Mrs. Bunker ran to the top of the nearest little hill, or knoll, and looked across the plain. The five little Bunkers followed her. There were only five with her, as Violet had gone for a walk with her doll.
"But where can she have gone?" asked Mrs. Bunker, as she did not see her little girl, nor hear her answer the call.
"Maybe she went home," said Russ.
"Oh, yes," agreed Rose, not wanting to think that anything had happened to her sister. "Maybe her doll got tired, and she took her home."
Sometimes the little Bunker girls were so real in their make-believe play that they did things a grown person would have done.
"Would she know the way home alone?" asked Mrs. Bunker.
"It's right over there," said Russ, pointing. "You can see the ranch houses from here."
This was true enough. When they were up on the little hill they could see the buildings on Three Star Ranch.
"If she only went that way she will be all right," said Mother Bunker. "But if she walked the other way——"
"Come on! We'll find her!" called Russ to Laddie.