"But he didn't," Bunny said. "So we're going home ourselves to see him. You could come with us if you wanted to see my father," he added.
"Well, I will," returned the man who had been driving Toby the day the big auto frightened the little pony. "I'll go home with you two little tots, and see your father."
Bunny and Sue wanted very much to ask why Mr. Tallman wanted to see Mr. Brown, but they did not think that would be polite, so they did not do it.
Hand in hand Bunny and Sue started off again, Mr. Tallman following. In a little while, so fast did the children go, even with their short legs, all three were at the Brown home.
"Oh, Mother!" cried Bunny, running into the room where Mrs. Brown was sitting, "where's daddy?"
"He's out in the barn, little son," answered Mrs. Brown. "But why are you so excited, and why do you want daddy?"
"'Cause there's a short man to see him!" gasped Bunny.
"No, it's a tall man," added Sue. "I mean his name is Tallman, but he is a little, short man."
"Dear me!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "What is it all about? I don't understand. Does some one want to see your father?"
"Yes," answered Bunny. "A Tallman."
"And he's such a short man," went on Sue.
"Excuse me, ma'am," said Mr. Tallman himself, following the children into the room. "But I guess they get mixed up about me. You see, I am really short, though I have a tall name. I'm the one who owned the little pony which I guess your children have told you about, and I would like to see Mr. Brown. I came with the children up from the dock. Is your husband at home?"
"He is out in the barn. Won't you have a chair?"
"Thank you, I will," and Mr. Tallman sat down and looked at Bunny and Sue, while Mrs. Brown went to call her husband. At last Bunny could keep still no longer.
"Mr. Tallman," he asked, "did you come to tell daddy about a pony?"
"That's what I did, little man! That's what I did!" was the answer, and the hearts of Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue beat high with hope.
Were they going to get a pony at last?
"Well, Mr. Tallman, I see you haven't grown any shorter," said Mr. Brown with a laugh, as he came in and shook hands with the visitor.
"No, I'm thankful to say I haven't shrunk much," was the answer. "I stopped down at your dock, but you weren't there, and your two little children kindly led me here. Piloted me, would be a better word, I suppose, since we are so near the ocean where men pilot the ships."
"Yes, Bunny and Sue are good little pilots between our house and the dock," agreed Mr. Brown. "I wouldn't want them to navigate all alone much farther than that, though. I'm glad to see you, Mr. Tallman!"
Bunny and Sue could keep quiet no longer. They just couldn't wait! They must hear about that pony!
So, as soon as there was a chance, when Mr. Tallman and Mr. Brown stopped speaking for a moment, Bunny burst out with:
"Oh, Daddy! he's come about the pony!"
"The pony?" asked Mr. Brown, in some surprise, for he thought perhaps Mr. Tallman had called to see about buying some fish, or hiring a boat.
"Yes," added Sue, her eyes shining as did Bunny's. "He's come about the pony—ourpony, Daddy! Toby! Don't you 'member?"
"Oh, yes; Toby. The little pony that was frightened by our big auto!" said Mr. Brown. "Well, Mr. Tallman, what about Toby?"
"I've come to see if you want to buy him for your children."
"Oh, Daddy!" cried Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue.
"Wait a minute," said Mr. Brown with a smile. "Let me hear what Mr. Tallman has to say. You tell me," he went on, "that you want to sell me your pony, Toby, for my children?"
"Yes. I've got to sell him, and I'd rather sell him to you, who I know will be kind to him, than any one else."
"But I thought you didn't want to part with him."
"I didn't," said Mr. Tallman. "And I wouldn't sell Toby now, only I just have to. You see it'sthis way, Mr. Brown. I owe a lot of money I can't pay. I owe some to that Mr. Tang we met the other day, and he's a hard man. He wants every penny, and I don't blame him for that. I'd pay if I could, but I can't.
"I thought everything was going nicely, after I met you, and some friends let me take money to pay some of my debts. Then I had bad luck. That's what I had, bad luck."
"Was it about Toby?" asked Bunny eagerly. "Is he hurt?"
"No, Toby is all right," answered Mr. Tallman. "The only bad luck about him is that I have to sell him. I hope he brings you good luck.
"No, the bad luck I speak of is that I have lost a lot more money. In fact, I have been robbed," said Mr. Tallman.
"Robbed!" cried Mrs. Brown, and she looked at the doors and windows as if to make sure they were fastened, though it was broad daylight, when no burglars would come.
"Yes, burglars, or thieves of some sort, got in my house the other night," went on Mr. Tallman, "and took a box of valuable papers. They were stocks and bonds on which I could have raised money, but which I was saving to the last minute,"he said. "Of course, you little tots don't know what stocks and bonds are," he added, speaking to Bunny and Sue, "so I'll just say that the thieves took away a box of papers that I owned. And the papers could have been sold for money."
"Oh, Mr. Tallman!" burst out Bunny. "I know where there's a lot of paper. It's down at the printing office, where they make theJournaldaddy reads every night."
"Yes, but the kind of paper the burglars took away from my house isn't that kind," said Mr. Tallman. "Never mind about that. I want to tell you about the pony."
And it was about the pony that Bunny and Sue most wanted to hear.
"To make a long story short," went on Mr. Tallman, "the taking of my box of valuable papers has left me so poor that I've got to sell my house, and nearly everything else I own. And I've got to sell the pony, Toby. I thought you would buy him, Mr. Brown."
"Indeed, I will!" cried the children's father. "I have been trying everywhere to find a Shetland pony for Bunny and Sue." Then Mr. Brown and Mr. Tallman talked about the price to be paid forToby. "Yes, I'll gladly buy Toby, Mr. Tallman," finished Mr. Brown.
"I thought you would. That makes me feel easier, for I know Toby will have a good home."
"We'll just love him!" cried Bunny.
"And we'll give him lots of nice things to eat!" added Sue. "And I'll let my dollie ride on his back."
"He'll like that, I'm sure," said Mr. Tallman with a smile. "Well, that's what I came to see you about, and as long as it's all settled I'll be getting back. I must see if the police have caught any of the robbers."
"But when shall we have Toby?" asked Bunny.
"Can't we go with you and get him?" asked Sue.
