"No, the men who took them must have hurried away with them. We could not find them at all."
Just as the six little Bunkers were going to bed a cowboy came up to the ranch house to say that the water was coming back into the spring.
"That's good," said Uncle Fred. "But I certainly would like to know what makes it go out, and who takes our cattle."
The next day Russ and Laddie asked if they could go fishing in the creek, if they went to one place and stayed there, so they might not wander away and be lost.
"Yes, I guess so," returned Daddy Bunker. "It isn't far, and if you stay on shore you won't fall in."
"True," chuckled Uncle Fred, but he wouldn't tell Laddie what he was laughing at.
There were some small fish to be caught in the creek, and soon, with hooks, lines, poles and bait Russ and Laddie started for the creek.
"I hope they'll be all right," said their mother.
They had been gone about an hour when Russ came running back to the house, dragging his pole after him, and on the line was a fish, which he had not stopped to take off.
"Oh, Mother! Daddy!" cried Russ. "Laddie—Laddie——"