nd be careful."

"We will," promised Bunker.

Bunny put on his slippers and bath robe and went to the bedroom door. It
was open a little way, and out in the hall he could see Bunker Blue and
Ben Hall. The two big boys had on rubber boots and rubber coats, for it
was raining hard.

"Oh, Bunker!" called Bunny. "May I go with you?"

"What, little shaver! Are you awake?" Bunker asked. "You'd better get
back to bed. It's raining cats and dogs!"

"Really?" called Sue, from her father's lap, where she was sitting all
"cuddled up." "Is it really raining cats and dogs? Is it raining my dog
Splash? If it is I want to see it!"

"No, I didn't exactly mean that," answered Bunker with a laugh. "I meant
it was raining such big drops that they are almost as large as little
baby cats and dogs. But it is storming too hard for you two youngsters
to come out. Ben and I will see about the tents."

"Don't let them blow away!" begged Bunny.

"Or wash down the brook," added Sue.

"We won't!" promised the big boys.

Then they went out into the storm. The wind was blowing so hard they
could not carry umbrellas, for if they had taken them the umbrellas
would have been blown inside out in a minute. But with rubber hats,
coats and boots Bunker and Ben could not get very wet.

Bunny and Sue, looking from their windows, saw the flicker of the
lantern, as Bunker and Ben walked with it toward the circus tents.

Harder rumbled the thunder, and brighter flashed the lightning. The rain
pounded on the roof as though it would punch holes in it, and come
through to wet Bunny and Sue. But nothing like that happened, and soon
the two children began to feel sleepy again, even though the storm still
kept up.

"I--I guess I'll go to bed," said Sue. "Will you stay by me a little
while, Daddy?"

"Yes," answered her father. "I'll sit right by your little bed."

"And hold my hand until I get to sleep?"

"Yes, I'll hold your hand, Sue."

"All right. Then I won't be scared any more. You can hold Bunny's hand,
Mother."

"Pooh, I'm not afraid!" said Bunny. "But I like you to hold my hand,
Mother!" he added quickly, for fear his mother would go away and leave
him.

"All right, I'll sit by you," she said, with a smile.

Bunny and Sue soon fell asleep again. The thunder was not quite so loud,
nor the lightning so bright, but it rained harder than ever, and as
Bunny felt his eyes growing heavy, so that he was almost asleep, he
again thought of what