"What sort of box was it that your papers were in?" asked Mr. Brown. "Excuse us asking so many questions," he went on, "but I'd like to help you, if I can, and, of course, the children are eager to have the pony."
"I don't blame them," said Mr. Tallman. "So I'll answer their question first. I'll bring Toby over to-morrow. I'd do it to-day, but it's getting late now, and I have lots to do. So, little ones, you may expect Toby to-morrow. I'll drive overin the basket cart with him, and after that he's yours."
"For ever?" asked Bunny.
"Yes, for ever."
"Won't youeverwant him back, even when you're rich again, and catch the burglars that took your things?" asked Sue, wishing to make sure.
"Well, I don't believe I'll ever be rich," said Mr. Tallman with a smile, "even though the police may catch the burglars and get back my papers. But I promise that I'll never take Toby away from you. When your daddy buys the pony he's yours as long as you want to keep him."
"Then we want to keep him for ever and ever!" exclaimed Bunny.
"And the next day after that!" added Sue, as if for ever and ever were not long enough.
"And now to answer your question, Mr. Brown," went on Mr. Tallman, "I'll say that I kept my stocks and bonds—those are the valuable papers," he told the children—"I kept them in a queer old box that used to belong to my grandfather. It was a brass box, but it was painted with red and yellow stripes. Why it was my grandfather had the box painted that way I don't know. He used to tell me, when I was a boylike Bunny here, and went out to his house, that he bought the box from an old gypsy man, and gypsies, you know, like bright colors.
"Anyhow, I kept my papers in that red-and-yellow-painted brass box. And the other day, when no one was at home at our house, some one got in and took the box. So now I'm very poor."
"Didn't a policeman see them take it?" asked Bunny.
"No, I'm sorry to say no one saw them. We don't know who it was," answered Mr. Tallman. "But never mind my troubles. I'll have to get out of them the best way I can. It makes me feel better, though, to know that Toby will have a good home. I'll bring him over in the morning."
"Oh, goodie!" cried Sue, clapping her hands.
"Now, we'll have a real pony and we can go for rides!" laughed Bunny Brown. "Oh, I'm so glad!"
Mr. Brown and Mr. Tallman talked a little longer, and Mr. Brown gave the man who had been robbed of the red-and-yellow box some money—part payment for Toby. Then Mr. Tallman went away, Bunny and Sue waving good-bye to him.
"Oh, I'm so glad we're going to have a Shetland pony, aren't you, Bunny?" asked Sue.
"Terrible glad," he answered. "But I'm sorry Mr. Tallman lost his papers."
"So'm I," said Sue. "Oh, Bunny!" she cried, "wouldn't it be just fine if we could get Mr. Tallman's papers for him?"
"How? What you mean?" asked Bunny, for sometimes he did not think quite as fast as Sue did, even though he was quicker in running about and getting into mischief. "What do you mean, Sue?"
"I mean, maybe when we're ridin' around with Toby, in the basket cart, we could find the robbers that took his red-and-yellow box."
"Oh, yes, that would be nice," agreed Bunny. "And we could ride back home to Mr. Tallman, just like in a fairy story, and tell him we found his box and his—and his—oh, well, whatever there was in it," said Bunny, not able to think of "stocks and bonds."
"It would be dandy!" cried Sue, using a word of which her brother was very fond. "But, Bunny, if we found all the things Mr. Tallman lost he'd be rich again—I mean partly rich."
"Well, wouldn't that be good?"
"Yes, but then he'd have a lot of money and he could buy back Toby from daddy."
Bunny shook his head.
"Nope!" he exclaimed. "Didn't you hear Mr. Tallman say that Toby would belongs to us for ever and for ever, amen."
"He didn't say amen!" declared Sue.
"Well, that goes with it, anyhow," was Bunny's answer. "We always say for ever and for ever, amen. So Toby's going to belongs to us that way."
"All right," agreed Sue. "Then we'll find Mr. Tallman's red-and-yellow box for him and make him rich again. And now let's go and tell Bunker Blue that we're going to have a pony."
The children were so excited about what was going to happen that they hardly knew what they did. They told all their friends about their good luck, and promised every one a ride in the pony cart.
"And you may have as many as ever you want," said Bunny to Bunker Blue. "'Cause you like ponies, don't you?"
"Oh, I just love 'em!" laughed the fish boy.
Bunny and Sue thought the next day would never come! But it did, and they were up bright andearly. After breakfast they sat out on the porch, waiting for Mr. Tallman to drive over with Toby. Every now and then they would run to the gate to look down the road. At last Bunny cried:
"Here he comes, Sue!"
"Oh, has he got Toby?"
"Yep! He's driving him and the cart! Oh! Oh!"
"Oh! Oh!" shouted Sue, and then the two children ran down the street, and when they reached the pony, which Mr. Tallman brought to a stop, Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue threw their arms around Toby's neck and hugged him.
"Oh, we're so glad!" they said. "Now, we're going to ride and look for your red-and-yellow box, Mr. Tallman."
"Well, I hope you find it, but I'm afraid you won't. Anyhow, here's Toby for you, and now——"
Just then there was a sound of carriage wheels, grating in a sudden stop, near the little basket cart, while a harsh voice said:
"Ha! So, I've found you; have I? Now give me that pony and don't make any more fuss about it!"
And who do you suppose it was that said that?
Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue looked quickly up at hearing the harsh voice. They had been looking at Toby, thinking how nice he was, and how glad they were to have him, but now——
There they saw standing near the little horse Mr. Tang, the cross man who had said Mr. Tallman owed him money.
"I am just in time, I see!" went on Mr. Tang. "I went over to your house to get this pony, Mr. Tallman, but they said you had driven here with him. I see you had."
"Yes, I brought the pony over to Bunny and his sister," stated Mr. Tallman. "I have sold Toby to their father."
"You have?" cried Mr. Tang. "Why, you shouldn't have done that! You should have given that pony to me in part payment of the money you owe me. When are you going to pay me?"
"I can pay you something as soon as Mr. Brown gives me the money for Toby," was the answer.
"Then, I am too late. I can't have Toby, can I?" asked Mr. Tang.
