Classic Audiobook Collection - Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

Episode Date: November 1, 2023

Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope audiobook. Genre: adventure Bunny Brown and his little sister, Sue, have been having adventures and fun, and getting into scrapes, since the early 1900s. From Chapter One: 'Bunny Brown and his sister Sue were at Camp Rest-a-While with their father and their mother. They had come from their home in Bellemere to live for a while in the forest, on the shore of Lake Wanda, where they were all enjoying the life in the open air. They had journeyed to the woods in an automobile, carrying two tents which were set up under the trees. One tent was used to sleep in and the other for a dining room. There was also a place to cook...' This is Volume 6 of the Bunny Brown series. This book contains racial prejudices that were once commonplace. They are retained, as originally written in this recording, because to do otherwise would be to deny they existed. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:11:07) Chapter 02 (00:23:51) Chapter 03 (00:33:01) Chapter 04 (00:45:21) Chapter 05 (00:57:27) Chapter 06 (01:08:02) Chapter 07 (01:23:52) Chapter 08 (01:33:13) Chapter 09 (01:41:02) Chapter 10 (01:52:48) Chapter 11 (01:59:39) Chapter 12 (02:12:48) Chapter 13 (02:21:22) Chapter 14 (02:30:20) Chapter 15 (02:39:31) Chapter 16 (02:46:30) Chapter 17 (02:57:14) Chapter 18 (03:12:12) Chapter 19 (03:20:14) Chapter 20 (03:28:15) Chapter 21 (03:35:17) Chapter 22 (03:42:31) Chapter 23 (03:50:17) Chapter 24 (03:58:50) Chapter 25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope what daddy brought sue sue where are you called a lady as she stood in the opening of a tent which was under the trees in the big woods where are you sue and where is bunny for a moment no answers came to the call but presently from behind a clump of bushes not far from the tent stepped a little girl she held a finger over her lips, just as your teacher does in school when she does not want you to say anything. Then the little girl whispered, Sh, mother, I can't come now. Then let bunny come. He can do what I want. Bunny can't come either. Why not?

And Mrs. Brown smiled at her little girl, who seemed very much in earnest as she stood in front of the bushes, her finger still across her lips. Bunny can't come, because we're playing soldier in Indian, said Sue. bunny's been shot by an Indian arrow and I'm his nurse. He's just got over the fever, same as I did when I had the measles, and he's asleep. And it's awful dangerous to wake anybody up that's just got to sleep after a fever. That's what our doctor said, I remember. Okay. Oh, Bonnie is just getting over a fever, is he? asked Mrs. Brown. Of course, it's only a make-believe fever, mother, said the little girl. We're only pretending, you know, and she caught her word. short, leaving off a G here and there, so she could talk faster, I suppose. Oh, if it's only a make-believe fever, it's all right, said Mother Brown with a laugh. How long do you think Bunny will sleep, Sue? Oh, not very long, maybe five minutes, because you see when he wakes up he'll be hungry, and I've got some pie and cake and some milk for him to eat. Sick folks gets awful hungry

when their fever goes away, and it's real things to eat, too, Mother. And when Bunny got make-believe shot with an Indian arrow, he said he wasn't going to play fever more than five minutes, because he saw what I had for him to eat. Oh, well, if he's going to be better in five minutes, I can wait that long, said Mrs. Brown. Go on and have your fun. What do you want Bunny to do, or me, ask Sue,

as she turned to go back behind the bush where she and Bunny were having their game. I'll tell you when you finish playing, said Mrs. Brown with a smile. she sometimes found this a better plan than telling the children just what she wanted when she called them from some of their games you see they were so anxious to find out what it was their mother wanted that they hurried to finish their fun bunny brown and his sister sue were at camp rest awhile with their father and their mother they had come from their home in belmere to live for a while in the forest on the shore of lake wanda where they were all enjoying the life in the open air. They had journeyed to the woods in an automobile, carrying two tents which were set up under the trees. One tent was used to sleep in, and the other for a dining room. There was also a place to cook.

With the Brown family was Uncle Tad, who was really Mr. Brown's uncle, but the jolly old soldier was as much an uncle to Bunny and Sue as he was to their father. Bunker Blue, a boy, had also come to Camp rest a while with the Brown family. But after having many adventures with them, he had gone back to Belmere, where Mr. Brown had a fish and a boat business. With him went Tom Vine, a boy whom the Browns had met after coming to camp. Bunny Brown and his sister Sue liked it in the big woods that stretched out all about their camp. They played many games under the trees and in the tents and had great fun. Mrs. Brown liked it so much that when the time when they had planned to go home came, she said to her husband, oh, let's stay a little longer. I like it so much and the children are so

happy. Let's stay. And so they stayed. And they were still camped on the edge of the big woods that morning when Mrs. Brown called Bunny and Sue to do something for her. After telling her mother about the pretend fever which Bunny had, Sue went back to where her brother was lying on a blanket under the bushes. She made believe feel his pulse as she had seen the doctor do when once Bunny had been really ill, and then the little girl put her hand on Bunny's cheek. Say, what you doing that for? he asked. I was seeing how hot you were, answered Sue. I guess your fever's most gone, isn't it, bunny, she asked. Is it time to eat, he asked quickly? "'Yes, I think it is, and I think Mother has a surprise for us, too.'

"'Then my fever's all gone,' exclaimed Bunny. "'I'm all better and I can eat. "'Then we'll see what Mother has.' "'Never did an ill person get well so quickly, as did Bunny Brown just then. "'He sat up, threw to one side of blanket Sue had spread over him, "'and called, Where's the pie and cake?' "'Here they are,' Sue answered as she took them from a little box under the bush, and where's the milk asked bunny fevers always make folks thirsty you know i'm awful thirsty here's the milk said sue i didn't ask mother if i could take it but i'm sure she won't care

no i guess not said bunny taking a long drink which sue poured out for him from a pitcher into a glass then bunny and his sister ate the pie and the cake which their mother had given them that morning when they said they wanted to have a little picnic in the the woods. Instead, Bunny and Sue had played Indian and Soldier, as they often did. First, Bunny was a white soldier and then an Indian, and at last he made believe he was shot so he could be ill. Sue was very fond of playing nurse, and she liked to cover Bunny up, feel his pulse and feed him bread pills, rolled in sugar. Bunny liked those pills, too. Well, now we've got everything eaten up, said Bunny, as he gathered. up the last crumbs of the pie. His mother had baked in the oil stove, which they had brought to camp. Let's go and see what the surprise is. I'm not so sure it is a surprise, returned Sue slowly.

Mother didn't say so. She just said she wouldn't tell us until you got all make-believe well again. So I suppose it's a surprise. Don't you think so too? I guess I do answered Bunny, but come on. We'll soon find out. As the children, came out from under the bush where they had been playing. There was a crashing in the brush. And Sue cried, oh, maybe that's some more of those Indians. Poo, we're not playing Indians now, said Bunny.

That game's all over. I guess it's splash. Oh, that's nice, cried Sue. I was wondering where he'd gone. A big, happy-looking and friendly dog came bursting through the bushes. He wagged his tail and his big red tongue dangled out of his mouth. for it was a warm day oh splash you came just too late cried sue we've eaten up everything all except the crumbs said bunny

splash saw the crumbs almost as soon as bunny spoke and with his red tongue the dog licked them up from the top of the box which the children had used for a table under the bushes come on called bunny after a bit let's go and find out what mother wants maybe she's baked some cookies for us "'Didn't you have enough with the cake, pie, and milk?' Sue asked. "'Oh, I could eat more,' replied Bunny Brown. "'In fact, he seemed always to be hungry,' his mother said, "'though she did not let him eat enough to make himself ill. "'Well, come on,' called Sue. "'We'll go and see what mother has for us.' "'Through the woods ran the children,

"'toward the lake and the white tents gleaming among the green trees. "'Mr. Brown went to the city twice a week, making the trip in a small automobile he ran himself. Sometimes he would stay in the city overnight, and Mother Brown and Uncle Tad and the children would stay in the tents, in the big woods where they were not far from a farmhouse. Splash, the happy-go-lucky dog, bounded on ahead of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue.

The children followed as fast as they could. Now and then Splash would stop and look back as though calling, Come on, hurry up and see the surprise. We're coming, Bunny would call. What do you suppose it is, he would ask Sue? I can't even guess Sue would answer, but I know it must be something nice, for she smiled when I told her I was your nurse and you had an Indian fever. It wasn't an Indian fever, protested Bunny. Well, I mean a make-believe Indian fever, said the little girl. No, it was a make-believe arrow fever, said Bunny. I got shot with an Indian fever, said Bunny. I got shot with Indian arrow, you know. Oh, yes, Sue answered, but anyhow, you're all well now. Oh, look out,

Splash, she cried, as the big dog ran into a puddle of water and splashed it, so that some got on Sue's dress. That is how Splash got his name, from splashing into so many puddles. But this time, the water was from a clean brook that ran over green mossy stones, and it did Sue's dress no harm, for she had on one that Mrs. Brown had made purposefully for wearing in the woods. Here we are, Momsy called Sue as she and Bunny came running up to the camp where the tents were. What's the surprise, asked Bunny. Just then they heard the honk, honk of an automobile. And as a car came on through the woods and up to the white tents, Bunny and Sue cried together, Oh, it's Daddy, Daddy has come home. Yes, and he's brought us something, added Bunny.

look at the two big bundles sue oh daddy daddy brown what have you brought cried the two children just a minute now and i'll show you said mr brown as he got out of the automobile and started for a tent a big bundle under each arm the children danced about in delight and splash barked end of chapter one chapter two of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librivox recording is in the public domain the pail of milk oh mother is this the surprise you had for us asked sue as she hopped about first on one foot then on the other for she was so excited she could not keep still no this isn't exactly what i meant said mrs brown with a smile still this is a very nice surprise isn't it just the very nicest said bunny it's nice to have daddy home and it's nice to have him bring something oh please tell us what it is you have two things went on sue as she looked at the two bundles which mr brown carried one under each arm is there something for each of us daddy well yes i think so sue answered her father but just wait oh my dears give your father a chance to get you at his breath, laughed Mrs. Brown. Remember he has come all the way from the city in the auto, and he must be tired. Come into the tent and I'll make you a cup of tea, she went on. And then will you tell us what you brought us, asked Bunny? Yes, said Mr. Brown. Then let's go in and watch him drink his tea, said Sue, as she took hold of Bunny's hand and led him toward the

dining tent. We'll know the minute he has finished, she went on, and we'll be there when he opens the bundles. All right, said Mr. Brown, come in if you like. And while he was sipping the tea which Mrs. Brown quickly made for him, the two children sat looking at the two bundles their father had brought. One was quite heavy, Bunny noticed, and something rattled inside the box in which it was packed. The other was lighter. They were both about the same size. And while the children are sitting there waiting for their father to finish his tea, so they can learn what the surprise is, I'll take just a few minutes to tell my new readers something about the Brown family, especially Bunny Brown and his sister Sue. As I have already mentioned, the family, which was made up

of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Brown and the two children, lived in the town of Belmere, which was on Sanport Bay near the ocean. Mr. Brown was in the fish and the boat business hiring to those who wanted rowboats, fishing boats, or motor boats. In the first book of this series, Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, the story was about the little boy and his sister, and what fun they had, getting up a punch and Judy show. Bunny Brown and his sister Sue on Grandpa's farm was the name of the second book, and you can easily guess what that was about. The two children had much fun in a big automobile moving van, which was fitted up just like a little house and in which they lived while going to the farm. Bunker Blue, who worked for Mr. Brown,

and the children's dog Splash went with them. While at their grandpa's farm, Bunny and Sue got up a little show, at which they had lots of fun. And seeing this, Bunker and some of the older boys made up a larger show. They gave that in two tents, one of which had belonged to Grandpa Brown when he was in the army. The Brown children were, were so delighted with the shows that they decided to have another, and in the third book, named Bunny Brown and his sister Sue playing circus, you may read how they did it. Something happened in that book which made Bunny and Sue feel bad for a while, but they soon got over it. In the next book, Bunny Brown and his sister Sue at Aunt Lou's city home, I told the story

of the two children going to the big city of New York and of the queer things they saw, and the funny things they did while there. Bunny and Sue had played together as long as they could remember. Bunny was about six or seven years old, and Sue was a year younger. Wherever one went, the other was always sure to be seen, and whatever Bunny did, Sue was sure to think just right. Everyone in Belmere knew Bunny and Sue, from Old Miss Hollyhock to Wango, a queer little monkey owned by Jed Winkler, the sailor.

Wango often got into mischief, and so did Bunny and Sue, and the children had much fun with Uncle Tad, who loved them as if they were his own. After Bunny and Sue had come back from Aunt Lou's city home, the weather was very warm and Daddy Brown thought of camping in the woods, so that is what they did, and the things that happened are related in the fifth book in the series, called Bunny Brown and his sister Sue at camp rest a while. For that, That is what they named the place where the tents were set up under the trees, on the edge of the big woods and by a beautiful lake. Neither Bunny nor Sue had ever been to the end of these big woods,

nor had Mr. Brown, though some day he hoped to go. The summer was about half over. Mrs. Brown liked it so much that she said she and the children would stay in the woods as long as it was warm enough to live in a tent. and now this afternoon Mr. Brown had come home from the city with the two queer big bundles, and the children were so excited thinking what might be in them that they watched every mouthful of tea, Mr. Brown sipped. When will you be ready to show us, asked Sue?

Please be quick, big bunny. I'm getting awful anxious. Well, I guess I can show you now, said Mr. Brown. Bring me the heaviest package, Bunny. It was all the little boy could do to lift it from the chair, but he managed to do it. Slowly Mr. Brown opened it. Bunny saw a flash of something red and shining. Oh, it's a fire engine, he cried.

Not quite, said his father, though that was a good guess. Then Mr. Brown lifted out the things in the paper, and all at once, Bunny saw what it was, a little toy train of cars, with an engine and tracks on which it could run. "'Does it really go?' asked the little boy eagerly. "'Yes, it really goes,' said Mr. Brown. "'It's an electric train, and it runs by electricity from these batteries. "'And he held up some strong ones.

"'I'll fix up your train for you so it will run. "'But you must be careful of it, Bunny.' "'Oh, I'll take fine care of it,' cried the little boy, "'and I won't let Splash bite it.' "'Didn't you bring me anything, Daddy?' asked Sue slowly. "'Or do I have to play with Bunny's train?' and she looked at the little boy who was trying to fit together the pieces of the track oh i have something for you alone sue her father said look and see if you like this he held up a great big teddy bear oh ah murmured sue that's something i've been wishing for oh daddy how good you are to us and she threw her arms around her father's neck i love you too called bunny brown leaving his toy train and track and running to his toy train and track and running to his his father for a hug and a kiss. Well now, how do you like this, Sue? And Mr. Brown handed the big teddy

bear over to his little girl. Oh, I just love it, she cried. It's the nicest doll ever. Let me show you something, said Mr. Brown. He pressed a button in the toy bear's back, and all of a sudden its eyes shone like little lights. Oh, what makes that, Daddy? asked Bunny, leaving his toy train and coming over to see a sister's present. Behind the bear's eyes which are of glass, explained Mr. Brown, are two little electric lights. They are lighted by what are called dry batteries, like those that ring our front doorbell at home, only smaller.

And the same kind of dry batteries will run Bunny's train when I get it put together. See, Sue, when you want your bear's eyes to glow, just press this button and Teddy's back. And her father showed her a little button or switch, hidden in the toy's fur. Oh, isn't that fine, cried Sue with shining eyes. She pushed the button, the bear's eyes lighted and gleamed out, and splash, seeing them, barked in excitement. Oh, let me do it, begged Bunny. I'll let you run my toy train if you let me light your bear's eyes, Sue, he said. All right, agreed the little girl. So Bunny played with the teddy bear a bit, while Sue looked at the toy engine and cars,

and then Mrs. Brown said, "'Well, children, I think it is about time for my surprise.' "'Oh, have you something for us, too?' asked Sue quickly. "'Well, I'll have something for you if you will go and get something for me,' said Mother Brown. "'I want you to go to the farmhouse and get me a pail of milk. Someone took what I was saving to make a pudding with, so I'll have to get more milk.' we took it to play soldier and nurse with confessed sue i'm sorry momsey oh it doesn't matter dear said mrs brown i like to have you drink all the milk you want but now you'll have to get more for me as there is not enough for supper and the pudding we'll go for the milk said bunny and when we get back we can play with the bear and the toy train i'll try to have the toy train running for you when you come back with the milk said mr brown trot along now

mrs brown gave bunny the milk pail and soon he and sue leaving splash behind this time started down the road to the farmhouse where they got their milk the farmer sent his boy every day with milk for those at camp rest awhile but this time bunny and sue had used more than usual and mrs brown had to send for some extra it did not take bunny and sue long to reach the farmhouse where their pail was filled by the farmer's wife we've got a surprise at our camp said bunny as they started away the little boy carefully carrying the pail of milk indeed is that so what is it asked the farmer's wife we've got two surprises said sue daddy brought them from the city bunny has a toy train of cars that runs with a city she means electricity explained bunny with a laugh but saying the big word very slowly i don't care it sounds like that to close said Sue, and I've got a teddy bear and its eyes are little electricity lamps, and they shine like anything when you push a button in his back. Those are certainly two fine surprises, said the farmer's wife. Now be careful not to spill your milk. We'll be careful, promised Bunny. He and Sue walked along the country

road toward their camp. Suddenly on a fence, Sue saw a squirrel running along. Oh, look, Bunny, she cried. Where, asked him. her brother. On that fence, a big gray squirrel. Oh, what a fine big one, cried Bunny. Maybe we can catch him and put him in a cage with a wheel that goes around. Bunny carefully set the pail of milk down at the side of the road, out of the way in case any wagons or automobile should come along. Then he ran after the squirrel that had come to a stop on top of the fence and stood looking at the children. but as soon as the squirrel with the big tail saw Bunny running toward him, he scampered away, and Bunny followed. So did Sue leaving the pail of milk standing in the grass beside the road.

The squirrel could run on the fence much faster than Bunny Brown and his sister Sue could run along the road, and pretty soon they saw him scamper up a tree. Now we can't get him, said Sue, sorrowfully. No, I guess not, answered Bunny. We'd better go back to Camp. and play with your teddy bear and my toy train. Come on. They walked back toward the place they had left the pail of milk. As they came inside of it, Sue cried, oh, Bunny, look! Bunny looked, and at what he saw, he cried, oh dear, for a big shaggy dog had his nose down in the pail of milk, and as he looked up, at hearing Bunny's cry, he knocked the pail over, spilling what he had not taken himself. Oh, our milk's all gone, cried Bunny.

What shall we do, asked Sue in disney? End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. The Old Man For a moment, the two children did not know what to do. They stood still looking at the dog who had just drunk the milk from the pail, which they had set down in the road, so they could chase the squirrel.

Then Bunny, made bold by thinking of what might happen if he and his sister went home with the empty pail, thinking also of the pudding, which his mother could not make if she had no milk, gave a loud cry. Get away from there, you bad dog, cried the little boy. Leave our milk alone, and he started to run toward the shaggy creature. Oh, come back, come back, cried Sue. Don't go near him, Bunny. Why not, her brother asked in some surprise, because he might bite you. Ha, I'm not afraid of him, declared Bunny.

He doesn't look as savage as our splash, and he never bites anybody, though he barks a lot at tramps. So Bunny ran on toward the shaggy dog. The animal stood looking at the little boy for a moment, and then with a sort of woof as if to say, Well, I've taken all the milk, what are you going to do about it? Away he trotted down the road. Bunny ran on and picked up the milk pail.

Only a few drops were in the bottom. See, I told you he wouldn't bite me. I'm not afraid of that dog, the little boy called to his sister. Yes, you did drive him off, said Sue, proud of her brother. You are awful, brave, Bunny. Just as brave as when you played soldier and I cured you of the Indian fever, and it was arrow fever, I keep telling you, insisted Bunny. Well, arrow fever then, agreed Sue.

But is there any milk-love? bunny? Not a drop, Sue. And Bunny turned the pail upside down to show. Well, said the little girl with a sigh, then I guess you weren't brave in time, Bunny. You didn't save the milk. Ha, the dog had it all drunk up before I saw him, declared her brother. If I'd seen him, I'd have stopped him quick enough. I wasn't afraid of him. But what about more milk, asked Sue. That was all she could think of now that the pail was empty. we've got to get more milk, Bunny Brown. Yes, I suppose we have, he agreed.

But we can easy go back to the farmhouse. No, we can't, said Sue. Why not, Bunny demanded, it isn't far, and if you're afraid of the dog, you can stay here and I'll go for the milk. Nope, cried Sue, shaking her head, until her hair flew into her eyes. Mother said you mustn't ever leave me alone

to go anywhere when we were on the road or in the big woods I've got to stay with you, and you've got to stay with me. And she went up and took Bunny by the hand. All right, Sue, said he. I want you to stay with me. But come along to the farmhouse and we'll get more milk. I'll take a stick if you want me to and keep the dog away. I don't believe he'll come back anyhow.

Don't you know how frayed dogs are to come back to you when they've done something bad? That time Splash ate the meat Bunker Blue brought in and then left on the table, why that time Splash was so ashamed for what he'd done that he didn't come into the house all day. This dog won't bite you. Poo, I'm not afraid of the dog, Bunny Brown, said Sue. Then what are you afraid of? I'm not afraid of anything, but you know what the farm lady said. She said this was the last quart of milk she could spare and she didn't have any more. Oh, so she did, agreed Bunny. Then what are we going to do? I have a

I don't know, said Sue. We've got to do something, said Bunny gravely. Yes, said Sue, there isn't any more milk at the camp, and the farm lady hasn't any, and... Mother wants some to make the surprise pudding, added Bunny. I guess we didn't ought to have took in that for our play game, he went on, all mixed up in his English. No, said Sue, maybe we oughtn't.

