Through her sobs Betsy began, “I ranned and I ranned and I--” “Well then,” the man said, “I guess I’ve got something for you.” He reached into one of the pockets of his big coat and brought out a tiny, nondescript bundle of loose white fur; of helpless waving black paws; big bulging winking black eyes; a curly queue of tail; an impertinent sniffing nose--a baby bull dog. He handed it to Betsy. Betsy’s tears dried in a flash. She hugged the puppy close to her warm neck; ran with him to the house. The children raced after her, and the run-about, utterly forgotten, disappeared down the road. “Let’s call it Fawn,” Rosie said, and Fawn it was. Fawn adopted the Little House as her home at once. She was a very affectionate person and she soon grew to love devotedly every member of the household. They all loved her devotedly in return; but none loved her more than Betsy; and Betsy’s dog she always remained. CHAPTER XIII DISCOVERY “Do you know I think it would be fine if we went off some day this week on a picnic,” Laura said unexpectedly one morning. “I just love to go on picnics. And we haven’t had one yet.” “Oh Laura!” Maida agreed ecstatically, “What a wonderful idea! I love picnics too! I adore picnic food and I never yet have had all the hard-boiled eggs I want. How did you come to think of it?” “I thought of it last night just before I fell asleep.” Laura’s voice sparkled with pride. “It was all I could do to keep from going in your rooms and waking you and Rosie up to tell you about it. I was so excited that I couldn’t fall asleep and so I made a perfectly beautiful plan. I thought we might put up lunches; then get into our bathing suits; paddle across the Magic Mirror to the other side and spend the day there--we have never really explored the other side. I’m sure it’s perfectly lovely there and we’ll have a wonderful time.” “Let’s do it to-morrow,” Rosie took up with Laura’s plan immediately. “We can get up early; cook the eggs and make the sandwiches. There’ll be enough cake left over. And don’t let’s--oh listen, everybody! Remember not to forget the salt. People always forget the salt on picnics.” “It’s ice cream day to-morrow,” Harold said sadly. “We’ll miss it if we are not home to freeze it.” “No, if you boys will get up early and make it, we can take it along in the freezer with us,” Rosie suggested daringly. “Sure!” Arthur was highly enthusiastic. “I don’t care how early I have to get up to make ice cream. I’d rather do that than go without it.” All other conversation was banished for the day. They kept thinking of things they would like to take with them--and stopped only short of the bicycles. “I should think,” Maida said once, “that we were going to Africa for six months at least. Remember one thing though--_don’t forget the salt_!”