“What’s the matter?” asked one big boy, who had a snub nose.

“My—­my little sister is lost,” Bunny explained, half crying.

“Who is your sister?” the big boy asked.  He came from a farm a good way off, and was somewhat of a stranger.

“She’s Sue—­that’s my sister,” Bunny explained.  “She was here a little while ago, but now she’s lost!”

“This is Bunny Brown,” explained Bunker to the other boys.  “He and his sister Sue are staying at Grandpa Brown’s farm.  Their grandfather let us take this tent,” he said.

“Oh, I see!” exclaimed the big boy.  “Well, we’ll help you hunt for your sister, Bunny.”

They began looking all around the big tent, which was spread out on the ground and not yet up on the poles, as it would be later, so the people could come in it to see the show of the big boys.  But Sue was not in sight.  Nor could she be seen anywhere in the field where the tent was to be put up.

“Are you sure she didn’t go back to the house, Bunny?” asked Ben.

“I’m sure she didn’t,” said the little boy.  “She was here with me a little while ago.  If she’d gone she’d have told me so, and Splash would have gone with her.  He goes with her more than he does with me.  And see, here is Splash!”

This was true.  The big dog lay in the shade, watching what Bunny and the others were doing, and wondering, I suppose, why people were so foolish as to work in hot weather, when they could just as well lie down in the shade, and stick out their tongues to keep cool—­for that is what dogs do.

“Maybe Splash can find Sue,” said Bunker.

“Hi there, Splash!” he called.  “Where’s Sue?  Find her!”

Splash jumped up with a bark, and ran to Bunny.

“You tell him what to do,” said Bunker.  “He’ll mind you better than he will me.”

“Find Sue, Splash!  Find Sue!” said Bunny.

Splash barked again, looked up into Bunny’s face, as if to make sure what was wanted, and then, with a bark he ran to where a big pile of the white canvas was gathered in a heap.  It was a part of the tent the boys had not yet unfolded, or straightened out.

Splash stood near this and barked.  Then he began poking in it with his sharp nose.

“He—­he’s found something,” said Ben.

“Maybe it’s Sue,” cried Bunker.  “Come on!”

Taking hold of Bunny’s hand, Bunker ran with him toward the pile of canvas.  The other boys ran too.  But before they got there Sue was sitting up in the middle of it, and Splash was standing near her, barking and jumping about now and then, as if he felt very happy.

“Why—­why, Sue!” Bunny cried.  “Were you there all the while?”

“How long is all the while?” asked Sue, rubbing her sleepy eyes.  “I was playing house here, Bunny, and I pulled a bed spread over me, and went to sleep.  Splash put his cold nose on me and woke me up.  What are you all lookin’ at me for?” Sue asked, as she saw the circle of boys, her brother among them, staring at her.