at this bad gobbler. Splash rushed up to Tom, and then, raising up on his hind legs, nipped at the gobbler. The big bird made a louder noise than ever, and suddenly jumped down from Tom's back. Ha! I knew you'd do it, cried Bunny, in delight. But just then something queer happened. Splash, seeing the bird flop down to the ground, made a dash for the gobbler with open mouth, barking the while. Now watch that old gobbler rodden, cried Bunny, capering about. But instead it was Splash that ran, unable to stand the sight of the big bird, with outspread and drooping wings with all his feathers puffed out, to make him look twice as large as he really was, and with an angry gobble-obble-obble coming from his beak, Splash ran. It was no wonder, for the turkey was a terrifying sight. I think even a tiger, a lion, or perhaps an elephant would have run. Come back, come back, Splash, called Bunny. We want you to drive the turkey gobbler away from us. But the gobbler was already going away. He was going right after Splash, who was running down the road as fast as he could go. Well, we're all right, said Tom. That bird won't bother us any more. And I hope he doesn't come for me, said Sue. He scared me. But what about poor Splash, asked Bunny quickly. He'll scare our nice dog awful. Splash seems to be getting away, remarked Tom, rubbing the place in the back of his neck where the turkey had nipped him. Oh, oh, dear, cried Bunny. Look what's happening now. Splash is coming back this way and the turkey is coming with him. Oh, what shall we do? He won't bother us as long as he has Splash to chase, said Tom. But I don't want him to chase Splash, said Bunny. The children watched what happened. Splash, with the turkey close behind him, was running back to a spot in front of the barn where Bunny, his sister Sue, and Tom were standing. Just as the dog reached there, the turkey caught him by the tail. And I just wish you could have heard Splash howl. No, on second thoughts, it is just as well you did not. For you love animals, I am sure, and you do not like to see them in pain. And Splash was certainly in pain, for he would not have howled the way he did. And I think of a big, strong turkey gobbler, had hold of your tail, and was pulling as hard as he could you would have howled too. That is, if you had a tail. Anyhow, Splash howled and tried to swing around so he could bite the gobbler that the big bird kept out of reach. Oh, what can we do, asked Sue. Get sticks and beat the gobbler, cried Tom. No, wait, I know a better way, said Bunny. What, asked his sister? I'll show you, answered the little boy. He had seen on the green lawn of the farmhouse a water hose. It was attached to a faucet near the ground, and the water came from a big tank on the house, into which it was pumped by a gasoline engine. Bunny ran to the hose. The water was turned off at the nozzle, but it was the same kind of nozzle as the one on the brown's hose at home, so Bunny knew how to work it. In an instant he turned the nozzle and aimed the hose at the turkey, which still had hold of the four dog's tail. All over the turkey splashed the water, and as the big bird tried to gobble and keep hold of Splash's tail at the same time, and as the water went down its throat, the noise instead of gobble-obble-obble sounded like gurgle-urgle-urgle. There, take that, cried Bunny, squirting the water over the turkey. That will make you stop pulling dog's tails, I guess. Indeed the water was too much for the gobbler. He let go of Splash's tail, for which the dog was very thankful, and then the big bird ran toward the farmyard, just as the farmer came out to see what all the trouble was about. I had to Splash your turkey to make him let go of our dog, explained Bunny. Oh, that's all right, answered the farmer. I guess that bird is a little better off for being cooled down. Glad you did it. None of you hurt, I hope. My necks picked a bit, said Tom. Well, come in, and I'll have my wife put some salve on it. No, thank you. We're in a hurry to get home, said Bunny. My mother has some goose grease. Well, that's just as good, I reckon. Next time I'll keep the old gobbler locked up. Mr. Brown was at home when Bunny, Sue, and the ragged boy reached the tent. The father and mother listened while Bunny and Sue explained what had happened, from going into the cave to the turkey gobbler. Well, you had quite a number of adventures, said Mr. Brown. I stayed out fishing by myself longer than I meant to. And when I came back to get you, I find you just coming in. We'll go this afternoon. And may Tom come, too? I guess so, answered Mr. Brown. I know where there's lots of places to fish, said Tom. Mr. Brown talked it over with his wife after dinner, and they decided to let Tom stay in camp and do a little work such as cutting the wood and bringing the water. But what do you suppose he means by saying that Mr. Bixby sticks needles into him, asked Mrs. Brown? That's what I'll have to look into, said her husband. The hermit seems to be a queer sort of chap. And Bunny finding one of his cars, too. Yes, that was queer. This will certainly have to be looked into. In a few moments after this conversation, Sue came from behind the kitchen tent. Come on, Sue, we're going fishing, called Bunny to his sister. No, you and Tom can go with father, said the little girl. I'm not coming. Why not? Are you afraid? Of course not, Bunny Brown. I'm just going to stay in camp and make a pie. Tom said he hadn't had one for a good while. I'm going to make him one. All right, make me one, too, please, said Bunny. We're going after some fish. And with his pole in line he started down toward the lake, with his father and Tom. End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Lauren Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Roasting Corn Now Bunny be careful when getting into the boats at his father. Bunny turned and looked at his father. What Bunny thought but did not say was. Why, Daddy, I've gotten into boats lots of times before. I guess I can get in now. That is what Bunny Brown did not say. But in a way Bunny's father was talking to the ragged boy Tom and not to Bunny. For Mr. Brown did not yet know how much Tom might know about boats. And, as the boy was a big lad, almost as tall as Uncle Tad himself, Mr. Brown did not want to seem rude and give a lesson to a boy who might not need it. So, though he pretended it was Bunny about whom he was anxious, all the while it was about Tom. Oh, I'll be careful, Daddy, said Bunny, and you be careful too, Tom. You don't want to fall in and get drowned, do you? No, indeed I don't, Bunny. Though it would be pretty hard to drown me, I can swim like a muskrat. And I can row a boat, too, Mr. Brown, he went on. I've worked for Mr. Wilson, the man who owns the pavilion, at the other end of the lake. I used to row excursion parties about the lake, and there isn't a cove or a bay I don't know, as well as where the good fishing places are. I found one of those myself this morning, said Mr. Brown, with a smile. Well, I wish you'd let me row you to some others that hardly anyone but myself knows about. I shall be glad to have you, said Bunny's father, and I'm glad you understand a boat. I shan't be worried when Bunny and his sister Sue are