a while. He stood looking out
of the cabin windows.
"What are you thinking of, Bunny?" asked his father, as he steered the
_Spray_ to one side to get out of the way of a fishing boat and was
coming in, to get away from the storm.
"Oh, I was thinking of Toby," answered the little boy. "I hope he isn't
out in the rain."
"Well, it won't hurt him very much," returned Mr. Brown. "The rain is
warm, and Toby has a good thick coat of hair. All ponies have. But I
guess the gypsies have some sort of barn for their horses--the ones they
own and the ones they take from other people."
"I don't believe they have a barn," said Bunker. "They travel around so
much they don't have time to build barns. All I ever saw 'em have was
some wagons that looked as if they had come from a circus and a few
tents."
"Oh, well, maybe if they have Toby they'd let him stay in one of the
tents," said Mr. Brown, for he did not want Bunny to feel bad about Toby
being out in the storm.
"Yes, they could do that," agreed Bunny. "Toby isn't much bigger than a
great big dog, and he could get in a tent. Anyhow, I hope the gypsies
will be nice to him."
"I guess they will be," said Bunny's father. "Well, we'll soon know, for
we'll be there shortly."
Though the storm was a hard one, the motor boat kept on making her way
over, or through, the waves toward the landing on the other side of the
bay, where Mr. Brown, Bunny, and Bunker were to get out and walk to the
place where the gypsies were camped.
"Did you bring any umbrellas?" asked Bunny of his father.
"Yes, there are some in one of the lockers. Also rain coats and rubbers.
I put them in when I saw that it was likely to rain."
Mr. Brown kept everything needed in stormy weather at his office on the
dock, for often Mrs. Brown, or Bunny and Sue would go for a ride in one
of the boats, and a storm would come up while they were out on the bay.
Mr. Brown was always ready for all sorts of weather.
At last, after some hard work on the part of the gasolene motor, the
_Spray_ got close to the other side of the bay. Here she was somewhat
sheltered from the wind, and it was easier to get along.
Mr. Brown headed for a public dock, and, a little later, the boat was
made fast and the fish merchant, Bunker, and Bunny got out, ready to go
to the gypsy camp. It was well that umbrellas, coats and rubbers were in
the boat, or the little party would have soon been wet through. As it
was, the wind blew so
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