Let me think now. What are you going to think, asked Bunny. Though he was a little older than Sue, he knew that. that she often thought more than he did about what they were going to do or play. Sue was a good thinker. She usually thought first and did things afterward, while Bunny was just the other way. He did something first and then thought about it afterward,

and sometimes he was sorry for what he had done. But this time he wanted to know what Sue was going to think. Aren't you going to think of something, he asked after a bit? Sue stood looking up and down the road. I'm thinking now, she said. please don't bother me, Bunny. Bunny remained silent now and then looking into the empty milk pail and tipping it upside down as though that would fill it again. Finally, Sue said, well, we can't get any milk at the farmhouse. I don't know any other place around here where we can go,

so the only thing to do is to go back to camp rest a while. But there's no milk there, said Bunny. I know there isn't, but we can tell Daddy and mother and asked them what to do. They wouldn't want us to go off somewhere else without telling them, and maybe Daddy can go off in the automobile and get some milk at another farm. Maybe, said Bunny slowly. And if we go with him, he added, and he does get more milk, we won't set the pail down in the road when we chase a squirrel. We'll put it in the auto. I guess by the time we get the milk it will be too dark to see to chase squirrel, said Sue. It's getting dark now. Come on, Bunny. The two children started down the road toward the camp,

and as they did so, they heard a crackling in the bushes, on the side of a hill that led up from the road. Oh, here comes that milk dog back again, cried Sue, and she snuggled up close against her brother, though the sinking sun was still shining across the highway. I won't let him hurt, you said, Bunny. Wait until I get a stone or a stick. Oh, you mustn't do it. You must not do anything to strange dogs, cried the little girl. If you do, they might jump at you and bite you. Just don't notice him or speak to him. And he'll think we're... We're stylish, and he'll pass right by. Oh, well, if you want me to do it that way, said Bunny, looking up toward the place the sound came from. Why, I will, only. He stopped speaking suddenly and pointed up the hill.

Sue looked in the same direction. They saw coming toward them not a dog, but an old man dressed in rather ragged clothes. He looked like what the children called a tramp, though since they had arrived at the camp they had come to know that not all persons who wore ragged clothes were tramps. Some of the farmers and their helpers wore their raggedest garments to work in the dirt of the fields. This man might be a farmer. He had long white hair that hung down under the brim of his black hat, and though he did not have such a nice face, as did the children's father, or their uncle Tad. Still, they were not afraid of him. Going after milk, little ones, asked the old man, and his voice was not unpleasant.

No, sir, we've just been, said Bunny. Well, I'm afraid you'll spill your milk if you swing your pail that way, went on the old man, for Bunny was moving the pail to and throw, with wide swings of his arms. It would spill if there was any in the pail, said Sue. but there isn't added bunny it's spilled already and we don't know where to get any more explained sue it wasn't exactly spilled bunny added for he and sue always tried to speak the exact truth a dog drank it up while we were chasing a squirrel added his sister but i would have driven him away if i'd seen him in time bunny declared positively he put his nose right in the pail and licked up all the milk and what he didn't eat he spilled and then he ran away and the lady at the farmhouse hasn't any more milk sue explained and there isn't any at the camp and mother can't make the pudding finished bunny oh dear wailed sue my you have a lot of trouble said the ragged man but if you'll come with me maybe i can help you where do you want us to come asked bunny remembering that his mother had told him never to go anywhere with strangers and never to let sue go either if you'll come up to my little cabin in the woods i can let you have some milk said the ragged man i keep a cow and i have more milk than i can use or sell it isn't far come with me and he held out his hands to the children

end of chapter three chapter four of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librivox recording is in the public domain a noise at night Bunny Brown and his sister Sue were not sure whether or not they should go with the old man. They remembered what their mother had said to them about walking off with strangers, and they hung back. But when Bunny looked at the empty milk pail and remembered that there was no milk in camp for supper, and none with which his mother could make the pudding, he and his sister liked so much, he made up his mind it would be all right to go to the little cabin in the woods. "'Come on, urged the old man. Do you sell milk?' asked Sue. "'Oh, yes, little girl. Though my cow with the crumpled horn does not give such a lot of milk,

there is more than I can use. I sell what I can, but even then I have some left over. I have plenty to sell to you.' "'We only want a quart,' said Bunny. That's all we have money for. Mother gave us some extra pennies when we went for milk to the farmhouse, but we have only six cents left. Will that buy a quart of milk? It will here in the woods and the country, answered the old man, but it wouldn't in the city.

However, my crumpled horn cow's milk is only six cents a quart. Has your cow really got a crumpled horn? asked Sue eagerly, for she loved queer things. Yes, she has a crumpled horn, but she isn't the one that jumped over the moon, said the old man with a smile. The children liked him better, after that, though when Bunny found a chance to whisper to his sister as they walked through the

woods, along the path and behind the old man, the little boy said, I guess he means to be kind, but he's kind of funny, isn't he? A little bit, answered Sue. The old man walked on ahead, the children hand in hand following, and the bushes clinked against the empty tin pail that Bunny carried. here you are said the old man as he turned on the path and before them bunny and his sister saw a log cabin near it was a shed and as the children stopped and looked from the shed came a long low moo oh is that the crumpled horn cow asked sue yes answered the old man i'll get some of her milk for you i keep it in a pail down in the spring so it will be cool let me take your pail and i'll fill it for you while you go you go go and see the cow. She is gentle and won't hurt you. Letting the old man take the pale, Bunny and Sue went to look at the cow. The door of the shed was in two parts, and the children opened the upper half. Moo, called the cow as she stuck out her head. Oh, see, one of her horns is crumpled, cried Bunny. Let's wait, and maybe she'll jump over the moan, suggested Sue,

who remembered the nursery rhyme of, hey, diddle, diddle. But though the children, children remained standing near the cow shed for two or three minutes, the cow, one of whose horns was twisted or crumpled, made no effort to jump out of her stable and leap over the moon. Bunny and Sue were not afraid of cows, especially when they were kept in a stable, so they were soon rubbing the head of the ragged man's bossy. Well, you have made friends, I see, came a voice behind the children, and there stood the ragged man with their pale full of milk. I am glad you like my cow, he said.

She is a good cow and gives rich milk. Anytime you spill your milk again, come to me, and I'll sell you some. We didn't spill this milk, explained Bunny carefully. A dog drank it. Well, then, come to me whenever you need milk, and you can't get any at the farmhouse, went on the old man, as Bunny gave him the six pennies. All right, sir, said Bunny. where do you live asked the ragged man at camp rest awhile answered sue oh you're the children who live in the tents i know where your place is and to-night my father brought me a toy electric train from the city said bunny brown

it runs on a track with batteries and you can switch it on and off and it's wonderful so is my teddy bear exclaimed sue it has real lights for eyes and they burn bright when you press a button in teddy's back those are fine toys said the ragged man we never had such toys as that when i was a boy and so your train runs by an electrical battery does it my boy he asked bunny and he seemed anxious to hear all about it yes and a strong one daddy said i must be careful not to get a shock that's right electric shocks are not very good except for folks that have rheumatism said the old man i have a touch of that myself now and then, but I haven't any battery. But now you'd better run along with your milk, or your father and mother may be worried about you. Do you know your way back to camp all right? Oh, yes, thank you, said money, and we're much obliged to you for letting us have the milk at it, Sue. Oh, you paid me for it, and I was glad to sell it. I need the money because I can't earn much anymore. I should thank you as a storekeeper thanks his customers, and I'll say come again.

and with a smile and a wave of his hand the ragged man said good-bye to the children now we mustn't set our pail down again said bunny not even if we see a squirrel that's right agreed sue in a little while they were safely back at camp again just as uncle tad was about to set off in search of them what kept you so long children asked mrs brown anxiously oh we saw a squirrel said bunny and we set the milk pail down and chased it chase the squirrel i mean added sue and then a dog drank up the milk went on bunny and we couldn't get any more at the farmhouse said sue speaking next but the ragged man who lives in a cabin in the woods and has a cow with a crumpled horn though she didn't jump over the moon he gave us more milk for six cents said bunny all in one breath what's this about a ragged man asked mr brown quickly and where does he live the children explained mr and mrs brown looked at one another and then Mr. Brown said, Well, the ragged man meant all right, and he was very kind. But I wouldn't go off into the woods with strangers again, Bunny and Sue. They might get lost, or you might, and there would be a dreadful time until we found you again.

After this, don't set your milk pail down, and you won't have to hunt around for milk for supper. Now wash and get ready to eat the surprise. Can't I play with my electric train a little while, asked Bunny. and can't I play with my teddy bear? Yes, I guess so, answered Mrs. Brown. I've got your train in running order, said Mr. Brown. You can play with it outside near the campfire, but at night we'll have to take it into the tent,

for there might be rain. Mr. Brown soon showed Bunny how to start and stop the electric train by turning a switch. The train was pulled by a little locomotive made of steel and tin. Inside was a tiny electric motor which was worked by a current from the dry battery cells, such as make your doorbell ring, except that they were stronger.

All aboard for the city on track five, cried Bunny, as he had heard the starter and the railroad station cry. Wait a minute, wait a minute, cried Sue. I want to get on the train with my teddy bear that makes her eyes all light. Make-believe, you mean, don't you, asked Bunny. Of course make-believe, answered Sue. I couldn't sit on your little cars.

maybe the teddy bear could she added oh let's try said bunny then we could give him a truly really ride the teddy bear was quite large but not very heavy and by stretching it along three cars it could get on the train very nicely it was even too long for three cars but hanging over a little bit did not matter sue said so she put it on top of the train turned on its electric eyes and then bunny turned on the switch that made it made the current go into the motor of his engine. At first the train would not start, for the bear was a bit heavy for it, but when Bunny gave the engine a little push with his hand, away it went as nicely as you please, pulling the bear around and around the shiny track, which was laid in a circle. Whoa, called Sue. Stop the train. Here is where my teddy gets off. You mustn't say, whoa, when you stop a train, objected Bunny. is to stop a horse.

Well, how do you stop a train, Sue asked? Just say, ding, that's one bell, and the engineer knows that means to stop. I thought bell stopped trolley car, said Sue. They do, but they stop trains, too, especially as mine is an electric train. All right, ding, called Sue sharply. Bunny turned the switch the other way

to shut off the current, and the train stopped. Sue took off the teddy bear and said, thank you to conductor Bunny Brown. Then the little boy played with his toy train by himself, while Sue pretended her teddy bear was visiting in Sue's Aunt Lou's city home, and kept winking its electric light eyes at Wopsy, a little colored girl Bunny and Sue had known in New York where Aunt Lou lived. Supper suddenly called Mother Brown, and the two hungry children hurried into the dining tent, where Mr. Brown and Uncle Tad were waiting for. them. Well, how did your electric train go? asked Bunny's father. Fine, it's the best ever. And my teddy

is just lovely, said Sue. Well, be careful of your toy, said Mr. Brown. Better bring in the tracks and engine and cars right after suffer. I will, Bunny promised, after I played with them a bit. It was dusk when he and Sue took up the shiny track and carried the batteries and other parts of the toy railroad into the sleeping tent. Poor Bunny said he wanted it near him. The children sat up a little later than usual that night, as they always did when their father had come to the camp from the city. Bunny talked of nothing but his railroad, planning fun for the morrow, while Sue said she was going to get some little girls who lived in a nearby farmhouse and have a party for her teddy bear. Time to go to slumberland now called Mrs. Brown when it was nearly nine o'clock, go to bed early, and you'll get up so much the

earlier. So off to their little cots behind the hanging curtains went Bunny and Sue, and soon after saying their prayers they were asleep, one to dream he was a conductor on a big electric train, while the other dreamed of carrying a big crying teddy bear upside down through the woods with a milk pail hanging to its nose. Just what time it was, Bunny and Sue did not know, but they were both suddenly awakened by feeling the tent, on the side nearest to which they slept, being pushed in.

The canvas walls bulged as though someone were trying to get through them. Oh, Daddy, cried Sue, as she saw the tent move in the light of a lantern, that burned dimly beyond the curtains behind which she and Bunny slept. Oh, Daddy, something is after. us. Yes, and it's an elephant, cried Bunny, as he too saw the tent sway. It's an elephant got loose from the circus, and he's after us. With that, he bounded out of bed, and waiting only long enough to clasp each other by the hand, the two children burst into that part of the tent,

where Mr. and Mrs. Brown slept. End of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Bunny rolls downhill. What's the matter, asked Mr. Brown, thrusting his head out from between the two curtains, behind which his wife and he had their cots. Why are you two children up at this time of night? Well, we couldn't sleep in our part of the tent, explained Sue, snuggling up closer to Bunny. Couldn't sleep, my dear. Was it the mosquitoes? asked Mrs. Brown. no ma'am it was an elephant explained bunny a burglar elephant added sue he poked his head into the tent right over our bed went on bunny but we didn't stay added sue we came out to see if you and daddy were all right burglar elephants aren't nice at all

what in the world are they talking about asked mr brown a burglar elephant what does it mean it must have been some sound they heard outside the tent said mrs brown or perhaps they dream something no ma'am we didn't dream cried bunny while his sister sue nodded her head to show that she thought as he did it was something as big as an elephant and it most shook the tent down i felt something moved the tent from the outside said mrs brown but i thought it was the wind i'll soon see what it was cried mr brown you two kitties jump into bed with your mother and i'll take a look outside he put on his dressing-gown and slippers and while bunny and his sister Sue went behind the curtains to snuggle down in the bed with their mother, Mr. Brown, taking a lantern, started for the outside of the tent. He had just reached the flaps, the ropes of which he was loosening, and Bunny and his sister were hardly in their mother's cot, a tight fit for three, when the canvas house was violently shaken, and within the very tent itself sounded aloud, moo, moo, oh, it's a cow, cried Bunny.

and i can see it cried sue poking her head out between the curtains nearest her mother's bed i can see it is it an elephanty cow eagerly asked bunny from his side of the cot no it's a cow with a crumpled horn two crumpled horns and daddy's pushing its face out of the tent added sue let me see cried bunny and in spite of his mother's call to get back into bed out he popped to stand near the curtains that hung down in front of his mother's call to get back into bed out he popped to stand near the curtains that hung down in front of of his mother's cot. Yes, it's only a cow. A crumpled horn cow, Bunny announced after he had taken a look. But it pushed hard enough to be an elephant, didn't it? asked Sue. That's what it did. I thought the tent would come down, agreed Bunny. What makes you say it was a crumpled horn cow? asked Mrs. Brown, as she too looked through the crack of the curtain and saw her husband pushing the animal outside, because it's got crumpled horns like the ragged man's cow. the man that gave us milk after the dog drank ours said bunny only his cow had only one crooked horn and this cow has two hasn't it sue

yes but it looks like a nice cow well we don't want cows in our sleeping tent at night said mr brown i'll start this one down hill and in the morning someone who comes for it will have to hunt for it we haven't anything here with which to feed cows what's the matter up there called a voice and the children knew it was that of uncle tad who slept in a little tent by himself near the one where the cooking was done what's the matter up there he called oh a cow tried to take up quarters with us explained mr brown i'm trying to shove her out of the tent but she seems to want to stay i'll lead her away and tie her said uncle tad bunny and sue heard him tramping up from his tent to theirs And then he let the crumpled horn cow away, the animal now and then giving voice to, Moo, moo. Isn't it too bad she couldn't sleep here, asked Sue? She's too big, declared Bunny. But Sue, did you see two of her horns crumpled or only one?

Why, Bunny, I guess it was two, but I'm not sure. What makes you ask me that? Before Bunny could answer, his mother called, Come now, you children have been up long enough, get back to bed or you'll want to sleep so late in the morning that it will be dinner time before you get up the elephant cow has gone away uncle tad will lead her to the foot of the hill near the brook where she can get a drink of water and she won't bother you any more so go back to your cots bunny and sue went they could hear uncle tad leading the elephant cow as they called her through the bushes and hear him talking to her come bossy come on now that's a good good cow. The cow seemed to lead along easily enough, and pretty soon no more noises could be heard in camp, except the chirping of the crickets or the songs of the Katie Dids, and Katie Didn'ts.

Bunny and Sue covered themselves up in their cots, for it was cool getting up in the middle of the night. They both tried to go to sleep, but found it was not so easy as they had hoped. Sue, Sue, whispered Bunny after a while. Yes, what is it? Are you? Are you? you asleep? No, of course not. How could I answer you if I was? That's so you couldn't. Well, I just wanted to know. There was silence for a few seconds and then Sue whispered, Are you asleep, Bunny? No, of course not. If I was, how could I talk to you? Well, I thought maybe you might have gone to sleep, say, Bunny. Well, what is it? I'm not quite sure about that cow having two crumpled horns or one. Neither am I, said,

bunny. That's what I woke you up to find out about. You didn't wake me up because I wasn't asleep, but I think the cow had two crumpled, twisted horns. That's what I thought, said Bunny, and if she did, and she didn't belong to the raggedy man, for his cow had only one. That's so, admitted Sue, but maybe she twisted the other horn, pushing her way through the bushes to our tent. Bushes aren't strong enough to twist a cow's horn, replied Bunny, trying to said his little sister, right. Yes, they are too, Bunny Brown, especially a wild grape vine that's strong enough to make a swing. Sue was growing sleepy and a little cross. Well, maybe, but now the voice of Mrs. Brown broke in on the talk of the two children. Stop talking right away, both of you, my dear,

she ordered, and Bunny and Sue knew she meant it. All right, Mother, they said, while Sue whispered just before she closed her eyes. We'll find out whose cow it is in the morning. But they did not, at least right away, for when they ran down to the brook before breakfast, to wash their hands and face as they always did, they saw nothing of the cow. Where did you tie her, Uncle Tad, they asked. Right by the big willow tree, he answered. Maybe she broke away in the night and tried to get back to the tent. The cow certainly had broken away, for there was one end of the rope still tied. to the tree, while the other end was broken and frazzled, showing it had not been cut.

Well, I guess whoever owns her will find her, said Mr. Brown, as he sat down to a breakfast of bacon and eggs. He had to go back to the city that day, and the children were sorry, for they had counted on having good times with him. But I'll come back Friday night, he promised, and I'll stay until Monday morning that will give us two whole days together. Oh, then we'll have fun, cried Bunny. And will you help me play with my electric-city teddy-bear, asked Sue? I surely will, answered Mr. Brown with a smile. And may I play with my electric train while you're away, asked Bunny? Yes, but be very careful of it, said his father. It is strong, but it can be broken or put out of order. So if you play with it, take it to some

level place in the woods, and be careful how you set up the track. Don't make too big a one. bunny promised that he would not and soon after mr brown had gone away in his automobile the children sue taking her teddy bear and bunny his toy train started into the woods to play don't go too far called their mother you must hear me when i call you to dinner these woods are very big you know the children wandered off on a woodland path until after trying they found they could just hear their mother's voice and here will be a fine place to play said bunny when they reached a shady level place on top of a little hill that led down to the lake that was near camp rest awhile it will be all right if we don't fall down the hill said sue oh we'll keep away back from the edge decided bunny then he began setting up the track for his toy train of cars while sue made a comfortable place for her teddy bear to sleep first showing the animal with the electric eyes all about the woods in which were the big trees and the low bushes bunny set his track around in a circle and after connecting the strong batteries to the track he put the electric locomotive on and coupled together the cars then when he turned the switch the engine and train ran along the rails very swiftly but bunny soon grew tired of making the train go around in a circle he wanted it to run along on a straight track, as the real trains do, and having plenty of straight lengths of track in his box.

He soon set up more rails that stretched off in a straight line. Oh, you're getting awful near the edge of the hill that goes down to the lake, warn Sue, as she made believe to feed her teddy bear some huckleberries. But I'm putting a curve at the end of the track so the engine and cars will turn back toward me, said Bunny. Then I'll shut off the power before they can run off on the. ground. Bunny started his train the new way. At first the engine and the cars rolled slowly over the rails, for the ground was a little uphill. Then they came to a part that was downhill.

Now see them go, cried Bunny in delight. They're going awful fast, cried Sue. You'd better look out. This is an express train, explained Bunny. Express trains are very fast. Indeed, the toy locomotive did seemed to be going very fast. It rocked and swayed on the tin rails, and it was soon near the end of the line where there was a curve. And there is where the accident happened. The curve was so sharp and the electric train was going so fast, that instead of turning around, it kept on straight, jumped over the rails, and began to run downhill on the dirt and stone path that led to the lake. Oh, gasped Sue. Oh, my Christ! said Bunny, and then, before Sue could stop him, her brother ran to the edge of the hill.

He saw his toy engine and cars rolling over and over toward the lake, at the bottom of the hill, and without stopping for a second, over the hill went Bunny Brown himself, slipping, sliding, and falling down. Oh, Bunny, come back, come back, cried Sue, very much excited. But Bunny was rolling over and over down the hill after his train. and he could not answer end of chapter five chapter six of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librovoc's recording is in the public domain after the lost cow bunny brown was thinking of two things when he started to roll down hill one was that his train might roll into the water and be spoiled for his father had told him that there were bits of electrical machinery on the engine that would be spoiled if water touched them Then Bunny thought of himself rolling into the water, for the hill was steep on this shore of the lake. And anyone rolling down if he were not stopped before he reached the bottom would be almost

sure to go into the lake. But I don't mind so much about myself, thought, Bunny. My clothes will get wet, but I've got on an old suit and water won't hurt that. It won't hurt me either, for I get wet when I go in swimming. And I can swim now if I have to, but my train can't swim. because that's iron, and iron will sink, Daddy told me, so I've got to catch the train before it goes into the lake. The thought of this made Bunny try to roll over and over faster,

so he could win in the race down the hill between himself and the train. If he could get hold of the train before it touched the water, all would be well, he hoped. He could toss the train to one side out of harm's way, even if he fell into the water himself. But can I get it, thought Bunny, as he roll. rolled over and over. He could hear Sue calling to him at the top of the hill, on the very edge of which he had made the curve of his track. He realized now that it was too near the edge. What Sue was

saying Bunny could not hear, but he imagined she was begging him to stop rolling downhill and come back to her. As if I could, thought Bunny to himself, this rolling downhill isn't any fun. I didn't really mean to do it, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to run or something. I wanted to run, slide down, there are too many stones for rolling. Indeed, there were, for the slope of the hill down to the lake, was not of soft grass. Instead, it was of gravel and stone, and these were very rough for a small boy to roll on. Still, Bunny did not mind if he could get his locomotive and train of cars. He could see them just ahead of him rolling over and over just as he was doing. Of course, there was no electricity in the toyed locomotive now.

the current as the electricity is called was all in the rails going into them from the batteries and from there it went into the motor of the wheels gears and other things inside the engine that made it roll along i guess it's rolling faster than i am thought bunny it will get to the bottom first and go into the water this seemed to be what would happen for the engine and cars had started ahead of bunny and too they were not so big as he It took him some time to turn over, for there was more of him. It was not the first time Bunny had rolled downhill. Often he and Sue, finding a nice smooth, grassy slope in the country, had started at the top and rolled all the way to the bottom, over and over getting up slightly dizzy. But Bunny had never rolled down such a long, steep, and rough hill as this,

and he really did not mean to do it. He had started out to run to the bottom, or slide along his feet buried in the soft sand and gravel. But he had slipped, and the only thing now to do was to roll just as the train was doing. Bunny looked down the slope again. He saw that the train was almost in the water, and he was wondering how much spoiled it would be,

and whether it could be fixed again so it could be run, when he suddenly saw a man step from the fringe of bushes at the edge of the lake, and pick up the engine and cars just as, as they went into the water, getting only a little wet in the edge of the lake. The man was roughly dressed, and for a moment Bunny thought he was the old hermit, who lived in the lonely log cabin, and who had sold Bunny and Sue some milk the day before, when the dog had taken their pailful.

