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“I know you’ll help find Buddy.”
    There was that word again. Scout sniffed even harder.
    Suddenly, Lizzie gasped. As she rounded a corner, she saw that a tall tree beside the stream had fallen over, crushing the fence beneath it. Scout ran over to the place where the fence had broken, sniffing like mad. “Oh, no!” Lizzie said. Instantly, she knew that Buddy must have escaped from the playpen. Now he could be
anywhere!
They had to find him quickly, before he could get into trouble.
    Lizzie looked behind her, hoping to see Kathy and the others arriving. But there was nobody in sight. She knew what she had to do. “Come here, Scout!” she said. She clipped a leash onto Scout’s collar, so Scout couldn’t run away, too. Then she gave the command. “Let’s go! Find him! Find Buddy!”
    Scout and Lizzie scrambled over the fallen treeand the broken fence. They splashed through the little stream, which continued on the other side of the fence. “Look!” Lizzie said. There were paw prints in the mud. “Buddy must have gone this way!”
    Scout seemed to understand. She leaned into the leash, pulling Lizzie along the path of the stream. They followed the footprints a long way, as the stream wound this way and that.
    Soon, Lizzie began to hear the sound of cars. Her heart started thumping hard. There must be a road nearby! “Buddy!” she called. Her mouth was so dry that she hardly made any sound. She licked her lips. “Buddy!” she called again.
    Then, suddenly, Scout began to pull even harder on the leash. She dragged Lizzie all the way to the edge of a road where cars were whizzing by. “Oh, no,” Lizzie said. If Buddy had tried to cross the road . . . she couldn’t even think about what might have happened.
    But at the last minute, Scout did not climb up onto the road. Instead, she headed straight for a big pipe that went
under
the road. She poked her head inside and barked.
    And Buddy barked back.
    To: Casey
    From: Lizzie
    Subject: Scout’s a hero!
    Dear Casey,
    You would be so proud of little Scout! Today she found Buddy, who was stuck in a culvert, one of those pipes that water goes through. Then she rescued him, since the pipe was too small for any people to crawl into. We were so happy to see him! Buddy was happy, too. He licked everybody in sight. Then he licked us all again. Maybe he’ll stay out of trouble for a little while this time!
    I hope you’re doing well in Mexico. Our classcan’t wait to see you again! When will you be back?
    Love,
    Lizzie
    To: Lizzie
    From: Casey
    Subject: Coming home
    Dear Lizzie,
    Wow! That Scout is something else. Sounds like all your training is really paying off! Thanks for the news about her and Buddy’s adventure.
    I will be seeing all of you in person sooner than I thought. I had a little adventure of my own down here in Mexico, and Meg is bringing me home early. We’ll tell you all about it when we get there.
    Love and arfs,
    Casey

CHAPTER TEN
    Casey had written to Mrs. Abeson’s class, too. All day the next day Mrs. Abeson had to keep asking the class to settle down. Everyone was buzzing with excitement about when Casey would get home from Mexico. Plus, Lizzie had shared the story about Scout finding and rescuing Buddy. The class was proud of Scout, too. They couldn’t wait until she was a real search-and-rescue dog, so they could sponsor her.
    But Lizzie knew that what Scout really needed was a forever family to live with. She was such an amazing puppy! She needed a home with people who would really appreciate how smart she was and what she could do. Lizzie was really hoping that Meg would be able to help find Scout aperfect home with one of her search-and-rescue friends.
    Lizzie and Charles were walking home from school that afternoon when their dad pulled up next to them in the family van. “Hop in!” he said. “Meg just called from the airport. She and Casey just arrived. We’re going to pick them up!”
    “Really?” Lizzie could hardly believe