out with you. I can row myself a little when you are with me, Daddy, said Bunny. Yes, but you'll have a chance to learn more with Tom. As I haven't time to teach you, so I'm going to depend on you, Tom. Yes, sir, and I'll take good care of them. I've lived near this lake all my life, and when my folks died, and I went to the poor house in the winter, and worked out in the summer, I managed to get to the lake part of the time. I'll look after the children all right. Mr. Brown did not need to ask anything further what Tom knew of a boat. Once the ragged boy took his seat and picked up the oars, he handled them just as well as Mr. Brown could himself. Do you want me to row you to any particular place, asked Tom? Well, some place where we can get some fish. I suppose Bunny would like to land a few. I want to catch a whole lot of fish, Daddy, cried Bunny, so row me to a place where there's lots of them. All right, here we go, and Tom bent his back to the oars so that the boat was soon skimming swiftly over the water. Mr. Brown liked the way the big boy managed the boat, and he knew he would feel safe when Bunny and Sue were out with Tom. Meanwhile, on shore in the shade of the cooking tent, Sue was busy with her pie. I want to make a mince one, for Daddy likes that kind, said Sue, and I want to have it ready for them when they come home from fishing, though I don't see what he wants of any more fish, she added, as she glanced at a little pool near the edge of the lake, where, in a fish-car, the fish Mr. Brown had caught while out alone that morning were swimming. They could not get out of the car or box, which had netting on the side. He is going to take some of them back to the city with him in the morning, said Mrs. Brown. He wants to give them to his friends. Those he and Bunny and Tom catch this afternoon will be for our supper, Sue. I like Tom, don't you, Mother-ass Sue, as she put on a long apron and readiness to bake her pie. Yes, he seems like a nice boy, but it's very queer that the hermit should stick needles into him. But they weren't real needles, said Sue. He never could see them, he only felt them. They must have been fairy needles, for Tom could never see them being pulled out, either. Well, we'll let your father look after that, said Mrs. Brown. Now we'll bake your pie, and I'll make the pudding and cake I have to get ready for the Sunday dinner. Whenever Mrs. Brown bakes, she always lets Sue do something. Make a patty cake, a little pie with some of the leftover crust from a big one, or perhaps bake a pan of cookies. Mrs. Brown would let Susie use some of the dough or pie crust already made up, or she would stand beside her little girl and tell her what to do. Today Mrs. Brown did a little of both. She herself baked several pies, as well as two cakes. And as there was plenty of pie crust left, Mrs. Brown told Sue how to roll some out in a smooth, thin sheet and lay it over a tin. The next thing to do, said Mrs. Brown, is to put the mincemeat in on the bottom crust, put another sheet of pie crust on top, cut some holes in it so the steam can get out, trim off the edges nice and smooth, and set the pie in the oven. Roll out your top pie crust and you'll find the mincemeat in a glass jar in the cupboard next to a jar of peaches, and don't forget to cut holes in your top crust. Sue started to do all this, just then a neighboring farmer's wife called at the tent with fresh eggs to sell, and as she needed some Mrs. Brown went to sea about buying a dozen. Go on with your pie, Sue, she called. I'll be back in a minute. Let me see, said the little girl to herself. I have the bottom crust in the tin, the top crust is all rolled out, and now I need the mincemeat. I'll get it. From a glass jar, which she brought from the cupboard next to a jar of peaches, Sue poured very carefully into the bottom crust some dark stuff that had a most delicious spicy odor. Mmm, that mincemeat is good and strong, said Sue. Daddy will be sure to love it. She spread out the filling evenly, and then put on the top crust with the little holes cut in, to let out the steam when the pie should be baking in the oven. Just as Sue was finishing trimming off what was left over of the crust, Mrs. Brown came back from buying the eggs. Oh, you have your pie finished, exclaimed Sue's mother. You got ahead of me. Well, I'll put it in the oven for you as you might burn yourself, and then I'll get on with my baking. And I really made this pie all my own self, didn't I, asked Sue eagerly. Indeed you did, all but making the crust, and you'll soon be able to do that, said her mother. Now we must finish our baking. The afternoon passed very quickly for Sue and her mother, but just as the last cookies which Sue helped to make were taken out of the oven, a lovely brown and smelling so delicious, Bunny, his father and Tom, came back from their fishing trip. Is the pie baked, Sue, asked Bunny, who was tired, hungry, and dirty? There are certainly pies baked, and other things, too, if my nose can smell anything, cried Daddy Brown. Now then we'll clean the fish and have them for supper. Please let me clean them, said Tom. I used to work for a fishman, and I know how to do it quick. That isn't the only thing you can do quickly, said Mr. Brown with a smile. The way you caught that fish which got loose from Bunny's hook today showed how quick you were. Oh, I've done that before, said the tall lad with a laugh. I like to fish. And he's very good at it, said Mr. Brown to his wife, as he and Bunny began to wash. He took me to a number of quiet coves and we got some big fish. Bunny caught the prize of the day, and it would have got loose from its hook if Tom had not slipped a net under it in time. Bunny was delighted. I'm glad of that, but what about this boy? Are we going to keep him with us? I think so, for a while. He'll be useful about the camp, now that I have to be away so much. And, too, he's perfectly safe with the children. He'll look well after them. Besides, I want to look into this queer story he tells about the hermit, Bixby, and the needles. Do you think there is anything in it? Well, there may be, and something queer, too. I want to find out what it is. Tom can sleep in that little extra tent we brought. Now, how is supper coming on? Can I help? No, I think Uncle Tad has done everything but clean the fish, and... Here comes Tom with them now, said Mrs. Brown. And you must be sure to speak of Sue's pie. I will. That little girl is getting to be a regular housekeeper. She'll soon have your place. And Mr. Brown shook his finger at his wife. Tom brought up the cleaned and washed fish. Mrs. Brown dried them in old towels, dipped them in batter, and soon they were frying in the pan. By this time the cakes and pies were set out, and in a little while supper was ready. And how good those freshly caught fish tasted! Bunny declared his was the best, and really it did seem so, for it was a splendid bass. And now for my pie, said Sue, as Mrs. Brown said it on the table. I want you all to have some, and a big piece for Tom, because he saved Bunny's fish. Mrs. Brown cut the pie and passed it around. As she did so she looked carefully at the pie and the pieces. Isn't there enough mother-ass, Sue, anxiously? Oh yes, but I was