It was as though Splash said: 

“I know you want to find Dix, but I don’t know where he is.  There is no use in my running my legs off to find him, for he is a long way from here.”

“Dix possibly has been missing a longer while than we know,” said Mr. Brown.  “I noticed once, as we were going over a bridge, that Splash went in and had a little swim.  But I did not see Dix with him, though I didn’t think anything about it at the time.  We had that trouble with the engine farther back than that.  When I got that fixed Dix was about.  But from then on I haven’t seen him, and that was some miles back.”

“Maybe that’s the time my dear Sallie Malinda fell out,” said Sue.  “Or else Dix took her.”

“I don’t believe he’d do that,” said her father.  “He was too well trained.  He isn’t a puppy any longer, to hide boots, shoes and toys.  I don’t believe Dix took your Teddy.”

“Well, anyhow let’s go to find him,” said Bunny.  “I mean her,” he added quickly, as he noticed Sue looking sharply at him.  “Maybe we’ll find Dix and the Teddy bear at the same time.”

“If Dix hasn’t gone off to find a cow or an elephant or a camel or something like that to make us a present of,” said Mrs. Brown with a laugh.

“Oh, Momsie!  Do you think Dix would really bring back an elephant?” asked Bunny eagerly.

“No, my dear, I was only fooling.  But let’s start back, Daddy, for I know Sue will be very anxious to-night about her Teddy bear.”

Back they started in the automobile over the road they had just traveled.  Now and then they stopped and called Dix, but the dog did not come to them.

Splash added his barks and whines to the general calling but no Dix answered.

“He must be mighty far away,” said Bunny.

“Yes, I’m afraid we’ll never find him, or my dearest Sallie Malinda either,” said Sue, and once more tears came into her eyes.

As the auto went along, in addition to calling for Dix, every one in the party, including the children, had looked along the road for a sight of the Teddy bear that might have fallen from the automobile.  But Sallie Malinda was not to be seen, and Sue did not know what to do.

“Well, we’ll go back to where I last noticed that Dix was with us,” said Mr. Brown.  “Then if we don’t find your Teddy, Sue, I’ll have to get you another.”

“But I’d rather have Sallie Malinda!”

“I know, dear, but you can name the new one that.”

“Sue’s Teddy’s had lots of adventures,” said Bunny.  “The hermit took her, and now she’s lost.”

“Well, I’m not going to give up yet,” said his sister, as she looked carefully along the road.

“But what can have become of Dix?” asked Mrs. Brown.  “I can’t understand him.”

“Oh, he may have gone off chasing a rabbit or a squirrel,” said Mr. Brown.  “Anyhow we’re almost at the bridge, and the spot where we had the engine trouble is not far beyond.”