But another look, as Bunny tried to slow up his rolling, told him it was another man. He was just as ragged as the hermit who kept a cow, but he did not have long hair, nor a long white beard, and his face was very dark. Oh, that's one of the Indians, quickly thought, Bunny. Well, he saved my train all right, I'm glad of that. With a slide and a roll, Bunny reached the foot of the hill, and by catching hold of a small tree, he saved himself from slipping into the water. The Indian looked up from the toy train at which he was gazing in puzzled fashion.

That's mine, said Bunny, speaking slowly. He knew some of the Indians who lived on a reservation in the big woods, not far from camp rest a while. Some of them could speak fairly good English and understand it. Others knew only a few words, and Bunny wanted to make sure this Indian understood him. Ha, this you, asked the Red Man, as the Indians are sometimes called. Yes, that's mine, said Bunny. It's a train of cars. Oh, Puff Puff Train.

Eagle feather ride and Puff Puff Train. once how him go and he set bunny's train down on a smooth rock while the little boy shook the dust from his clothes and tried to comb it out of his hair with his fingers it can't go now no track no electric current explained bunny track up there on top of hill he went on motioning and speaking as slowly as he could and with few words so the indian would understand oh go electricity seem as like lights and beings and being city said eagle feather which seemed to be the indian's name me no buzz whizz flash go quick no come back that's it laughed bunny brown he was not afraid of the indian the men and the squaws or women used often to come to camp rest awhile to sell their baskets their beadwork or bows and arrows "'That your train, puff-puff cars, you take,' said the Indian, handing the toy to the little boy. Indians see him ready to swim in water. No tink good.

Catch them. I'm glad you did, said Bunny, thank you. I nearly went into the water myself. Water good for boy. Good for muskrap too, maybe, said Eagle Feather. Maybe not so good for Mick-believe puff-puff train. That's right, said Bunny. if my toy train had fallen into the lake and stayed there very long,

it might never have run again, but I can run after I've been in the water. And Bunny heard a voice calling to him from up on top of the hill. Bunny, Bunny, Bunny Brown, are you all right? Bunny looked up quickly and so did the Indian. Sue was standing on top of the hill, holding her teddy bear with a little electric eyes. I'm all right, Sue, called up, Bunny. Come down if you want.

to but come down by the path my train is all right too eagle feather saved it for me he's one of the indians from the reservation the state had set aside certain land for the indians on which they must live bunny and sue with their father or mother or uncle tad had often been to the place where the indians lived are you all right bunny asked sue again yep of course but i'm all dirty don't you roll down I won't promise the little girl. And she started for the path, which was an easier way of getting to the bottom of the hill. The Indian waited with Bunny, and when Sue stood beside the two, Eagle Feather gave a sort of grunt of welcome,

for Indians are not great talkers. Bunny has an electric train, said Sue, for she was no more afraid of the red men than was her brother. Bunny has an electric train and I have an electric teddy bear. See Eagle Feather? She pushed the button or switch in the back of her toy, and at once the eyes flashed out brightly. Ha, that much like real bear when you see him in dark by campfire, said the Indian. Much funny, let Eagle Feather see.

Sue showed the Indian how to make the eyes gleam by pressing the button in the toy bear's back. An Eagle Feather did this several times. He seemed to think the toy bear was a more wonderful toy than the train he had saved from the lake. He gave this back to Bunny and kept the bear, flashing the eyes again and again. You mustn't do it too much, or you'll wear out the batteries inside the bear, said Bunny. The same kind of electric batteries make the eyes of the bear bright as run my train. Ha, Indian no want to make little girl's toy bad, sent the Indian handing it back. Great toy much, very good to have.

What are you doing so far away from your camp, asked? asked Bunny. Have you some bows and arrows to sell? No, got to sell today. Indian come to hunt lost cow. Have you lost a cow? asked Bunny and Sue together. Yes, maybe you see him. He got two horns funny twisted, so, an eagle feather picked up a crooked branch, like a fork or crotch, both parts of which were gnarled and twisted. Horns like him? Yes, just like that, said Bunny. the cow came to our tent in the night, and we thought it was an elephant. Was it your cow? We thought it belonged to the white hermit, who sold us milk last night. No, two crooked horn cow belong Eagle Feather, where you see him. Bunny and Sue told of Uncle Tad having tied the cow in

the night, and of her having broken loose. But maybe we can see which way she went by her hoof prints in the mud, said Bunny. Come on, Eagle Feather. You save my train. You save my train, from going into the lake, where maybe I couldn't get it up, so we'll help you find your lost cow. End of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the Big Woods by Lorely Hope. This Librovoc's recording is in the public domain. The Missing Train For a moment, Eagle Feather the Indian stood looking at the two children, and yet not so much at them as at their two toys.

the electrical train, and at the teddy bear with the queer electric eyes. It was hard to say of which the Indian was most fond. You ought to see my train run on the track, exclaimed Bunny, as he shook some drops of water off the cars and engine. I guess I'll have to put oil on it now to keep it from getting rusty, as Uncle Tad does when I leave his tools out all night. And you ought to see my doll at night, added Sue. Her eyes shine like anything. And once after I got to, got to bed and wanted a drink of water that was on a chair near my bed. I just lighted Sally Melinda's eyes and I found the drink without calling mother. Ha, heap big medicine, both of them, grunted the Indian. Eagle feather was one of the oldest of the tribe of Onondagas who lived on the reservation,

and though he usually spoke fairly good English, sometimes he talked as his grandfather had done when he was a boy and the early settlers first had to do with the Indians. and when Eagle Feather called the children's toys heap big medicine, he did not mean exactly the kind of medicine you have to take when you are sick. The Indians have two kinds of medicine, as they call it. One is made of the roots and barks of trees, berries, and bushes which they take, and some of which we still use, like witch hazel and sassapras. But they also have another kind of medicine,

which is like what might be called a charm, as some pretty stone a feather a bone or two or anything they might have picked up in the woods as it took their fancy these things they wear around their necks or arms and think they keep away sickness and bad luck so when eagle feather called the toy train and the teddy bear of bunny brown and his sister sue heaped big medicine he meant they would be good not only to cure sickness without medicine but also keep bad luck away from whoever had them now we'll help find your cow eagle feather said bunny for he was no more afraid of the indian than you would be of the fireman down in the engine house at the end of your street or the policeman on your block bunny and sue had lived in the big woods so long now and had seen the indians so often even to learning the names of some of them that they thought no more of them than of some of the farmers round about all right we go find cow said eagle feather feather no milk for little papoose if cow know come home papoose was the word the indians used for baby and in the log cabin where eagle feather lived were two or three papooses it must have been your cow that poked her head into our tent said sue for she had two crumpled horns and the farmers had only one that right said eagle feather with a sort of grunt my cow have two horns twist like so and he held up two fingers and made a sort of corkscrew motion in the air with his hands and that was your cow all right said bunny uncle tad tied her to a tree but maybe we can find her

sure we find grunted eagle feather heap big medicine little boy and girl have soon find cow what the indian meant was that he believed the toy train and the electrical teddy bear would bring such good luck that the lost cow would soon be found Mr. Brown had gone back to the city when Bunny and Sue, each one carrying a toy and followed by Eagle Feather, came back to Camp Rest a while. Bunny was in worse condition than his sister, for he had rolled down the steep hill. Sue's dress was torn a little. Why, Bunny, why Sue, cried Mrs. Brown, as she saw the two children, where in the world have you been? In the woods playing with our toys, answered Bunny. sue made her teddy's eyes flashed to scare away the tigers and lions all around us oh you were playing make-believe said mother brown for well she knew the different games the children made up but bunny's runaway train was real said sue did your train run away asked mrs brown not paying much attention to the indian at first as it was common to see them around the camp whither they came to beg for scraps of food

the remains of a ham bone and such things did your train really run away bunny asked mrs brown oh bunny you've been in the dirt yes and it's a good thing he didn't get wet went on sue for both children always told everything that happened to them as soon as they got back home only sometimes it took a little longer than usual to think up all the happenings he almost rolled into the lake bunny did you did cried mrs brown how did it happen oh i made the track straight instead of in a circle and the train got to going so fast in a straight line that it ran off the end of the rails down hill i ran after it but i slipped and rolled then the train rolled into the water but only a tainty little well way, and Eagle Feather got it out. Wasn't he good? He was indeed, and we must thank him, said Mrs. Brown. But did he stop you from going into the water also, Bunny? No, Momsey, I stopped myself by catching hold of a tree, but I almost went in. I'd have gone in after my train anyhow if Eagle Feather hadn't got it for me. Thank you, Eagle Feather, said Mrs. Brown. I must give you some of the nice soup I have made. The Papooses will like it.

squaw like it and indian like it heaped too said eagle feather yes but the squaw as you call your wife and the little children must have some first oh yes give em milk too if so he can find cow oh is your cow lost and was it she who poked her head in our tent last night asked mrs brown i think it was mother said bunny she had two crumpled horns and the one the farmer owns has only one. Sue and I are going to help Eagle Feather find his cow. Well, you mustn't go very deep into the big wood, said Mrs. Brown. But then I think the cow can't have wandered far, for there is good feeding near where Uncle Tad tied her. You show me where cow broke loose. I find her, said Eagle Feather. Indian have heap good medicine to find cow. Medicine? You don't need medicine to find a cow, said Mrs. Brown. You might need medicine if your cow were sick, but she didn't look sick when she poked her nose into the tent. Cow no sick, but heap good medicine find her all same, replied Eagle

Feather, smiling. He means our toys, mother, said Bunny. He called my train of cars, and Sue's dull, heap good medicine. Oh, I see, exclaimed Mrs. Brown, it's a sort of charm, but you mustn't believe in that sort of nonsense children, even if some of the more ignorant Indians do. But mother asked Bunny, mayn't I show Eagle Feather how my toy train works? He didn't see it and I know he'd like to. Mayn't I show him the train and how it runs? Oh yes, I suppose so, but be quick about it if you are going to help him hunt for his cow. Bunny relayed the track, in a circle this time so the engine and cars would not roll up. off, to where they were not intended to go.

Meanwhile, Sue flashed the eyes of her teddy bear so Eagle Feather could see them. He looked very closely at the toy, but when Bunny had his train on the circular track, the batteries connected and had started the little locomotive pulling the cars after it, the eyes of Eagle Feather grew big with wonder. Great medicine, he exclaimed. Heep big, powerful. Indian do anything with that medicine. Bring him along and soon find cow.

Oh, I couldn't bring my whole train, the track and the batteries into the woods, said Bunny, but I'll take one car with me. Well, maybe one car helps some, said the Indian. Little gal bring baby bear whose eyes light up, same as in dark by campfire. Yes, I'll bring Sally Melinda, promised Sue. That's my teddy's name, she explained. well don't lose your toys cautioned their mother and don't be gone too long for dinner will soon be ready and eagle feather don't forget to come back for the soup she concluded me no forget said the indian then with the children he went to the place where uncle tad had tied the stray cow and from where she had broken loose that was the starting place for the search mrs brown was not at all nervous about letting bunny and sue go away with the

indian eagle feather all the farmers for miles around spoke of his honesty and kindness he owned several farms as well as horses and cows he did business with the white people and all of them trusted him mr brown often bought things from him bunny carrying one car of his train and sue her teddy bear to which he had given such a queer name led the indian to the tree to which uncle tad had tied the cow in the night. There was the broken end of the rope still tied around the tree, but there was no cow on the other end of it. She go this way, said Eagle Feather, pointing off toward the west. How can you tell, asked Bunny, see feet marks in soft dirt, see broken branches where cow go through, no look for path, and the Indian pointed to several branches broken from the bushes, through which the cow had forced her way in the darkness, after having broken loose from the tree.

Come on, Sue called Bunny as he followed the Indian, carrying the toy train in his hand. I'm coming, answered his sister, but the thorns catch in the fuzzy wool of Sally Melinda and scratch her. I've got to go slower than you. All right, we wait for you, said Eagle Feather, who had heard what Sue said.

No hurry from little gal, he said to Bunny. Maybe her medicine better for finding cow as yours, though me think yours very much stronger medicine. Maybe we see, buy-and-bye. That was the way Eagle Feather said, by-and-bye. Bunny and the Indian went on slowly through the big woods, the red man stopping every now and then

to look down at the ground for marks of the cow's hooves and also looking at the sides for signs of the broken branches. Cow been here, he would say every little while, soon we catcher medicine heap good indian like you'd better get yourself a toy train said bunny no got money returned eagle feather like em very much for boy papoose when he grow big so like you maybe i'll be tired of mine by that time and give it to him said bunny too nice you know get tired long while said the indian heap big medicine come sue we wait for you as the indian as the indian and Bunny waited, they heard off in the distance, the lowing of a cow. Hark, cried Bunny. That my cow, said Eagle Feather. I tell you, boy and gal medicine, heap good. Find cow soon.

Over this way, soon have cow now. He hurried on ahead so fast that Bunny and Sue could hardly keep up with him, but they managed to do so, and a little later they saw, in a little glade among the trees, a cow with the broken rope trailing from her neck. She had two twisted or crumpled horns. Oh, that's the cow that was in our tent, cried Sue. I'd know her anywhere. She, my cow, give good milk for little papoose. What for you run away, he asked, going up to the cow, rubbing her neck and pretending to talk into her ear. The cow moaned softly and appeared glad to see Eagle Feather. Well, now you've got your cow back, you can come to our camp.

"'Get the soup and go to your cabin,' said Bunny. "'I'm glad you found her.' "'Boy and girl with heap good medicine find,' said Eaglefeather. "'Much thankful to you. "'Someday make bow and arrows for boy "'and moccasins for feet of little girl, "'with bear that makes fire eyes at night, "'Indian glad.'

"'Oh, we were only too glad to help you,' said Bunny. "'Now we must be going back to camp.' "'Me come, cow come too.' said Eaglefeather, as he led the cow by the broken rope. They were soon back at the tents telling Mrs. Brown how they had found the lost cow. Eagle Feather spoke much about the toy train and the teddy bear medicine, but Mrs. Brown laughed. This is better medicine than all the toys in the world, she said, as she gave Eagle Feather a big pail of soup. Take it home to your wife and children.

Me will, all much obliged, and Eagle Feather bowed. then with a farewell nod to the children, the red man went off into the big woods leading his lost cow, who seemed glad to be on her way home again. Mr. Brown came home that night to stay two or three days, where Bunker Blue could take care of the fish and boat business. And when Bunny's father heard what had happened when Bunny put the toy track too near the edge of the hill,

the little boy was told not to do it again and promised not to. eagle feather was very good to you and you must be kind to him and to all the indian said mr brown so the wedding didn't seem to hurt your toy engine bunny no daddy i shook off all the water well we'd better oil it and let it stand all night to take off the rust for if it gets rusty it won't run bunny did not want this to happen so he left his toy railroad out in the kitchen tent that night near the stove in which a little fire was kindled. No cows stuck their heads into the bedrooms of the tent houses that night, and Bunny and Sue slept soundly. So did Mr. and Mrs. Brown an uncle Tad, but someone must have been around the camp with very soft feet in the darkness, for when Bunny awakened early, and went out to have a look at his toy railroad, he set up a cry. It's gone, it's gone, someone has taken it. taken what asked his father my toy locomotive my cars the tracks batteries and everything oh dear my toy train is gone end of chapter seven

chapter eight of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librivox recording is in the public domain where has sally gone what's the matter bunny asked uncle ten who, as usual, had gotten up early to make the fire in the kitchen stove. It had gone out during the night, though a late fire had been built to make warmth for Bunny's train. What's the matter, asked Uncle Tad again. Have you found some more lost cows? No, I've lost something instead of finding it this time, said the little boy. What have you lost, asked Uncle Tad, as he began to shake the ashes out of the cook stove, getting ready to make a new fire in it. The stovepipe went right out through the tent,

with an asbestos collar around it so the canvas would not catch fire. I've lost my electric train, cried Bunny Brown, looking around the kitchen tent to make sure his toy was not stuck in some corner. I was playing with it yesterday, and I had one of the cars when I went with Sue an Indian eagle feather to find his lost cow. Then I brought it back to camp,

and I put it here so the water would dry out. Now it's gone. Yes, it seems to be gone, said Uncle Tad, looking carefully around the tent, after he had put a match to the wood kindlings. And I know you left it here because I saw it, the last thing when I came in to make sure the fire was all right, before going to bed. Then who could have taken it, asked Bunny. Well, as to that I couldn't say, answered Uncle Tad slowly. it might have run off by itself, I suppose. It couldn't have, declared Bunny. Of course it runs by itself when the batteries are connected,

but they weren't this time, and the train wasn't even on the track, though the rails were piled up near it and so were the batteries, yet everything is gone. What's the matter, asked Mrs. Brown, coming into the kitchen tent to start the breakfast. My train is gone, said Bunny, sadly, and I didn't hear anybody around Cam.

during the night he added and told to finding out about his loss do you suppose you could have got up in the night walked in your sleep and hid in the train somewhere else yourself asked uncle tad well about a year ago that might have happened said mother brown but bunny is cured of his sleep-walking habits now he hasn't gotten up for several months and last as happened the other night when the cow poked her head in the tent he woke up and cried out "'But no cow came into the tent last night, Mother,' said Bunny. "'Anyhow, a cow wouldn't like to eat a train of cars.' "'A cow eat a train of cars,' cried Daddy Brown, "'coming into the tent just in time to hear what Bunny said. "'Say, is that a riddle?' "'No, but it's a riddle to guess who or what,

"'took Bunny's train of cars,' said Mrs. Brown. "'He says he left them here in front of the stove "'to dry out the water as you told. him to but they are gone now that's queer said mr brown looking around is bunny's train the only thing that is missing it seems to be as far as we can tell by a hasty look around but we'll have to see said mother brown uncle tad mr brown and bunny and sue looked carefully about the tent while mrs brown got breakfast they saw several footprints for the children as well as the grown folks had been about the tent while mrs brown got breakfast they saw several footprints for the children as well as the grown folks had been about the the tents all day. An eagle feather, the Indian, had also been there. Who knew that you had a train of cars? asked Mr. Brown of his son, when a long search had failed to find the toy. Well, I told the boy who brings the milk, the butter and egg man, and I guess that's

all, said Bunny. You told Eagle Feather put in Sue. Yes, but he wouldn't take them, said Bunny. He thinks they are big medicine for finding his lost cow. He wouldn't take them. i'm not so sure of that said uncle tad indians like bright and pretty things and that electrical train must have been a great wonder to them especially to eagle feather who was a smart indian and why didn't he take my teddy bear sally melinda asked sue my bear with a blinking eyes helped find the lost cow as well as bunny's train did of course it did agreed mother brown i don't believe eagle feather had a thing to do with it if the train was stolen by tramps we'd better get another dog daddy brown to keep them away oh don't get a dog cried bunny and sue together splash is the best dog that ever was yes but he is so friendly with everybody that he would just as soon a tramp came up to the tent as one of the farm peddlers said mrs brown he hardly ever barks unless he is playing with you children and he is so good-natured oh we never could give up splash said bunny and soon nodded her head to show that she felt the same way about it maybe you can get another dog who will bark mother then we could hitch splash and him up together and have a team went on, Bunny.

Splash would never pull the way the other dog wanted to go, said Uncle Tad. I guess, before we think of more dogs, would just go over to the Indian village and find out what they know about the missing toy train. Yes, that would be a good plan, said Mr. Brown. Suppose we go together, Uncle Tad. So, after breakfast, when another search had been made about the camp, to make sure the train was not hidden behind something, the two men started off.

Bunny kept on searching about the tents for his missing toy, and Sue played with her teddy bear, tying her on the back of Splash the dog to make believe Sally Melinda was having a pony ride. When Father Brown and Uncle Tad came back, the children ran eagerly to them. Mr. Brown shook his head. No, he said slowly, there is no trace of the... toy train in the indians village an eagle feather and his men say they know nothing about it they say they were not away from their camp all night they even let us search their tents and cabins and were very good-natured about it that doesn't prove anything said uncle tad if they had hidden the toy train it would be in a place where we could never find it i guess we'll have to let it go could anyone else have taken it asked mrs brown yes of course but one of the Indians seems most likely. They probably heard what Eagle Feather told about how the

train ran, and one of their men crawled up in the night and took it from the tent while we were all asleep. Well, maybe so, but I don't believe Eagle Feather did any such thing as that, said Mother Brown, nor I, said Bunny, and Sue nodded her head. It was a tramp. Mr. Brown promised Bunny a new train, as soon as he should go back to the city, but that would not be for a few days. Oh, dear, cried Bunny, how can I wait that long? You can play with my teddy bear sometimes, said Sue kindly. Bunny thanked her, but it was easy to see. He did not care much for such a girl's toy.

My Sally Melinda Teddy Bear is as good as your toy train, said Sue. She's better, for I have her, and you haven't your train of cars. "'Well, I'm glad you like her,' said Bunny, "'but maybe your Teddy will go away in the night just as my train did.' "'My teddy can't run even if her eyes can light up,' said Sue, making the bear's eyes blink. "'My train didn't run away, it was tookin,' said Bunny, "'and someday I'm going to find the one that tooked it.'

"'Bunny did not speak as his schoolteacher would have had him, "'but he meant the same thing as if he had spoken correctly. "'Well, they shan't touch my. my teddy bear, said Sue. I'll take her to bed with me every night. And she did two or three times. Then one night Sue forgot and left her wonderful teddy bear out in the kitchen. And in the morning, what do you suppose it happened? In the morning, Sue awakened early and missing her toy, which she thought she had taken to bed with her, she happened to remember that Sally was left out in the kitchen. I'll bring her to bed with me and tell her a story, said the little girl.

