Part 25 (1/2)
”There! Take that!” cried Bunny squirting the water over the turkey.
”That will make you stop pulling dogs' tails, I guess.”
Indeed the water was too much for the gobbler. He let go of Splash's tail, for which the dog was very thankful, and then the big bird ran toward the farmyard, just as the farmer came out to see what all the trouble was about.
”I had to splash your turkey to make him let go of our dog,” explained Bunny.
”Oh, that's all right,” answered the farmer. ”I guess that bird is a leetle better off for being cooled down. Glad you did it. None of you hurt, I hope?”
”My neck's picked a bit,” said Tom.
”Well, come in and I'll have my wife put some salve on it.”
”No, thank you, we're in a hurry to get home,” said Bunny. ”My mother has some goose grease.”
”Well, that's just as good, I reckon. Next time I'll keep the old gobbler locked up.”
Mr. Brown was at home, when Bunny, Sue and the ragged boy reached the tent. The father and mother listened while Bunny and Sue explained what had happened, from going into the cave to the turkey gobbler.
”Well, you had quite a number of adventures,” said Mr. Brown. ”I stayed out fis.h.i.+ng by myself longer than I meant to, and when I came back to get you I find you just coming in. We'll go this afternoon.”
”And may Tom come too?”
”I guess so,” answered Mr. Brown.
”I know where there's lots of places to fish,” said Tom.
Mr. Brown talked it over with his wife after dinner, and they decided to let Tom stay in camp and do a little work, such as cutting the wood and bringing the water.
”But what do you suppose he means by saying that Mr. Bixby sticks needles into him?” asked Mrs. Brown.
”That's what I'll have to look into,” said her husband. ”The hermit seems to be a queer sort of chap.”
”And Bunny finding one of his cars, too!”
”Yes, that was queer. This will certainly have to be looked into.”
In a few moments after this conversation Sue came from behind the kitchen tent.
”Come on, Sue, we're going fis.h.i.+ng,” called Bunny to his sister.
”No; you and Tom can go with father,” said the little girl, ”I'm not coming.”
”Why not? Are you 'fraid?”
”Course not, Bunny Brown! I'm just going to stay in camp and make a pie.
Tom said he hadn't had one for a good while. I'm going to make him one.”
”All right. Make me one too, please,” said Bunny. ”We're going after some fish,” and with his pole and line he started down toward the lake with his father and Tom.