just thinking. At that moment Bunny, who had taken rather a large bite, cried. What kind of pie did you say this was, Sue? Mince, of course. It tastes more like spice pickles to me. Doesn't it, to you, Tom? Oh, I don't know. It tastes lots better than the pie we got to the poor house. I can tell you that. Mr. Brown, who had tasted his piece, made a funny face. Are you sure you put enough sugar in, he asked, Sue? You don't have to put sugar in mincemeat. It's already in, answered his little girl. Mrs. Brown took a taste of Sue's pie. She, too, made a funny face, and then she asked, Where did you get the jar of mincemeat, Sue? From the cupboard where you told me, Momzie, next to the glass jar of peaches. On which side of the jar of peaches? Let me see. It was the side I write my letters with, my right hand, Mother. Oh, dear, cried Mrs. Brown, I should have told you, that the egg woman came just then. I should have told you the left side of the jar of peaches. On the right side was a jar of pickled chow-chow. It looks a lot like mincemeat, I know, but it is quite different. The real mincemeat was on the left side of the peach jar. Oh, Sue, you've made your pie of chow-chow. I was thinking Sue had found out a new kind of pie, said Daddy Brown. Never mind, there are some cakes and cookies. Oh, dear, cried Sue, and there were tears in her eyes. I did so want my mince pie to be nice. It was good, said Tom. The crust is the best I ever ate, and the pickled insides will go good on the fish. Everybody laughed at that, and even Sue smiled. Next time smell your mincemeat before you put it in a pie, said Mrs. Brown, otherwise your pie would have been perfect, Sue. I will, promised a little girl. Tom became a regular member of Camp Rest awhile, sleeping in a tent by himself, and he proved so useful, cutting wood, going on errands, and even helping with the cooking, that Mrs. Brown said she wondered how she had ever got along without him. He was given some of Uncle Tad's old clothes that seemed to fit him very well, so he could no longer be called the ragged boy, and he went in swimming so often, often taking Bunny and Sue along, that all three were as clean as whistles, Mrs. Brown said. No word had been heard from Mr. Bixby about his missing helper, but Mr. Brown had not given up making inquiries about the needles. Bunny and Sue missed their electric playthings, but their father brought them other toys from the city, with which they had great fun, but still Bunny wished for his electric train and Sue for her wonderful teddy bear. One night, just after supper, Mrs. Brown discovered that she needed milk to set some bread for baking in the morning. I'll go and get it to the farmhouse, said Tom. May I go too, asked Bunny? It was decided that he could, as it was not late, only dark, so down the dusky road trudged Bunny and Tom with Splash running along beside them. As it happened, the farmhouse where they usually got the milk had none left, so they had to go on to the next one, which is quite near the edge of the Indian village. But they won't any of them be out now, will they, asked Bunny? Oh, the Indians may be sitting outside their cabin smoking their pipes, said Tom. Oh, that'll be all right, observed Bunny. They'll be peace-pipes, and they won't hurt us. Of course not, laughed Tom. From the road in front of the house where they finally got the milk, they could look right down into the valley of the Indian encampment. And, as Bunny looked, he saw a bright fire blazing and Indians walking, or hopping slowly around it. Oh, Tom, look, cried the small boy. What's that? Are the Indians going on the warpath? I read of that in my schoolbook. If they are, we'd better go back and tell Uncle Tad and Father, then they can get their guns and be ready. Those Indians aren't getting ready for war, said Tom. They're only having a roast-corn dance. What's a roast-corn dance, asked Bunny? I'll show you the roast-corn part tomorrow night, promised Tom. But don't worry about those Indians. They'll not hurt you. Now we'd better go home. As soon as Bunny was in the tent, he shouted, much louder than he need have done. Oh, Sue, we saw Indians having a roast-corn dance, and tomorrow night we're going to have one, too. End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Eagle Feathers Horse Bunny Brown was so excited by the Indian campfire he had seen, and by the queer figures dancing about in the glare of it, seeming twice as tall and broad as they really were, that he insisted on telling about it before he went to bed. Did they really dance just as we do at dancing school when we're at home, asked Sue? No, not exactly, Bunny answered. It was more like marching, and they turned around every now and then, and howled and waved ears of corn in the air. Then they ate them. What was it for, Tom? asked Mr. Brown. You have lived about here quite a while, and you ought to know. Oh, the Indians believe in what they call the Great Spirit, Tom explained. They do all sorts of things, so he'll like them, such as making fires, dancing, and having games. It's only a few of the old Indians that do that. This green corn roast, or dance, is a sort of prayer that there'll be lots of corn, a big crop, this year, so the Indians will have plenty to eat. For they depend a whole lot on cornmeal for bread, pancakes, and the like of that. I told Bunny I'd show him how the Indians roast the ears of green corn tomorrow if you'll let me. Oh, please, Moms, he do. Oh, Daddy let him. The first was Sue's plea and the second Bunny's, and the father and mother smiled. Well, I think it would be all right if Tom is as careful about fire as he is on the waters, said Mr. Brown. Oh, good he cried, Sue, while Bunny smiled and danced his delight. Finally camp rest awhile was quiet, for everyone was in bed, and the only noises to be heard were those made by the animals and insects of the wood, an owl now and then calling out, just as if it were trying to find someone who was lost. Where will we get the ears to roast, asked Bunny, as soon as he was up the next morning? We don't grow any corn in our camp. Oh, we can get some roasting ears from almost any of the farmers around here, said Tom, but we don't want to make the fire until night. It looks prettier then. That's what I say, cried Sue, and if you wait until night I'll make some muffins to eat with the roast corn. Mother is going to show me how. Well, don't put any chow-chow mincemeat in your muffins, big Bunny with a laugh. I won't, promised Sue. But can't we do something while we're waiting for night to come so we can roast the corn? Will you put up the swing you promised to make for us, Tom, asked Bunny? Yes, if you have the rope. We can row across the lake in the boat to the store at the landing and get the rope there, said Bunny. I'll ask my mother. Mrs. Brown gave permission, and Tom was soon making a swing, hanging it down from a high branch of a strong oak tree. Then Bunny and Sue took turns swinging while Tom pushed. After dinner they decided it was time to go for the roasting ears, and again they were in the boat, as it was nearer to the farmer's house across the water than by going the winding road. Tom picked out the kind of ears he wanted, large and full of kernels in which the