Eagerly she ran out to the kitchen. She looked in the chair where the teddy bear had been left. Then Sue's eyes filled with tears as she cried, Where has Sally gone? Oh, where has Sally Melinda gone? Someone has took in my teddy bear. Bunny Brown heard his sisters cry, and up from his cot he jumped.

End of Chapter 8. Chapter 9 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, in the big woods by Laura Lee Hope. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. The Search What's the matter, Sue? asked Bunny, as he saw his sister standing in the middle of the dining room, part of the tent, which was separated by curtains from the sleeping rooms. Oh, my teddy bear's been taken. Someone has taken Sally, Melinda, cried the little girl. I don't believe I'll ever be happy again. Oh, dear. Maybe we'll find. Maybe we'll find.

her again said bunny shivering for the morning was cool and he had on only his night clothes no i'll never find her sobbed sue she's been tooked away same as your train of cars this thought of his own missing toy made bunny feel sad but he wanted to cheer sue up oh maybe your teddy bear just walked off in the night to get something to eat the little boy went on i get hungry in the night lots of times i get up and eat a sweet cream cracker, if I've left one on the chair by my bed. Now let me think what it is bears like best. It's honey, answered Sue. How do you know? Her brother asked. Because I read it in the animal book.

It told about a bear climbing a bee tree. What's a bee tree, interrupted Bunny? It's a hollow tree where a bee makes its nest and lays honey eggs, explained Sue, in a very funny way, you see. And the bear climbed that tree and got the bees' house. bunny. Wouldn't the bee sting him? asked Bunny. I was stung by a bee once on Grandpa's farm, and I wasn't climbing the bee tree either. Oh well, that was an accident, declared Sue. Besides, a bear has thick fur on him, and the only place where a bee can hurt him is on his

soft and tender nose, and before he climbs a bee tree, the bear puts thick mud on his nose like a plaster, so the bee can't sting that, so he's all right. said Bunny. Then we'll go and find a bee tree, and maybe your teddy bear will be there. But my teddy bear, Sally Malinda, can only make-believe walk, exclaimed Sue. She can only make-believe eat honey, too. Then we'll look for a make-believe honey tree, said Bunny. Come on, Sue. Sue seemed to hold back. Come on, cried Bunny again, always ready to start something. Let's get dressed and go to hunt for the teddy bear. It was very early, and Mr. and Mrs. Brown were not yet awake.

Mrs. Brown, however, soon heard the children moving about, and she called to them. What's the matter? Sue's doll is gone, said Bunny. My nice teddy bear one, added Sue. He's gone off to find a bees nest to get honey, went on, Bunny. My bear ain't a he, she's a she, declared Sue, and her name is Sally Melinda. Well, no matter what her name is, she is. She is. She is. is lost, said Bunny. We're going to find her. Look here, children called Mr. Brown, who was now awake. Don't go off on any wild goose chase. We're not after wild geese. We're going after Sue's bear, replied Bunny. What, is Sue's bear taken to? cried Mr. Brown.

She's either taken or else she walked away, Bunny said. Sue's bear wasn't the walking kind, though they did have some of that sort, said the children's father. But if you're bear is gone, someone must have taken it just as they did Bunny's train of cars. I must look into this. You children stay right where you are until I get dressed and will make a search. Meanwhile, look around the tent and see if you can't find Sally Jane. Her name is Sally Melinda, said Sue, with some indignation. Well, take a look around for Sally, Melinda, Teddy, Brown, bear while I'm getting dressed at her father. The children soon sliddle. slipped into their clothes and then began to look around the tent, inside and out.

Sue thought perhaps she had left her teddy bear with its flashing electrical eyes in a chair near the kitchen tent table. She had had her there after her own supper. She even pointed out where she had put a small plate of cracker crumbs near the teddy bear. The plate of crumbs was still there, but the doll was gone. We'll look outside, said Bunny. And when he and Sue were outside the tent, waiting for their father. Bunny began walking slowly along, bent over, as though he had a peddler's pack on his back. What are you doing that for? asked Sue and surprise. We aren't playing any game. I know it, but I'm looking for the marks of the bear's tracks in the mud, just as Eagle Feather

looked for the hoof prints of his lost cow in the sand. He found his cow that way, and maybe we'll find Sally Melinda this way. But his cow was bigger than my turn. teddy bear and made bigger tracks. That doesn't matter. I've been talking to the Indians about trailing animals this way, and you can trail a squirrel as easily as an elephant if you only know how to look for the feet marks. See, Sue? And Bunny pointed to marks in the soft earth. Aren't those the prints of your teddy bear's feet? Sue looked to where Bunny pointed. There were marks plainly enough, but in a minute Sue knew what they were. Why? that's where splash our dog walk, said the little girl. Oh, so it is, agreed Bunny. Well, I made a mistake that time.

We'll try again. So the children went on, seeking for marks of the toy bear's paws, until Mr. Brown came out. It's of no use to look that way, children, he said. If Sue's bear is missing, someone took it away. It never walked, for it couldn't. That's what I said, cried Sue. but how did it get away asked bunny somebody must have taken it the same one who took your train of cars we must look farther off than just around the tent say daddy do you suppose some of the indians could have done it asked sue in a whisper i hardly think so answered mr brown still they are not all as honest as eagle feather we'll have a look around their camp and maybe we'll find my train at the same time said bunny hope We'll look for it, replied Mr. Brown. All of a sudden, Bunny began to run around in a circle, bending down toward the ground. What are you doing, asked Sue, playing stoop tag? No, I'm looking for the marks of Indians' feet, answered Bunny. If Indians came around here to take your doll, they'd leave some mark. I'm trying to find it. Sue shook her head.

What's the matter, asked Bunny. Indians don't leave any tracks, Richard. turned the little girl. They are very cunning, it says in my school-reader book, and they can slip through a forest leaving no more trace than that of the wind. I don't know what trace is, but it must be true, for it's in my book. Oh, those were old-fashioned Indians, said Bunny. That kind wouldn't leave any marks, but these Indians wear shoes and they'd leave a mark in soft ground. Wouldn't they, Daddy? I believe they would, but I don't want to think of it. it was our good friends the Indians who have taken your things, but we will search and see.

Come on now, Bunny and Sue. We'll have a little hunt before breakfast. End of Chapter 9. Chapter 10 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the big woods by Laura Lee Hope. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Lost in the Woods Holding the hands of Bunny and his sister Sue one on either side Mr. Brown started on a little search around the tents.

They were trying to find the footprints of someone who did not belong to the camp, someone other than Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Uncle Tad, and the children themselves. Of course, Bunker Blue came to the camp once in a while, and so did various peddlers and some people from neighboring farms. But most of these footprints were known to Mr. Brown, as he had seen them about the place ever since he had. and his family had been living at Camp Rest a while. What I want to see is a strange footprint, said the children's father.

An Indian's footprint is stranger than ours, said Sue. Of course, if they wear moccasins, agreed Bunny. No, if they wear shoes, said Sue. Our teacher told us about it. What is different in an Indian's footprint and ours, Sue? asked Mr. Brown. Why, an Indian, even if he wears shoes like ours, turns his toes in, instead of out as we do went on a little girl ha ha laughed bunny who ever heard of such a thing but it's true isn't it daddy asked sue yes it is true said mr brown a real indian has a sort of pigeon toe as it is called

that is instead of pointing his toes out when he walks he turns them in at least most indians do though there may be some who do not so if you are looking for indian's tracks by bunny look for the kind that turns in i will the little boy agreed i didn't know you knew so much about indians sue our teacher used to live out west among the indians and she taught them explained sue she tells us lots of indian stories goodness i wish i could be in your class cried bunny even though i am a grade ahead of you he added does she tell about indian fights with bows and arrows and taking prisoners and all that no she's not she tell about indian fights with bows and arrows and taking prisoners and all that no she she tells about tame Indians, not the wild kind, explained Sue. The tame ones are just like the ones who live on the preservation here, the Onondagas. But I like tame Indians, though I hope none of them has taken my teddy bear. I hope not either, said her father, for Eagle Feather and his Indians are good friends of ours, and I would not like to feel that they would take anything from our camp. Still, we must look everywhere. Sue, you say that.

the Indians lived on a preservation. You meant reservation, corrected Bunny. I don't care. They live there, whatever it is, declared the little girl. They circled about the tents, but the footprints, as far as they could tell, were those of white men. None of them towed in. Are you going to the Indians' camp, asked Bunny. Yes, I think we'll go there and also to... But just then came the voice of Mrs. Brown calling, breakfast is ready and if you wait very long the pancakes will be spoiled hurry oh hooray pancakes cried sue don't you like them bunny i should say i do i hope i can have ten oh bunny brown cried sue you never could eat ten pancakes at one meal well anyhow i could try he said and i can eat five i know that's better said mr brown with a smile i can eat a few my they hurried back to breakfast telling mrs brown they had had no luck in finding the person who had taken sue's teddy bear for that the toy with the electric eyes had been taken away and had not walked off by herself was now believed even by bunny who had at first insisted that sally melinda had been hungry and had gone off to find honey though some mother bear might have come in and taken her to her den thinking she was her

baby, said Sue. My Sally Melinda looked just like a real bear when her eyes were lighted up. But there were no bear tracks around the tent, said Bunny, and there would have been, if there had been any bears here to carry off your teddy. There are no other bears here. I'm glad of that, said Mrs. Brown. Teddy bears are the only ones I want to see. Well, maybe no real bears came for Sally Melinda, said Sue after a while. I guess, it was an Indian, or some man who wanted my toy for his little girl, but I hope I get her back, Sally Melinda, I mean. Bunny managed to eat five of the cakes his mother baked, and he might have eaten another, only his father called to him to hurry, if he wanted to go to search for the missing toy bear.

Sue and Bunny went with Mr. Brown off into the big woods after breakfast. As they walked along, they looked on either side of the path for a sight of the missing teddy bear or bunny's toy train, but they saw neither one. Whoever took them as keeping them well hidden, said Mr. Brown, now we'll go to the Indian camp. Though they called it a camp, it was more of an Indian village, where the Onondongas lived. There were many tents, log or slab cabins, and one or two houses built as the white people build theirs. These were owned by the richer Indians who had large farms and many horses and cows. Some of the Indians were very poor, and their cabins had only one room, where they cooked, ate, and slept. Eagle Feather was the head

or chief of this particular tribe. He was not like the old time or wild Indians. He owned a farm, and he worked hard to grow fruits and vegetables. When Eagle Feather saw Mr. Brown with the two children, coming to the Indian village, the chief came out to meet them. How do, he exclaimed, in English that could be understood, Eagle Feather glad to see you. Come in and sit down, squall make tea for you, or maybe coffee. Coffee better, more has taste. No, thank you, we haven't time to eat now, said Mr. Brown. We came looking for bear.

For bear, cried Eagle Feather in surprise. No bear here. bear may be way off in woods why you no go there and shoot em oh this isn't that kind of bear said mr brown funny bear no live in woods said the indian this bear have eyes go like so and mr brown took from his pocket a small electric flashlight by pressing on a spring he made a light flash up and go out just as had the eyes of suz bear oh now eagle feather no said the indian quickly, little gal's heap big medicine doll gone. Where him go? That's just what we don't know, said Mr. Brown. In the night when we were all asleep, someone came and took the bear. Maybe he came to Indian camp. Not sure, but maybe we can look. Mr. Brown tried to talk as he thought Eagle Feather would understand, and the Indian seemed to. Your little gal's bear know here at Eagle Feather's

camp, he said with a shake of his head. Much big medicine, like baby puff-puff train doll is. But Indian no-take-little gals play bear. See, I and you look in every house. Oh, no, that isn't necessary, said Mr. Brown. If you tell me the bear isn't here, I believe you. That right, for I speak truth.

But wait, we ask other Indians. Maybe they think no harm to take bear little while for big medicine and bring him back, I ask. Eagle Feather stepped to the door of his house and gave a loud whistle. In a few minutes there came to him many of the older Indian men. Eagle Feather spoke to them in their own Indian language. He listened to the answers. Then, turning to Mr. Brown and the children, the chief said, No have got little gals play bear. Nobody here have got. You look in all Indian houses and see for yourself. No, I'll take your word for it, said Mr. Brown. I believe the teddy bear is not here.

It must have been taken by someone else. I will look farther. But Eagle Feather insisted on some of the head men's huts being searched, and this was done, but no doll was found. Oh, dear, where can Sally Melinda be, half sobbed Sue? Never mind, said her father. If you can't find your bear and Bunny's cars are still gone. in two weeks I'll get you new ones, but I think they will come back as mysteriously as they went away. Now we must go home.

But I thought you were going to look in the cabin of the hermit, said Bunny. We'll have to do that after dinner, answered Daddy Brown. But when dinner was half over, there came a telegram for Mr. Brown, telling him he was needed back at his business office at once, as something had gone wrong about the fish catch. Well, I'll have to go now, said the children's father, but I'll help you look for the teddy doll and the train of cars when I come back, he said.

It was a little sad in Camp Rest a while when Mr. Brown had gone, but Mother Brown let the children play store, with real things to eat and to sell, and they were soon happy again. Finally, Sue said, Bunny, do you know where that hermit's hut is, the one where you got the milk the time the dog drank it? "'Yes,' slowly answered Bunny. "'I do. "'But what about it?' "'Let's go there,' answered Sue. "'Maybe he has my Sally Melinda. "'Daddy was going to take us there,

"'but he had to go away so quickly he didn't have time. "'But you and I can go. "'I'm sure he'd give us my teddy bear if he had her.' "'I guess he would, agreed Bunny, "'but what would he want with it? "'Anyhow, we'll go and see.' "'So he and Sue saying, nothing to their mother, except that they were going off into the big woods back of the camp,

left the tent and headed for the hermit's cabin. On and on they went, leaving Splash behind. Four of late their dog had not followed them as often as he had done before. They had tramped through the woods for about an hour, looking at all sorts of places for the missing teddy bear and the toy train. When Sue suddenly asked, "'Aren't we near his cabin now, Bunny? "'It seems as if we'd come an awful long way.' "'I was beginning to think so myself,' said the little boy. "'Yet I was sure it was over this way.

"'The children walked on a little farther "'but found themselves only deeper in the big woods. "'Finally, Sue stopped and said, "'Bunny, do you know where we are?' "'No, I don't,' he answered. "'Then we're lost,' said Sue, shaking her head. "'We're lost in the woods, Bunny.' brown and will never get home end of chapter ten chapter eleven of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librivox recording is in the public domain

the hermit again bunny brown was a wise little lad considering that he was only about seven years old but many of those years had been spent with his father going about in the woods and while there mr brown had been spent with his father going about in the woods and while there mr brown had told him much about the birds, bugs, and animals they saw under the trees, so that the woods were not exactly strange to Bunny. Above all, he was not afraid in them, except maybe when he was all alone on a dark night, and one thing had Mr. Brown especially impressed on Bunny. This was, never get frightened when you think you are lost in the woods. If you think you are lost, you may be sure. You can either find your way out, or someone will find you in a little while. So the best thing to do when you fear you are lost is to sit quietly down on a log. Think which way you believe your camp or home is. Think where the sun gets up in the

morning and where it goes to bed in the night. And whatever you do, don't rush about calling and yelling and forgetting, even which way you came. So when you're lost, keep cool. Remembering what his father had told him, Bunny Brown, as soon as he heard Sue say they were lost, looked for a log, and finding one not far away, he went over and sat down on it. Why, Bunny Brown, cried Sue, what in the world are you doing? Don't you know we're lost and you've got to find the way back to our camp? For I never can. Oh, dear, I think it's over this way. No, it must be here. Oh, Bunny, which is the right way to go? That's just what I'm trying to find out, he said. you are not cried sue you're just sitting there like a bump on a log as aunt lou used to say well i'm doing what father told us to do said bunny i'm keeping cool and trying to think if you run around that way you'll get all hot and you can't think and it may take both of us to think of the way home

well of course i want to help said sue i don't want you to do it all but we're awful much lost bunny are you sure sue he asked of course i'm sure i will be sure i will be you to do it all but we're awful much lost bunny are you sure sue he asked of course i'm sure i'm sure i will be sure i will was never in this part of the woods before, and I can't tell where it is. Do you know where the sun rises, asked Bunny? For it was just then, behind some clouds. It rises in the east, of course, said Sue. I learned that in our jog-free. Yes, but which way is east from here, Bunny wanted to know. If I could tell that, I might find our camp,

because the sun comes up every morning in front of our tent, and that faces the east. But you can't walk to the sun. bunny brown it's millions and millions of miles away our teacher said so i'm not going to walk to the sun said the little boy i just want to walk toward it but i've got to know which way it is first so's to know which way to walk sue looked about her as did bunny neither of them knew in what part of the big woods they were for they had never been there before they were both looking for some path that would lead them home but they saw none suddenly sue cried Oh, there's the sun. It's right overhead. She pointed upward, and Bunny saw a light spot in the clouds. The clouds had not broken away, but they were thin enough for the sun to make a bright place

in them. That must be the east, said Sue. But how are we ever going to walk that way, Bunny, unless we climb trees? It's up in the air. That isn't the east, said the little boy. That's right overhead. I forget the name of it. But I will tell you, and Bunny Brown can look it up in his geography.

when he gets home. The point in the sky when the sun seems to be directly over your head is the zenith. And it's noon and dinner time, too, and on Bunny. Can you tell by your stomach, asks Sue? I can, for my stomach is hungry. It is always hungry at noon. I can tell by my stomach, for it is hungry just like yours, said Sue's brother, but I can tell by the sun. Daddy told me that it was noon and time to eat when the sun was straight over our heads. Now we'll get out of the woods, Sue. How? Will the sun help us and bring us something to eat, asked Sue? Well, the sun will help us in a way, for when it begins to go down, we will know that this is the west, and the east is just opposite from the west. So if we walk with our backs toward the west, we'll be facing the east,

and if we keep on that way, we'll be at our camp sometime. all we'll have to do is to walk away from the sun and will that give us something to eat sue demanded maybe said bunny brown we may come to a farmhouse and they might give us some cookies and milk how good that would taste cried sue i wish i had some now we'll walk on away said bunny maybe we'll come to a place where they'll feed us but be careful to keep your back to the sun sue said she would and the two lost children were soon walking through the wood together they walked on the path when they saw one and crossed over open glades or through underbrush when they came to such places where they saw no path for the time being they had given up all idea of finding their missing toys all they thought of was getting home every once in a while sue would ask are we most there bunny and he would answer not quite but almost just a little farther sue suddenly there was a noise in the bushes, as if someone were coming through in a hurry. Oh, maybe it's our dog Splash coming to find us, cried Sue. I don't believe so, answered Bunny.

Besides, Splash would bark, and whatever this dog's name is, he doesn't make a sound. Oh, look, Sue, it's a man, not a dog. A man, cried Sue, what kind? Oh, I can't tell, except that he has a dog and he's very ragged. Bunny peaked between some bushes, and the next moment uttered. a cry of surprise. Why, it's the ragged hermit who gave us the milk and who was so good to us, cried Bunny. He's the man who lives in the loud cabin with a cow. Now we're all right. He'll take us home. Now we're all right. And Bunny danced about. Oh, I'm so glad, murmured Sue.

We're not lost any more. End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the big woods by Laura Lee Hope. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Wondering's. Out from behind the bush where they had hidden, on hearing the rustling in the underbrush, came Bunny Brown and his sister Sue hand in hand. The hermit, as they called the man who lived all alone in his little cabin, looked up and saw them. So did the dog, and with a bark and a growl, he rushed toward the two children.

Down, Tramp, down, called the hermit, and the dog sank to the moss-covered ground, beating his tail up and down on the dry leaves. He wouldn't hurt you for the world, said the old ragged man. He loves children, but he's so fond of them that he jumps up on them and tries to kiss them. Sometimes he tries to love them so hard that he knocks them down, so I have to tell him to be careful. We're not afraid of good dog, said Bunny. And we've got a dog of our own, added Sue. His name is Splash, because he splashes through the muddy puddles so much that he gets us all wet when he's with us. That's why we don't take him so often, lessen we know it's going to be a dry day.

I see, said the ragged man. Well, Tramp is pretty good, except that he loves children so much. By this time, the dog must have felt that it was time for him to get up. and he arose and leaped toward Bunny and Sue. Sue turned to one side and held her arm over her face, but Bunny waited for the dog to come near enough so he could be patted, and this the dog seemed to like. When he tried to jump up and put his paws on Bunny's shoulders, the little boy cried, Down, down, tramp! And at once the dog sank down and wagged his tail so hard that Sue said afterward she thought it would almost wag off. The dog seemed to like, Bunny and Sue, running about them, giving little barks of joy and licking their hands.

I like him, said Sue. He's most as good as our dog. How did you come to name him tramp? Well, he looked like a tramp when he came to me, said the ragged man, who seemed to be clean enough, though his clothes were in tatters. He was all stuck up with burrs from the woods, one foot was cut, and he was covered with mud and water. I took him in, washed him, and he, and he was covered, bound up his paw which had been cut on a piece of broken glass and gave him something to eat he has been with me ever since i should think he would stay with you said bunny you were kind to him well i like animals said the man but what are you children doing off here in the woods do you want more milk not this time thank you said bunny when we go to the farmhouse now we have a cover on our pail and when we set it down on the road no dog can come and drink the milk. But we don't set it down anymore, said Bunny, mother told us not to. That's good, said the ragged man, whose name was Bixby. It's a good thing. You didn't want any

milk because I haven't any left. I used up most of what my cow gave, and sold the rest to a party of automobile folks that came along, dreadfully thirsty. We have two automobile, said Bunny. One, my father rides back and forth to the city in, and the other, a big one like a moving van, that we can live in and go where we want to. When night comes, we just go to sleep in it beside the road. That's what my dog Tramp and I would like, said the ragged man. It's no fun staying in one place all the while. But if you children are not a way off here looking for milk, what are you here for, I'd like to know. I'm looking for my teddy bear with a blinking electric lights for eyes, said Sue. What makes you think you'll find him here off in the woods? asked Mr. Bixby after a pause.

Well, somebody took my teddy bear, which is a her, not a hymn, and is named Sally Melinda, from our tent, went on the little girl, and of course as a bear likes a wood, maybe they brought her here. And my train of cars is gone, too, said Bunyan. as he told of that having been taken from the tent why that is surprising cried the ragged man both your nice toys taken who could have done it well i did think maybe i left my train on the track with the batteries switched on so it would go said bunny but i left the track made into a round ring and of course if my train did get to going by some accident it would just keep on going around and around like splash chasing his tail and wouldn't go out of the tent of course agreed the ragged man and bunny thought sally melinda had walked off by herself said sue but daddy said she couldn't for there is nothing in her to wind up so that couldn't happen then who took her asked the ragged man we thought eagle feather or some of his tribe might replied bunny for they thought our toys were heap big medicine but we went to their village and no one there knew anything about them "'That's what they said, did they?' "'Yes, that's what they said,' agreed Bunny.