And, oh! how anxiously Bunny and Sue waited for the answer. Suppose, after all, they could not have the pony?
But the next words of Mr. Tallman made them feel better. He said:
"Indeed, you are too late. I have sold Toby, and Bunny and Sue are going to have him after this. I will pay you as soon as I can, but I have been robbed, Mr. Tang. Some burglars took my red-and-yellow box that had in it some valuable papers, and I can't pay you all I owe you until I get that box back."
"But if you'd give me the pony you wouldn't have to pay me so much," went on Mr. Tang.
Mr. Tallman shook his head.
"It is too late," he said. "Toby goes to Bunny and Sue."
The little boy and girl were very glad, but Mr. Tang was angry.
"I've got to have my money!" he exclaimed. "If I can't get it one way I'll get it another. You watch out, Mr. Tallman!" and with that he turned his horse and drove away, giving a last look toward Toby, Bunny and Sue.
"Oh, he won't take Toby, will he?" asked Bunny.
"No, indeed," answered Mr. Tallman. "The pony is yours now."
Mr. Brown, who had not yet gone down to his fish dock, now came out of the house and paid Mr. Tallman for the Shetland pony. And when Bunny and Sue saw that done they felt sure the pet was their very own.
"For," said Bunny to Sue, as they stood patting Toby, "when you buy anything at the store, and give your pennies for it, the storekeeper can't take it back."
"Yes, I guess that's so," said Sue, as though not quite sure. "But Mr. Tallman isn't a storekeeper."
"Well, Toby's ours now; isn't he, Daddy?" asked the little boy.
"Yes, he surely is," said Mr. Brown.
Mr. Tallman told Bunny and Sue what to feed the little horse, and how to treat him.
"Bunker Blue will look after Toby in the stable," said Mr. Brown. "Bunker knows a lot about horses as well as about boats, and he'll harness the pony for the children until they get big enough to do it themselves. We have a nice littlebox-stall in the stable where Toby can make himself at home."
"And we'll put some soft straw in for his bed," added Bunny.
"And we'll pull grass and give it to him to eat," said Sue. "Will he like green grass, Mr. Tallman?"
"Oh, yes, very much. But he likes hay, too, and now and then a bit of apple or a lump of sugar."
"We'll give him them, too!" cried Bunny. "Oh, we'll have lots of fun with our pony, won't we, Sue?"
"Yes," answered the little girl, again patting Toby. "We'll have heaps of fun!"
"Well, good-bye, little horse," said Mr. Tallman finally, when it was time for him to go. "Good-bye! I'm sorry to have to sell you, but I need the money, and I'm sure you'll have a good home with Bunny and Sue. They will be kind to you. Good-bye!"
Toby bowed his head up and down. It may be that he was saying "Good-bye!" also, or perhaps he only happened to do that. But the two children thought it must be that he was bowing because Mr. Tallman was going away.
Bunny and Sue looked down the road to make sure the cross Mr. Tang was not in sight, and they were glad when they did not see him. For, even though they knew their father had paid for Toby, still they felt that, in some way, the gruff man might come and take him away.
"When may we have a ride, Daddy?" asked Bunny as he saw his father getting ready to go down to the dock. He was going to walk along with Mr. Tallman, who would have to take a train back to his home, since he could no longer ride in the pony cart.
"Oh, so you want toride, do you?" asked Mr. Brown with a smile, and a wink at Mr. Tallman. "Why, I thought you wanted to have Toby just tolookat."
"Oh, no, we want a ride! Don't we, Sue?" Bunny cried.
"Lots of rides!" exclaimed the little girl. "When may we have one, Daddy?"
"I'll send Bunker Blue up as soon as I get to the dock," promised Mr. Brown. "He can take you for a ride in the pony cart."
"Oh, shall we have to waitthatlong?" Bunny cried. "Couldn't we go for a ride by ourselves?"
"Not at first," Mr. Brown answered. "Butafter a while, when Bunker has shown you how to drive, then I expect you and your sister will go off on little trips by yourselves—not too far, though. I suppose Toby will be safe for the children to drive?" Mr. Brown asked Mr. Tallman.
"Oh, yes, of course," said that gentleman. "There is one nice thing about Toby—he is very gentle and kind and he likes children very much. In fact, he's like a big dog.
"But, Mr. Brown, if Bunny and Sue want a ride so much, why not let me drive them down to your dock? I know where it is, for I was there the other day. Then they can take Bunker Blue in with them and he can teach them how to hold the reins, and other things they need to know about the pony and cart. I'll drive them down."
"Will you?" returned Mr. Brown. "That is kind. Jump in, Bunny and Sue! Get ready for your first pony ride! Tell Bunker Blue I'll soon be there, and then you can all three go off together. Get in!"
"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed Bunny and Sue, filled with joy. "Oh! Oh!"
Mr. Tallman helped them into the basket cart, and then got in himself. Toby looked around as if to make sure that the children were safelyseated before starting off, and he switched his long tail.
"Isn't his tail beautiful?" exclaimed Sue.
"Awful nice," agreed Bunny. "I guess no flies 'd better get on Toby, or they'll wish they hadn't when he switches 'em off!"
"Get along, Toby!" called Mr. Tallman to the little creature. "You are going to give Bunny and Sue their first ride. We could take you in the pony cart if you'd like it," he said to Mr. Brown. "Toby can easily pull all four of us, as the road is smooth and down hill."
"No," said Mr. Brown. "I have to stop at two or three places on my way to the dock. Besides, it seems too much for one little pony to pull two men and two children."
"Oh, Toby is strong!" replied Mr. Tallman. "He has often pulled heavier loads than that."
"Well, thank you, I'll not get in," again said Mr. Brown. "Ride along, Bunny and Sue, and wait for me at the dock. Then you and Bunker may have a good time."
Off started Toby, drawing Mr. Tallman, Bunny and Sue. The children looked with eager eyes at their new pony, whose little feet went "clap-clap!" on the hard road. And Toby went quite fast, too,trotting so rapidly that his feet seemed to "twinkle," as Sue said.
"Oh, I just love a pony!" said Sue, as she sat beside Bunny. "I just love Toby!"
"So do I!" agreed her brother. "We're going to keep him for ever and ever!"
