Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue and Their Shetland Pony | Page 5

And there they stayed, inside the big auto, as Bunker started off once
more, driving first to the boat and fish dock to get Mr. Brown, who was
going to East Milford with him.
"It's too bad the children aren't here," said Mrs. Brown as she went
back into the house. "They could have a nice ride. I wonder where they
ran off to?"
If Mrs. Brown could have seen Bunny and his sister then, I think she
would have been surprised. But she did not see them, and, for a little
while, she gave them no further thought, as she was so busy
straightening the room, after Uncle Tad and Bunker Blue had moved
the sideboard to its new place.
On rumbled the big auto, and Bunny and Sue lay in the bunks having a
nice ride. They did not know just where they were going, and they
certainly never thought they were on their way to the boat and fish dock,
for they had not heard what their mother said. They kept covered with
the blankets for some little time, afraid lest their occasional snickers
and laughter might be heard by Bunker Blue.
"Hi, Sue!" called Bunny, after a while, during which the auto had rolled
down the road some little way.
"What is it?" Sue asked.
"It's too hot to keep under the covers. If we make only a little noise
now Bunker can't hear us."
"All right," Sue agreed. "But we mustn't make too much noise."

"No," said Bunny, and he threw off the covers and sat up in the bunk.
His sister did the same thing, and then they went out in the main
"room" of the ark. Of course, it was not a very large room, but it was
pretty big for being inside an auto. It had a little table and some stools
in it, and when the Browns were on their tour they often ate in that
room, when it was too rainy to have their meals outside.
After a time the auto stopped, and then, to the surprise of Bunny Brown
and his Sister Sue, they heard the voice of their father. He was talking
to Bunker Blue.
"So you got my telephone message, did you, Bunker?" asked Mr.
Brown.
"Yes, sir. Mrs. Brown told me just as I was coming out with the ark. So
I came here before going over to East Milford."
"That's what I wanted you to do. I want to ride over with you. I had the
men ice the fish, so they'll be all right. Is every one well up at my
house--Bunny and Sue?"
"Yes, they're all right," answered Bunker, as Mr. Brown climbed up to
the seat of the big auto. "Bunny and Sue wanted to come with me,"
Bunker went on, "but I didn't know whether you'd want 'em to, so I
didn't let 'em come."
"Well, that's too bad," said Mr. Brown. "If I had known they wanted to
come, and that I was going myself, I'd have let you bring them. But it's
too late now and----"
"Oh, no, Daddy! It isn't too late!" cried Bunny, who had listened to
what his father and Bunker were saying. "It isn't too late! Please take us
with you!"
"'Cause we're here now!" added Sue.
And as her brother opened the big, rear doors of the auto, he and Sue
stepped out.

"Well, I do declare!" cried Mr. Brown, running around to the back of
the big car and seeing his two little children. "Where did you come
from?"
"We hid in the auto!" came from Bunny.
"We wanted a ride, and we didn't let Bunker know we got in," added
Sue.
"Well, I certainly didn't know you were there!" cried Bunker.
"We got in when you and Uncle Tad were moving the sideboard,"
explained Bunny.
"That wasn't just the right thing to do," said Mr. Brown, shaking his
head. "However, as I would have taken you if I had been there, we'll
forgive you this time. Open the little front window, Bunker, and the
children can ride in the front part of the auto, where they can look out
and where I can talk with them."
In the front part of the ark, just back of the seat, was a window cut in
the end of the big car. It opened into a room near the bunks, and chairs
could be placed under the window so those who sat in them could look
out, just as in a regular auto.
Mr. Brown and Bunker Blue took their places on the front seat, and
once more the auto started off, and this time Bunny Brown and his
Sister Sue did not have to stuff their fists in their mouths to keep from
snickering and giggling.