It was as though Splash said:
"I know you want to find Dix, but I don't know where he is. There is no use in my running my legs off to find him, for he is a long way from here."
"Dix possibly has been missing a longer while than we know," said Mr. Brown. "I noticed once, as we were going over a bridge, that Splash went in and had a little swim. But I did not see Dix with him, though I didn't think anything about it at the time. We had that trouble with the engine farther back than that. When I got that fixed Dix was about. But from then on I haven't seen him, and that was some miles back."
"Maybe that's the time my dear Sallie Malinda fell out," said Sue. "Or else Dix took her."
"I don't believe he'd do that," said her father. "He was too well trained. He isn't a puppy any longer, to hide boots, shoes and toys. I don't believe Dix took your Teddy."
"Well, anyhow let's go to find him," said Bunny. "I mean her," he added quickly, as he noticed Sue looking sharply at him. "Maybe we'll find Dix and the Teddy bear at the same time."
"If Dix hasn't gone off to find a cow or an elephant or a camel or something like that to make us a present of," said Mrs. Brown with a laugh.
"Oh, Momsie! Do you think Dix would really bring back an elephant?" asked Bunny eagerly.
"No, my dear, I was only fooling. But let's start back, Daddy, for I know Sue will be very anxious to-night about her Teddy bear."
Back they started in the automobile over the road they had just traveled. Now and then they stopped and called Dix, but the dog did not come to them.