milk, or white juice, was yet running. This was a corn that ripened late and was very good for roasting. With the corn in one end of the boat and the children in the stern, or rear, where he could watch them as they moved about on the broad seat, Tom rode the boat toward camp. They reached it just in time for supper, and just as Mr. Brown got home from his trip to the city. We're going to have roast ears of corn tonight, called Sue, as she hugged and kissed her father. Oh, that makes me feel as if I were a boy, said Mr. Brown, who is going to roast the corn. I am, said Tom, I've done it many a time. Well, I'm glad you know how. But now let's have supper. The children did not eat much because they were so anxious to roast the corn, but Tom said they must wait until dark, as the campfire would look prettier then. However, it could hardly have been called dark when Tom, after much teasing on the part of Bunny and Sue, set aglow the light twigs and branches which soon made the bigger logs glow. We have to have a lot of hot coals and embers, said Tom, or else the corn will smoke and burn, so we'll let the fire burn for a while until there are a lot of red hot coals or embers of wood. When this had come about, Tom brought out the ears, stripped the green husks from them, and then brushing off a smooth stone, and had been near the fire so long that it was good and hot, he placed on it the ears of corn. Almost at once they began to roast, turning a delicate brown, and Tom turned them over from time to time so they would not burn, by having one side too near the fire too long. When will they be ready to eat, asked Bunny Brown, in a few minutes, said Tom. There, I guess these two are ready, and he picked out two smoking hot ones nicely browned, using a sharp pointed stick for a fork. He offered one ear to Mr. Brown and the other to Mrs. Brown. No, let the children have the first one, said their mother. Be careful their hot caution, Tom, as he passed the ears on their queer wooden sticks to Bunny and Sue. Sue blew on hers to cool it, but Bunny was in such a hurry that he started to eat it at once. As a result he cried, ouch, it's hot! He careful cautioned his mother, and after that Bunny was careful. Soon two more ears were roasted, and these Mr. and Mrs. Brown took. They waited a bit for them to cool, and then began to eat slowly. They are delicious, said Mrs. Brown. This is the only way to cook green corn, remarked Uncle Tad. It's the best I've eaten since I was a boy, declared Mr. Brown. We shall have to have some more, Tom. Yes, I'll cook some more for you. Parched corn is good, too. The Indians like that. You have to wait until the ears are nearly ripe for that, though, and the kernels dried. Aren't you going to eat any, Tom, Bunny asked, as he took the ear the bigger boy handed him? Oh yes, I'll have some now, if you've had all you want. Well, maybe I'll eat more, said Bunny. And I want another put in, Sue. There's plenty here, said Tom, as he began to eat. Almost, as he spoke, there was a crackling of the leaves and sticks behind the embers of the roast corn party. And before anyone could turn around to see what it was, a voice spoke. White folks make keep-good meals same as Indians. That's right, Eagle Feather called back Tom, who did not seem to be so much taken by surprise, as did the others. Come and have some. What brings you here? Eagle Feather lose him horse, was the answer. Come look for him. Maybe you have? And he squatted down beside the campfire, and accepted a roasted ear that Tom handed him. What does this mean about Eagle Feather's horse being here, asked Mr. Brown? Me tell you, about a minute, answered the Indian, gnawing away at the corn. End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Fun in the Attic Bunny Brown looked at his sister Sue, and she looked at him. What could it mean so many things being taken away? First Bunny's train of cars, then Sue's electric-eyed teddy bear. Now Eagle Feather's horse was missing, and he had come to camp rest a while to look for it. Though why the children could not understand. Tom was kept busy roasting the ears of corn and passing them around. Eagle Feather ate three without saying anything more, and would probably have taken another, which Tom had ready for him, when Mr. Brown asked, Well, Eagle Feather, what is your trouble? Is your horse really gone? And if it is, why do you think it is here? We don't have any horses here. All our machines go by gasoline. Me knows all such, replied the Indian. Little wagon make much puff-puff, like boys heap big medicine-train. No horse push or pull them. Eagle Feather have good horse, him run fast and stop quick. Sometimes, by and by, like squaw, Eagle Feather fall off. But horse good. Now somebody take. Somebody take Eagle Feather's horse. Maybe he wandered away, said Mr. Brown. Horses often do that, you know, when you tie them in the woods where flies bite them. The ass-eagle Feather know that, but how you say, Him rope broke or cut? And the Indian held out a halter made of rope, with a piece of rope dangling from it. Mr. Brown looked closely at it. Why, that's been cut, exclaimed the children's father, for the end of the rope by which the horse had been tied was smooth, and not broken and rough, as it would have been had it been pulled apart. If you will cut a rope and then break another piece, you can easily see the difference. Sure, cut, exclaimed Eagle Feather, done last night when all dark Indians at corn dance and may be sleepy. No here someone come up soft to Eagle Feather's barn and take out horse. Have to cut rope, because Indian tie not, white man find too much hard to make loose. So you think a white man took your horse, and that's why you come to us? asked Mr. Brown. Yes, you know much white man, maybe so like one ask you hide my horse in your tent. Indeed not, cried Mr. Brown. I haven't any friends who would steal a man's horse. Maybe not went on the Indian, but night of green corn dance, him come to see it and your boy too, and Eagle Feather pointed first at Tom and then at Bunny. We didn't see Eagle Feather's horse cried out Bunny Brown. Easy my boy said his father, let's get at what Eagle Feather means. Before I could ask a question, the Indian pointed a finger at Tom and asked sharply, you see my horse night you come green corn dance. Not a sign of him did I see answered Tom quickly, and I wasn't nearer the middle of the village where the campfire was than half a mile. We didn't take your horse, Eagle Feather. Maybe so not. Eagle Feather thought maybe you might see went on the red man, we know you good boy Tom, good to Indians. These little brown boy and gal they good too. But we walk along path horse took and marks of him feet come right to this camp. Is that so as Mr. Brown? We'll have to look into this. Perhaps the thief did pass among our tents to hide the direction he really took. We'll have a look in the morning, it's too dark now. Indeed it was very dark, the campfire throwing out but fitful gleams, for enough of the roasted ears had been cooked to suit everyone. Eagle Feather bade his friends goodbye, remarking again how sorry he was over losing his horse, and he said he would see them all in the morning. With the children and Tom safely in bed, Uncle Tad