"'But they might not have told the truth,' went on Mr. Bixby, with a sort of wink at Bunny. "'Oh, everybody tells the truth,' said the little boy. "'Not always, returned Mr. Bixby with a laugh. "'But never mind about that now. "'You have come a long way from your camp.' "'Oh, that's another thing we forgot to tell you about,' said Bunny. "'We're lost.'

"'Lost,' cried the ragged man. terrible loss, said Sue. We don't even know which is east, where the sun gets up, you know. Oh, I can easily show you that, said Mr. Bixby, and you're not lost any more, for I know where your camp is. We hoped you would, said Bunny. That's why we were glad to see you through the bushes. Can you take us home? I can and I will, said the ragged man. I can take you back straight through the wood or around my cabin, which will put you on the road along with. which you went to get your milk that night. Then you'll have an easier walk to camp rest a while, though a little longer one. Let's go by the road, though it is longer, said Sue, I'm tired of walking

in the woods. All right, and I'll carry you part of the way, said Mr. Bixby. Will you give me a piggyback, asked Sue, who was not too old for such things? A pick-a-back is just what you shall have, said Mr. Bixby, and Sue soon got up on his back. by stepping from a high stone, to the top of which Bunny helped her. Please go slow, begged the little boy, because we might happen to see Sue's teddy bear, or my train of cars, where the Indians or somebody else dropped it, though I don't believe Eagle Feather would do such a thing.

Oh, I don't think Eagle Feather would take your toy, said Mr. Bixby. He is quite honest, but some of his tribe are not, I'm sorry to say. So he walked on with Sue. on his back and Bunny trudging along beside, and tramped the dog first running on ahead and then coming back barking, as though to say everything was all right. We'll soon be at my cabin, said the ragged man, and then you can rest before starting on the road home. Have you got anything to eat at your house, asked Sue? Bunny, who was walking along behind her as she rode on Mr. Bixby's back, reached up and pinched one of his sister's little fat legs.

"'Stop, Bunny Brown,' she cried. "'Then to Mr. Bixby,' she said again, "'have you got anything to eat at your house?' "'Once more, Bunny pinched her leg, and Sue cried, "'Now you stop that, Bunny Brown, "'I'm not playing the pinching game today.' "'Well, you mustn't say that,' said her brother. "'Say what?' demanded Sue.

"'About Mr. Bixby having anything to eat in his house,' went on, Bunny. "'You know Mother has told you it isn't polite.' "'Oh, that's right, Bunny, I forgot. So that's why you were pinching me? Yes, answered Bunny. Sue leaned over from the back of the ragged man and said, right in his ear, Please don't give us anything to eat when you get to your house. It wouldn't be polite for us to take it after me asking you the way I did.

Hey, what's that? asked the ragged man, seeming to wake up from asleep. Did you ask me not to go so fast? No, I asked you. Once more, Bunny pinched his sister's leg. don't tell him what you asked him and he won't know and then it will be all right said bunny all right whispered sue then aloud she said is it much farther to your house mr vixby why no answered the ragged man so that's what you asked me was it i wasn't listening i'm afraid my cabin is only a little farther on and then after you rest a bit i'll put you on the road to your camp and maybe he'll give us something to eat without our asking muttered sue to her brother who was behind. Hush, he whispered, don't let him hear you.

They were soon at Mr. Bixby's cabin. Now, if you'll sit down a minute, said the ragged man, I'll get you a few cookies. I bake them myself. Maybe they are not as nice as those your mother makes, but Tramp my dog likes them. I'm sure we will too, said Sue. There, what did I tell you, Bunny Brown?

She asked in a whisper. I knew he'd give us something to eat, and it isn't impolite to take it when he offers it to you. No, I guess it's not, said Bunny. Anyhow, we'll take them. The ragged man appeared with a plate of cookies. The children said they were very good indeed, fully as good as Mother Brown baked,

and Tramp the dog ate his share too, sitting up on his hind legs and begging for one, when the ragged man told him to. Then the dog would sit up with a cookie balanced on his nose, and he would not snap it off to eat until the man told him to. Well, I'd like to have you stay, said the hermit, but it is getting late, and perhaps I had better take you to the road that leads straight to your camp.

Yes, we had better go, replied Bunny. We'll know our way home now. Thank you for taking care of us and for the cookies. Which we didn't ask for, said Sue quickly, did we, Mr. Bixby? No, you didn't, he answered with a laugh, and he seemed to understand what Sue meant without asking any questions. As Mr. Bixby started away from his cabin to lead the children down the road, they met an Indian coming up the path.

He was not eagle feather, but one of the tribe. How? And the Indian nodded to the ragged man. How, answered Mr. Bixby. You got heap big medicine ready for make Indians pain better, asked the red man. Yes, but not now. pretty soon answered mr bixby all right me wait you come back soon by and by asked the onondaga yes in a minute you don't need to go any farther with us said bunny presently we can see the road from here and we know our way all right are you sure asked mr bixby who seemed anxious to get back to the indian who appeared to be ill of course we can said bunny of course added sue then i'll leave you here went on the ragged man i doctor some of the indians and this is one of them i'll say good-bye and the next time you're lost you must send for me we will laughed bunny and sue as they went on toward the road they knew where they were now as they had come along this road after the milk as they reached the highway they heard from the cabin of the ragged man the curious buzzing sound what's that asked sue is it bees no i don't think so answered

said Bunny. It sounds more like machinery. Yes, it does, agreed Sue. I wonder what kind it is. Sounds like a little sawmill, said Bunny. Say, cried Sue, when they had walked on a little way. Wasn't it queer that Indian asked about heap big medicine, just the way Eagle Feather spoke of my teddy bear and your electric train? Kind of, admitted Bunny, I wonder what he meant. Oh, I guess it's some medicine and Mr. Bixby has for curing the stomach, went on Sue. The Indian might have eaten too many green apples. Maybe, said Bunny. Oh, here comes Splash, looking for us, he cried, as he saw the dog running along the road toward them. End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the big woods by Laura Lee Hope. This Librevox recording is in the public domain.

mr brown makes a search the brown children ran to meet splash and he was quite as glad to see them as they were to see him up and down he jumped trying to kiss them making believe to bite them and all the while whining and barking in joy did you think we were lost splash asked sue bow wow answered the dog and that i think was his way of saying i did but i'm glad i've found you and we were lost splash went on bunny but now we're on our way home again bow wow barked the dog and that meant he was glad together the children and their dog walked on along the road and splash went on so far ahead and so fast that often bunny and sue had to run to catch up up to him. But we'll get home all the quicker, said Bunny. Maybe they sent Splash to find us, suggested his sister. Well, Splash is smart enough to do that if he had to, said Bunny. We'll soon be home now. In a little while they made a turn in the road that brought them within sight of the tents of Camp rest awhile. Now we're all right, cried Sue. Thou, wow, barked Splash. Oh, children, where have you been? cried Mrs. Brown coming out to meet them.

i sent uncle tad off one way to look for you and splash in the other i was just thinking of starting off myself we were lost in the wood said bunny but the ragged man found us and then we met splash we didn't see uncle tad oh maybe he's lost cried sue we can go look for him said bunny no you don't exclaimed mrs brown two of you getting lost is enough in one day uncle tad knows his way back to camp from any point from any point you don't exclaimed mrs browne two of you getting lost is enough in one day uncle tad knows his way back to camp from any point part of the big woods. But who was the ragged man? Oh, he's the man that gave us the milk the time the dog drank it up, when we chased the squirrel, explained Sue. He's awful nice, and he gave me a piggyback ride and took us to his cabin and gave us cookies without us really asking. What do you mean by not really asking, inquired Mrs. Brown? Oh, Sue means she sort of hinted, or spoke of them easy like, Bunny explained. I pinched her leg without Mr. Bixby. He's the ragged man, seeing me, and then Sue stopped asking him if he had anything to eat at his house. He offered the cookies,

all by his own self. Well, I'm glad of that, said Mrs. Brown with a smile, but after this, don't go into strange houses and even hint for something to eat. That isn't polite. Oh, but this isn't a real house, said Bunny quickly. It's a log cabin. but it's home for the ragged man, as you call Mr. Bixby. It's a funny home, said Bunny. He's got a buzzing machine in it and an Indian that came while we were there, asked for heat big medicine. That's the way Eagle Feather spoke of my toy train.

That's how we got lost in the woods, looking for my teddy bear and Bunny's electric train, explained Sue. We went on and on until we didn't know where we were. Well, you mustn't do it again, said her mother. don't go far into the woods unless your father uncle tad or i am with you then you won't get lost wouldn't splash do asked bunny yes splash is all right he'd know the way home said mrs brown now come in wash and get ready for lunch we don't want very much said bunny the ragged man gave us so many cookies i hope they weren't too rich for you said mrs brown oh no mother they couldn't be exclaimed bunny because he's an awful pull or ragged man. Oh, rich cookies means they have too much shortening, butter or lard or something in them, said Sue. I know, for I've taken a cooking lesson, haven't I, Momsie? Yes, Sue, and you must

take some more, for you are getting older. And someday I'll get up a real dinner for you and Bunny and Daddy and Uncle Tad, and the Ragged Man and Eagle Feather, said the little girl. You wouldn't know how to cook for Indian, said Bunny. They eat bare meat. and deer meat and roots and the bark of trees and maybe berries well i could give eagle feather berries and a pie declared sue and i could make slippery elm tea and roast some acorns for him that would be quite an indian feast laughed mrs brown but come now and get what you want and don't go so far off into the woods again the children promised that they would not though both said they wanted to hunt farther for their lost toy or taken away toys, which was probably what had happened to them. When lunch was over, the children played about the tents, using some of the games and toys they had had, before Mr. Brown brought the wonderful electric train and the teddy bear with the

shining electric eyes. We can have lots of fun, said Sue. Yes, but anyway, I want my train back, declared Bunny. And I want Sally Melinda, exclaimed Sue with a sigh. She was just like a real baby bear. to me. Why don't you call a teddy bear he? asked Bunny, because she's a girl. Can't you tell by the name Sally Melinda asked Sue? Bunny was about to continue talking to the effect that the teddy bear ought to have a boy's name when there came the sound of wheels outside the tent and a cheery voice called,

Hello, everybody. Oh, it's daddy, cried Bunny and Sue together. Daddy has come home. They rushed out of the tent to meet him, to hug and kiss him, and for a while he pretended to be smothered by the two little children who hung about his neck. We went hunting for our toys, which are lost, said Bunny, and we got lost ourselves, added Sue, but we got found again, by a dog, and a man, and we had cookies, and an Indian came to get heap big medicine. And I'm going to cook a dinner. Thus the children called one after the other, and I leave you to guess who said what, for I can't do it myself as they talk too fast. But at last they quieted down, and Mrs. Brown had a chance to talk to her husband and tell him the news.

Uncle Tad had, in the meanwhile come back, not being able to find the lost ones, and he was very glad to see them safe in the camp. Mr. Brown had come home early that day, but before long it was. was time for supper. Bunny and Sue ate nearly as much as though they had had no lunch and had eaten no cookies at the ragged man's cabin. And so you heard a queer buzzing noise in the hermit's cabin as you were coming away? asked Mr. Brown. Yes, said Bunny, we did. I think I'll take a look up around there myself, said Mr. Brown, with a nod at his wife across the table. Oh, is something going to happen, asked Sue. And will you find our lost toys? asked Bunny,

eagerly? No, I don't promise you that. In fact, I have given them up for lost and have ordered new ones for you, though not such fancy ones. They are altogether different. I'll have them for you tomorrow night. This set the children into a wild guessing game as to what their father had got, and they amused themselves until nearly bedtime. They did not notice that Mr. Brown left camp, nor that he wandered down the road in the direction of the home of the ragged man. When Mr. Brown came back after the children were in their cots, his wife asked him, Did you find anything? No, I can't say I did.

I made a search around Bixby's cabin and went over into the Indian village to talk to Eagle Feather, but I didn't find out anything about the missing toys. I guess wandering tramps must have taken them. I'll get the kiddies' new ones. by this time bunny and sue were fast asleep dreaming of the new playthings they were to have end of chapter thirteen chapter fourteen of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librovoc's recording is in the public domain the ragged boy ding dong ding dong ding dong rang the breakfast bell in camp rest awhile Bunny Brown and his sister Sue, snug in their cots, heard it, stirred a bit, turned over and shut their eyes. It's too early to get up, murmured Bunny.

Yes, muttered Sue, much too early. I can sleep more. And off to sleep she promptly went, Bunny doing the same thing. What's the matter with those children, asked Uncle Tad, who was ringing the bell? He waved it through the air, all the faster, so that it seemed to sing out, ding ding dong ding dong ding ding ding ding ity ding dong ding ding ding ding that's a fire said bunny wide awake now oh maybe it is agreed sue what's the matter aren't you ever going to get up asked uncle tad looking into that part of the tent where bunny and sue had their cots where's the fire asked bunny though now that he was wide awake he knew there was no fire and will you take us to it asks sue making a grab for her clothes which were on a chair near her cot and still believing in the fire there isn't any fire said uncle tad except the one out in the stove and that's getting breakfast come on what makes you so slow asked uncle tad

oh but they were so tired yesterday from getting lost that i let them sleep a little longer this morning said mrs brown it's long past getting up time went on uncle if Bunny is going to be a soldier and Sue a trained nurse, they'll find they will have to get up much earlier than this. That's so, cried Bunny, I forgot I was going to be a soldier, and as you're going to go to nurse me, Sue, you'd better get up too. All right, I will, Bunny, but I'm dreadful sleepy. However, now that the two were awake from the ringing of Uncle Tad's bell and his talk about soldiers and nurses, Bunny and Sue found it was not so very hard to get dressed.

Then they fairly danced to the breakfast table, which was set out of doors as it was a fine day. Where's Daddy? asked Bunny. Oh, he had an early meal and said he was going fishing out in the lake, said Mrs. Brown. He promised to take me the next time he went, said the little boy. He's coming back in a little while to get you both, said their mother. He wanted to have some good fishing by himself, while it was nice and quiet in the early morning hours. When you children go with him, you laugh and chatter so, and get your line so tangled up that your father can't fish himself in comfort. But he likes to take you, and as soon as he has a chance to catch some fish himself, he'll come back and take you out in the boat. Oh, that'll be great,

cried Bunny. I'm going to get my fish pole and line ready. I don't want to catch any fish, said Sue. I don't like to have them bite on the sharp hook. I'll go and get one of my dolls and give her a boat ride, but I wish I had my teddy bear. He'd catch fish, said Bunny, winding up his line on the little spool, called a reel on his pole. She's a she.

And anyway, teddy bears can't catch fish, said Sue. No, but real bears can, our teacher told us. They lean over the edge of a river and pull the fish out with their claws. bears likes fish. But my Sally, Melinda, isn't a real bear, said Sue. You could make believe he was, insisted Bunny, and if you put his paw in the water and sort of let it dangle-dangle,

a fish might bite at it. Gee, sighed Sue, but just as if I let a fish bite my nice teddy bear, besides I haven't got her. No, that's so, agreed Bunny. Well, I guess you'll have to take a regular doll then. and don't you let her make-believe fall into the water either and get her sawdust all wet it up said sue i won't promise bunny then the children began to get ready for their father's return with the boat and when sue's doll was laid out in a shady place on the grass and bunny's pole and line were where he could easily find them the little boy said let's walk down to the edge of the lake and maybe we can see daddy quicker all right let's a

agreed Sue, and the two were soon walking hand and hand, down the slope that led to the water. "'Where are you going?' called Mother Brown. "'Oh, just down to the shore,' answered Bunny. "'Very well, but don't go into the water, and don't step into any of the boats until Daddy comes.' "'We won't promise Bunny Brown and his sister, Sue. Their mother could always depend on them to keep their promises, though sometimes the things they did were worse than those they promised her to not to do. They were just different, that was all.

Sue and Bunny went down to the edge of Lake Wanda. They could not see their father's boat, so they walked along the shore. Before they knew it, they had gone farther than they had ever gone before, and all at once in the side of the hill that led down to the beach of the lake, they saw a hole that seemed to go away back under the hill. Oh, what's that, asked Sue, stepping a little behind Bunny. It's a cave, answered her brother. What's a cave, Sue next asked? Well, a cave is a hole, explained Bunny.

And a hole and a cave are the same thing, said Sue. Yes, I guess they are pretty much, admitted the little boy. Only in a cave you have adventures, and in a hole you only fall down and get your clothes dirty. Don't you ever get your clothes dirty in a cave, Sue demanded? Oh, yes, but that's different. Nobody minds how dirty your clothes get, if you have an adventure in a cave, Bunny said.

And can we go into this one, Sue asked? I guess so, answered Bunny. Mother told us not to get in any boats, and we're not. A cave isn't a boat. Come on. See, Splash is going in, pointed out, Sue. If he isn't afraid, we oughtn't to be. Who's afraid, asked Bunny, I'm not.

and with that he walked into the cave. As he still held Sue's hand, he dragged her along with him, and as Sue did not want to be left alone on the beach of the lake, she followed. Bunny saw splash running ahead. For a little way into the cave it was light, but it soon began to darken as the sun could not shine in that far. Oh, I don't want to go any farther, said Sue, it's dark. If I had my teddy bear, I could make a light with her eyes.

I've got something better than that, said Bunny. What, asked Sue? My pocket flashlight I got for Christmas. That gives a good light. Come on, now we can see. From his pocket, Bunny took the little flashlight. It was the same kind made with the same storage dry battery that ran his train and lighted the teddy bear's eyes.

Yes, now I can see, cried Sue. I'm not afraid anymore. With Bunny holding the light the two children went farther on into the cave. They were looking about, wondering what they would find, when all of a sudden there was a noise farther in. Oh, cried Sue, did you hear that? Yes, answered, Bunny. I did. What was it? Splash began to bark. Quiet, ordered Bunny, and the dog whined. Then the noise sounded again. It was like someone crying. Oh, I don't want to stay here, exclaimed Sue, clasping Bunny's hand. Wait a minute.

he said. Then came a voice from out of the darkness saying, "'Please don't run away. I won't hurt you. And I'm all alone. I want to get out. I'm lost. I can just see your light. Stand still a minute and I can see you. I'm coming.' Bunny and Sue did not know whether or not to wait, but in the end they stood still. Splash whined, but did not bark. They could hear someone walking toward them. A moment later, came into the light of the flashlight, a slim, ragged boy. He was even more ragged than Mr. Bixby. Please don't run away, he said, I won't hurt you. I need someone to help me. Bunny and Sue felt sorry for the boy. End of Chapter 14. Chapter 15 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the big woods

by Laura Lee Hope. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Hidden in the hay. For two or three seconds, the two children and the ragged boy stood in the queer cave looking at one another. Splash had come to a stop near his little master and mistress, and with one four-leg raised from the ground, was looking sharply at the boy. It seemed as if the dog were saying, Just say the word, Bunny or Sue, and I'll drive this boy away from here. He doesn't look like a proper person for you to be with. But Bunny and Sue had no such feeling. they did not mind how ragged a person was if you were only clean of course a dog is different splash never did like ragged persons though in a good many cases they were just as good as the well-dressed ones with whom he had made friends

so in this case seeing the ragged boy coming near to sue and bunny in the dark where the only light was that of the little boy's electric lamp the dog growled and seemed about to spring on the lad the boy took a few steps backward what's the matter asked bunny you're not afraid of us are you no little feller i'm not but i don't like the way your dog acts he seems as if he didn't like tramps and i expect he thinks i'm one well i spect i do look like one count o my clothes but i ain't never begged my way yet though many a time i've been hungry enough to do it splash behave yourself cried bunny brown charge lie down splash did as he was told but it was easy to see he did not like it he would rather have run toward and barked at the ragged lad don't be afraid of him said sue we won't let him hurt you bunny why don't you make splash shake hands with this boy and then they'll be friends forever you ought to introduce him that so i will said bunny i forgot about that splash come here he ordered and the dog obeyed now go over and shake hands with him went on the little fellow pointing to the strange boy don't be afraid and move away from him or splash won't like it said sue as she saw drink back a little just stand still and splash will shake hands and be friends with you the boy seemed to be a bit afraid still but he stood quietly and surely enough splash advanced and held out his right paw which the boy took and shook up and down then the boy patted the dog on the head and splash barked afterward licking the boy's hand with his tongue now he's friends with you and he'll always like you announced sue and no matter where he meets you he'll come up to you and shake hands said bunny once splash makes friends he keeps him my name is bunny brown he went on and this is my sister sue

We live at camp rest awhile on the edge of the big woods. We came out to see if my father had come back from fishing, and we saw this cave and came in. Is there a way out, asked the ragged boy? I hardly know how I got in here, but I've been trying to find a way out and I couldn't. Oh, we can show you that, said Sue. It's only a little way back and it comes right out on the lake shore.

But how did you get in here? You look as ragged as the ragged man, she went. on, but that's nothing. Sometimes Bunny and I are raggeder than you. We like it. I don't know who the ragged man is, said the boy, who gave his name as Tom Fleming. But I work for a man named Mr. Bixby, and his clothes have lots of holes in. That's the ragged man we mean, said Bunny, but please don't ever say we called him ragged, because we like him just as much ragged as if he wasn't. Oh, I guess he doesn't mind being called ragged, said Tom. He's got other clothes, but he won't wear him. If you're working for him, what are you doing in this cave, Sue asked?

Lesson it's his. Well, maybe he calls it, hisen, said Tom. It joins on to his cow stable, and that's how I got in it. After I got in, I couldn't find my way out until I saw your light. What did you run away for, asked Bunny. Please tell us. We won't tell you. We won't tell on you. No, I don't believe you would, said Tom. Well, I'll tell you. You see, I live at the poor house, having no relations to take care of me and no place to live. But in the summer, I hire out to the farmers around here that want me, and work to earn a little spare change. This year Mr. Bixby hired me. At first I liked the work. I had to do a few chores, milk the cow, and take the milk to the few families that bought it.

