“Oh, Mamma.  We gave the old hen a ride, so she could be with her little ducks,” said Sue, “and the wind broke our sail, and it fell on me, and the ducks flew away and so did the hen mother, and Bunny fell in.  That’s what happened!”

“Mercy me, sakes alive!  I should think that was enough!” cried Grandma Brown.

“Yes, perhaps you had better keep away from the duck pond after this,” said Mother Brown.  “Now I’ll have to change all your clothes, Bunny.”

Bunny was sorry his mother had so much work to do for him, but, as he said, he could not help it.

Washed and clean, Bunny and Sue, a little later, went down the road to the house of Nellie Bruce.

“We’ll take Splash with us,” said Bunny.  “Where is he?  Here, Splash!  Splash!” he called.

“I didn’t see him all to-day,” said Sue.  “Maybe he didn’t like being a blue-striped tiger in a circus, and he’s gone back to our home by the ocean.”

“He wouldn’t go that far,” said Bunny.  “Besides, he liked being in the circus.  He wagged his tail ’most all the while, and when he does that he’s happy.  Here, Splash!” he called again.

But Splash did not come, even when Sue called, and the two children went off to play without him.  For a time they did not think about their dog, as they had such fun at the home of Nellie Bruce.  They played tag, and hide-and-go-seek, as well as teeter-tauter, and bean-bag.

Then Mrs. Bruce gave them some cookies and milk, and they had a little play-party.  But, when it came time for Bunny and Sue to go home, they thought of Splash again.

“I wonder if he’ll be there waiting for us,” said Sue, as they came within sight of their Grandpa Brown’s house.

“I hope so,” said Bunny.

But no Splash was there, and he had not been seen since early morning, before Bunny and Sue went sailing on the duck pond.

“Oh, dear!” sighed Sue.  “Splash has run away.  He’s lost!”

“Dogs can’t get lost!” Bunny declared.

“Yes, he is too lost,” and tears came into Sue’s eyes.

CHAPTER XVI

GETTING THE TENTS

Bunny Brown himself thought it was strange that Splash was not about to greet him and his sister as they came home from play.  The big shaggy dog, that had once pulled Sue from the water, was very fond of the children, and if he did not go with them (which he did nearly every time) he was always waiting for them to come back.

But this time Splash was not to be seen.  Bunny went about the yard, whistling, while Sue called: 

“Splash!  Here, Splash!  I want you!  Come here, Splash!”

But the joyful bark of Splash was not heard, nor did he come bounding around the side of the house, to play with Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, when they called.

“It is queer,” said Mother Brown.  “I saw him early this morning, when I gave him his breakfast, and I thought he went with you, Bunny, when you and Sue went down to the duck pond.”