and Mr. and Mrs. Brown talked the matter over. Eagle Feather seems to think his horse was brought to this camp, said Mrs. Brown. Perhaps he does, agreed her husband, but that doesn't matter. I don't like it though, went on his wife. The idea of thinking Bunny might have had a hand in the trick. I don't believe Eagle Feather ever had such an idea, laughed Mr. Brown. He might have thought Tom, from having watched the corn dance, had taken the horse in fun. But I don't believe he has any such idea now. I should hope not, exclaimed Mrs. Brown. Early the next morning, Eagle Feather and another Indian came to the camp. They looked for the marks of horse's hopes, and found some they said were those of Eagle Feather's animal in the soft dirt. But though the marks came to the edge of the camp, they did not go through the spaces between the tents. They must have led the horse around our camp, said Uncle Tad, and this proved to be a correct guess, for on the other side of the camp the footprints of a horse with the same shaped hope as that of Eagle Feathers were seen. Now we find horse easy, said the Indian, as he and his companion hurried on through the big woods. Well, I hope you find him, and I'm glad you don't think anyone around here had anything to do with it, said Uncle Tad. I hope you find your horse soon. But it was a vain hope, for in a little while it began to rain, and the rain, Mr. Brown said, would wash away all hoof prints of the Indian's horse, so they could no longer be seen. But Eagle Feather and his friend did not come back. Oh, I wish we had something to do, cried Sue, as the rain kept on pelting down on the roof of the tent, and she and Bunny could not go out. It would be fun if we had your electric train now, and my Sally Melinda, said Sue. That's right, exclaimed Bunny, but I don't suppose we'll ever get them. No, I suppose not, sighed Sue. The children were trying to think of a rainy day game to play and wishing they could go out, when there came a knock on the main tent pole, which was the nearest thing to a front door in the camp. Oh, it's Mrs. Preston, the egg-lady, said Sue, who, out of a celluloid tent window, had watched the visitor coming to the camp. She can't be coming with eggs, said Mrs. Brown, for I bought some only yesterday. Mrs. Preston quickly told what she wanted. I've come for your two children, Mrs. Brown, she said. I know how hard it is to keep them cooped up and amused on a rainy day. Now over at our house we have a lovely big attic, filled with all sorts of old-fashioned things that the children of our neighbors play with. They can't harm them, and they can't harm themselves. Don't you want to let Bunny and Sue come over to my attic to play? Oh, yes, Mother, please do beg Bunny. And it's only such a little way that we won't get wet at all, said Sue. We can wear rubbers and take umbrellas. Well, if you're sure it won't be any bother, Mrs. Preston, said Mrs. Brown, no bother at all, glad to have them, answered Mrs. Preston. Get ready, my dears. And Bunny Brown and his sister, Sue, were soon on their way to have rainy day fun in an attic. End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of Bunny Brown and his sister, Sue, in the Big Woods by Laura the Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Where is Sue? Now, children, the attic is yours for the days, said Mrs. Preston, after she had led Bunny Brown and his sister into the house, and had helped them get off their wet coats. You are to do just as you please, for there is nothing in the attic you can harm. Oh, won't we have fun, cried Sue. I should say so, exclaimed Bunny. Are there any old guns or swords up there we can play soldier with? Ask the little boy. Yes, I think so, answered Mrs. Preston. The guns are very old and can't be shot off, and the swords are very dull, so you can't hurt yourself. Still, be careful. We will, promised Bunny. I wish I had another boy to play with. Sue makes a good nurse, but she isn't much of a soldier. I can holler bang as loud as you, protested Sue. Yes, I know you can. But who ever heard of women soldiers? They are all right for nurses, and Sue can bandage your arm up awful tight, just like it was really shot off. But she can't act like a real soldier, Mrs. Preston. Maybe the boy I have asked over to play in the attic with you can, suggested Mrs. Preston. Oh, is there another boy coming? Asked Bunny eagerly. Yes, and a girl, too. They are Charlie and Rose Parker, and they live down the road away. They are a new family that has just moved in, and they haven't an attic in their house any more than you have in your tent. So I ask them over every rainy day, for I know that it is hard for children to stay in the house. Oh, I hope they come soon, exclaimed Bunny. I want to have some fun. I think I hear them now, said Mrs. Preston, as a knock sounded at the back door. Yes, here they are. She called to Bunny and Sue who were sitting in the dining room. Come now, young folks, get acquainted, and then go up to the attic to play. Charlie and Rose Parker, being about the age of Bunny and Sue, did not take long to grow friendly, and the brown children, having often met strangers, were not a bit bashful, so the four soon felt that they had known each other a long time. Now, up to the attic with you and have your fun, directed Mrs. Preston, use anything you want to play with, but when you are through, put everything back where you found it. We will, promised the children, and up the stairs they went, laughing and shouting. I hope we find some swords and guns to fight with, said Bunny to Charlie. Oh, there's lots of them, Charlie answered. I've been here before, and I know where lots of guns are. Only they're awful heavy. Then we can pretend they are cannon, cried Bunny. Yes, and we can make a fort of old trunks. There's a lot of them up here, Charlie said. They were on their way up the attic stairs, Charlie leading the way, as he had often gone up before. Don't take all the trunks until we get out of them what we want to play with, begged Rose. What's in the trunks, asked Bunny of his new friend? Oh, nothing but a lot of old dresses and things. Rose most always dresses up fancy in them, and pretend she's a big lady, said Charlie. And that's what Sue will do, said Bunny. She likes to dress up, but will play soldier. Mrs. Preston's attic was the nicest one that could be imagined. In one corner were several trunks, in another corner was a spinning wheel, and hanging here and there from the attic beams were strings of sleigh bells that sent out a merry jingle when one's head hit them. Here and there in places where there were no boards over the beams were hickory nuts and walnuts that could be cracked on a brick and eaten. They'll be our ration, said Charlie, who liked to play soldier as well as did Bunny. But where are the swords and the guns, Bunny asked? I'll show you, said Charlie, they're just behind the chimney. In the middle of the attic extending up through the roof was a big chimney. It could not be seen in the rest of the house, but here in the attic the bricks were in plain view. And Charlie said on cold winter days when it snowed it was warm in the attic because of the heat from the chimney. Just now the boys were more interested in the guns and