th us, but your folks
want you home with them. So go on back. Go home, I say!"

Bunny stamped his foot, spoke as sternly as he could without being too
cross, and pointed back toward Bellemere.

Dix looked into Bunny's face a minute, and then slowly the dog's tail
drooped between his legs and he slunk off, with what was really a sad
face looking at Bunny and Splash. It was as if he said:

"Say, look here, Splash! I thought you invited me on this excursion, and
now that boy of yours goes and drives me home."

"Well, I can't help it," Splash seemed to say. "There is something wrong
somewhere."

Bunny felt sad at having to drive Dix back home.

"I'm sorry, old fellow," he said, and his voice was so kind that Dix
turned and came running back.

"No! No! You mustn't do that!" cried Bunny, seeing what his kind words
had done. "Go on back home, Dix!"

Once again Dix's tail drooped between his legs, and he turned back. He
went on for some distance, never turning to look back.

"There, I guess he'll not follow us any more," said Bunny. "Come on,
Splash. You get up in the automobile and ride with us. Then Dix won't
see you, and want to come along."

Bunny led his own dog back to the big car, Splash going willingly
enough, though once or twice he looked back at Dix, who was walking
slowly the homeward road.

Again the auto started off.

"This is two delays we've had," said Mr. Brown. "If we have another I'll
begin to think there is something in Mary's idea of bad luck, after
all."

It was Sue who discovered Dix the next time. As the automobile was about
to go around a curve the little girl gazed out of the back window and
saw the Ward dog trotting happily along toward the moving automobile.

"Oh, Daddy, look there!" cried Sue. "Dix is coming after us again! What
are we going to do?"

"Is that dog following us once more?" asked Mr. Brown, as he stopped the
automobile.

"Yes, he is; and he seems happy."

"Oh dear!" said Mrs. Brown. "What trouble these dogs are giving us
to-day!"

"Well, this is the third trouble, and let us hope it will be the last,"
said Mr. Brown.

"Are you going to send Dix back again?" asked Bunny.

"No, I don't think it would do any good. Besides, we are now about ten
miles from home. He might not find his way."

"That would be too bad," said Mrs. Brown. "The Wards would not want to
lose their dog."

"I presume the only thing for us to do is to turn around and carry him
back again,"