The Amazing Adventures of Bub and Tub

By Gillian Wells

This story is about two friends, a small black-and-white dog called Tub and a small grey pony called Bub. There are many other animals included and also two children whose pets are Bub and Tub. The animals talk to each other, but the humans dont understand them. The animals look after the humans, though the humans think it is the other way round. They are always getting into mischief and having adventures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Oct 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524518493

Gillian Wells

Gillian is a lovely English lady who lives in rural Queensland with her cattle dog Jess. She has three children living in Australia, France and England and four grandchildren. She loves meeting people and has travelled widely in Australia and is one of Australia's best known and enjoyed authors.Gillian is also the author of over ten additional adult books which include Alone, Belonging, Families, Lost, Returned, Consequences, Travelling, Inheritance, Possession and coming in 2024... Compulsion. The Adventures of Bub and Tub series are Gillian's first children's books to be published with Boots & Scoots being her third children's book.

Book preview

Bub and Tub

There once was a little grey pony called Bub who lived on a cattle station in Australia. Her best friend was a small, fat, black-and-white dog called Tub.

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Tub and Bub played together every day and liked having lots of fun. One day they found a hole in the fence round the paddock that Bub could squeeze through—so off they set.

They climbed a small hill and then ran down the other side, where they came to a creek. The water didn’t look too deep, and as they were both hot, they plunged in. It was all right for Bub, but because it was too deep for Tub’s little short legs to reach the bottom of the creek, it wasn’t long before he was being swept downstream.

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Hang on, Tub! neighed Bub. I’m coming.

Of course, even though she was only a little pony, her legs were longer than Tub’s, and she was a strong swimmer. She swam quickly and grabbed Tub by his collar, and together they swam to the farther bank.

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They were both a bit puffed after that, so they lay down and had a rest and a snooze. When they woke, it was getting dark. They felt rather worried, as they wanted to find a shallower place to cross the creek in order to get home.

They didn’t know whether to go right or left, and the daylight was fading fast. Just then a big kangaroo came along. How yer going? he said.

So they told him their worries.

No problem, said the kangaroo. I can show you the best place to cross.

Thank you, Mr. Roo, Bub said.

Tub said, That would be bonzer!

Off they set, but it wasn’t long before poor Tub was left behind, as his little short legs couldn’t keep up.

Jump on my back, said Bub. She kneeled down so Tub could easily climb up, and they set off again. Soon they came to a place where the creek was just a little trickle. Now they could cross it safely.

Thank you, Mr. Roo! Tub said as they set off for the break in the fence.

As they squeezed through, they heard someone calling for them. Even though it was now very dark, they knew it was Emily, the little girl they belonged to.

Over here! barked Tub.

Soon Emily was there making a fuss of them. Where have you two been? she said. I was so worried.

Bub and Tub looked at each other and silently agreed they would not go off on their own again. They realised that slipping away was rather a silly thing to do, one that could have finished with one of them in real trouble. So after that, they just played in the paddock and only went further if Emily was with them.

Tub

Tub first came to live with Emily as a half-grown puppy. Emily’s father, John, found him wandering about in town. No one knew who his parents were. He was a mixture of breeds. The beautiful kelpies that were kept as cattle dogs looked down on him and teased him lots, especially as he had such short legs and a rather large body! Most days, he took no notice, but sometimes their teasing made him rather sad.

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Oh, Bub, he said, I wish I were different.

But why? she said. You are just great the way you are, and Emily loves you. That’s all you should worry about.

When the wet season came, everyone got fed up when it just kept on raining so. Then one day, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, the horses were whinnying, and everybody was happy.

Come on, said Emily. Let’s go out for a good ride.

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So off they went. They climbed the hill and trotted down the other side, stopping as needed to let Tub catch up. Then they were off again, quite fast, zooming across the next paddock. Suddenly, one of Bub’s hooves caught a wombat hole. Because of all the rain, it collapsed under her weight! Bub went right down onto her nose, and Emily went over her head and hit against a rock.

Tub came racing up behind. Oh dear; are you all okay? he said.

Emily didn’t reply, and Bub just lay there looking winded. Emily was still holding the reins. In the fall, they had wrapped around her hand.

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I can’t move, said Bub, or I might hurt Emily. What shall we do?

‘Hang on, said Tub. I will get help!" With that, the brave little dog raced as fast as his short little legs would carry him, up the hill and down the other side and across the paddock to the homestead. He was panting heavily, but he barked and barked as best he could.

Emily’s mother came out, wiping her hands on a towel. Be quiet, you noisy dog! she scolded.

Tub ran backwards a few paces and then forwards again, still barking.

Because he was so frantic, she realised that he was trying to give them a message. John! called Emily’s mother. Something must have happened to Emily! Quick, do something!

John rushed to the yard and saddled his horse. Tub ran round and round barking and then dashed off back across the paddock. Emily’s dad soon caught up with him but had to slow down. Tub couldn’t go any faster. However, it wasn’t long before John saw Bub in the distance, and he galloped off to her. Emily was sitting up, looking rather dazed. Otherwise she seemed to be all right. Bub was so good not to move and hurt my arm where it was tangled with the reins, she said.

Tub was very good too. He ran to get help, said Emily’s dad. Quite a star!

After that, the kelpies treated Tub with a lot more respect. He was now a hero.

Naughty Tub

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Because Tub was always getting into scrapes, Bub had to help him out. One of the things he liked doing most was teasing other animals. Because he was better friends with the kelpies now, he would pretend it was teatime and that he’d been fed and the others forgotten. The kelpies would start barking because they thought someone had forgotten their supper. They would get into trouble for making lots of noise.

Sometimes he would dance round and round Bub and hang on to her tail. This made her quite cross. Once he tried to do that with John’s big horse and narrowly missed getting badly kicked.

He liked teasing the many birds that were around too. When they landed to feed on the ground, he would race towards them and bark. Once he tried that on an emu and got chased. Bub had to come to his rescue.

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Quite often they saw snakes in the paddock but knew to leave them well alone. But one day when Tub was feeling extra naughty (and rather bored), he saw a brown snake slithering across the corner of the paddock. He thought he’d tease it. So he raced across, barking and darting at the snake. The snake was not pleased. It struck out at Tub and just missed him. Bub had seen what happened and galloped up to help, which was enough to make the snake take a hasty exit.

You silly little dog! said Bub crossly. You must never, ever tease snakes! They can move very fast, and one bite and you would be very ill—or even dead if you didn’t get to the vet quickly enough.

Sorry, said Tub. The shame was written all over his sad face. It just seemed like it would be fun.

Well, said Bub, you sometimes take your teasing too far. She then walked off, leaving Tub rather embarrassed. But it wasn’t many days before he was teasing the kelpies and birds again.

All the birds and animals agreed that something needed to be done to stop Tub being such a silly. They all loved him, but he was driving them mad. So they got together and formed a plan.

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Soon after this, one sunny day, a flock of galahs were mooching around on the ground near the homestead. Tub came racing up to chase them, but they didn’t fly