CHAPTER XIV
IN THE OLD LOG
Everybody, even the four little Bunkers, was surprised to hear this.
"Tad missing!" exclaimed Daddy Bunker. "Are you sure he hasn't got up early to help with the chores?" and he looked at Mr. Brown, who had just come in to breakfast.
"No, he wasn't helping me," was the answer. "He did help with the chores last night. Said he was doing it to pay for his dinner and supper, and I must say he was spry about it, too. I'd like to have such a boy around the farm, and I asked him if he didn't want to work for me. But he said he wanted to get to Avalon, and that he was going to ride as far as Grand View with you folks this morning."
"I did promise to take him," said Captain Ben; "but he seems to have made an early start to get ahead of us."
"I'm sorry for the poor fellow," said Mrs. Brown. "But if he's gone, he's gone, and that's all there is to it. My private opinion is that Tad ran away from home, and now he's anxious to run back again. That's what I think."
"I think so, too," said her husband. "Well, he seems able to take care of himself, and I'm glad he wasn't an apple thief; anyhow he only took a few to keep from starving, and I didn't begrudge him those. Now let's get breakfast. I suppose you folks are anxious about your auto."
"Yes," said Captain Ben. "Though the garage man said he'd work on it all night to get it ready for me this morning. I'll go down directly after breakfast."
The meal was soon on the table, and the hungry little Bunkers ate with good appetites. At first they had felt sorry about Tad's absence, but they soon forgot about him in thinking of the fun of traveling again in Captain Ben's car.