the swords, of which a goodly number were hanging on rafters and beams back of the chimney. Oh, what a lot of guns, cried Bunny. And they shoot too, added Charlie. I mean you can pull the trigger and the hammer will snap down. Of course we only use make-believe powder. Of course, agreed Bunny, but we can holler bang whenever we shoot a gun. And we each have a sword. So the boys began to play soldier, sometimes both being on the same side, hunting Indians through the secret mazes of the attic, and again one being a white settler soldier and the other a red man. Meanwhile Sue and Rose were playing a different game. They had found some old-fashioned and big silk dresses in some of the trunks, and they at once dressed themselves up in these, and made believe pay visits one to the other. The two little girls talked as they imagined grown-up ladies would talk, when dressed up, and they had great fun. While on the other side of the attic, Charlie and Bunny were bang-banging away at one another in the soldier game. The children had been playing in the attic about an hour, the boys at their soldiering game and the girls at visiting, when Rose came to Bunny and Charlie with a queer look on her face. What's the matter, asked Charlie? Have you had a fuss and stopped playing? No, but I can't find Sue anywhere. Can't find Sue, exclaimed Bunny, where is she? That's just what I don't know. I was playing I was Mrs. Johnson, and she was to be Mrs. Wilson and call on me. When she didn't come I went to look for her, but I couldn't find her in her house. Which was her house, asked Bunny? This big trunk, and Rose pointed to a large one in a distant corner of the attic. Sue, Sue, are you in there? Are you in the trunk? cried Bunny. The children listening seemed to hear a faint call from inside the trunk. They looked at one another with startled eyes. What could they do? End of Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two of Bunny Brown in His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The hermit comes for Tom. Are you sure she came over here, asked Bunny Brown? Sure, answered Rose. You see, this was her pretend house, and mine was over there under the string of sleigh bells. She pointed to where several small trunks had been drawn together to form a square. Some old bed quilts had been laid over to make a roof, and under this Rose received visits from her friend Sue, who went by the name of Mrs. Wilson. When did you last see her, asked Charlie? Maybe she went downstairs. No, she didn't, for I saw her opening the big trunk and taking clothes out to dress up in. Besides, she couldn't get downstairs, for you boys pulled two trunks in front of the stairs for a fort. So we did, said Charlie. She couldn't have gone down without moving the trunks, and they haven't been moved. Well, then she must be up here somewhere, said Bunny. Maybe she's shut up in the big trunk. That's dreadful. Call, and let's see if she is in there, said Rose. Bunny went close to the big trunk, the largest in the attic, and then he called as loudly as he could. Are you in there, Sue? Back came the answer very faintly. Yes, I'm here, Bunny. Please get me out unlocked in. She's locked in, cried Charlie. We must open the trunk and get her out. Come on, Bunny. Both boys grasped the lid of the trunk. Why, it's locked, cried Rose. You can't open it without unlocking it. Let's see if we can find some keys. Eagerly the children ran about the attic, ticking keys from all the trunks they saw, but either these keys did not fit in the locked one where Sue was shut up, or the fingers of Bunny, Rose, and Charlie were too small to fit them properly in the locks. We'd better call Mrs. Preston, said Bunny, for he could hear Sue crying now inside the trunk, and Sue was a brave little girl who did not often cry. We'd better go down and tell her, suggested Rose, she'll never hear us from up here. Let's go down then, cried Bunny. He and Charlie soon pulled away from the attic stairs the two trunks that they had placed there to make a fort. Down to the kitchen where Mrs. Preston was making pies hurried the three children. What, through playing so soon, asked Mrs. Preston? I thought you'd be much longer than this. I haven't your lunch for you ready yet. But where is Sue? she asked, not seeing Bunny's sister. She's locked in a trunk in the attic. The big trunk explained Charlie, and she's hollering like anything but we can't get her out. Locked in that trunk, good gracious, cried Mrs. Preston, that trunk shuts with a spring lock. Now I wonder where the key to it is. Here's a lot of keys, we found, said Bunny, holding out those he and Charlie had gathered from the other trunks. I'll try those, but I'm afraid they won't fit, said Mrs. Preston, hurrying up to the attic followed by Bunny, Charlie, and Rose. You'll be all right now, Sue, called Mrs. Preston, through the sides of the trunk to Sue. We'll soon have you out. Please hurry, said a muffled and far-off voice. I can hardly breathe in here. I should say not, exclaimed Mrs. Preston. We'll get you out soon, though. She tried other keys, none of which would fit, and then she brought up from her bedroom another bunch that locked the trunk she used when she went traveling. It's of no use, she cried, when she found she could not open the trunk. We can't waste any more time. Charlie, you run and get Mr. Right, the carpenter. He'll have to saw a hole in the end of the trunk to get Sue out. But he won't hurt her, will he, asked Bunny? No, indeed he'll be very careful. Mr. Right came back with Charlie, carrying several tools in his hand. He soon set to work. Get as far back to the end of the trunk as you can, he called to Sue, tapping with his fingers on the end he wanted her to keep away from. I'm back as far as I can get, she said in a far-off voice. All right, now I'm going to bore a little hole in this end, and then I'm going to put in a little saw and saw a door in the end of your trunk-house so you can crawl out. Don't be afraid, I'll soon have you out, said the carpenter. Very carefully Mr. Right bored the hole. Then, with a small saw, he began cutting a hole in the side of the big trunk. In a little while the hole was big enough for Sue to crawl through. They had to help her for she was weak and faint, from having been shut up so long. But the fresh air and a glass of milk soon made her feel better, and she wanted to go on with the game. No, I think you had better be out in the air now, on the big and closed porch, said Mrs. Preston. You had played in the attic long enough. I never thought of the spring lock on that trunk. It is the only one in the attic, but now we will leave the hole cut in the end, so even with the lid closed whoever goes in can get out. It would make a good kennel for our dog Splash, said Bunny. And you may have it for that if you like, said Mrs. Preston. I'll have the hired man take it over to your camp. After thanking Mrs. Preston for the good time she had given them, the children, after a lunch, started for their homes. Bunny and Sue found something very strange going on in the camp, when they reached there. There was Mr. Bixby, the hermit, sitting on a box just outside the tent, talking very earnestly to Mr. Brown, who had just come from town in the small