always
very careful about the water, especially if any of the children were
with him. "There is quite a sea on, and the wind is blowing hard."
"It looks a little like a storm," observed Bunker Blue.
"Yes, it does," agreed Mr. Brown. "And that's another reason we ought to
take the _Spray_."
Bunny Brown did not care much in which boat they went as long as he had
a ride and was on the way to find Toby. He was almost sure the Shetland
pony would be at the gypsy camp, and he had no doubt but that his father
could easily take the little horse away from the bad men who had stolen
him.
As they went down to the dock, leaving Sue at home with her mother,
Bunny said:
"As soon as I saw the red and yellow flowers, which was just the color
of the gypsy wagon, I thought the dark man might have taken Toby."
"And, very likely he did," said Mr. Brown. "Only we must not be too
sure."
"Red and yellow are nice colors," said Bunker Blue. "Didn't you tell me,
Bunny, that the box of papers Mr. Tallman lost was painted that way?"
"Yes, it was," said the little boy. "It had red and yellow stripes on
it. But Mr. Tallman isn't a gypsy."
"Oh, I know that," replied Bunker Blue.
When they reached the dock and were getting ready to go aboard the
_Spray_, Mr. Brown looked across the bay, and, noting the rather high
waters and the way the wind blew, said:
"I wonder if, after all, we hadn't better go by land?"
"Oh, no, Daddy!" cried Bunny. "Let's go in the boat! It's nicer, and
we'll get to the gypsy camp quicker to find Toby."
"Yes, we'll get there more quickly," said Mr. Brown. "But that isn't
saying we'll find the pony, though I hope we shall. Anyhow, I guess we
can go and come before the storm breaks. Get aboard, Bunny. Have we
plenty of gasolene, Bunker?"
"The tank is full," answered the fish and boat boy.
"Well, then I guess we'll be all right. Ready, Bunny?"
"Yes, Daddy!" and the little boy looked eagerly across the bay toward
Springdale, where, in the gypsy camp, he hoped to find Toby.
"All aboard, then!" announced Mr. Brown, and one of his men pushed the
_Spray_ away from the dock. Bunker Blue started the gasolene motor, and
the boat went out into the bay, with Mr. Brown at the steering wheel.
"Oh, I do hope we'll find Toby! I do hope we will!" said Bunny over and
over again to himself.
As the motor boat went out beyond the dock the full force of the wind
and waves was felt. The _Spray_ bobbed up and do
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