But the other day he did something I didn't like, and so today, after I found the hole in the cow stable, that leads to this cave, I ran away. What did he do to you, asked Bunny. Did he beat you? No, he stuck pins and needles in me. Stuck pins into you, cried Sue. How horrid! I never heard of such a thing. How did you get them out?

That was the funny part of it, said the boy, they weren't real pins. He'd make me take hold of some shiny brass knobs, and then pins and needles would shoot all over me, and all of a sudden he'd pull him out and I wouldn't feel him until he did it again. That was funny, said Bunny Brown, thinking very hard. Could you see the needles? No, but I could feel him, and that was enough. I got away as soon as I could when he wasn't looking, and I made for the hole I'd found in the cow shed. But from there I got into the cave, and I thought I was lost, for I couldn't find my way back, and didn't know what to do when I saw your light, and then I didn't know whether to go and meet you or hide in the dark. Well, it's a good thing you came on, said

Sue, because we were getting scared ourselves, weren't we, Bunny? Oh, no, not much. I wasn't scared. But I was, admitted Sue, and I think Splash was, too, for he was sort of whining in his throat. route. "'Well, we're all right now,' said Bunny. "'But what are you going to do, Tom? Are you going back to Mr. Bixby?' "'I certainly am not. I've had enough pins and needles stuck in me, though you can't see them now,' and he glanced down at his long red hands. "'I'm going to run away, that is, if I can find my way out of this cave.' "'Oh, we can show you the way out all right,' said Bunny.

"'But where are you going to run to?' "'I don't know,' said the boy slowly. You can run to our camp, put in, Sue, and we'll never tell Mr. Bixby you are there. That's right, cried Bunny, and maybe you can show us how he stuck pins and needles into you, so we could do it to ourselves. I don't believe I could, said Tom, with a shake of his tousled head, but I'll be glad to run to your camp. I never want to see Mr. Bixby again.

What made him stick pins and needles into you? maybe he didn't exactly do that maybe it only felt that way for you couldn't see anything he said he was doing it for an experiment that's what the teacher does for the boys in the high school where we go only we're in the lower class said bunny some of the experiments make a funny smell well there's no smell to this said tom now let's get out of here led by bunny and sue with splash running on ahead who Ragged boy was soon out of the cave. Bunny and Sue looked across the lake for a sight of their father in his boat coming back, but as they did not see him, Bunny said, I know what we can do to have some fun. What, asked Sue, always ready for a good time. We can go in Mr. Bailey's barn and slide down the hay. He said we could do it any time without asking. Oh, let's do it then, Sue cried. You'll come, won't you? she asked the ragged boy. Of course I will. I like hay sliding. I don't mind being

stuck with prickers that way. The three were soon sliding down the hay in the moe, coming to an end with a bump in a pile of hay on the barn floor. All at once, Bunny gave a cry as he was part way down the slide, and he dug his hands into the hay to stop himself from going further. What's the matter, asked Sue. Did you slide on a thistle? no not a thistle but i slid over something sharp i'm going to find out what it is bunny poked around in the hay and uttered a cry of astonishment as he brought out one of his toy cars from his electric railroad that had been stolen end of chapter fifteen chapter sixteen of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librivox recording is in the public domain the angry gobbler oh what is it asked sue where'd you find it tom questioned it's part of my lost railroad explained bunny answering the first question and i found it hidden under the hay i must have stuck myself on one of the sharp corners of the little car as i slid down and i stood down and i stood stopped right away, because I thought it might be an egg.

An egg, exclaimed Tom. Yes, answered Bunny. Once I was sliding down hay, just like now, and I slid into a hens nest. It was partly covered over with hay, and I didn't see it. There were thirteen eggs in the nest, and I busted every one. Didn't I sue? No, you didn't, Bunny Brown. That was me.

Oh, Bunny looked very queer for a moment. Then he laughed as he remembered what really had happened. well sue got all messed up with the white and yellow of the eggs maybe there weren't just thirteen but there was a lot anyway but i'm glad this wasn't a hens nest maybe i'll find the rest of my railroad now let's look somebody must have hid the car here in the hay after they took it said tom who do you suppose it was we thought it might be some of the indians said bunny but my father made a search down in their village he couldn't find anything though now we have found some of some of the indians said bunny but my father made a search down in their village he couldn't find anything though now we have found some something. You don't suppose Mr. Bixby would take it, or my teddy bear with flashing lights for eyes, do you? asked Sue of the ragged boy. I never saw anything like that around his place, and I was there two or three weeks, said Tom. We didn't see you when we were there, said Bunny. No, I was mostly weeding up in the potato patch on the hill. I'd have my breakfast, take a bit of

lunch with me, and then not come home till most dark. That's why you didn't see me, but I never took notice of any electrical trains or toy bears around his place i don't guess he took em nor i said bunny but i'm going to look in the hay for more he did the others helping while even splash pawed about though i don't suppose he knew for what he was searching more than likely he thought it was for a bone for that was about all he ever dug for but search as the two brown children and tom did they found no more parts of the toy railroad the one who took it must have thrown the car away because it was too heavy to carry said bunny it was a pretty heavy toy and i always carried it in two parts myself besides the car wasn't any good to make the train go the electric locomotive pulled itself and the cars i guess they just threw this car away but i'm going to keep it for i might find the track and the engine and the other cars, and then I'd be all right again. Yes, said Tom, you would. But it is funny for somebody up in these big woods to take toy trains and teddy bears. That's what I can't understand.

And I can't understand that man sticking needles into you. A funny kind of needles he didn't have to pull out, and that stopped hurting you so soon, said Bunny. It's all queer, declared Sue. Come on, we'll have some more fun sliding down the hay. This they did, and even though. splash joined in, but though they slid all over the hay and kept a sharp lookout for any more parts of Bunny's train, they found nothing. I wish I could find part of my teddy bear, said Sue.

If you did that, your Sally Melinda wouldn't be much good, said Bunny, for you can take an electrical train apart and put it together again and it isn't hurt. You can't do that way with a teddy bear. If you pull off one of his legs or his head, he's not much good anymore. That's right, agreed Sue. i want to find my dear sally melinda all in one piece and with his eyes blazing added bunny oh of course with her eyes going said sue now for a last slide and then we'll go out and see if daddy has come and i guess i'd better go back to the forehouse and get a meal said tom mr vixby won't give me any dinner cause i ran away from him but if i tell the superintendent back at the poorhouse how it happened i know he'll feed me until i get another place and i can get work easy now i'm good and strong and the farmers are beginning to think of getting in their crops but i'm not going to be stuck full of needles again you come right along with us said bunny my mamma and papa will be glad to see you when they know you helped us look for our lost toys even if we didn't find but one car and i slid over that but they'll take care of you until you can get some work to do my mamma does lots of that in the city when tramps come to us of course you're not a tramp he said quickly because you have a home to go to folks don't generally call it much of a home but it's better in nothing said tom

but i'm thankful to you i'll come only maybe your maw mightn't be expectin company leastwise such as i am and he looked down at his ragged clothes never mind that said bunny you ought to see the picture of my uncle tad when he was in the war captured by the confederates as a prisoner he had only corn husks for shoes and his coat and trousers were so full of holes that he didn't know in which ones to put his legs in arms he'll give you some of the clothes he don't want now come right along. What about meeting Daddy to go fishing? asked Sue. I guess he isn't going to take us today, or he's forgotten about it. Maybe the fish are biting so good out where he is in his boat that he doesn't want to come in. Maybe, said Bunny. Anyhow, we'll go on back to the camp.

It must be getting near dinner time, for I'm feeling hungry. Aren't you, he asked Tom? Yes, but then I'm most allers that way. I never remember when I had all I wanted to eat. on the way along the lake road to camp rest awhile they passed a farm yard where many geese ducks turkeys and chickens were kept just as sue who happened to be wearing a red dress came near the yard a big turkey gobbler who seemed to be the king of the barnyard rushed to the gate managed to push his way through the crack and a moment later he was attacking sue biting her legs with his strong beak now pulling at her red dress and occasionally flying up from the ground to strike his claws into her face oh dear cried the little girl won't somebody please help me drive him away bunny i will cried her little brother and catching up a stick he bravely rushed at the angry turkey gobbler end of chapter sixteen chapter seventeen of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librivox recording is in the public domain sue decides to make a pie

here you're too little for such a job as this cried tom as he stepped in front of bunny that's an old tough bird and he's a born fighter better let me tackle him bunny was a brave little boy but when he saw how large and fierce the gobbler was, his heart failed him a little. The big Thanksgiving bird just then made a furious rush at Sue, and as she jumped back, Tom stepped up in her place. The turkey did not seem to mind whom he attacked, as long as it was someone, though probably Sue's red dress had excited him in the first place, though why bulls and turkeys should not like red, I cannot tell you. Look out, Tom called Bunny.

he's a bad one. He certainly is fierce, all right, answered Tom. He's coming with a rush. As he spoke, the turkey made a rush for him, keeping off the ground with outstretched wings and claws. He went gobble, obabble, in loud tones as though trying to scare the children. Tom was ready with a heavy stick he had caught up, and as the big bird sailed at him through the air, the lad aimed a blow at the gobbler. But the turkey seemed to to be on the lookout for this and dodged. Then, before Tom could get ready for another blow, the gobbler landed back of the lad and came on with another rush. Look out, cried Bunny, but his warning came too late. The turkey landed on Tom's back and

began nipping and clawing him. Get off, get off, cried the poor house lad, trying in vain to reach up with his club and hit the gobbler hard enough to knock him to the ground. But Tom's club was of little use with the big bird on his back. Bunny saw this and cried. Wait a minute and I'll throw some stones at him. You might hit Tom instead of the gobbler, said Sue, who was safe out of harm's way behind a big pile of wood. Don't throw any stones, Bunny. No, you'd better not, said Tom. I'll try to shake him off. So he rushed about here and there, swaying his back from side to side, trying to make the turkey fall off. But the gobbler had fastened his claws in the back of Tom's ragged coat.

And there he clung, now and then nipping with his strong bill, Tom's head and neck. Here comes Splash, cried Bunny. He'll soon make that turkey gobbler behave. Up the sandy beach of the lake shore came Splash racing. He had stopped to look at a little crayfish, and it had nipped his nose. so Splash was not feeling any too pleasant. Most of you children know that a crayfish is like a little lobster. Here, Splash, Splash, cried Bunny.

Come and drive this bad turkey off, Tom. Bow, wow, barked the big dog as he came running. Tell him to hurry, beg, Tom. I can't shake him off and he's biting deep into my neck. I'm feared he'll bore a hole in it. Hurry up, Splash, hurry up, urged Bunny. Bow, wow, barked Splash, again, which, I suppose, was his way of saying he would.

On he came, and all this while the gobbler was on top of Tom's back, gobbling away, fluttering his wings, and now and then making savage pecks at the boy's shoulders and neck. Splash will make him go away, said Bunny. Splash likes you now, Tom. He's a friend of yours, for he shook hands, and he'll do anything you want. Well, all I want is for him to get this gobby. off me, said the ragged boy.

Hi, Splash, cried Bunny. Get at this bad gobbler. Splash rushed up to Tom, and then, raising up on his hind legs, nipped at the gobbler. The big bird made a louder noise than ever and suddenly jumped down from Tom's back. Ha, I knew you'd do it, cried Bunny in delight, but just then something queer happened. Splash, seeing the bird flopped down to the ground, made a doubt. for the gobbler with open mouth, barking the while. Now watch that old gobbler run, cried Bunny,

capering about. But instead it was splash that ran, unable to stand the sight of the big bird, with outspread and drooping wings with all his feathers puffed out, to make him look twice as large as he really was, and with an angry gobble-obble-a-lobble coming from his beak, splash ran. It was no wonder, for the turkey was a terrifying sight. I think even a tiger, a lion, or perhaps an elephant would have run. Come back, come back, Splash, called Bunny. We want you to drive the turkey gobbler away from us.

But the gobbler was already going away. He was going right after Splash, who was running down the road as fast as he could go. Well, we're all right, said Tom. That bird won't bother us anymore. And I hope he doesn't come for me, said Sue. He scared me. But what about poor Splash? Asked Bunny quickly. He'll scare our nice dog awful. Splash seems to be getting away, remarked Tom, rubbing the place in the back of his neck where the turkey had nipped him. Oh, oh dear, cried Bunny. Look what's happening now. Splash is coming back this way and the turkey is coming with him. Oh, what shall we do? He won't bother us. as long as he has Splash to chase, said Tom.

But I don't want him to chase Splash, said Bunny. The children watched what happened. Splash, with the turkey close behind him, was running back to a spot in front of the barn, where Bunny, his sister Sue, and Tom were standing. Just as the dog reached there, the turkey caught him by the tail. And I just wish you could have heard Splash howl.

No, on second thoughts, it is just as well you did not, for you love animals, I am sure, and you do not like to see them in pain. And Splash was certainly in pain, for he would not have howled the way he did. And I think of a big strong turkey gobbler had hold of your tail,

and was pulling as hard as he could, you would have howled too. That is, if you had a tail. Anyhow, Splash howled and tried to swing around so he could bite the gobbler, that the big bird kept out of roared. reach. Oh, what can we do, asked Sue. Get sticks and beat the gobbler, cried Tom. No, wait, I know a better way, said Bunny. What, asked his sister. I'll show you, answered the little boy.

He had seen on the green lawn of the farmhouse a water hose. It was attached to a faucet near the ground, and the water came from a big tank on the house, into which it was pumped by a gasoline engine. Bunny ran to the hose. The water was turned off at the nozzle, but it was the same kind of nozzle as the one on the Brown's hose at home, so Bunny knew how to work it. In an instant he turned the nozzle and aimed the hose at the turkey, which still had hold of the four dogs' tail. All over the turkey splashed the water, and as the big bird tried to gobble and keep hold of Splash's tail at the same time. And as the water went down its throat, the noise instead of gobble-a-b-lobel-a-bo-o-bo-sounded

like gurgle-urgle-urgle. There, take that, cried Bunny, squirting the water over the turkey. That will make you stop pulling dog's tails, I guess. Indeed, the water was too much for the gobbler. He let go of Splash's tail, for which the dog was very thankful. And then the big bird ran toward the farm yard, just as the farmer can. came out to see what all the trouble was about i had to splash your turkey to make him let go of our dog explained bunny oh that's all right answered the farmer i guess that bird is a little better off for being cooled down glad you did it none of you heard i hope my necks picked a bit said tom well come in and i'll have my wife put some salve on it no thank you we're in a hurry to get home said bunny my mother has some goose grease well that's just as good

I reckon. Next time I'll keep the old gobbler locked up. Mr. Brown was at home when Bunny, Sue, and the ragged boy reached the tent. The father and mother listened while Bunny and Sue explained what had happened, from going into the cave to the turkey gobbler. Well, you had quite a number of adventures, said Mr. Brown. I stayed out fishing by myself longer than I meant to, and when I came back to get you, I find you just coming in. We'll go this afternoon. We'll go this afternoon. noon and may tom come too i guess so answered mr brown i know where there's lots of places to fish said tom mr brown talked it over with his wife after dinner and they decided to let tom stay in camp and do a little work such as cutting the wood and bringing the water but what do you suppose he means by saying that mr bixby sticks needles into him asked mrs brown that's what i'll have to look into said her husband the hermit seems to be a queer sort of chap and bunny finding one of his cars too yes that was queer this will certainly have to be looked into in a few moments after this conversation sue came from behind the kitchen tent

come on sue we're going fishing called bunny to his sister no you and tom can go with father said the little girl i'm not coming why not are you afraid of course not bunny brown just going to stay in camp and make a pie. Tom said he hadn't had one for a good while. I'm going to make him one. All right, make me one too, please, said Bunny. We're going after some fish. And with his pole and line, he started down toward the lake with his father and Tom. End of Chapter 17. Chapter 18 of Bunny Brown in his sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope. this libri-box recording is in the public domain roasting corn now bunny be careful when getting into the boat said his father bunny turned and looked at his father what bunny thought but did not say was why daddy i've gotten into boats lots of times before i guess i can get in now that is what bunny brown did not say but in a way bunny's father was talking to the ragged boy tom and not to bunny for mr brown did not yet know how much tom might know about boats and as the boy was a big lad almost as tall as uncle tad himself mr brown did not want to seem rude and give a lesson to a boy who might not need it so though he pretended it was bunny about whom he was anxious all the while it was about tom

oh i'll be careful daddy said bunny and you be careful too tom you don't want to fall in and get drowned do you no indeed i don't bunny though it would be pretty hard to drown me i can swim like a muskrat and i can row a boat too mr brown he went on i've worked for mr wilson the man who owns the pavilion at the other end of the lake i used to row excursion parties about the lake and there isn't a cove or a bay i don't know as well as where the good fishing places are and i found one of those myself this morning said mr brown with a smile well i wish you'd let me row you to some others that hardly any one but myself knows about i shall be glad to have you said bunny's father and i'm glad you understand a boat i shan't be worried when bunny and his sister sue are out with you i can row myself a little when you are with me daddy said bunny yes but you'll have a chance to learn more with tom as i haven't time to teach you so i'm going to depend on you tom yes sir and i'll take good care of em i've lived near this lake all my life and when my folks died and i went to the poor house in the winter and worked out in the summer and managed to get to the lake part of the time i'll look after the children all right mr brown did not need to ask anything further what tom knew of a boat once the ragged boy took his seat and picked up the oars he handled them just as well as mr brown could himself do you want me to row you to any particular place asked tom well some place where we can get some fish i suppose bunny would like to land a few i want to catch a whole lot of fish daddy cried bunny so row me to a place where there's lots of fished of them. All right, here we go, and Tom bent his back to the oars, so that the boat was soon skimming

swiftly over the water. Mr. Brown liked the way the big boy managed the boat, and he knew he would feel safe when Bunny and Sue were out with Tom. Meanwhile, on shore, in the shade of the cooking tent, Sue was busy with her pie. I want to make a mince one, for Daddy likes that kind, said Sue, and I want to have it ready for them when they come home from fishing. though i don't see what he wants of any more fish she added as she glanced at a little pool near the edge of the lake where in a fish-car the fish-car the fish mr brown had caught while out alone that morning were swimming they could not get out of the car or box which had netting on the side he is going to take some of them back to the city with him in the morning said mrs brown he wants to give them to his friends those he and bunny and tom catched this afternoon will be for our supper Sue. I like Tom, don't you, mother? asked Sue, as she put on a long apron and readiness to bake her pie. Yes, he seems like a nice boy, but it's very queer that the hermit should stick needles into him.

But they weren't real needles, said Sue. He never could see them. He only felt them. They must have been fairy needles, for Tom could never see them being pulled out either. Well, we'll let your father look after that, said Mrs. Brown. Now we'll bake your pie, and I'll make the pudding and cake I have to get ready for the Sunday dinner. Whenever Mrs. Brown bake, she always let Sue do something, make a patty cake, a little pie with some of the leftover crust from a big one, or perhaps bake a pan of cookies. Mrs. Brown would let Susie use some of the dough or pie crust already made up, or she would stand beside her little girl and tell her what to do. Today Mrs. Brown did a little of both.

She herself baked several pies as well as two cakes, and as there was plenty of pie crusts left, Mrs. Brown told Sue how to roll some out in a smooth, thin sheet and lay it over a tin. The next thing to do, said Mrs. Brown, is to put the mince meat in on the bottom crust, put another sheet of pie crust on top, cut some holes in it so the steam can get out trim off the edges nice and smooth and set the pie in the oven roll out your top pie crust and you'll find the mince meat in a glass jar in the cupboard next to a jar of peaches and don't forget to cut holes in your top crust

sue started to do all this just then a neighboring farmer's wife called at the tent with fresh eggs to sell and as she needed some mrs brown went to see about buying a dozen go on with your pie sue she called i'll be back in a minute let me see said the little girl to herself i have the bottom crust in the tin the top crust is all rolled out and now i need the mincemeat i'll get it from a glass jar which she brought to her own in the tin the top crust is all rolled out and now i need the mincemeat i'll get it from a glass jar which she brought to her which she brought from the cupboard next to a jar of peaches sue poured very carefully into the bottom crust some dark stuff that had a most delicious spicy odor that mince meat is good and strong said sue daddy will be sure to love it she spread out the filling evenly and then put on the top crust with the little holes cut in to let out the steam when the pie should be baking in the oven just as sue was finishing trimming off what was left over of the crust. Mrs. Brown came back from buying the eggs. "'Oh, you have your pie finished!' exclaimed Sue's mother. "'You got ahead of me. Well, I'll put it in the oven for you as you might burn yourself, and then I'll get on with my baking.'

