_her_," he
added quickly, as he noticed Sue looking sharply at him. "Maybe we'll
find Dix and the Teddy bear at the same time."

"If Dix hasn't gone off to find a cow or an elephant or a camel or
something like that to make us a present of," said Mrs. Brown with a
laugh.

"Oh, Momsie! Do you think Dix would really bring back an elephant?"
asked Bunny eagerly.

"No, my dear, I was only fooling. But let's start back, Daddy, for I
know Sue will be very anxious to-night about her Teddy bear."

Back they started in the automobile over the road they had just
traveled. Now and then they stopped and called Dix, but the dog did not
come to them.

Splash added his barks and whines to the general calling but no Dix
answered.

"He must be mighty far away," said Bunny.

"Yes, I'm afraid we'll never find him, or my dearest Sallie Malinda
either," said Sue, and once more tears came into her eyes.

As the auto went along, in addition to calling for Dix, every one in the
party, including the children, had looked along the road for a sight of
the Teddy bear that might have fallen from the automobile. But Sallie
Malinda was not to be seen, and Sue did not know what to do.

"Well, we'll go back to where I last noticed that Dix was with us," said
Mr. Brown. "Then if we don't find your Teddy, Sue, I'll have to get you
another."

"But I'd rather have Sallie Malinda!"

"I know, dear, but you can name the new one that."

"Sue's Teddy's had lots of adventures," said Bunny. "The hermit took
her, and now she's lost."

"Well, I'm not going to give up yet," said his sister, as she looked
carefully along the road.

"But what can have become of Dix?" asked Mrs. Brown. "I can't understand
him."

"Oh, he may have gone off chasing a rabbit or a squirrel," said Mr.
Brown. "Anyhow we're almost at the bridge, and the spot where we had the
engine trouble is not far beyond."

Silently those in the auto looked along the road for a sight of Sue's
Teddy. Then suddenly Bunny said,

"No, he didn't!"

"Who didn't what?" asked his father, for Bunny would often make these
sudden exclamations.

"Dix didn't go off chasing a rabbit or a squirrel," said Bunny. "There
he comes now--with an elephant, I guess," and the little boy pointed
down the road.

There was Dix coming back, and he was half dragging and half carrying
something that looked like an animal.

On and on came the dog. He seemed very tired. When he saw the automobile
he stopped,