But neither Bunny nor Sue knew what was shortly going to happen to Toby.
"Well, well! What's all this?" cried Bunker Blue, as he saw Bunny and Sue sitting in the pony cart, being driven along the dock by Mr. Tallman. "What's all this?"
"We got a pony!" said Sue.
"And he's all ours! To keep for ever! Daddy bought him from Mr. Tallman," added Bunny.
"And daddy says you're going to show us how to drive him and hitch him up and all like that," went on Sue.
"Oh, I'll like that!" exclaimed Bunker Blue. He had been painting a small boat, but he wiped the paint off his hands and came over to pat Toby.
"Isn't he nice?" asked Bunny.
"Very nice, indeed," answered Bunker Blue. "Well, I think taking you children for a ride on such a fine day as this will be more fun than painting boats. Am I to start off with the children at once?" he asked Mr. Tallman.
"No, I believe Mr. Brown wants you to wait for him," answered the man who had sold the pony. "I'll get out now, as I need to hurry back home. I'll leave the pony with you."
"I'll take good care of him, and Bunny and Sue also," promised Bunker Blue.
"Good-bye!" called Mr. Tallman for the second time, and now he really started away by himself. Once more Toby seemed to bow his head up and down.
"Good-bye!" answered Bunny.
"I hope you find your red-and-yellow box," added Sue.
"And all your money in it," went on her brother.
"Oh, it wasn't exactly money in the box that was taken from me," said Mr. Tallman. "The papers could be sold for money if I had them. But they're gone!"
"If we find them, when we're riding around with Toby, we'll save 'em for you," promised Bunny.
"All right," answered Mr. Tallman with a laugh. "I hope you do find them, but I'm afraid you won't."
While Bunker went to wash himself, in readiness for taking Bunny and Sue for a ride, having first tied the pony's strap to a post on the dock, Bunnyand Sue sat in the basket cart, looking at their new pet.
"Oh, look! There's a fly on him!" suddenly exclaimed Sue. "Shall I shoo it off with my handkerchief, Bunny?"
"Maybe Toby can knock it off himself," replied Bunny.
And, surely enough, while the children watched, Toby gave his tail a flicker and a twist, and the fly, which had been biting him, flew away.
"Isn't he cute?" cried Sue.
"Yes," said Bunny. "And his tail is so long that he can switch flies 'most anywhere on him."
"His tail won't reach up to his front legs," said Sue, leaning over the edge of the cart to look and make sure. "How does he get the flies off his front legs, Bunny, when he can't reach 'em with his tail?"
"I don't know," answered the little boy.
"Let's get out and watch," suggested Sue. "Daddy isn't here yet, and Bunker can't take us for a ride till daddy comes. Let's get out and see how Toby makes the flies get off his front legs."
"Oh, yes, let's!" agreed Bunny.
Out of the basket cart climbed the two children. They walked around where they could stand infront of Toby, and stooped down so they could see his legs better.
"There's a fly!" suddenly exclaimed Bunny.
"Where?" asked Sue eagerly.
"Right on his—his elbow," Bunny answered, pointing to the middle part of Toby's leg, where it bent. "There's a fly right on his elbow."
"'Tisn't his elbow," said Sue. "That isn't!"
"What is it then?"
"It's his—his knee!"
"Well, it would be his elbow if his front legs were arms," insisted Bunny. "And, anyhow, there's a fly!"
Surely enough, there was a fly on Toby's leg, and it was out of reach of his tail, long as that was.
"How'll he get the fly off?" asked Sue.
"Let's watch and see," suggested Bunny.
They did not have long to wait. Pretty soon the fly began to bite, as flies always do when they get on horses or ponies. But the fly did not bite very long, for Toby stretched his leg out a little way in front of him, where he could reach it more easily, and then he leaned down his head and with his nose drove the fly away.
"Oh, look!" cried Bunny. "He's scratching the itchy place with his nose!"
And that is just what Toby was doing. When he found that his tail would not reach the biting fly he drove the insect off another way.
Then, while Bunny and Sue still watched, a third fly, or perhaps it was the same one, lighted on Toby's front leg in a place where he could neither reach it with his tail nor with his nose.
"What'll he do now?" asked Sue.
"Let's watch and see," said her brother.
Again they did not have long to wait. When Toby found that the fly was biting him, he gave a queer wiggle to his skin, and the fly flew off.
"Oh, he shivered him away!" cried Sue. "He just shivered him away!"
And really it did seem as if Toby had done that very thing. Bunny and Sue were laughing at the queer way their pony had got rid of the fly when they saw their father coming along the dock.
"Well, youngsters!" called Mr. Brown, "you haven't sold Toby yet, I see!"
"And we're not going to!" cried Bunny. "We're never going to sell Toby!"
"All right," said Mr. Brown, laughing. "But where is Bunker?"
"He's washing so he can take us for a ride,"answered Sue. "And, Daddy! you ought to see Toby chase flies!"
"Does he run after them?" asked her father, smiling.
"Oh, Daddy! Ofcoursenot!" cried Sue. "But when a fly gets on the back part of our pony he switches his tail and knocks him off."
"And when a fly gets on his front leg he scratches it off with his nose."
"What?" cried Mr. Brown. "Does Toby scratch his leg off?"
"No! Thefly!" said Bunny, laughing at the funny way his father spoke. "He brushes the fly off, and then he scratches the itchy place with his nose."
"My! he's quite a pony!"
"And when a fly gets on the back part of his front leg, how do you s'pose he gets the fly off then, Daddy?" asked Sue.
"Does he ask you to drive the fly off for him?" Mr. Brown wanted to know.
"Oh, Daddy! Course not! Toby can't talk!" Sue said. "But he just shivers his leg and the fly goes right away! What do you think of that?"
"Well, I think your pony is smarter than weknew," said Mr. Brown. "Think of shivering off flies!"
"And sometimes he stamps his feet and shakes them off," added Bunny. "That's another way. How many does that make, Sue? How many ways can Toby drive off the flies?"
Bunny and Sue counted up on their fingers, Bunny saying:
"He can switch 'em off with his tail, he can scratch 'em off with his nose, he can stamp 'em off and he can shiver 'em off!"