"'And I really made this pie all my own self, didn't I?' asked Sue eagerly. "'Indeed you did, all but making the crust. And you'll soon be able to do that,' said her mother. "'Now we must finish our baking.' the afternoon passed very quickly for sue and her mother but just as the last cookies which sue helped to make were taken out of the oven a lovely brown and smelling so delicious bunny his father and tom came back from their fishing trip is the pie-baked sue asked bunny who was tired hungry and dirty there are certainly pies baked and other things too if my nose can smell anything cried daddy brown now then we'll clean the fish and have them for supper please let me clean them said tom i used to work for a fish-man and i know how to do it quick that isn't the only thing you can do quickly said mr brown with a smile the way you caught that fish which got loose from bunny's hook to-day showed how quick you were oh i've done that before said the tall lad with a laugh i like to fish and he's very good at it said mr brown to his wife as he and bunny began to wash he took me to a number of quiet coves and we got some big fish bunny caught the prize of the day and it would have got loose from its hook if tom had not slipped a net under it in time bunny was delighted i'm glad of that but what about this boy

are we going to keep him with us i think so for a while he'll be useful about the camp now that i have to be away so much and two he's perfectly safe with the children he'll look well after them besides i want to look into this queer story he tells about the hermit bixby and the needles do you think there is anything in it well there may be and something queer too i want to find out what it is tom can sleep in that little bit of little extra tent re-bought. Now how is supper coming on? Can I help? No, I think Uncle Tad has done everything but clean the fish, and—' Here comes Tom with them now, said Mrs. Brown, and you must be sure to speak of Sue's pie. I will. That little girl is getting to be a regular housekeeper. She'll soon have your place, and Mr. Brown shook his finger at his wife. Tom brought up the cleaned and washed fish. Mrs. Brown dried them in old town. owls, dipped them in batter, and soon they were frying in the pan. By this time the cakes and pies were set out, and in a little while supper was ready. And how good those freshly caught fish tasted,

Bunny declared his was the best, and really it did seem so, for it was a splendid bass. And now for my pie, said Sue, as Mrs. Brown said it on the table, I want you all to have some, and a big piece for Tom, because he saved Bunny's spruce. fish. Mrs. Brown cut the pie and passed it around. As she did so, she looked carefully at the pie and the pieces. Isn't there enough, mother asked Sue, anxiously? Oh, yes, but I was just thinking. At that moment, Bunny, who had taken rather a large bite, cried, What kind of pie did you say this was, Sue? Mints, of course. It tastes more like spice pickles to me. Doesn't it to you, Tom? Oh, I don't know.

it tastes lots better than the pie we got to the poor house i can tell you that mr brown who had tasted his piece made a funny face are you sure you put enough sugar in he asked sue you don't have to put sugar in mince meat it's already in answered his little girl mrs brown took a taste of sue's pie she too made a funny face and then she asked where did you get the jar of mincemeat sue from the cupboard where you told me momsey next to the glass jar of peaches. On which side of the jar of peaches? Let me see. It was the side I write my letters with, my right hand, mother. Oh, dear, cried Mrs. Brown, I should have told you, but the egg woman came just then. I should have told you the left side of the jar of peaches. On the right side was a jar of pickle chow-chow. It looks a lot like mincemeat, I know, but it is quite different. The real mince meat was on the left side of the peach jar. Oh, Sue, you've made your pie of chow-chow. I was thinking Sue had found out a new kind of pie, said Daddy Brown. Never mind,

there are some cakes and cookies. Oh, dear, cried Sue, and there were tears in her eyes. I did so want my mince pie to be nice. It was good, said Tom. the crust is the best i ever ate and the pickled insides will go good on the fish everybody laughed at that and even sue smiled next time smell your mince-meat before you put it in a pie said mrs brown otherwise your pie would have been perfect sue i will promised a little girl tom became a regular member of camp rest awhile sleeping in a tent by himself and he proved so useful cutting wood going to on errands and even helping with the cooking, that Mrs. Brown said she wondered how she had ever got along without him. He was given some of Uncle Tad's old clothes that seemed to fit him very well, so he could no longer be called the ragged boy, and he went in swimming so often, often taking Bunny and Sue along, that all three were as clean as whistles, Mrs. Brown said.

No word had been heard from Mr. Bixby about his missing helper, but Mr. Brown had been heard from Brown had not given up making inquiries about the needles. Bunny and Sue missed their electric playthings, but their father brought them other toys from the city, with which they had great fun, but still Bunny wished for his electric train and Sue for her wonderful teddy bear. One night just after supper, Mrs. Brown discovered that she needed milk, to set some bread for baking in the morning. I'll go and get it to the farmhouse, said Tom. may i go too asked bunny it was decided that he could as it was not late only dark so down the dusky road trudged bunny and tom with splash running along beside them as it happened the farmhouse where they usually got the milk had none left so they had to go on to the next one which is quite near the edge of the indian village but they won't any of em be out now will they asked bunny oh the indians may be sitting outside of the indians may be sitting outside of the indian village but they won't any of em be out now will they asked bunny oh the indians may be sitting outside

their cabin smoking their pipes, said Tom. Oh, that'll be all right, observed Bunny. They'll be piece pipes and they won't hurt us. Of course not, laughed Tom. From the road in front of the house where they finally got the milk, they could look right down into the valley of the Indian encampment.

And as Bunny looked, he saw a bright fire blazing and Indians walking or hopping slowly around it. Oh, Tom, look, cried the small boy, what's that? Are the Indians going on the war path? I read of that in my school book.

If they are, we'd better go back and tell Uncle Tad and father. Then they can get their guns and be ready. Those Indians aren't getting ready for war, said Tom. They're only having a roast corn dance. What's a roast corn dance, asked funny. I'll show you the roast corn part tomorrow night, promised Tom. But don't worry about those Indians. They'll not hurt you.

now we'd better go home as soon as bunny was in the tent he shouted much louder than he need have done oh sue we saw indians having a roast corn dance and to-morrow night we're going to have one too end of chapter eighteen chapter nineteen of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this libro box recording is in the public domain eagle feathers horse bunny brown was so excited by the indian camp-fire he had seen and by the queer figures dancing about in the glare of it seeming twice as tall and broad as they really were that he insisted on telling about it before he went to bed did they really dance just as we do at dancing school when we're at home asked sue no not exactly bunny answered it was more like marching and they turned around every now and then and howled and wold and we're at home asked sue no not exactly bunny answered it was more like marching and they turned around every now and then and howled and waved ears of corn in the air. Then they ate them. What was it for, Tom? asked Mr. Brown. You have lived about here quite a while, and you ought to know. Oh, the Indians believe in what they call the Great Spirit, Tom explained. They do all sorts of things so he'll like them, such as making fires, dancing and having games. It's only a few of the old Indians that do that. This green corn roast

or dance is a sort of prayer that there'll be lots of corn, a big crop this year, so the Indians will have plenty to eat, for they depend a whole lot on cornmeal for bread, pancakes, and the like of that. I told Bunny I'd show him how the Indians roast the ears of green corn tomorrow if you'll let me. Oh, please, Momsie do. Oh, Daddy, let him. The first was Sue's plea and the second Bunnies, and the father and mother smiled. well i think it will be all right if tom is as careful about fire as he is on the water said mr brown oh goody cried sue while bunny smiled and danced his delight finally camp rest awhile was quiet for every one was in bed and the only noises to be heard were those made by the animals and insects of the wood an owl now and then calling out hoo hoo hoo who who just as if it were trying to find someone who was lost.

Where will we get the ears to roast? Ask Bunny, as soon as he was up the next morning. We don't grow any corn in our camp. Oh, we can get some roasting ears from almost any of the farmers around here, said Tom. But we don't want to make the fire until night. It looks prettier then. That's what I say, cried Sue.

And if you wait until night I'll make some muffins to eat with the roast corn. Mother is going to show me how. Well, don't put any chow-chow. meat and your muffins, beg Bunny with a laugh. I won't promise Sue. But can't we do something while we're waiting for night to come so we can roast the corn? Will you put up the swing you promised to make for us, Tom? asked Bunny.

Yes, if you have the rope. We can row across the lake in the boat, to the store at the landing and get the rope there, said Bunny. I'll ask my mother. Mrs. Brown gave permission, and Tom was soon making a swing, hanging it down from a high branch of a strong oak tree. Then Bunny and Sue took turns swinging while Tom pushed. After dinner they decided it was time to go for the roasting ears,

and again they were in the boat, as it was nearer to the farmer's house across the water than by going the winding road. Tom picked out the kind of ears he wanted, large and full of kernels in which the milk, or white juice, was yet running. this was a corn that ripened late and was very good for roasting with the corn in one end of the boat and the children in the stern or rear where he could watch them as they moved about on the broad seat tom rode the boat toward camp they reached it just in time for supper and just as mr brown got home from his trip to the city we're going to have roast ears of corn to-night called sue as she hugged and kissed her father oh that makes me feel as it is a little bit of the city we're going to have roast ears of corn to-night called sue as she hugged and kissed her father

oh that makes me feel as if i were a boy said mr brown who is going to roast the corn i am said tom i've done it many a time well i'm glad you know how but now let's have supper the children did not eat much because they were so anxious to roast the corn but tom said they must wait until dark as the camp-fire would look prettier then however it could hardly have been called dark when tom after much teasing on the part of bunny and sue, set a glow the light twigs and branches which soon made the bigger logs glow. We have to have a lot of hot coals and embers, said Tom, or else the corn will smoke and burn, so we'll let the fire burn for a while until there are a lot of red-hot coals or embers of wood. When this had come about, Tom brought out the ears, stripped the green husks from them, and then brushing off a smooth stone that had been near the fire so long that it was good and hot he placed on it the ears of corn almost at once they began to roast turning a delicate brown and tom turned them over from time to time so they would not burn by having one side too near the fire too long when will they be ready to eat asked bunny brown in a few minutes said tom there i guess these two

were ready, and he picked out two smoking hot ones nicely browned, using a sharp-pointed stick for a fork. He offered one ear to Mr. Brown and the other to Mrs. Brown. No, let the children have the first one, said their mother. Be careful their hot, cautioned Tom, as he passed the ears on their queer wooden sticks to Bunny and Sue. Sue blew on hers to cool it, but Bunny was in such a hurry that he started to eat at once. As a result, he was in a result he cried, Ouch, it's hot. Be careful, cautioned his mother,

and after that, Bunny was careful. Soon two more ears were roasted, and these Mr. and Mrs. Brown took. They waited a bit for them to cool, and then began to eat slowly. They are delicious, said Mrs. Brown. This is the only way to cook green corn,

remarked Uncle Tad. It's the best I've eaten since I was a boy, declared Mr. Brown. We shall have to have some. more, Tom. Yes, I'll cook some more for you. Parched corn is good, too, the Indians like that. You have to wait until the ears are nearly ripe for that, though, and the colonels dried. Aren't you going to eat any, Tom, Bunny asked, as he took the ear the bigger boy handed him. Oh, yes, I'll have some now, if you've had all you want.

Well, maybe I'll eat more, said Bunny, and I want another would in soup. There's plenty here, said Tom as he began to eat. Almost as he spoke, there was a crackling of the leaves and sticks behind the embers of the roast corn party, and before anyone could turn around to see what it was, a voice spoke. White folks make keep good meals same as Indians. That's right, Eagle Feather called back Tom, who did not seem to be so much taken by surprise, as did the others. Come and have some.

What brings you here? Eagle feather lose him horse was the answer. Come look for him. Maybe you have? And he squatted down beside the campfire and accepted a roasted ear that Tom handed him. What does this mean about Eagle Feather's horse being here? asked Mr. Brown. Me tell you about a minute, answered the Indian, gnawing away at the corn. End of Chapter 19. Chapter 20 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the Beesley. Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Fun in the attic. Bunny Brown looked at his sister Sue and she looked at him.

What could it mean so many things being taken away? First Bunny's train of cars, then Sue's electric-eyed teddy bear. Now Eagle Feather's horse was missing and he had come to camp rest a while to look for it. Though why the children could not understand. Tom was kept busy with. roasting the ears of corn and passing them around. Eagle feather ate three without saying anything more, and would probably have taken another, which Tom had ready for him, when Mr. Brown asked, well, Eagle feather, what is your trouble? Is your horse really gone? And if it is, why do you think it is here?

We don't have any horses here. All our machines go by gasoline. Me knows all such, replied the Indian. little wagon make much puff-puff like boys heap big medicine train no horse push or pull em eagle feather have good horse him run fast and stop quick sometimes buy em by like squaw eagle feather fall off but horse good now somebody take somebody take eagle feathers horse maybe he wandered away said mr brown horses horses often do that you know when you tie them in the woods where flies by them. Yes, equal feather know that, but how you say, him rope broke or cut? And the Indian held out a halter made of rope, with a piece of rope dangling from it. Mr. Brown looked closely at it. Why, that's been cut, exclaimed the children's father, for the end of the rope by which the horse had been tied was smooth, and not broken and rough, as it would have been, had it been pulled apart. If you will cut a rope and then

break another piece you can easily see the difference sure cut exclaimed eagle feather done last night went all dark indians at corn dance and may be sleepy know here someone come up soft to eagle feather's barn and take out horse have to cut rope cause indian time not white man find too much hard to make loose so you think a white man took your horse and that's why you come to us asked mr brown yes you know much white man maybe so like one ask you hide my horse in your tent indeed not cried mr brown i haven't any friends who would steal a man's horse maybe not went on the indian but night of green corn dance him come to see it and your boy too an eagle feather pointed first at tom and then at bunny we didn't see eagle feather's horse cried out bunny brown easy my boy said his father let's get at what eagle feather means. Before he could ask a question, the Indian pointed a finger at Tom and asked sharply, You see my horse, Knight, you come, green corn dance? Not a sign of him did I see, answered Tom quickly, and I wasn't nearer the middle of the village where the campfire was, then half a mile. We didn't take your horse, Eagle Feather. Maybe so not. Eagle Feather thought maybe you might see went on the Red Man. Me know you, good boy, Tom.

good to Indians. These little Brown boy and gal they good, too. But we walk a long path horse took, and marks of him feet come right to this camp. Is that so? asked Mr. Brown. We'll have to look into this. Perhaps the thief did pass among our tents, to hide the direction he really took. We'll have a look in the morning. It's too dark now. Indeed, it was very dark, the campfire throwing out but fitful gleams, for enough of the roasted ears had been cooked to suit everyone. Eagle-feather bade his friends goodbye, remarking again how sorry he was over losing his horse, and he said he would see them all in the morning. With the children and Tom safely in bed, Uncle Tad and Mr. and Mrs. Brown talked the matter over. Eagle-feather seems to think his horse was brought to this camp, said Mrs. Brown.

"'Perhaps he does,' agreed her husband, "'but that doesn't matter. "'I don't like it, though,' went on his wife. "'The idea of thinking Bunny might have had a hand in the trick. "'I don't believe Eagle Feather ever had such an idea,' laughed Mr. Brown. "'He might have thought Tom, "'from having watched the corn dance, had taken the horse in fun, "'but I don't believe he has any such idea now.

"'I should hope not, exclaim Mrs. Brown.' early the next morning eagle feather and another indian came to the camp they looked for the marks of horses hoofs and found some they said were those of eagle feathers animal in the soft dirt but though the marks came to the edge of the camp they did not go through the spaces between the tents they must have led the horse around our camp said uncle tad and this proved to be a correct guess for on the other side of the camp the footprints of a horse with the same shaped hook as that of eagle feathers were seen now we find horse easy said the indian as he and his companion hurried on through the big woods well i hope you find him and i'm glad you don't think anyone around here had anything to do with it said uncle tad i hope you find your horse soon but it was a vain hope for in a little while it began to rain and the rain mr brown said would wash away all hoof prints of the indian horse, so they could no longer be seen. But Eaglefeather and his friend did not come back. Oh, I wish we had something to do, cried Sue, as the rain kept on pelting down on the roof of the tent, and she and Bunny could not go out. It would be fun if we had your electric train now,

and my Sally Melinda, said Sue. That's right, exclaimed Bunny, but I don't suppose we'll ever get them. No, I suppose not, sighed Sue. sue. The children were trying to think of a rainy day game to play and wishing they could go out when there came a knock on the main tent pole, which was the nearest thing to a front door in the camp. Oh, it's Mrs. Preston, the egg lady, said Sue, who, out of a celluloid tent window, had watched the visitor coming to the camp. She can't be coming with egg, said Mrs. Brown, for I bought some only yesterday. Mrs. Preston quickly told what she wanted. "'I've come for your two children, Mrs. Brown,' she said.

"'I know how hard it is to keep them cooped up and amused on a rainy day. Now over at our house we have a lovely big attic, filled with all sorts of old-fashioned things that the children of our neighbors play with. They can't harm them, and they can't harm themselves. Don't you want to let Bunny and Sue come over to my attic to play?' "'Oh, yes, Mother, please do, beg Bunny.' and it's only such a little way that we won't get wet at all said sue we can wear rubbers and take umbrellas well if you're sure it won't be any bother mrs preston said mrs brown no bother at all glad to have them answered mrs preston get ready my dears and bunny brown and his sister sue were soon on their way to have rainy day fun in an attic end of chapter twenty chapter twenty one of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope

this librivox recording is in the public domain where is sue now children the attic is yours for the day said mrs preston after she had led bunny brown and his sister into the house and-house and her sister into the house and had helped them get off their wet coats you are to do just as you please for there is nothing in the attic you can harm oh won't we have fun cried sue i should say so exclaimed bunny are there any old guns or swords up there we can play soldier with asked the little boy yes i think so answered mrs preston the guns are very old and can't be shot off and the swords are very dull so you can't hurt yourself still be careful We will, promise, Bunny. I wish I had another boy to play with. Sue makes a good nurse, but she isn't much of a soldier. I can holler bang as loud as you, protested Sue. Yes, I know you can. But who ever heard of women's soldiers? They are all right for nurses, and Sue can bandage your arm up awful tight,

just like it was really shot off. But she can't act like a real soldier, Mrs. Preston. "'Maybe the boy I have asked over to play in the attic with you can,' suggested Mrs. Preston. "'Oh, is there another boy coming?' asked Bunny eagerly. "'Yes, and a girl, too. They are Charlie and Rose Parker, and they live down the road away. They are a new family that has just moved in, and they haven't an attic in their house any more than you have in your tent. So I ask them over every rainy day, though I know that it is hard for children. to stay in the house oh i hope they come soon exclaimed bunny i want to have some fun i think i hear them now said mrs preston as a knock sounded at the back door yes here they are she called to bunny and sue who were sitting in the dining-room

come now young folks get acquainted and then go up to the attic to play charlie and rose parker being about the age of bunny and sue did not take long to grow friendly and the brown children, having often met strangers, were not a bit bashful, so the four soon felt that they had known each other a long time. Now up to the attic with you and have your fun, directed Mrs. Preston. Use anything you want to play with. But when you are through, put everything back where you found it. We will, promised the children, and up the stairs they went, laughing and shouting. I hope we find some swords and guns to find some swords and guns to find.

fight with, said Bunny to Charlie. Oh, there's lots of them, Charlie answered. I've been here before and I know where lots of guns are, only they're awful heavy. Then we can pretend they are cannon, cried Bunny. Yes, and we can make a fort of old trunks. There's a lot of them up here, Charlie said. They were on their way up the attic stairs,

Charlie leading the way, as he had often gone up before. Don't take all the trunks, until we get out of them what we want to play with, begged Rose. What's in the trunks, asked Bunny of his new friend? Oh, nothing but a lot of old dresses and things. Rose most always dresses up fancy in them, and pretend she's a big lady, said Charlie. Then that's what Sue will do, said Bunny.

She likes to dress up, but we'll play soldier. Mrs. Preston's attic was the nicest one that could be imagined. In one corner were several trunks. In another corner was a spinning wheel, and hanging here and there from the attic beams were strings of sleigh-bells that sent out a merry jingle when one's head hit them. Here and there in places where there were no boards over the beams were hickory nuts and wall-nuts that could be cracked on a brick and eaten. They'll be our ration, said Charlie, who liked to play soldier as well as did Bunny.

But where are the swords and the guns, Bunny asked. i'll show you said charlie they're just behind the chimney in the middle of the attic extending up through the roof was a big chimney it could not be seen in the rest of the house but here in the attic the bricks were in plain view and charlie said on cold winter days when it snowed it was warm in the attic because of the heat from the chimney just now the boys were more interested in the guns and the swords of which a goodly number were hanging on rafters and beams back of the chimney. Oh, what a lot of guns, cried Bunny. And they shoot, too, added Charlie. I mean you can pull the trigger and the hammer will snap down. Of course, we only use make-believe powder.

Of course, agreed, Bunny, but we can holler bang whenever we shoot a gun. And we each have a sword. So the boys began to play soldier, sometimes both being on the same side, hunting Indians through the secret mazes of the attic. and again one being a white settler soldier and the other a red man meanwhile sue and rose were playing a different game they had found some old-fashioned and big silk dresses in some of the trunks and they at once dressed themselves up in these and made believe pay visits one to the other the two little girls talked as they imagined grown-up ladies would talk when dressed up and they had great fun while on the other side of the attic charlie and bunny were bang banging away at one another in the soldier game the children had been playing in the attic about an hour the boys at their soldiering game and the girls at visiting when rose came to bunny and charlie with a queer look on her face

what's the matter asked charlie have you had a fuss and stopped playing no but i can't find sue anywhere can't find sue exclaimed bunny where is she that's just what i don't know i was playing i was mrs johnson and she was to be mrs wilson and call on me when she didn't come i went to look for her but i couldn't find her in her house which was her house asked bunny this big trunk and rose pointed to a large one in a distant corner of the attic sue sue are you in there are you in the trunk cried bunny the children listening seemed to hear a faint call all from inside the trunk. They looked at one another with startled eyes. What could they do? End of Chapter 21. Chapter 22 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. The hermit comes for Tom. Are you sure she came over here? asked Bunny Brown. Sure, answered Rose. You see, this was her pretend house, and mine was over there under the string of sleigh-bells.

She pointed to where several small trunks had been drawn together to form a square. Some old bed-quilts had been laid over to make a roof, and under this Rose received visits from her friend Sue, who went by the name of Mrs. Wilson. When did you last see her? asked Charlie. Maybe she went downstairs. No, she didn't, for I saw her opening the big trunk and taking clothes out to dress up in. besides she couldn't get downstairs for you boys pulled two trunks in front of the stairs for a fort so we did said charlie she couldn't have gone down without moving the trunks and they haven't been moved well then she must be up here somewhere said bunny maybe she's shut up in the big trunk that's dreadful call and let's see if she is in there said rose bunny went close to the big trunk the largest in the attic and then he called as loudly as as he could. Are you in there, Sue? Back came the answer very faintly.

Yes, I'm here, Bunny. Please get me out. I'm locked in. She's locked in, cried Charlie. We must open the trunk and get her out. Come on, Bunny. Both boys grasped the lid of the trunk. Why, it's locked, cried Rose. You can't open it without unlocking it. Let's see if we can find some keys. Eagerly the children ran about the attic, taking keys from all. all the trunks they saw, but either these keys did not fit in the locked one where Sue was shut up, or the fingers of Bunny, Rose, and Charlie were too small to fit them properly in the locks. We'd better call Mrs. Preston, said Bunny, for he could hear Sue crying now inside the trunk, and Sue was a brave little girl who did not often cry. We'd better go down and tell her,

suggested Rose. She'll never hear us from up here. "'Let's go down, then,' cried Bunny. He and Charlie soon pulled away from the attic stairs the two trunks that they had placed there to make a fort, down to the kitchen where Mrs. Preston was making pies, hurried the three children. "'What, through playing so soon?' asked Mrs. Preston. "'I thought you'd be much longer than this.

"'I haven't your lunch for you ready yet.' "'But where is Sue?' she asked, not seeing Bunny's sister. "'She—she's locked in a trunk. in the attic. The big trunk, explained Charlie, and she's hollering like anything, but we can't get her out. Locked in that trunk, good gracious, cried Mrs. Preston. That trunk shuts with a spring lock. Now I wonder where the key to it is. Here's a lot of keys we found, said Bunny, holding out those he and Charlie had gathered from the other trunks. I'll try those, but I'm afraid they won't fit, said Mrs. Preston, hurrying up to the attic, followed by

money, Charlie, and Rose. You'll be all right now, Sue called Mrs. Preston, through the sides of the trunk to Sue. We'll soon have you out. Please hurry, said a muffled and far-off voice. I can hardly breathe in here. I should say not, exclaimed Mrs. Preston. We'll get you out soon, though.

