But though the Browns’ dog was usually ready for a frolic in the water he did not seem to be so just now.  He ran back and forth, down to the edge of the stream and back again, getting his paws wet, but nothing else.

“Oh, you must go in and have your bath if you are to come with us!” cried Sue.  “Go on in, Splash!”

But not even for Sue would Splash go in, until finally Bunny cried: 

“Oh, I know a way to make him!”

“How?” asked Sue.

“Just throw a stick into the water, and he’ll go after it and bring it back.  We’ll throw it far out.”

“Oh, that’s right!” cried Sue.  “We’ll do that.”

No sooner had the children picked up sticks than the two dogs, who had started to play “tag” themselves, knew what was up.  They both loved to go into the water after sticks.

“Throw ’em far out now!” cried Bunny.  He tossed his to the middle of the brook, and Sue flung hers nearly as far, for she was a good thrower—­almost as good as Bunny.

Dix swam after Sue’s stick, and Splash went for Bunny’s.  In a minute they had brought them ashore and dropped them at the children’s feet, looking up into their faces as much as to say: 

“Do it again!  We love to chase sticks!”

And then, just as dogs always do when they come from the water, they gave themselves big shakes.

“Look out, Sue!” called Bunny.

But he was too late.  A shower of drops from Splash went all over Sue’s dress, and some of the drops were not clean water, either.

“Oh dear!” she cried.  “Now I’ll have to change my dress!”

“Never mind,” said Bunny.  “You run up to the house and get that done, and I’ll throw the two sticks into the water.  Then Splash and Dix will go in again, and when they come out they’ll be cleaner.  I won’t come back to the house with them until they are good and clean.”

Once more Bunny tossed the sticks, as Sue went up to change her dress.  When her mother saw her she cried: 

“Oh dear, Sue!  How did that happen?”

Sue told her.

“Well, I hope Bunny gets the dogs clean this time,” said Mrs. Brown as she took Sue upstairs to put another dress on her.  This did not take long, and a little while afterward Bunny came running up from the brook with the two dogs, dripping wet from their baths.

“Quick, Momsie and Sue!” he called to his mother and sister.  “Get in the auto before the dogs shower you again with water.  I’ve got ’em good and clean now.  I made ’em go in four times after the sticks.”

“Did they shake any water on you?” asked Mr. Brown.

“Not much,” said Bunny.  “Besides, my clothes are dark and the mud on them won’t show.  Now don’t go away again, Splash, ’cause we’re going on a long auto tour, and you want to come with us.”

All were soon in the auto again, and as they started off, with more “good-byes” and “good lucks,” Bunny and Sue made sure that this time Splash followed.