“Well, I guess I’m the only robber who ever lived in it,” said Tom.  “But what are you children going to do?  Tell me all about how you got here.”

This Bunny and Sue did, from the time they started out with Bunker Blue, until Bunny opened his eyes to see Tom sliding down the grapevine rope.

“And now I’ll tell you about myself,” said Tom.

“Have you been living here in this cave ever since you went away from our camp?” asked Bunny.

“Yes,” answered Tom.  “This has been my home.  No one knew I was here.  I wanted to keep out of sight of Mr. Trimble, for fear he’d make me go back to his farm.”

“Oh, he won’t make you go back,” said Bunny.  “He’s sorry he was so cross to you.  He told daddy so; didn’t he, Sue?”

“Yes, he did.  I’m glad we found you, Tom,” and she put her little hand in his big one.

“And I’m glad I found you and Bunny, Sue.  And I’m glad that Mr. Trimble isn’t looking for me.  I was getting tired of hiding out this way.  I want to go back to your camp.”

“You can come,” said Bunny.  “Daddy wants you, I know, for he said he did.  Come on back now.”

“Wait a minute,” said Tom.  “First I’ll tell you how I came here.  And then, I guess, we’ll have to stay until morning, as it is storming too bad to leave the cave now.”

Tom then told that he had heard Mr. Trimble was looking for him, to make him go back to the farm.

“And, as I was afraid he’d catch me, I ran away from your camp that day when I went for the pail of water,” said Tom.  “As I was at the spring I saw Mr. Trimble going past behind some bushes.  He didn’t see me, because I stooped down.  And when he got past I ran away.  I didn’t want him to get me.

“I found this cave, and I’ve lived in it.  I took some old boxes and bags from a barn.  They were thrown away, so no one wanted them, I knew.  Then I found this lantern and I brought that here.”

“How did you get anything to eat?” asked Bunny.

“Well, I took that,” said Tom.  “In the night I went back to your camp, and took some things.  I didn’t think your folks would care very much.”

“They didn’t,” said Bunny.  “Did you take the pie and the bacon and eggs?”

“Yes,” said Tom, “I did.  I have earned some money, though, and I’ll pay for them.”

“And did you knock down the pile of tins?” Bunny asked, “and make the noise in the night?”

“Yes,” laughed Tom.  “I thought sure your folks would catch me then, but I got safely away.  And ever since then I’ve stayed in this cave.  I found it by accident.  It made a nice dry place.  During the day I would go off to different farms and work enough to earn a little money to buy things to eat.  All the while I was afraid Mr. Trimble would find me.  He was such a mean man.”

“But he’s turned good now,” declared Bunny, “and he’s sorry he was bad to you.  He wouldn’t even shut you up in a smoke-house,” and Bunny told of finding the fox in the little house.