"Four ways," said Sue, who was keeping track on her chubby fingers.
"My! Toby is a regular trick pony!" said Mr. Brown. "Well, here comes Bunker, and I guess he's ready to take you for a ride."
The boat and fish boy had cleaned off some of the paint that had splattered on him, and now, with freshly washed hands and face, and with his hair nicely combed, he was ready to take charge of Bunny and Sue.
"Please, could we drive a little?" asked Bunny.
"I want to hold the reins," added Sue.
"I guess it will be all right," said Mr. Brown. "When you get on a quiet road, Bunker, show the children how to drive, and let them take the reins."
"Oh, won't that be fun!" cried Sue.
"Lots of fun!" echoed Bunny.
Bunker had to go to the end of the dock to tell another boy something about a boat that had been taken out by a fishing party, and Bunny and Sue waited for their friend to come back before getting into the pony cart.
"'Member how we used to go out in the boats, Bunny?" asked Sue.
"Course I 'member. But I don't want to go out now. I'd rather go for a ride with our Shetland pony."
"Oh, so'd I," went on Sue. "I was just 'memberin'. Maybe some day we could take Toby for a ride on a boat."
"Maybe," agreed Bunny. "He wouldn't have to jiggle any flies off his skin then, if we had him in a boat."
"But maybe he wouldn't like a boat," went on Sue. "He might kick and fall overboard. Then we wouldn't have any pony."
"That's so," Bunny agreed. "Lessen we fished him out."
"We couldn't!" said Sue. "I don't guess we'd better take him out in a boat."
"Maybe not," agreed Bunny. "Course, maybedaddy or Bunker Blue could fish him out, but I guess we won't take him. I wish Bunker would hurry up and come back so we could go for a ride. Let's go and see where he is."
The two children, leaving Toby hitched to the cart and tied by a strap to a post, walked a little way down to look for Bunker. They saw him coming, and the fish and boat boy waved his hand to the children.
"I'll be with you in a minute," he said. "Tommy lost an oar off the dock and I had to get it for him."
As Bunny and Sue turned to walk back toward Toby they saw a funny sight. The little Shetland pony started to come toward them, and in his mouth was a white rag.
"Oh, look what Toby has!" cried Bunny. "It's a piece of paper!"
"No, it's my handkerchief!" exclaimed Sue, "I dropped it out of my pocket," and, on looking, surely enough, herhandkerchiefwas gone.
"And Toby picked it up and he's bringing it to you!" said Bunny. "Oh, Sue! he's just like Splash, isn't he? He brings things back to you!"
The little pony walked as far toward the children as the strap would let him, and there he stood, holding Sue's handkerchief in his teeth.
TOBY WAS HOLDING SUE'S HANDKERCHIEF.TOBY WAS HOLDING SUE'S HANDKERCHIEF.
Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue and Their Shetland Pony. Page78.
"It's just like he was handing it to me!" cried Sue.
"I wonder if he did it on purpose," said Bunny.
"We can find out," Sue said. "I could drop it again, and we could see if he picked it up. Shall we do it, Bunny?"
"Oh, yes, let's!" said the little boy.
"What is it you're going to do?" Bunker Blue asked, as he came along just then. "I thought you were going for a ride with me."
"So we are," answered Bunny. "But look! Toby picked up Sue's handkerchief that she dropped, and he started to bring it over to her, but he couldn't go any farther on account of the strap. Do you s'pose he did it on purpose, Bunker?"
The fish boy scratched his head.
"I shouldn't wonder but what he did," he answered. "Didn't Mr. Tallman say Toby was once in a circus?"
"Yes," answered Bunny and Sue together.
"That settles it then!" cried Bunker. "Toby is a trick pony, and picking up handkerchiefs is one of his tricks."
"Honest?" asked Bunny.
"I think so," replied Bunker. "But it's easy to tell for sure."
"How?" asked Sue.
"We'll just loosen the strap, and you can drop your handkerchief again, Sue, and see if he picks it up. Here, Toby," went on Bunker, "I'll just take that handkerchief now, thank you, and we'll see if you can do the trick again—if itisa trick. I'll loosen your strap."
And as he was doing this Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue were wondering what Toby would do. Would he pick up the handkerchief again?
"We didn't know we had a trick pony, did we, Bunny?" asked Sue, as Bunker Blue got ready to see what Toby would do next.
"Maybe we haven't," replied Bunny. "He doesn'tlooklike a trick pony."
"But he's terrible nice!" Sue said. "And the way he picked up my handkerchief was nice, too. Maybe he'll do it again."
"Maybe," said Bunny.
By this time Bunker had loosed the strap by which the pony was fastened to the post on the dock. Toby shook his head up and down, as well as sideways, as though showing how glad he was to be free again.
"Now, little pony!" called the fish boy, "let's see if you can really do this trick."
Bunker, who still held Sue's handkerchief, walked back a little way, and dropped the bit of white cloth on the dock. Toby looked at it a moment, as if to make sure what it was, and then hewalked over to it, picked it up as he had done before, and then, to the surprise and delight of the children, walked with the handkerchief straight to Bunker Blue.
"Oh, he did it! He did it!" cried Sue, clapping her hands. "Heisa trick pony, Bunny!"
"Yes, but didn't he ought to bring the handkerchief toyou, Sue?" asked her brother.
"He saw me drop it," explained Bunker, "so he thought it must be mine. Maybe if you were to drop it, Sue, he would bring it back to you."
"Oh, let me!" she cried.
Bunker gave the little girl her handkerchief, and after Sue had put her arms around Toby, and patted him on the head, at the same time calling him pet names, she backed away and dropped her handkerchief where the Shetland pony could see it on the dock.
For a moment or two Toby did nothing. He stood looking at the white rag and then he shook his head. But he shook it up and down, and not sideways, and, seeing this, Sue cried:
"Oh, he's saying that he'll do it! He says he'll bring me the handkerchief!"
And, whether or not Toby really meant this, or whether it was the way he always did the trick,I don't know, but, anyhow, he stepped out, walked over to the handkerchief, pulling the basket cart after him, and then he picked up the white cloth and walked straight to Sue with it, holding it out to her in his mouth.
