“But we’ll load the things in the pony cart,” said Bunny to Sue, “and drive to our house.  Bunker Blue is going to be there, for he’s going to cut the grass, and he can drive across Main Street to Mrs. Larken’s house.”

“That will be all right,” said Mrs. Golden.  “It’s very kind of you to help me this way.”

The children started out with Toby, and they were almost at their own home when they heard a great shouting and racket behind them.

“Oh, Bunny!” cried Sue, “maybe we dropped something out of the cart and they’re calling to us to pick it up.”

Bunny gave one look back over the way they had come.  Then he pulled hard on Toby’s reins and shouted: 

“No, we didn’t drop anything, but here comes the fire engine!”

And, surely enough, dashing down the street was the shiny new engine that had lately been bought for Bellemere.

“Oh, pull over to one side!” cried Sue, clasping Bunny’s arm.  “Pull over to one side!”

“I—­I’m trying to!” he answered.  But Toby did not seem to want to go over near the curb, and out of danger.  Once in a while the Shetland pony had a stubborn streak, and this was one of those times.

“Get over!  Get over there!” cried Bunny, pulling on the reins.

But instead of swinging to the right Toby turned to the left, and down the street, clanging and thundering came the fire engine.

“Get out the way!”

“Look at those children!”

“Pull over!  Pull over!” cried people along the sidewalk.

One or two men ran out to grasp the bridle of Toby and swing him over, for it seemed that all Bunny was doing had no effect.  But before any of the men could reach the pony Bunker Blue came dashing along.  He was on his way to the Brown house to cut the grass, and he saw the danger of Bunny and Sue.

“What’s the matter with you, Toby?  What’s the matter?” cried Bunker Blue.  The Shetland pony seemed to know the fish boy’s voice, for he allowed himself to be swung over to the curb and out of danger just before the fire engine dashed by.

“Oh dear!” sighed Sue.

“Pooh!  That wasn’t anything!” declared Bunny Brown.  “I could have got him over.  And, anyhow, the fire engine would have steered out!  But I’m glad you came, Bunker,” he said, for this talk did not seem to show a kindly feeling toward the fish boy who had been so quick to act.

“Yes, I guess you’d ‘a’ been all right,” said Bunker, with a laugh.  “But that fire engine was going very fast.  You’ve got to be careful of it.”

And all the rush and excitement was for nothing, as there was no fire, the alarm being a false one.  Bunker took charge of the pony cart and delivered the groceries before he cut the grass.  Then Bunny and Sue drove back to the corner store.

They saw Mr. Flynt talking to Mrs. Golden as they entered.

“It’s of no use!” the cross man was saying.  “I have bad news for you.  You’ll have to give up the store, Mrs. Golden.”