automobile. It had stopped raining. Well, I've decided not to let him go back to you, Mr. Brown was saying. I don't think you have treated him right, and I am going to complain to the authorities about it. And I tell you, Mr. Brown, not meaning to be in polite that I'm entitled to that boy, and I'm going to have him. He's bound out to me for the summer. What does he want, Mother, whispered Bunny? Hush, my dear, Daddy will attend to it all. Mr. Bixby came here a little while ago, and he wants to take Tom back. Tom doesn't want to go on account of the needle-pricks, as he calls them. But Mr. Bixby wants him, and your father is not going to let Tom go. Oh, I'm glad of that, exclaimed Sue in a whisper. I like Tom, and I don't care if I was locked in a trunk and most smothered if we can keep Tom. End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Trying to Help Tom You were locked in a trunk and almost smothered, exclaimed Mrs. Brown, looking first at Sue and then at Mr. Bixby, as though she thought he might have had some hand in the matter. Yes, it was over in Mrs. Preston's attic, but it was my own fault. I never should have got in the trunk, for it was closed with a spring lock and they had to get a carpenter to saw me out. Oh, and spoil Mrs. Preston's trunk? Tisant spoiled, said Bunny. She's going to let us use it for a dog kennel. And it will make such a nice one for Splash, said Sue. You see, we can put hinges on the little square place, the carpenter cut out to make a hole for me to get through, and we can make something fast to it that Splash can get hold of with his teeth, like a knob, so he can pull the door-shot when it rains. It will be awful nice. I don't mind having been shut up a bit when I think of Splash. But how did it all happen, asked Mrs. Brown, while her husband and Mr. Bixby were talking together. The children told of Sue's adventure and of Charlie and Rose and of the big porch and of the lunch. But what does Mr. Bixby want, mother? Is he really going to take Tom away from us, asked Sue? I don't know, my little girl, I hope not. But he seems to have the law on his side. Well, you have your way of looking at it, and I have mine, Mr. Bixby was saying to Mr. Brown. I hired this boy from the poor house, and agreed to pay him certain wages. Part he keeps for himself, and the rest goes to the poor house managers, for his board in the winter when he can't work. Then this boy ups and leaves me and comes to you. It isn't fair, and I'm not getting the worth of the money I paid, for though he is a lazy chap I managed to get some chores out of him. Of course, said Mr. Brown, you may be right in what you say about having the right to this boy's work because you paid for it. As for his being lazy, I don't agree with you there. He has certainly been a help to us about the camp. Oh, yes, where there's any fun in it, Tom's right there. I suppose he's a good fisherman. Never saw a better one, said Mr. Brown earnestly, while Bunny Brown and Sue sat together on a big stump and wondered what it was all about. Yes, Tom had rather fish than eat, said Mr. Bixby slowly, as he crossed one ragged trouser leg over the other. Who wouldn't with what I got to eat at your cabin, burst out, Tom? Who had been standing back near the cook-tent? All I got was potatoes, and once in a while bacon. I got so hungry I just had to go out and fish. Well, we won't go into any argument about it, said Mr. Bixby. I'm entitled to work from you and I'm going to have you. That's all there is about it. I'll never go back to you to be stung with them needles, cried Tom. At this Mr. Brown asked a question. What are these needles, Tom speaks of, he asked. I think I have a right to know, as he is in my charge now, and if I let him go to you when he is hurt, I should feel I was to blame. I want to know about this needle business. There wasn't anything to it, he just imagined it. I used to grab hold of his arm to shake him awake mornings, and I'd happen to hit his funny bone in his elbow. You know how it is when you hit your elbow in a certain place. It makes it feel as though pins and needles were sticking in you. I have felt that, said Mrs. Brown. And so have I added, Bunny, it's funny. Well, that's all there is to it, said Mr. Bixby. But I want Tom back. I'm going to have him, too. You shall have him if you have a right to him, but I shall look into this first, said Mr. Brown. You can't take him to-night. Oh, well, we shan't quarrel over that as long as I get him to-morrow, to help dig potatoes. But you'll find I'm in the right and that the boy belongs to me for the summer, said the hermit. I'll do just as I agreed to by him. Well, I'll look it up to make sure, said Mr. Brown. It may be that you are right and it may be you are wrong. If you are, I'll say to you now that you'll never get Tom away from me. That's right, don't let him take me, cried Tom, who seemed very much afraid. I don't want any more of his funny needles stuck in me. Let me stay with you. I will if I can, Tom, my boy, said Mr. Brown. You'll find you can't keep him away from me, said Mr. Bixby, as he got up to go. And I won't hurt him, as he and you folks seem to think. All I want are my rights. The two men talked together a little longer, but Tom wanted to hear all about Seuss having been shut in the trunk, so Bunny and his sister took turns telling the story once more, while Tom listened eagerly. If I'd been there, he cried, as Sue finished. I'd have given that trunk one kick and busted her clean open, Sue. I wouldn't have waited for no carpenter. One look at Tom's big feet seemed to indicate that he could easily have busted the trunk clean open. But it was better to saw a little door to make a kennel for Splash, said Sue. Anyhow, I wasn't in there very long, and I could breathe a little. We'll be careful about getting into trunks again, said her mother, and Sue said she would. The children played in the woods about the camp with Tom after supper, while Mr. and Mrs. Brown sat off to one side, talking earnestly. I guess they're talking about you, said Sue. About you're going away, Tom. Well, I'm not going back to Mr. Bixby, declared the lad. And we're not going to let you, cried Bunny. If he comes after you, we'll get in a boat and go down the lake and hide in that cave. We'll take something to eat with us and some fish lines to catch fish, and we'll cook them over a campfire, and we'll live in the big woods forever. What'll we do when winter comes, asked Sue. Oh, then Daddy and Mother will be back in the city, and we can go live with them, replied her brother. Early the next morning, while the children and Tom were having breakfast, Mr. Brown was seen setting off toward the village. Where are you going, Daddy, cried Sue? Can't you take us with you, asked Bunny? No, I'm going off to see some of the townspeople, the authorities, the head of the poor house, and others, to find out what right Mr. Bixby has to Tom. Oh, if you're going to help Tom, that's all right, said Sue. We can have some games among ourselves, can't we, Bunny, she added, turning to her brother. Yes, but I wish I had my electric train. Well, you can play with the car you found in the hay, said Sue. And then we've got to make that trunk kennel for splash. Oh, so we