"Oh, he did it!" cried the little girl, clapping her hands. "He brought the handkerchief to me, Bunny! Now, isn't he a trick pony?"
"Yes," said Bunny, slowly, "I guess he is. I wonder if he'd bring me my handkerchief?"
"Try him and see," suggested Bunker Blue. "But I thought you wanted to go for a ride."
"So we do," returned Bunny, "but we can ride after we see if Toby does the handkerchief trick for me."
"Yes, I guess we'll have time for that," said Bunker Blue.
So Bunny dropped his handkerchief on the dock, and, surely enough, Toby picked it up and carried it to the little boy.
"Now," said Sue, "we know for sure he's a trick pony. Maybe he did that in a circus, Bunker."
"Maybe he did," agreed the fish boy.
"I wonder if he can do any more tricks," went on Bunny.
"We'll try him after a while," went on Bunker. "If I'm going to take you for a ride, and show you how to drive your little horse, we'd better start, as I don't know when your father may want me back here on the dock. Come on, we'll go out on the road, and, later on, we can try Toby with some more tricks."
So Bunny and Sue climbed into the basket cart, taking seats on either side, and Bunker climbed up after them, to hold the reins. They drove down the wooden dock toward Mr. Brown's office, the feet of Toby, the Shetland pony, going: "Plunk! Plunk! Plunk!" on the boards.
"Well, you've started I see!" called Mr. Brown to Bunny and Sue, as he looked out of the door of his office. "But what kept you so long?"
"Oh, Toby was doing tricks," answered Bunny.
"Doing tricks?" asked Mr. Brown.
"He picked up my handkerchief," added Sue, and she told her father all about it.
"My! he certainly is a trick pony!" said Mr. Brown. "We must ask Mr. Tallman if Toby can do anything else besides the handkerchief trick."
Then, as Mr. Brown watched, Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue and their Shetland pony went off down the road, Bunker Blue driving.
"Doesn't he go nice?" cried Sue to her brother. "And doesn't his tail switch off the flies quick?"
"Terrible quick," agreed Bunny, and he added: "Oh, Bunker Blue! you ought to see how many ways Toby can wiggle the flies off his legs."
"How many?" asked the fish boy.
"Five," answered Bunny. "Course not all five flies off his legs, but some off his back he switches with his tail, and——"
"You talk just like a Dutchman!" laughed Bunker.
"Well, anyhow, he can wiggle flies off lots of ways," Bunny said.
Down the road they drove, and many a person, and not a few children, turned to look after the pony cart in which Bunny and Sue were having such a good time.
As they drove past old Miss Hollyhock's cottage she came to the door and waved to them. A little farther on Bunny saw Charlie Star, with whom he sometimes played.
"Oh, Bunker!" cried Bunny, "couldn't we take Charlie for a ride?"
"Well, yes, but not just now. I want to give you children a little lesson in driving, and wedon't want to be crowded. Some other time we'll take Charlie," said the fish boy.
So, as he drove past his chum, Bunny leaned out of the cart and called:
"We'll give you a ride to-morrow, Charlie!"
"All right—thanks!" shouted the little boy in answer.
A little later Sue saw some of her girl playmates—Mary Watson and Sadie West—and to them she said the same thing—that she would take them for a ride the next day.
"Don't promise too much," warned Bunker Blue. "We don't want to make Toby too tired."
But I guess the Shetland pony liked to draw children about, at least as long as the roads were level, and he did not have to haul the cart uphill.
Coming to a quiet part of the road, just outside the village, where automobiles seldom came, Bunker Blue gave the two children their first lesson in driving. He showed Bunny and Sue how to hold the reins, and how to pull gently on the left one when they wanted the pony to turn that way.
"And when you want him to go to the right just pull on the right-hand line," said the fish boy. "But be careful in turning all the way aroundthat you don't turn too quickly, or you may upset the cart and spill out."
"I spilled off my sled once," said Bunny. "And I rolled all the way downhill. But I didn't get hurt, for I rolled into a bank of snow."
"Well, there aren't any snow banks here, now, to fall into," said Bunker, "so be careful about rolling out."
Then the fish boy showed the children how to hold the reins gently, but firmly, when Toby was trotting straight along, and he showed them how to pull in when they wanted the pony to stop.
Then, after a while, Bunker let Bunny take the reins himself, for a little while, and drive Toby. The little boy was delighted to do this. He even guided the pony first to the right and then to the left, and then brought him to a stop.
"Fine!" cried Bunker. "That's the way to do it, Bunny!"
"Can't I do it, too?" asked Sue, for she always liked to do the things her brother did.
"Yes, it's your turn now," said the fish boy, and the little girl took the reins. And Toby was so gentle, and seemed so eager to do everything he could to make it easy for Sue, that she soon learned to drive a little bit.
Then Bunker showed them how to turn around, and how to make Toby back up, in case they got to such a narrow place in the road that there was not room to turn. Bunker knew a lot about horses and ponies, and he was the best teacher Bunny and Sue could have had.
"Now, let's drive back and show mother!" said Bunny after a while. "Let's drive past the house, Bunker."
"All right," agreed the fish boy. "I'll drive until we get there, for I see some automobiles coming, and we don't want them to run into us. But when we get near the house I'll let you take the reins, Bunny."
"Couldn't I take 'em, too?" asked Sue.
"Well, we'll let Bunny do it first," suggested Bunker. "And then, when we drive down to the dock, you can show your daddy how you drive, little girl."
"Oh, I'll love that!" cried Sue, clapping her hands.
And you can imagine how surprised Mrs. Brown was when she saw the pony cart coming up the drive, with Bunny holding the reins, as though he had known for a long while how to make Toby go.
"Look, Mother! Look!" cried the little boy. "I'm driving Toby!"
"So I see, Bunny," said Mrs. Brown. "Isn't it wonderful?"
"And I can drive, too," added Sue. "I'm going to show daddy down at the dock!"
"Oh, won't that be nice!" laughed her mother. "I'm sure you two children ought to be very happy with such a fine pony and cart!"
And indeed Bunny and Sue were happy. Bunny drove all around the house and out into the road again, and then Bunker took the reins to guide the pony down to the fish and boat dock, for the children had not yet been taught enough about the pony to make it safe for them to drive him on the main street.