She tried other keys, none of which would fit, and then she brought up from her bedroom another bunch that locked the trunk she used when she went traveling. It's of no use, she cried when she found she could not open the trunk. We can't waste any more time. Charlie, you run and get Mr. Wright, the carpenter. He'll have to saw a hole in the end of the trunk to get Sue out. But he won't hurt her, will he? asked Bunny. No, indeed, he'll be very careful. Mr. Wright came back with Charlie, carrying several tools in his hand. He soon set to work. Get as a son.

far back to the end of the trunk as you can, he called to Sue, tapping with his fingers on the end he wanted her to keep away from. I'm back as far as I can get, she said, in a far-off voice. All right, now I'm going to bore a little hole in this end, and then I'm going to put in a little saw and saw a door in the end of your trunk house so you can crawl out. Don't be afraid. I'll soon have you out, said the carpenter. very carefully Mr. Wright bored the hole.

Then, with a small saw, he began cutting a hole in the side of the big trunk. In a little while the hole was big enough for Sue to crawl through. They had to help her for she was weak and faint, from having been shut up so long, but the fresh air and a glass of milk soon made her feel better, and she wanted to go on with the game. No, I think you had better be out in the air now on the big and closed porch, said Mrs. Preston.

You have played in the attic long enough, and never thought of the spring lock on that trunk. It is the only one in the attic, but now we will leave the hole cut in the end, so even with the lid closed, whoever goes in, can get out. It would make a good kennel for our dog's splash, said Bunny. And you may have it for that if you like, said Mrs. Preston.

I'll have the hired man take it over to your camp. after thanking mrs preston for the good time she had given them the children after a lunch started for their homes bunny and sue found something very strange going on in the camp when they reached there there was mr bixby the hermit sitting on a box just outside the tent talking very earnestly to mr brown who had just come from town in the small automobile it had stopped raining well i've decided not to let him go back to you mr brown was saying i don't think you have treated him right and i am going to complain to the authorities about it and i tell you mr brown not meaning to be impolite that i'm entitled to that boy and i'm going to have him he's bound out to me for the summer what does he want mother whispered bunny hush my dear daddy will attend to it all mr bixby came here a little while ago and he wants to take tom back Tom doesn't want to go on account of the needle pricks as he calls them, but Mr. Bixby wants him, and your father is not going to let Tom go. Oh, I'm glad of that, exclaimed Sue in a whisper.

I like Tom, and I don't care if I was locked in a trunk, and most smothered if we can keep Tom. End of Chapter 22. Chapter 23 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope. this librovoc's recording is in the public domain trying to help tom you were locked in a trunk and almost smothered exclaimed mrs brown looking first at sue and then at mr bixby as though she thought he might have had some hand in the matter yes it was over in mrs preston's attic but it was my own fault i never should have got in the trunk for it was closed with a spring lock and they had to get a carpenter to saw me out oh and spoil mrs preston's trunk tisn't spoiled said bunny she's going to let us use it for a dog kennel and it will make such a nice one for splash said sue you see we can put hinges on the little square place the carpenter cut out to make a hole for me to get through and we can make something fast to it that splash can get hold of with his teeth like a knob so he can pull the door shut when it rains it will be awful nice i don't mind having been

shut up a bit when I think of splash. But how did it all happen? asked Mrs. Brown, while her husband and Mr. Bixby were talking together. The children told of Sue's adventure and of Charlie and Rose and of the big porch and of the lunch. But what does Mr. Bixby want, mother? Is he really going to take Tom away from us, asked Sue? I don't know, my little girl, I hope not, but he seems to have the law on his side. well you have your way of looking at it and i have mine mr bixby was saying to mr brown i hired this boy from the forehouse and agreed to pay him certain wages part he keeps for himself and the rest goes to the forehouse managers for his board in the winter when he can't work

then this boy ups and leaves me and comes to you it isn't fair and i'm not getting the worth of the money i paid for though he is a lazy chap i'm a lazy chap i'm a I managed to get some chores out of him. Of course, said Mr. Brown. You may be right in what you say about having the right to this boy's work because you paid for it. As for his being lazy, I don't agree with you there. He has certainly been a help to us about the camp. Oh, yes, where there's any fun in it, Tom's right there. I suppose he's a good fisherman.

Never saw a better one, said Mr. Brown earnestly, while Bunny Brown and Sue sat together on a big stump. and wondered what it was all about yes tom had rather fish than eat said mr bixby slowly as he crossed one ragged trouser leg over the other who wouldn't with what i got to eat at your cabin burst out tom who had been standing back near the cook tent all i got was potatoes and once in a while bacon i got so hungry i just had to go out and fish well we won't go into any argument about it said mr bixby i'm entitled to work from you and i'm going to have you that's all there is about it i'll never go back to you to be stung with them needles cried tom at this mr bixby at this mr Brown asked a question. What are these needles, Tom speaks of, he asked. I think I have a right to know, as he is in my charge now, and if I let him go to you and he is hurt, I should feel I was to blame. I want to know about this needle business. There wasn't anything to it. He just imagined it.

I used to grab hold of his arm to shake him awake mornings, and I'd happen to hit his funny bone in his elbow. You know how it is when you hit your elbow in a certain place. "'It makes it feel as though pins and needles were sticking in you.' "'I have felt that,' said Mrs. Brown. "'And so have I added, Bunny. It's funny.' "'Well, that's all there is to it,' said Mr. Bixby. "'But I want Tom back. I'm going to have him, too.' "'You shall have him if you have a right to him.

"'But I shall look into this first,' said Mr. Brown. "'You can't take him to-night.' "'Oh, well, we shan't quarrel over that "'as long as I get him to-morrow to help dig potato.' but you'll find I'm in the right and that the boy belongs to me for the summer, said the hermit. I'll do just as I agreed to by him. Well, I'll look it up to make sure, said Mr. Brown. It may be that you are right and it may be you are wrong.

If you are, I'll say to you now that you'll never get Tom away from me. That's right, don't let him take me, cried Tom, who seemed very much afraid. I don't want any more of his funny needles stuck in me. let me stay with you i will if i can tom my boy said mr brown you'll find you can't keep him away from me said mr bixby as he got up to go and i won't hurt him as he and you folk seem to think all i want are my rights the two men talked together a little longer but tom wanted to hear all about sues having been shut in the trunk so bunny and his sister took turns telling the story once more while tom listened eagerly if i'd been there he cried as sue finished i'd a given that trunk one kick and busted her clean open sue i wouldn't have waited for no carpenter one look at tom's big feet seemed to indicate that he could easily have busted the trunk clean open but it was better to saw a little door to make a kennel for splash said sue anyhow i wasn't in there very long and i could breathe a little well be careful about getting into trunks again said her mother and Sue said she would.

The children played in the woods about the camp with Tom after supper, while Mr. and Mrs. Brown sat off to one side, talking earnestly. I guess they're talking about you, said Sue, about your going away, Tom. Well, I'm not going back to Mr. Bixby, declared the lad. And we're not going to let you, cried Bunny. If he comes after you, we'll get in a boat and go down the lake and hide in that cave. We'll take something to eat with us, some fish lines to catch fish, and we'll cook them over a campfire, and we'll live in the big

woods forever. What'll we do when winter comes, asked Sue? Oh, then Daddy and Mother will be back in the city, and we can go live with them, replied her brother. Early the next morning, while the children and Tom were having breakfast, Mr. Brown was seen setting off toward the village. Where are you going, Daddy? cried Sue. Can't you take us with you, asked Bunny. No, I'm I'm going off to see some of the townspeople, the authorities, the head of the forehouse, and others, to find out what right Mr. Bixby has to Tom. Oh, if you're going to help Tom, that's all right, said Sue. We can have some games among ourselves, can't we, Bunny, she added, turning to her brother.

Yes, but I wish I had my electric train. Well, you can play with the car you found in the hay, said Sue, and then we've got to make that trunk kennel for splurril. "'Oh, so we have!' exclaimed Bunny. "'I forgot about that. We'll have some fun anyhow.' "'And I'll help,' said Tom. "'Might as well have what fun I can,

if I have to go back to Mr. Bixby's.' "'You won't have to go back,' said Bunny. "'My father will fix it so you can stay with us.' "'End of Chapter 23 "'chapter 24 of Bunny Brown and his sister Sue in the Big Woods by Laura Lee Hope. this librivox recording is in the public domain the night meeting bunny and sue as soon as they had finished their breakfast went down to the edge of the lake to play they wanted to go for a row and mrs brown had said they could if tom was along so there was no trouble this time out on the water where the sun was shining on the waves tom rode the children

then bunny brought out his fishing line and pole baited the hook with some worms he had dug and began to fish you won't get any fish here said tom there are too many boats around i can take you to a place where there are some good perch and sunnies no i want to fish here said bunny it's easy to catch fish where everybody else can i want to try in a hard place so tom kept the boat in about the same spot rowing slowly about while bunny fished and fished and fished again without getting a single bite or nibble oh dear it's so hot here out in the middle of the lake said sue can't we go where it's cool and shady i know such a place as that said tom and you can't catch fish here out in the middle of the lake said sue can't we go where it's cool and shady i know such a place as that said tom and you can catch fish there, too. Does everybody fish there, Bunny asked? No, hardly anybody. And you can't always catch fish there either, even if you know the best places. Then we'll go, decided Bunny. I want to go to a hard place. Is there anything I can do where you're going, asked Sue? Well, you can gather pond lilies in the creek, which comes into the lake up above a piece. I'm going to take you there, said Tom. It's a nice place. goody cried sue clapping her hands mother loves pond lilies well there's lots up where we're going said tom as he began to row with strong long strokes

the creek as tom called it was a lazy sort of stream flowing into one part of the lake through a dense part of the big woods up this creek very few persons went as it was shallow for most boats and they often ran aground and got stuck but our boat will be all right said tom for it has a flat bottom and it doesn't lie very deep in the water it could almost be rowed in a good rain-storm farther and farther up the creek tom rode the children the trees met in a green arch overhead and the only sounds were those of the dripping waters from tom's oars the call of woodland birds or the distant splash of a fish jumping up to get a fly that was close to the top of the water "'Shall I fish here?' asked Bunny. "'Yes, you ought to get a few here.' "'Bunny cast in, and it was not long before he had a bite, but when he pulled up there was no fish on his hook. "'You must yank up quicker,' said Tom.

"'They are only nibbling to fool you. "'Pull up quickly.' "'Look out,' suddenly called Bunny. "'He yanked his pole up so suddenly that he pulled the fish out of the water, right over the heads of himself, his sister and Tom. And with a splash the fish came down in the water on the other side of the boat. There it wiggled off the hook. You pulled too hard this time, said Tom with a laugh.

I'll do it just right next time, said Bunny, and he did. When he felt something pulling on his line, he too pulled, and this time he caught a sunfish, large enough to cook. it had very pretty colors on it it's too pretty to catch said sue but oh look at all the pretty pond mullies and she pointed to some farther up the creek can we get some tom wait until i catch one more fish begged bunny bunny soon caught another fish which had stripes around it like a raccoon sue said that's a perch tom told the children they're good to eat too but now we'll row up up for the lilies. However, in spite of the fact that their boat did not take much water, it ran aground before it reached the lilies. Oh, how are we going to get them, asked Sue in disappointment. I'll wait after them, said Tom. I can take off my shoes and socks. The water won't be

much more than up to my knees after I get over the mud bar on which the boat has stuck. Tom was soon wading in the mud and water, his trousers well rolled up. He was just reaching for one very large lily when he gave a sudden call, threw up his hands and sank down out of sight. Oh, Tom's gone, he's drowned, cried Sue. We've got to save him, shouted Bunny, struggling with the oars. But the boat was fast in the mud and he could not move it. What shall we do, gasped Sue?

Before Bunny could answer, Tom's head, appeared above the muddy water. He had hold of the pond lily. I'm all right, he said. I stepped on the edge of a hole under the water, and it was so slippery I went down in before I knew it, but the deepest part is only over my waist, and now that I'm wet, I might as well stay and get all the lilies you wish. Oh, that's too bad, cried Sue. Not at all, said Tom, I like it. Afterward I'll take a swim in the clean part of the lake and wash off. So, wet and muddy as he was, his clothes covered with slime from the bottom of the creek, Tom kept on gathering the lilies. Once he found a mud turtle which he tossed into the boat for bunny. The turtle seemed to go to sleep in a corner.

There's a nice bunch for you, said Tom, coming back to the boat with the flowers for the little girl. Oh, thank you so much, said Sue, but I'm sorry you got wet. i'm not these clothes needed washing anyhow laughed tom with that tom pushed the boat off the mud bar and down the creek into deeper water the children sitting on the seats now i'll tie you to shore go in swimming in this clean water and row you home after i've dried out a bit said tom so he went in swimming with all his clothes on except his shoes and socks and soon he was clean mother will be so glad to get the pond lily said sue and i guess you'll be glad to get my fish said bunny there's most enough for dinner tom was nearly dry when he reached home and no one said anything about his wet clothes oh what lovely flowers exclaimed mrs brown and what fine fish did you catch them all alone bunny yes mamsie both of em where's daddy oh off seeing some men i believe there's to be a meeting at our camp to-night to talk about your friend tom and mr bixby i hope they don't send tom back said bunny he knows everything about this lake after supper several men came to camp rest awhile they were some of the county officers eagle feather and some of the indians were present sitting by themselves and mr brown sat near tom

may we stay and see what happens mother asked bunny i guess so i don't know just what is going on but i think your father is going to try to arrange matters so tom will not have to go back to the hermits to live hurray cried bunny and while daddy is talking i hope he'll ask everybody if they've seen my electric train and my sally melinda added sue my nice electric-eyed teddy bear for all the inquiries and he'll ask everybody if they've seen my electric-train and my sally malinda added sue my nice electric-eyed teddy bear for all the inquiries and he'll ask everybody and he'll see had been made had not brought forth any trace of either of the children's toys the man in whose barn bunny had found one car said he had seen no one hiding it in the hay daddy is going to say something whispered sue hush cautioned her mother just then mr brown arose and looked at the men in front of him end of chapter twenty four chapter twenty five of bunny brown and his sister sue in the big woods by laura lee hope this librivox recording is in the public domain the missing toys gentlemen began mr brown i have asked you all to come to my camp to-night to settle some questions and if possible to find out what has been going on around here as i have told you two rather cost you two rather cost toys belonging to my children have been stolen eagle feather's horse has been taken away i know my children's toys have not been found and i think eagle feather your horse is still missing him no come back long times said the indian stable all ready for him good bed straw hate you eat he no come home make tink somebody keep him for himself that's what we think too eagle feather said mr ground now there's one person i ask to come here to-night who is absent he went on the hermit said some bixby said others i think we all mean the same man said mr brown

now i have told you about this boy tom who was found by my children in a cave near the lake shore he continued he was found crying saying he was being stuck full of needles i have not been able to get more than that out of him he says bixby made him take hold of two shining balls and then the needles pricked him. I have my own opinion of that, but I'll speak of that later. I asked Bixby here tonight that we might talk to him. I find that he has a right to hire this boy to work for him, and under the law to keep him all summer, so it seems that unless we can show that Bixby has treated Tom harshly, he will have to go back. Unless we can prove that this needle business was queer said one man yes and that is what i hope to prove to-night but since mr bixby is not here to talk to us suppose we go and talk to him cried an officer he may hear us coming and run away said another not if we go through the cave suggested tom i got into the cave where bunny and sue found me by going through a hole in bixby's stable then you'd better lead us through the cave said mr brown we may surprise the man at his tricks. The party was soon going along the lake shore toward the cave. The cavern was dark and

silent when they entered it, but their lights made it bright. On they went, all the men with Mrs. Brown, Uncle Tad, and the children, coming at the rear of the procession. After they had gone far into the cave, the whinny of a horse was heard. Ha! exclaimed Eagle Feather. Him sound like my horse. They went on softly through the cave and were soon near the place where Tom had entered it from the stable. Be very quiet now, everybody, said Mr. Brown. Sh, said Bunny to his mother and Sue, putting his finger on his lips. I'll take a peep and see if anyone's in sight, said Tom. He went forward a little way and came back to whisper.

There are two horses and a cow in there, and one horse looks like eagle feathers. "'Let Indian Sea!' exclaimed the red man, "'and when he had peeped through a hole between two stones in the stable wall, "'while Tom flashed a flashlight through another hole, "'Eaglefeather cried, "'That my horse, me get him back now.' "'Go a bit slow, advise Mr. Brown. "'We want to see what else this Bixby is up to.

"'How can you get to the house from here, Tom?' "'Right through the stable by the hole I got out of. his back door is near the stable front door come on on they went through the stable eagle feather pausing long enough to pat his horse and make sure that it was his own animal and grunting huh in pleasure softly now whispered tom we are coming to where we can look into one of the two rooms of mr bixby's hut it is there he sits at night and where he gave me the needles in silence the party made it's way to where all could look through the window. Bunny's father held him up, and Mrs. Brown took Sue in her arms. What they saw caused them all great surprise, for there on a table in front of Bixby, the hermit, was Bunny's toy engine and Sue's teddy bear, but the bear was partly torn apart, and from it ran wires that joined with other wires from Bunny's electric locomotive and batteries. At the

other ends of the wires were round shiny balls, like those on the ends of curtain rods. On the other side of the table sat an Indian, and at the sight of him, Eagle Feather whispered, his name Muscrat, much good in canoe and water. They saw the hermit put the two shiny knobs on the Indian's hands. Then Mr. Bixby turned a switch, and the Indian let out a wild yell and sprang through the open door crying, Thorns and Thistles, he has stung me with bad medicine. Wow. I think I begin to see the trick, said Mr. Brown. That's what he did to me, explained Tom.

But I didn't see a teddy bear or a toy locomotive. This time the hermit, disturbed by the sudden running away of the Indian and by the voices outside his window, started toward the latter. quick some of you get to the door so he can't get away called mr brown but bixby did not seem to want to run away he stood in the middle of the room until mr brown bunny sue and the others had entered oh there's my toy engine cried bunny making a grab for it and my teddy bear added sue look out don't touch them called mr brown he has fixed the dry batteries and the toys to a spark coil which makes the current the current stronger, and he's giving shocks that way, aren't you, he asked, turning to the hermit. Since you have found me out, I have, was the answer. I admit I have been bad, but I am sorry. I will tell you everything. I used to be a man who went about the country with an electric machine,

giving people electrical treatments for rheumatism and other pains. I made some money, but my wife died, and her sickness and burial took all I had. Then my electrical machine broke and I could not buy another. However, I did manage to get a little one, run with dry batteries, and I began going about the country making cures. Then this place was left me by a relative. I thought I could make a living off it with the help of a hired boy, so I got Tom.

I found some Indians lived here, and learning how simple they were. were and that they thought everything strange was heap big medicine as they called it i thought of trying my battery on them first i tried it on tom and he yelled that i was sticking needles into him he did not understand about the electricity and i did not try to explain i remembered what your children had told me about having a toy train of cars that ran by electricity and a teddy bear with two lamps for eyes i knew these batteries though small would be strong, and just what I needed, with what electrical things I had. So I stole the toy train of cars and the teddy bear. I was sorry to do it, but I thought if I could make enough money from the Indians, I could buy new batteries for myself and give the children back their toys.

But most of the Indians were afraid of the electrical current, which felt like needles. And I could not get many of them to come back after they had once. tried it, so I made no money. Tom ran away, and then I stole Eagle Feathers' horse. I thought maybe if I could sell the horse and get money enough to get a new machine that did not sting so hard, I could make money enough to buy the horse back. But everything went against me, and now I have nothing left. I am sorry.

I had to rip your teddy bear apart, little girl, to get the wires on the batteries. And as for your cars, little boy, I hid them, in farms and various places. I don't know where they are now, but the engine is all right and in running order. He quickly loosened the wires, and the toy locomotive ran around the table on part of the stolen track.

But my poor Sally Melinda is dead, cried Sue. No, I can sew her together again if the batteries are all right, said Mrs. Brown. And the batteries are all right, said the hermit, who had heard what was said. See, I'll make the eyes shine. He quickly did something to the wires, and again the eyes of Sue's teddy bear shone out bravely.

I realized how wrong I was to take the children's things, went on the hermit, but I knew no other way to get the batteries I needed. I only had my cow to sell, and I dared not part with her, for she gave me milk to live on. All the while I kept hoping my luck would be better. When Tom ran away, I did not.

know what to do. I did not imagine the little electricity I gave him would hurt him. A few of the Indians seemed to like it. Yes, me hear him talk of heap big medicine that sting like bees, said Eaglefeather. But me no-think-hermit did it, what has my horse. I'm sorry I took it, said Bixby. I'll give up my cow to pay for all I took. Then I'll go away. "'Wait a minute,' said Mr. Brown. "'We'll decide about that later. "'You have done some wrong things, "'but you have tried to do what was right.

"'We'll try to find a way out of your troubles. "'Stay here for a few days.' "'Bunny Brown and his sister Sue took with them that night, "'their toys so strangely found. "'And in a few days the playthings were as good as ever, "'for Mrs. Brown sewed up the ripped teddy bear, "'and Bunny had some new cars for his electric engine. the track the hermit had kept so it was all right does electricity feel like pins and needles asked bunny brown one day i'll show you said his father and he did buy a little battery which he owned this was after their return from camp it is like needles or your foot being asleep said bunny

but before this mr brown had talked with some of his neighbors and they decided to give the hermit another chance tom would go back to work for him on condition that no more electricity be used the hermit had a good garden and he could sell things from that eagle feather was given back his horse and mr bixby was not arrested for taking it and the mystery of the electrical toys being solved life at camp rest awhile went on as before for a time bunny and his sister had fine times and once in a while tom had a day's vacation and came over to see them but i s'pose we can't stay here forever said bunny to sue one day i wonder where we'll go next i heard father and mother talking something about a trip said sue and what that journey was may be learned by reading the next volume of this series to be called. Bunny Brown and his sister Sue on an auto tour. Say, we ought to have some fun on that, cried Bunny. So we ought, cried Sue. I'm going to take my fixed-over Sally Melinda. Well, I'll take my flashlight, instead of my locomotive and cars, said Bunny. We may have to travel at night. And while the two children are thus planning good times together, we will say goodbye to them.

End of Chapter 25. End of Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods. By Laura Lee Hope