fixed a sail onto the rowboat.

"Fire engines!" exclaimed Bunny. "Why should you hear fire engines,
Tom?"

"Why, in the city, where I lived, before I went with that farmer, the
fire engines used to come out after every storm. Places would be struck
by lightning, you know. I've seen lots of fires. But I didn't hear any
engines last night."

"There aren't any engines in these woods," said Daddy Brown. "Of course
trees are often struck by lightning, and lightning often sets fire to
houses in the country, but there aren't any engines out in the woods."

"And no policeman, either," added Tom. "It seems funny not to see a
policeman, and have him yell at you to move on, or keep off the grass."

"Do you like it better here than in the city?" asked Mrs. Brown.

"Oh, heaps better, yes'm! I love it here. I hope I don't ever have to go
back to the city--or to that mean farmer."

Nothing had been seen of the man who wanted to get Tom back, since that
day when he had called at the camp. Bunny and Sue had almost forgotten
him, but it seemed that Tom had not. He was always a little bit afraid,
thinking that the cross man might come back.

One morning, two days after the big storm, when Bunny, Sue and all the
others were gathered around the breakfast table, Daddy Brown asked:

"Where is Tom Vine?"

"He was here a minute ago," Bunny said.

"I think he went to the spring to get a pail of water," put in Uncle
Tad.

"Yes, that's where he went," said Mrs. Brown. "I said we would need some
fresh water, and he went after it."

"Well, we won't wait for him," said Daddy Brown. "We'll eat, and he can
have his breakfast when he comes."

But the others had finished breakfast, and Tom Vine had not come back
from the spring, though they waited for some time.

"I wonder what's keeping him," said Mrs. Brown.

"He couldn't have fallen in; could he?" asked Uncle Tad.

"No, the spring isn't large enough," Bunker Blue answered. "I'll go to
look for him."

Bunker ran off along the path that led to the spring. In a little while
he came hurrying back. He carried a pail full of water, and he said:

"I found the empty pail by the spring, but Tom was gone!"

CHAPTER XV

LOOKING FOR TOM

Bunker Blue, with the pail of water, walked up to where Bunny, Sue and
the others were still sitting at the breakfast table, though they had
finished eating.

"Tom's gone," said Bunker again.

"Gone where?" asked Bunny.

"I don't know," an