"Now, you take hold, Sue," said Bunker, as they turned into the yard that led to the dock. "There's your father at the window of the office, and he can see you drive."
Sue's cheeks glowed rosy in delight as she took the reins; and as she guided the pony past the little house on the end of the dock, where Daddy Brown had his office, the little girl cried:
"See what I can do! See what I can do!"
"Oh, fine!" exclaimed Mr. Brown. "Well, Toby didn't run away with you, did he?"
"Oh, no! He'll never do that!" said Bunny. "We had a dandy ride!"
The children, with Bunker Blue, took turns telling Mr. Brown about their first ride, and then, not wishing to tire them out, or make Toby too tired, either, Mr. Brown sent them home in the pony cart, with Bunker to drive.
"To-morrow you may go out again," said Bunny's father.
And so, for several days after that, Bunker Blue took the children out for rides in the pony cart. Each day he let them drive alone for longer and longer times, until at last Bunny and Sue were very good at it.
They learned how to keep to the right, out of the way of other wagons or automobiles, and as Toby did not now seem to be afraid of anything he met, one night Mr. Brown said:
"Well, I guess Bunny and Sue are good enough drivers now to go out by themselves without Bunker Blue."
"And drive all alone?" asked Bunny, eagerly.
"Yes," his father said. "But keep on the more quiet streets, and don't go too far."
The children promised they would be careful, and the next day they went for a ride by themselves. Their mother was a little anxious about them at first, and watched them go up and down the street in front of the house. Splash, the dog, ran along, too, barking and wagging his tail, as though having just as much fun as anybody. Then, after a while, Bunny and Sue went a little farther away from the house.
But they did not go too far at first, and as they were turning around to drive back, it being Bunny's turn to hold the reins, they saw, walking toward them, Mr. Tallman.
"Oh, hello!" cried Bunny. "Don't you want a ride, Mr. Tallman?"
"Why, yes, thank you," he answered. "And so you are out all by yourselves? This is fine! I didn't think you'd learn so soon how to drive Toby."
"Oh, he's easy to drive!" Bunny said.
"And he can do tricks!" added Sue. "He picked up my handkerchief and brought it back to me!"
"Yes, I knew he could do that trick," said Mr. Tallman. "And that's what I came over to tell you about. I forgot it when I was here before,for I was thinking so much about my red-and-yellow box that was stolen."
"Have you got it back yet?" asked Bunny, as the man who used to own Toby got in the cart with the children.
"No, I'm sorry to say I haven't," was the answer. "I'm afraid I shall never see it again. But how do you like Toby?"
"He's dandy!" declared Bunny.
"And we just love him!" added Sue.
"I'm glad you do," said Mr. Tallman. "But did you know he can do another trick besides the handkerchief one?"
"Oh, can he?" asked Bunny.
"Yes, indeed! I'll tell you about his new trick. It's one I taught him."
"Oh, please show us!" begged Bunny.
"Wait until we get back to his stable," said Mr. Tallman. "This trick has to be done in the stable where there's a bin of oats. There I can show you what else Toby can do."
And how Bunny and Sue wondered what it was their pony was going to do!
Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue drove Mr. Tallman in the pony cart along the road, and up the driveway that led to the stable back of their house.
"Why, you two children have learned to drive quite well," said the man who used to own Toby.
"Oh, yes, Bunker Blue showed us how," answered Bunny.
Mrs. Brown looked from the window and saw the pony cart.
"Oh, you have brought back company!" she called, as she noticed Mr. Tallman.
"I came over for a little while only," he said. "I forgot to tell the children about a trick Toby can do, and I thought they might like to know of it. They told me that he picked up Sue's handkerchief."
"Yes, I thought that was very smart of him," said Mrs. Brown with a smile. "Is the other trick as nice as that?"
"I think so," answered Mr. Tallman. "But I need some lumps of sugar to make Toby do it right."
"Yes, I guess all ponies like sugar," said the children's mother, as she brought some out. Then she went to the barn with Mr. Tallman and Bunny and Sue.
Bunny knew something about unharnessing hispet, and did so with the help of Mr. Tallman. Then, as Toby stood loose in the middle of the barn floor, Mr. Tallman gave him a lump of sugar.
"Is that the trick?" asked Bunny.
"No, that is only the start of it. Now show me where your oat bin is and give me a wooden measure with which you dip out the oats you sometimes feed to Toby."
Bunny ran to the box, or bin, where the oats were kept, and from it he took a little round measure, such as grocers, at the store, use for measuring two quarts of potatoes.
"Now," said Mr. Tallman, "I'll just put another lump of sugar in this wooden measure. Then I'll put the measure under this basket," and this he did, letting Toby see all that went on.
"Now," went on the man who used to own the pony, "I'll see if he'll do as I want him to. I wanthim to go over to the basket, lift it off the measure, and then carry the measure over to the oat bin. Then I want him to open the top of the bin with his nose, and drop the measure inside, as though he wanted to take some oats out to eat."
"Will he do it?" asked Bunny.
"I think so," answered Mr. Tallman. "He used to do it for me, in his other stable. This one may be a bit strange to him. But we'll see what he does."
The lump of sugar had been put in the measure, and the measure was covered with a bushel basket, turned upside down. Then, stepping back, Mr. Tallman said:
"Now, Toby, go and getyouroats! Go and get your oats!"
The little Shetland pony bobbed his head up and down, just as if he were saying that this is just what he would do. Then he took a few steps toward the oat bin, which had a hinged cover like the boxes in the grocery where the coffee is kept.
"No! No! Don't go to the oat bin yet," said Mr. Tallman. "First, get the wooden measure, Toby! I have to have that first, before I can dish you out any oats. Take the measure over to the box."
Whether Toby knew all that Mr. Tallman said to him, or whether the pony had learned to go for the measure because he knew there was a lump of sugar in it, I can't exactly say. Perhaps it was a little of both. At any rate, he walked over to the bushel basket that covered the wooden measure.
With a quick motion of his head Toby knocked the basket to one side. Then he reached down and took out the lump of sugar, which he chewed.
"Oh, he did it! He did it!" cried Sue, clapping her hands.
