“So’m I!” added her brother, and, forgetting all about the Plush Bear in the hole, away they ran to tease for ponies to ride.  Mrs. Rowe was sitting on the sand not far from where the children had been playing.

“Yes, Arthur and Nettie, you may ride the ponies,” she said.  “I’ll take you down and tell the man to put you on.”

And in the excitement of the pony ride Arthur forgot all about his Plush Bear in the sand cave.  The toy was left there all alone, and he did not know what to think.

“I wonder if I dare knock down those sticks they call bars and climb out?” thought the toy.  “I don’t believe any one is looking.”  He was just going to do this when along the beach dashed one of the ponies with a little girl on his back.  The pony stepped close to the hole where the Plush Bear was, and in another instant the sand caved in, covering Mr. Bruin from sight!

CHAPTER IX

OUT TO SEA

Sand ran down into the eyes of the Plush Bear.  Grains of sand tickled his plush toes.  Some even got in his plush mouth that he opened when he gave his growls.  Other grains of sand trickled between the joints of his paws and his body.

“Oh, dear, this is terrible!” said Mr. Bruin, as he found himself in darkness when the hole into which Arthur had placed him caved in from the feet of the pony.  “This is simply terrible!”

But though the Plush Bear, being by himself, was allowed to talk and move about, pretending to come to life, he soon found that it was not wise to open his mouth.  The wider he opened it the more sand came in.

“What shall I do?” thought the Plush Bear to himself, not opening his mouth to say anything this time.  “How am I ever going to get out of here?”

Well might he ask himself that, for the sand was so closely packed in about him that he could hardly move.  Even though the spring inside him was wound up, the Plush Bear could not turn his head nor wave his paws.  As for growling, he knew better than to try that.

“Well, something must be done!” thought the Plush Bear.  “If I stay in this sand hole too long I’ll smother!  I wonder why Arthur doesn’t come and take me out?  He always said he was fond of me!”

But Arthur, the fat boy, was just then having a glorious ride on a pony, and Nettie, his sister, was also having a ride.  For the time being the children had forgotten about their toys.  Nettie had left her Rag Doll and Arthur his Plush Bear.  But the Rag Doll was not buried in the sand.

Up and down along the sand rode the children on the backs of the beach ponies.  But at last Mrs. Rowe decided that Nettie and Arthur had had fun enough, so she helped them out of the little saddles.

“Get your playthings and come to the hotel.  We must dress for dinner,” she said.  “Where is your Rag Doll, Nettie?  And your Plush Bear, Arthur?”

“I left my Rag Doll on the sand,” answered Nettie.  “I’ll get her.”