have, exclaimed Bunny. I forgot about that. We'll have some fun anyhow. And I'll help, said Tom. Might as well have what fun I can, if I have to go back to Mr. Bixby's. You won't have to go back, said Bunny. My father will fix it so you can stay with us. End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. THE NIGHT MEETING Bunny and Sue, as soon as they had finished their breakfast, went down to the edge of the lake to play. They wanted to go for a row, and Mrs. Brown had said they could if Tom was along, so there was no trouble this time. Out on the water where the sun was shining on the waves Tom rode the children. Then Bunny brought out his fishing line and pole, baited the hook with some worms he had dug, and began to fish. You won't get any fish here, said Tom. There are too many boats around. I can take you to a place where there are some good perch and sunnies. No, I want to fish here, said Bunny. It's easy to catch fish where everybody else can. I want to try in a hard place. So Tom kept the boat in about the same spot, rowing slowly about while Bunny fished and fished and fished again without getting a single bite or nibble. Oh, dear, it's so hot here out in the middle of the lake, said Sue. Can't we go where it's cool and shady? I know such a place as that, said Tom. And you can catch fish there, too. Does everybody fish there, Bunny asked? No, hardly anybody. And you can't always catch fish there, either, even if you know the best places. Then we'll go, decided Bunny. I want to go to a hard place. Is there anything I can do where you're going, asked Sue? Well, you can gather pond lilies in the creek, which comes into the lake up above a piece. I'm going to take you there, said Tom. It's a nice place. Oh, goody cried Sue, clapping her hands. Mother loves pond lilies. Well, there's lots up where we're going, said Tom, as he began to row with strong, long strokes. The creek, as Tom called it, was a lazy sort of stream, flowing into one part of the lake through a dense part of the big woods. Up this creek very few persons went, as it was shallow for most boats, and they often ran aground and got stuck. But our boat will be all right, said Tom, for it has a flat bottom, and it doesn't lie very deep in the water. It could almost be rowed in a good rainstorm. Farther and farther up the creek, Tom, rowed the children. The trees met in a green arch overhead, and the only sounds were those of the dripping waters from Tom's oars. The call of woodland birds or the distant splash of a fish jumping up to get a fly that was close to the top of the water. Shall I fish here, asked Bunny? Yes, you ought to get a few here. Bunny cast in, and it was not long before he had a bite, but when he pulled up there was no fish on his hook. You must yank up quicker, said Tom. They are only nibbling to fool you. Pull up quickly. Look out, suddenly, called Bunny. He yanked his pole up so suddenly that he pulled the fish out of the water, right over the heads of himself, his sister and Tom, and with a splash the fish came down in the water on the other side of the boat. There it wiggled off the hook. You pulled too hard this time, said Tom, with a laugh. I'll do it just right next time, said Bunny. And he did. When he felt something pulling on his line, he too pulled, and this time he caught a sunfish large enough to cook. It had very pretty colors on it. It's too pretty to catch, said Sue. But oh, look at all the pretty pond, Lilys. And she pointed to some farther up the creek. Can we get some, Tom? Wait until I catch one more fish, begged Bunny. Bunny soon caught another fish, which had stripes around it, like a raccoon, Sue said. That's a perch, Tom told the children. They're good to eat, too. But now we'll row up for the Lilys. However, in spite of the fact that their boat did not take much water, it ran aground before it reached the Lilys. Oh, how are we going to get them, asked Sue, in disappointment? I'll wait after them, said Tom. I can take off my shoes and socks. The water won't be much more than up to my knees after I get over the mud-bar on which the boat has stuck. Tom was soon wading in the mud and water, his trousers well rolled up. He was just reaching for one very large Lily, when he gave a sudden call, threw up his hands, and sank down out of sight. Oh, Tom's gone, he's drowned, cried Sue. We've got to save him, shouted Bunny, struggling with the oars. But the boat was fast in the mud, and he could not move it. What shall we do, gasped Sue? Before Bunny could answer, Tom's head appeared above the muddy water. He had hold of the pond, Lily. I'm all right, he said. I stepped on the edge of a hole under the water, and it was so slippery I went down in before I knew it. But the deepest part is only over my waist. And now that I'm wet, I might as well stay and get all the Lilys you wish. Oh, that's too bad, cried Sue. Not at all, said Tom, I like it. Afterward I'll take a swim in the clean part of the lake and wash off. So wet and muddy as he was, his clothes covered with slime from the bottom of the creek, Tom kept on gathering the Lilys. Once he found a mud turtle which he tossed into the boat for Bunny. The turtle seemed to go to sleep in a corner. There's a nice bunch for you, said Tom, coming back to the boat with the flowers for the little girl. Oh, thank you so much, said Sue, but I'm sorry you got wet. I'm not, these clothes needed washing anyhow, laughed Tom. With that Tom pushed the boat off the mud-bar, and down the creek into deeper water, the children sitting on the seats. Now I'll tie you to shore, go in swimming in this clean water, and row you home after I've dried out a bit, said Tom. So he went in swimming with all his clothes on, except his shoes and socks, and soon he was clean. Mother will be so glad to get the pond, Lily, said Sue, and I guess she'll be glad to get my fish, said Bunny. There's most enough for dinner. Tom was nearly dry when he reached home, and no one said anything about his wet clothes. Oh, what lovely flowers exclaimed Mrs. Brown, and what fine fish! Did you catch them all alone, Bunny? Yes, Momsy, both of them. Where's Daddy? Oh, off seeing some men. I believe there is to be a meeting at our camp tonight to talk about your friend Tom and Mr. Bixby. I hope they don't send Tom back, said Bunny. He knows everything about this lake. After supper, several men came to camp rest awhile. They were some of the county officers. Eaglefeather and some of the Indians were present, sitting by themselves, and Mr. Brown sat near Tom. May we stay and see what happens, Mother, asked Bunny? I guess so. I don't know just what is going on, but I think your father is going to try to arrange matters, so Tom will not have to go back to the hermits to live. Hooray, cried Bunny, and while Daddy is talking, I hope he'll ask everybody if they've seen my electric train. And my Sally Melinda added, Sue, my nice electric-eyed teddy bear, for all the inquiries that had been made had not brought forth any trace of either of the children's toys. The man in whose barn Bunny had found one car, said he had seen no one hiding it in the hay. Daddy is going to say something, whispered Sue. Hush, cautioned her mother. Just then Mr. Brown arose and looked at the men in front of him.