wagons, with
looking glass on the sides, were standing near some horses which were
eating grass. And, in and about the tents and wagons, in the woodland
camp, were a number of dark-colored men, women and children. They looked
like Indians, but Sue knew who they were as soon as she saw the gay
wagons.
"Oh, Bunny!" Sue whispered. "They're Gypsies! Maybe they have grandpa's
horses. This is a Gypsy camp, Bunny!"
CHAPTER VIII
A NIGHT SCARE
Perhaps if Sue had not spoken of grandpa's lost horses Bunny might not
have wanted to keep on toward the Gypsy camp. But when his sister spoke
the little boy seemed to become brave, all at once.
"That's so, Sue!" he whispered to her, as he took hold of her hand, so
she would not be frightened. "Maybe grandpa's horses are here. These
folks are Gypsies, sure enough."
"Just like the pictures in the books," added Sue, also whispering.
She and Bunny could see where several Gypsy women and children were
standing about the fire, over which were pots, from which steam came.
The Gypsies were cooking their supper.
The men Gypsies stood near the horses and Wagons, talking. Some of the
men were smoking, and they all seemed to be having an easy time.
"Shall we go up and ask 'em if they have grandpa's horses?" Bunny
inquired of Sue.
"Yes," she said. "But you won't let the Gypsies take me, will you?"
"Nope," said Bunny.
He and Sue had often heard their little playmates talk about Gypsies
taking children away, but I do not believe this ever happens. The
Gypsies have children of their own--children who like to live and travel
in the queer wagons--and why should the Gypsies take other children who
might be a trouble to them, and cry to come home?
Still Bunny and Sue thought the Gypsies might take them away in one of
the wagons, with the shining looking glasses on the sides, or that they
might be kept in one of the tents. But the two children wanted to find
out about grandpa's horses, so they kept on.
By this time some of the Gypsy women had seen the two tots. One woman,
who wore a bright handkerchief on her head, came up to Bunny and Sue and
asked:
"Where are you going? Where do you live? Aren't you lost?"
"No'm," said Bunny, while Sue sort of slid around behind him. "We're not
lost. Our automobile is over there," and Bunny pointed to the road. "We
just came to see if you had our grandpa's horses."
The Gypsy woman seemed surprised, and called to one of the men,
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