"But this isn't all," said Mr. Tallman. "This is only half the trick. Watch and see if he does the rest."
The children and Mrs. Brown waited until Toby had chewed down the lump of sugar. And then, with a little whinny, which seemed as if he tried to talk, Toby picked the two-quart measure up in his mouth.
Over to the oat bin he walked with it, and Bunny and Sue could hardly keep still, they were so excited.
Would Toby open the box, as Mr. Tallman wanted him to?
And that is just what the Shetland pony did.Dropping the wooden measure at one side of the wooden box where his oats were kept, Toby lifted the cover with his nose. Then he picked up the measure again, and dropped it in the box, on top of the oats that filled it nearly to the brim.
"Ha! that's the way to do it!" cried Mr. Tallman. "Now you have done the trick, Toby, and you shall have another lump of sugar!"
And he gave the pony a large one.
"Was that what you wanted him to do?" asked Mrs. Brown.
"Yes, that was the trick I taught him in his own stable. I was afraid perhaps he might have forgotten it here, but I see he hasn't."
"Aren't you going to give him some oats now?" asked Bunny.
"Well, I thought maybe you or Sue would like to have him do the trick over again before he had any oats. Usually I didn't let him have any until after I had made him do the trick three or four times. He has the habit of doing it like that. So you children take a turn. Here is more sugar for him."
Bunny took a lump, and put it in the measure. Then he hid it under the bushel basket, and, surely enough, Toby went over to it again, took themeasure out from under and dropped it into the oat bin. Then Bunny gave him the second lump of sugar.
Toby did the trick for Sue, as well as for Mrs. Brown, and then the children's mother said:
"Well, now I am sure Toby has earned his oats."
"Yes, now we'll give him some," agreed Mr. Tallman, and the little horse seemed to like them very much.
"Did he do this trick in the circus?" asked Bunny.
"No, I taught him this after that time," answered Mr. Tallman. "In the circus, though, Toby used to stand on his hind legs with a lot of other ponies in a ring, and a monkey used to ride around on his back. We haven't any monkey now, so we can't do that trick."
"Mr. Winkler has a monkey!" exclaimed Bunny. "His name is Wango—the monkey's name is, I mean. Maybe we could get him to ride on Toby's back."
"Not unless the monkey is taught to do it," replied Mr. Tallman. "I guess we hadn't better try that just yet."
"No, indeed!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown.
"Wango is always getting into mischief, too. I don't want him around."
"But could you make Toby stand on his hind legs?" asked Sue.
"I think so," answered the visitor. And when the pony had finished his oats Mr. Tallman stood in front of him, and, holding out a broom handle, as the ring-master in a circus holds out his whip, called:
"Up, Toby! Up!"
Then, to the surprise and delight of Bunny and Sue, Toby rose on his hind legs, and pranced around the barn floor, almost as well as Splash, the dog, could stand on his hind legs.
"Oh, that's three tricks he can do!" cried Bunny. "Our pony can do three tricks! He can stand on his hind legs, he can open his oat box, and he can bring back a handkerchief."
"And he can let a monkey ride on his back," added Mr. Tallman. "But we won't do that trick now."
Bunny and Sue rather wished they could see Wango riding on Toby's back, but they knew, as well as did their mother, that Mr. Winkler's pet sometimes did mischievous as well as funny tricks. Perhaps it was better not to have him ride Toby.
"Well, I'm glad you like my pony, or, rather, the pony that used to be mine," said Mr. Tallman, as he was leaving. "If you are kind and good to him, as I know you will be, perhaps you can teach him other tricks."
"Oh, yes! That's what I'm going to do!" cried Bunny. "And then we can take him to the circus!"
"No!" cried Sue. "You can't take my pony to the circus! I own half of Toby, don't I, Mother?"
"Well, yes, I suppose so. But I don't believe Bunny would really take him to any circus."
"Oh, no, I only meant a make-believe circus, like we played once before," said the little boy.
"Oh, yes, we can do that," agreed Sue.
Mr. Tallman told Bunny and Sue some other simple tricks they might teach Toby to do, and then he said good-bye to the pony and started back home.
"And we hope you'll find your red-and-yellow box," said Sue, as she waved her hand.
"So do I," added the man who had been robbed, so that he was made poor and had to sell Toby. "I hope so, too!"
"Every time we go out riding in our pony cartwe'll look for your box," promised Bunny, and Mr. Tallman said that was very kind of them.
After the visitor had gone Bunny and Sue wanted to hitch Toby up again, and drive down to their father's dock to tell him about the new trick the pony could do. But Mrs. Brown said it would be better to let the pony rest awhile and tell Mr. Brown about him when he came home in the evening.
This Bunny and Sue did, and they took their father out to the barn and showed him how Toby could take the measure out from under the bushel basket, and drop it in the oat box.
"And maybe you can make him stand on his hind legs," added Bunny.
"I'll try," said Mr. Brown. And he did. And, surely enough, when the broomstick was held crosswise in front of him, up rose Toby on his hind legs, just as when Mr. Tallman had told him to.
It was about a week after this, and Bunny and Sue had learned to drive Toby quite well, that their mother called to them:
"Children, will you go to the store for me in your pony cart? I need some sugar for a cake."
"We'll get it, Mother!" answered Bunny, and he and Sue hurried out to the barn. With thehelp of the hired girl they hitched Toby to the cart, and soon they were driving down the street to the store, Splash, their dog, who was called that because he had once splashed into the water after Sue, who had fallen in, and pulled her out—But there! you can read all about that in the first volume of this series. So to go on: Splash went with them, now running on ahead and again lagging behind, barking and wagging his tail.
Bunny and Sue went in the store together to get the sugar, and, as they did not think they would stay very long, they did not fasten Toby's strap to a hitching post, as their father had told them they must always do. But as there were quite a number of customers in the store it was some little time before Bunny got what he wanted.
Then, as he and Sue started out to ride back home in their pony cart, they heard some one say:
"Where is that Bunny Brown boy?"
"Here I am," he answered, stepping from behind one of the clerks that had asked the question. "What's the matter?" Bunny asked.
"Why, your pony has walked away from in front of the store," the clerk replied. "There he goes down the street!"