of water all ready for it!"

Bunny turned to show his mother and Uncle Tad where, in the back of his
express wagon, he had set the garden sprinkling-can full of water.

Just as Bunny did that Splash, his big dog, started to run. Bunny fell
over backward off the seat, out fell the sprinkling-can full of water,
splashing all over Uncle Tad's feet. Then Bunny himself fell out of the
wagon, but he landed on some soft grass at the edge of the sidewalk, so
he was not in the least hurt.

Splash ran on a little way, pulling the empty wagon, but Bunny, jumping
to his feet, called out: "Whoa, Splash!" and the dog stopped.

For a few seconds they all stood there, Uncle Tad looking down at his
wet feet, Bunny looking rather surprised at having fallen over backward,
and Mrs. Brown hardly knowing whether to laugh or scold. As for Splash
he just stood still, his long red tongue hanging out of his mouth, while
his breath came fast. For it was a hot day, and he had been running
with Bunny.

"Oh dear, Bunny!" said Mrs. Brown at last, "see what you've done! You've
made Uncle Tad all wet!"

"I didn't do it, Mother. It was Splash," said the little boy. "He
started before I was ready. I--I'm sorry, Uncle Tad. Will it hurt your
rheumatism?"

"No, I guess not, Bunny boy. It's a hot day, and a little water won't do
me any harm. But it's all spilled now, and how are you going to put out
the fire?"

"Oh, I guess we'll make believe the fire's out," said Bunny. "I was
going to stop playing, anyhow. Where are you going, Mother?" he asked,
for he saw that his mother was dressed as she usually was when she went
down town.

"I am going to the store," she said, "and I was looking for you and Sue
to go with me. Sue is getting washed."

"If that water had splashed on Bunny, instead of on me, he would have
been washed too!" said Uncle Tad with a laugh.

"Oh, Mother! I'll go and wash myself right away!" Bunny cried. Going
down town with their mother was a treat that he and Sue liked very much.
"May Splash come, too?" Bunny asked.

"Not this time, dear. Now hurry. I'll wait for you on the porch."

"And I guess I'd better go and put on dry shoes," said Uncle Tad. "I
didn't know I was going to be the make-believe fire, and get put out,
Bunny."

Bunny laughed. Then he drove Splash into the yard, put away the
sprinkling-can, unhitched the dog from the express wagon, and put the
wagon in the barn, where it was kept.

Splash went off by himsel