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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/737-h.zip b/737-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a60ff7c --- /dev/null +++ b/737-h.zip diff --git a/737-h/737-h.htm b/737-h/737-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a53941 --- /dev/null +++ b/737-h/737-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8596 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Bobbsey Twins at School, +by Laura Lee Hope +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bobbsey Twins at School, by Laura Lee Hope + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Bobbsey Twins at School + +Author: Laura Lee Hope + +Posting Date: September 27, 2008 [EBook #737] +Release Date: December, 1996 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL *** + + + + +Produced by Diane and Don Nafis. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +The Bobbsey Twins at School +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +LAURA LEE HOPE +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">Chapter</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">A CIRCUS TRAIN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">SNOOP IS GONE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">A QUEER DOG</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">HOME IN AN AUTO</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">SNAP DOES TRICKS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">DANNY RUGG IS MEAN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">AT SCHOOL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">BERT SEES SOMETHING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">OFF TO THE WOODS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">A SCARE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">DANNY'S TRICK</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE CHILDREN'S PARTY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">A COAT BUTTON</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">THANKSGIVING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">THE FIRST SNOW</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">A NIGHT ALARM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">WHO WAS SMOKING?</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">A CONFESSION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">THE FAT LADY'S LETTER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">SNAP AND SNOOP</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL +</H1> + +<BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A CIRCUS TRAIN +</H3> + +<P> +"MAMMA, how much longer have we got to ride?" asked Nan Bobbsey, +turning in her seat in the railroad car, to look at her parents, who +sat behind her. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you getting tired?" asked Nan's brother Bert. "If you are I'll +sit next to the window, and watch the telegraph poles and trees go by. +Maybe that's what tires you, Nan," he added, and his father smiled, for +he saw that Bert had two thoughts for himself, and one for his sister. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'm not tired of the scenery," answered the brownhaired and +browneyed girl, "but you may sit next the window, Bert, if you like." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks!" he exclaimed as he scrambled over to the place his sister +gave up. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you tired, dearie?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey, leaning forward and +smoothing out her daughter's hair with her hand. "If you would like to +sit with me and put your head in my lap, papa can go to another seat +and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, mamma, I'm not as tired as that," and Nan laughed. "I was +just wondering how soon we'd be home." +</P> + +<P> +"I'd rather be back at the seashore," said Bert, not turning his gaze +from the window, for the train was passing along some fields just then, +and in one a boy was driving home some cows to be milked, as evening +was coming on. Bert was wondering if one of the cows might not chase +the boy. Bert didn't really want to see the boy hurt by a cow, of +course, but he thought that if the cow was going to take after the boy, +anyhow, he might just as well see it. But the cows were very +well-behaved, and went along slowly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, the seashore was nice," murmured Nan, as she leaned her head back +on the cushioned seat, "but I'm glad to be going home again. I want to +see some of the girls, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and I'll be looking for some of the boys, too," put in Bert. +"But school will soon begin, and that's no fun!" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey smiled at each other, and Mr. Bobbsey, taking out +a timetable, looked to see how much longer they would be on the train. +</P> + +<P> +"It's about an hour yet," he said to Nan, and she sighed. Really she +was more tired than she cared to let her mother know. +</P> + +<P> +Just ahead of the two Bobbsey children were another set of them. I say +"set" for the Bobbsey children came "in sets." +</P> + +<P> +There were two pairs of twins, Bert and Nan, nearly nine years of age, +and Flossie and Freddie, almost five. And, whereas the two older +children were rather tall and slim, with dark brown hair and eyes, the +littler twins were short and fat, and had light hair and blue eyes. +The two pairs of twins were quite a contrast, and many persons stopped +to look at them as they passed along the street together. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," went on Bert musingly, "school's no fun, and it starts about +a week after we get home. No chance to have a good time!" +</P> + +<P> +"We've had fun all summer," replied his sister. "I rather like school." +</P> + +<P> +"Mamma, are we going to school this year?" asked Flossie, as she looked +back with a quick turning of her head that set her yellow curls to +dancing. +</P> + +<P> +"If we are, I'm going to sit with Flossie—can't I?" asked Freddie, +kneeling in the seat so that he could face back to his father and +mother. +</P> + +<P> +Indeed his request was not strange, since the two younger twins were +always together even more so than their brother and sister. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I think you and Freddie will start school regularly this term," +said Mrs. Bobbsey, "and, if it can be arranged, you may sit together. +We'll see about that. Be careful, Freddie, don't put your head out of +the window," she cautioned quickly, for the little chap had turned in +his seat again, and was leaning forward to see a horse galloping about +a field, kicking up its heels at the sound of the puffing engine. +</P> + +<P> +"It's my turn to sit by the window, anyhow," said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"It is not! We haven't passed a station yet," disputed Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we have so!" cried his little sister. "Freddie Bobbsey!" and she +pointed her finger at him. +</P> + +<P> +"Children—children," said Mrs. Bobbsey, reprovingly. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you two taking turns?" asked Bert, smiling with an older brother's +superior wisdom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Flossie, "he was to have the seat next to the window +until we came to a station, and then it's to be my turn until we pass +another station, and we have passed one, but he won't change over." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it was only a little station, anyhow," asserted Freddie, "and it +came awful quick after the last one. It isn't fair!" +</P> + +<P> +"There's a seat up ahead for you, Bert," suggested Mr. Bobbsey, as a +gentleman got up, when the train approached a station. "You can sit +there, and let Flossie or Freddie take your place." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," answered Bert goodnaturedly, as he got up. +</P> + +<P> +The train rolled on, the two younger twins each having a window now, +and Nan occupying the seat with her little brother. For a time there +was quietness, until Mrs. Bobbsey said to her husband: +</P> + +<P> +"Hadn't you better get some of the satchels together, Richard, and tell +Dinah what she is to carry?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think I will," he answered, as he went up the car aisle a little way +to where a very fat colored woman sat. She was Dinah, the Bobbsey +cook, and they took her with them always when going away for the +summer. Now they were on their way to their city house, and of course +Dinah came back, too. +</P> + +<P> +"Mamma, I'm thirsty," said Flossie, after a bit. "Please may I get a +drink?" +</P> + +<P> +"I want one, too," said Freddie quicky. "Come on, Flossie, we'll both +go down to the end of the car where the water cooler is." +</P> + +<P> +"There's no cup," Nan said. "I went a little while ago, but a lady let +me take her glass." +</P> + +<P> +"And if there was a cup, I would rather they didn't use it," said Mrs. +Bobbsey. "One never knows who has last handled a public cup." +</P> + +<P> +"But I want a drink," insisted Flossie, a bit fretfully, for she was +tired from the long journey. +</P> + +<P> +"I know it, dear," said her mamma gently, "and I'm getting out the +silver cup for you. Only you must be very careful of it, and not drop +it, for it is solid silver and will dent, or mar, easily." She was +searching in her bag, and presently took out a very valuable drinking +cup, gold lined and with much engraving on it. The cup had been +presented to Flossie and Freddie on their first birthday, and bore each +of their names. They were very proud of it. +</P> + +<P> +"Now be careful," warned Mrs. Bobbsey, as she held out the cup. "Hold +on to the seats as you walk along." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll carry the cup," said Freddie. "I'm the biggest." +</P> + +<P> +"You are not!" declared his sister quickly. "I'm just as big." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, anyhow, I'm a boy," went on Freddie, and Flossie could not deny +this. "And boys always carries things," her brother went on. "I'll +carry the cup." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, but be careful of it," said his mother with a smile, as she +handed it to him. The two children went down the aisle of the car. +They stopped for a moment at the seat where Dinah was. +</P> + +<P> +"Is Snoop all right?" asked Freddie, peering into a box that was made +of slats, with spaces between them for air. +</P> + +<P> +"'Deed an' he am, honey," said Dinah with a smile, laughing so that she +shook all over her big, fleshy body. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'specs he's lonesome; aren't you, Snoop?" asked Flossie, poking her +finger in one of the cracks, to caress, as well as she could, a fat, +black cat. The cat, like Dinah the cook, went with the Bobbseys on all +their summer outings. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe he am lonesome," admitted Dinah, with another laugh, "but +he's been real good. He hadn't yowled once—not once!" +</P> + +<P> +"He'll soon be out of his cage; won't you, Snoop?" said Freddie, and +then he and his sister went on to the water cooler. Near it they saw +something else to look at. This was the sight of a very, very fat lady +who occupied nearly all of one seat in the end of the car. She was so +large that only a very little baby could have found room beside her. +</P> + +<P> +"Look—look at her," whispered Flossie to Freddie, as they paused. The +fat woman's back was toward them, and she seemed to be much interested +in looking out of the window. +</P> + +<P> +"She is fat," admitted Freddie. "Did you ever see one so big before?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only in a circus," said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"She'd make make two of Dinah," went on her brother. +</P> + +<P> +"She would not," contradicted Flossie quickly. "'Cause Dinah's black, +and this lady is white." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," admitted Freddie, with smile. "I didn't think of that." +</P> + +<P> +A sway of the train nearly made Flossie fall, and she caught quickly at +her brother. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out!" he cried. "You 'mos knocked the cup down." +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't mean to," spoke Flossie. "Oh, there goes my hat! Get it, +Freddie, before someone steps on it!" +</P> + +<P> +Her brother managed to get the hat just as it was sliding under the +seat where the fat lady sat. +</P> + +<P> +After some confusion the hat was placed on Flossie's head, and once +more she and her brother moved on toward the water cooler. It was +getting dusk now, and some of the lamps in the car had been lighted. +</P> + +<P> +Freddie, carrying the cup, filled it with water at the little faucet, +and, very politely, offered it to his sister first. Freddie was no +better than most boys of his age, but he did not forget some of the +little polite ways his mamma was continually teaching him. One of +these was "ladies first," though Freddie did not always carry it out, +especially when he was in a hurry. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you want any more?" he asked, before he would get himself a drink. +</P> + +<P> +"Just a little," said Flossie. "The silver cup doesn't hold much." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I guess it's 'cause there's so much silver in it," replied her +brother. "It's worth a lot of money, mamma said." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and it's all ours. When I grow up I'm going to have my half made +into a bracelet." +</P> + +<P> +"You are?" said Freddie slowly. "If you do there won't be enough left +for me to drink out of." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you can have your share of it made into a watch, and drink out +of a glass." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed Freddie, his face brightening. He gave his sister +more water, and then took some himself. As he drank his eyes were +constantly looking at the very fat lady who filled so much of her seat. +She turned from the window and looked at the two children, smiling +broadly. Freddie was somewhat confused, and looked down quickly. Just +then the train gave another lurch and Freddie suddenly spilled some of +the water on his coat. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, look what you did!" cried Flossie. "And that's your best coat!" +</P> + +<P> +"I—I couldn't help it," stammered Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, little boy," said the fat lady. "It's only clean water. +Come here and I'll wipe it off with my handkerchief. I'd come to you, +only I'm so stout it's hard enough for me to walk anyhow, and when the +train is moving I simply can't do it." +</P> + +<P> +Freddie and Flossie went to her seat, and with a handkerchief, that +Flossie said afterward was almost as big as a table cloth, the fat lady +wiped the water off Freddie's coat. +</P> + +<P> +The little boy held the silver cup in his hand, and feeling, somehow, +that he ought to repay the fat lady's kindness in some way, after +thanking her, he asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Would you like a drink of water? I can bring it to you if you would." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," she answered. "What a kind little boy you are! I saw you +give your sister a drink first, too. Yes, I would like a drink. I've +been wanting one some time, but I didn't dare get up to go after it." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll get it!" cried Freddie, eager to show what a little man he was. +He made his way to the cooler without accident, and then, moving +slowly, taking hold of the seat on the way back, so as not to spill the +water, he brought the silver cup brimful to the fat lady. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what a beautiful cup," she said, as she took it. +</P> + +<P> +"And it cost a lot of money, too," said Flossie. "It's ours—our +birthday cup, and when I grow up I'm going to have a bracelet made from +my half." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be nice," said the fat lady, as she prepared to drink. +</P> + +<P> +But she never got more than a sip of the water Freddie had so kindly +brought her, for, no sooner did her lips touch the cup than there was a +grinding, shrieking sound, a jar to the railway coach, and the train +came to such a sudden stop that many passengers were thrown from their +seats. +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie sat down suddenly in the aisle, but they were so +fat that they did not mind it in the least. As surprised as he was, +Freddie noticed that the fat lady was so large that she could not be +thrown out of her seat, no matter how suddenly the train stopped. The +little Bobbsey boy saw the water from the cup spill all over the fat +lady, and she held the silver vessel in her big, pudgy hand, looking +curiously at it, as though wondering what had so quickly become of the +water. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a wreck—the train's off the track!" a man exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"We've hit something!" cried another. +</P> + +<P> +"It's an accident, anyhow," said still a third, and then every one +seemed to be talking at once. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey came running down the aisle to where Flossie and Freddie +still sat, dazed. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you hurt?" he cried, picking them both up together, which was +rather hard to do. +</P> + +<P> +"No—no," said Freddie slowly. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, papa, what is it?" asked Flossie, wondering whether she was going +to cry. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, my dear. Nothing serious, I guess. The engineer must +have put the brakes on too quickly. I'll look out and see." +</P> + +<P> +Knowing that his children were safe, Mr. Bobbsey put them down and led +them back to where his wife was anxiously waiting. +</P> + +<P> +"They're all right," he called. "No one seems to be hurt." +</P> + +<P> +Bert Bobbsey looked out of the window. Though darkness had fallen +there seemed to be many lights up ahead of the stopped train. And in +the light Bert could see some camels, an elephant or two, a number of +horses, and cages containing lions and tigers strung out along the +track. +</P> + +<P> +"Why—why, what's this—a circus?" he asked. "Look, Nan! See those +monkeys!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it is a circus—and the train must have been wrecked!" exclaimed +his sister. "Oh mamma, what can it be?" +</P> + +<P> +A brakeman came into the car where the Bobbseys were. +</P> + +<P> +"There's no danger," he said. "Please keep your seats. A circus train +that was running ahead of us got off the track, and some of the animals +are loose. Our train nearly ran into an elephant, and that's why the +engineer had to stop so suddenly. We will go on I soon." +</P> + +<P> +"A circus, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, well! This is an adventure, +children. We've run into a circus train! Let's watch them catch the +animals." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SNOOP IS GONE +</H3> + +<P> +"PAPA, do you think a tiger would come in here?" asked Freddie, +remembering all the stories of wild animals he had heard in his four +years. +</P> + +<P> +"Or a lion?" asked Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not!" exclaimed Nan. "Can't you see that all the wild +animals are still in their cages?" +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe some of 'em are loose," suggested Freddie, and he almost hoped +so, as long as his father was there to protect him. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess the circus men can look after them," said Bert. "May I get +off, father, and look around?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'd rather you wouldn't, son. You can't tell what may happen." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, look at that man after the monkey!" cried Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and the monkey's gone up on top of the tiger's cage," added Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, this is as good as a circus, anyhow!" +</P> + +<P> +Some of the big, flaring lights, used in the tents at night, had been +set going so the circus and railroad men could see to work, and this +glare gave the Bobbseys and other passengers on the train a chance to +see what was going on. +</P> + +<P> +"There's a big elephant!" cried Freddie. "See him push the lion's cage +around. Elephants are awful strong!" +</P> + +<P> +"They couldn't push a railroad train," said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"They could too!" cried her little brother, quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"They could not. Could they, papa?" +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, absentmindedly. +</P> + +<P> +"Could an elephant push a railroad train?" asked Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"I know they could," declared Freddie. "Couldn't they, papa?" +</P> + +<P> +"Now, children, don't argue. Look out of the windows," advised their +mother. +</P> + +<P> +And while the circus men are trying to catch the escaped animals I will +tell you something more about the Bobbseys, and about the other books, +before this one, relating to their doings. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Richard Bobbsey, and his wife Mary, the parents of the Bobbsey +twins, lived in an Eastern city called Lakeport, on Lake Metoka. Mr. +Bobbsey was in the lumber business, and the yard, with its great piles +of logs and boards, was near the lake, on which the twins often went in +boats. There was also a river running into the lake, not far from the +saw mill. +</P> + +<P> +Their house was about a quarter of a mile away from the lumber yard, on +a fashionable street, and about it was a large lawn, while in the back +Sam Johnson, the colored man of all work, and the husband of Dinah, had +a fine garden. The Bobbseys had many vegetables from this garden. +</P> + +<P> +There was also a barn near the house, and in this the children had many +good times. Flossie and Freddie played there more than did Nan and +Bert, who were growing too old for games of that sort. +</P> + +<P> +As I have said, Bert and Nan were rather tall and thin, while Flossie +and Freddie were short and fat. Mr. Bobbsey used often to call Flossie +his "Fat Fairy," which always made her laugh. And Freddie had a pet +name, too. It was "Fat Fireman," for he often played that he was a +fireman; putting out makebelieve fires, and pretending he was a fire +engine. Once or twice his father had taken him to see a real one, and +this pleased Freddie very much. +</P> + +<P> +In the first book of this series, called "The Bobbsey Twins," I told +you something of the fun the four children had in their home town. +They had troubles, too, and Danny Rugg, one of the few bad boys in +Lakeport, was the cause of some. Also about a certain broken window; +what happened when the twins went coasting, how they had a good time in +an ice boat, and how they did many other things. +</P> + +<P> +Snoop, the fat, black kitten, played a part in the story also. The +Bobbsey twins were very fond of Snoop, and had kept him so many years +that I suppose he ought to be called cat, instead of a kitten, now. +</P> + +<P> +After the first winter's fun, told of in the book that began an account +of the doings of the Bobbseys, the twins and their parents went to the +home of Uncle Daniel Bobbsey, and his wife, Aunt Sarah, in Meadow Brook. +</P> + +<P> +In the book called "The Bobbsey Twins in the Country," I wrote down +many of the things that happened during the summer. +</P> + +<P> +If they had fun going off to the country, taking Snoop with them, of +course, they had many more good times on arriving at the farm. There +was a picnic, jolly times in the woods, a Fourth of July celebration, +and though a midnight scare alarmed them for a time, still they did not +mind that. +</P> + +<P> +But, though the twins liked the country very much, they soon had a +chance to see something of the ocean, and in the third book of the +series, called "The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore," my readers will +find out what happened there. +</P> + +<P> +There was fun on the sand, and more fun in the water, and once the +little ones got lost on an island. A great storm came up, and a ship +was wrecked, and this gave the twins a chance to see the life savers, +those brave men who risk their lives to help others. +</P> + +<P> +Then came closing days at Ocean Cliff, the home of Uncle William and +Aunt Emily Minturn at Sunset Beach. School was soon to open, and Mr. +and Mrs. Bobbsey were anxious to get back to their town home, for +Flossie and Freddie were to start regular lessons now, even though it +was but in the kindergarten class. +</P> + +<P> +So goodbyes were said to the ocean, and though Dorothy Minturn cried a +little when her cousins Nan and Flossie, and Bert and Freddie, had to +leave, still she said she hoped they would come again. And so the +Bobbseys were on their way home in the train when the circus accident +happened that brought them to a stop. +</P> + +<P> +"And so we nearly ran into an elephant, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey to the +brakeman, who had brought in the news. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir. Our engineer stopped just in time." +</P> + +<P> +"If we had hit him we'd gone off the track," said Freddy. +</P> + +<P> +"No, we wouldn't," declared Flossie, who seemed bound to start a +dispute. Perhaps she was so tired that she was fretful. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, can't you two stop disputing all the while?" asked Bert, in a low +voice. "You make papa and mamma nervous." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, an elephant is big, anyhow," said Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"So he is, little Fat Fireman," said Nan, "Come and sit with me, and we +can see the men catch the monkeys." +</P> + +<P> +The work of getting the escaped animals back into their cages was going +on rapidly. Some of the passengers went out to watch, but the Bobbseys +stayed in their seats, Mr. Bobbsey thinking this best. The catching of +the monkeys was the hardest work, but soon even this was accomplished. +</P> + +<P> +The wait seemed very tiresome when there was nothing more to watch, and +Mr. Bobbsey looked about for some railroad man of whom he could inquire +how much longer delay there would be. The conductor came through the +car. +</P> + +<P> +"When will we start?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"Not for some time, I'm afraid," spoke the tickettaker. "The wreck is +a worse one than I thought at first, and some of the cars of the circus +train are across the track so we can't get by. We may be here two +hours yet." +</P> + +<P> +"That's too bad. Where are we?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just outside of Whitewood." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's near home!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why can't we get out, +Richard, walk across the fields to the trolley line, and take that +home? It won't be far, and we'll be there ever so much quicker." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we could do that, I suppose," said her husband, slowly. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what a number of passengers did," said the conductor. "There's +no danger in going out now—all the animals are back in their cages." +</P> + +<P> +"Then that's what we'll do, children," said their father. "Gather up +your things, and we'll take the trolley home. The moon is coming up, +and it will soon be light." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm hungry," said Freddie, fretfully. +</P> + +<P> +"So am I," added his twin sister. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I have some crackers and cookies in my bag," replied Mrs. +Bobbsey. "You can eat those on the way. Nan, go tell Dinah that we're +going to take a trolley. We can each carry something." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll carry Snoop," exclaimed Freddie. He hurried down the aisle to +where the cook was now standing, intending to get the box containing +his pet cat. +</P> + +<P> +"Where's Snoop, Dinah?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Heah he am!" she said, lifting up the slatbox. "He ain't made a sound +in all dis confusion, nuther." +</P> + +<P> +The next moment Freddie gave a cry of dismay: +</P> + +<P> +"Snoop's gone!" he wailed. "He broke open the box and he's gone! Oh, +where is Snoop?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ma sakes alive!" cried Dinah. The box was empty! +</P> + +<P> +A hurried search of the car did not bring forth the black pet. Mr. and +Mrs. Bobbsey, and some of the passengers, joined in the hunt. But +there was no Snoop, and a slat that had pulled loose from one side of +the box showed how he had gotten out. +</P> + +<P> +"Most likely Snoop got frightened when the train stopped so suddenly, +and broke loose," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We may find him outside." +</P> + +<P> +"I—I hope an elephant didn't step on him," said Flossie, with a catch +in her breath. +</P> + +<P> +"Ohooo! Maybe a tiger or a lion has him!" wailed Freddie. "Oh, Snoop!" +</P> + +<P> +"Be quiet, dear, we'll find him for you," said Mrs. Bobbsey, as she +opened her satchel to get out some cookies. Then she remembered +something. +</P> + +<P> +"Freddie, where is that silver cup?" she asked. "You had it to get a +drink. Did you give it back to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, mamma, I—I" +</P> + +<P> +"He gave the fat lady a drink from it," spoke Flossie, "and she didn't +give it back." +</P> + +<P> +"The train stopped just as she was drinking," went on Freddie. "I sat +down on the floor—hard, and I saw the water spill on her. The fat +lady has our silver cup! Oh, dear!" +</P> + +<P> +"And she's gone—and Snoop is gone!" cried Flossie. "Oh! oh!" +</P> + +<P> +"Is that so—did you let her take your cup, Freddie?" asked his papa. +</P> + +<P> +Freddie only nodded. He could not speak. +</P> + +<P> +"That fat lady was with the circus," said one of the men passengers. +"Maybe you can see her outside." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll look," said Mr. Bobbsey, quickly. "That cup is too valuable to +lose. Come, children, we'll see if we can't find Snoop also, and then +we'll take a trolley car for home." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A QUEER DOG +</H3> + +<P> +PAPA BOBBSEY first looked for some of the circus men of whom he might +inquire about the fat lady. There was much confusion, for a circus +wreck is about as bad a kind as can happen, and for some time Mr. +Bobbsey could find no one who could tell him what he wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Mrs. Bobbsey kept the four children and Dinah with her, +surrounding their little pile of baggage off to one side of The tracks. +</P> + +<P> +Some of the big torches were still burning, and the full moon was +coming up, so that there was plenty of light, even if it was night. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but if we could only find Snoop!" cried Freddie. "Here, Snoop! +Snoop!" he called. +</P> + +<P> +"I had much rather find the fat lady, and get back your lovely silver +cup," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "I hope she hasn't taken it away with her." +</P> + +<P> +"She had it in her hand when the train, stopped with such a jerk," +explained Flossie. "Oh, but mamma, don't you want us to find +Snoop—dear Snoop?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I do. But I want that silver cup very much, too. I hope +your father finds it." +</P> + +<P> +"But there never could be another Snoop," cried Flossie. "Could there, +Freddie? And we could get another silver cup." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be silly," advised Bert, rather shortly. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't talk that way to them," said Nan. "They do love that cat +so. Never mind, Flossie and Freddie. I'm sure we'll find him soon. +Here comes papa." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey came back, looking somewhat worried. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you find her?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he replied, with a shake of his head. "She was the circus fat +lady all right. It seems she missed the showtrain, and came on in +ours. And, when we stopped she got out, and went up ahead. Part of the +circus train, carrying the performers, was not damaged and that has +gone on. The fat lady is with that, so one of the men said." +</P> + +<P> +"And, very likely, she has carried off our silver cup," exclaimed Mrs. +Bobbsey. "Oh dear! Can you find her later, Richard?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think so. But it will take some time. The circus is going to +Danville—that's a hundred miles from here. But I will write to the +managers there, and ask them to get our cup from the fat lady." +</P> + +<P> +"But where is Snoop?" asked Freddie, with much anxiety. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, my dear," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "I asked the circus men +if they had seen him, but they were too busy to remember. He may be +running around some where. But we can't wait any longer. We must get +home. I'll speak to one of the switchmen, who stay around here, and if +they see Snoop I'll have them keep him for us. We'll come back +tomorrow and inquire." +</P> + +<P> +"But we want Snoop now!" exclaimed Freddie, fretfully. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid we can't get him," said Mrs. Bobbsey, gently. "Come, +children, let's go home now, and leave it to papa. Oh, to think of +your lovely silver cup being gone!" +</P> + +<P> +"Snoop is worse," said Flossie, almost crying. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I'm sorry I let the fat lady take the cup," spoke Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you meant all right, my dear," said his mamma, "and it was very +kind of you. But we really ought to start. We may miss a trolley. +Come, Dinah, can you carry all you have?" +</P> + +<P> +"'Deed an' I can, Mrs. Bobbsey. But I suah am sorry 'bout dat ar' +Snoop." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it wasn't your fault, Dinah," said Nan quickly. "He is getting to +be such a big cat that he can easily push the slats off his box, now. +We must make it stronger next time." +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie wondered if there would be a "next time," for they +feared Snoop was gone forever. They did not worry so much about the +silver cup, valuable as it was. +</P> + +<P> +With everyone in the little party carrying something, the Bobbsey +family set off across, the fields toward the distant trolley line that +would take them nearly home. The moon was well up now, and there was a +good path across the fields. Nan and Bert were talking about the +wreck, and recalling some of the funny incidents of catching the circus +animals. +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie were wondering whether they would ever see their +pet cat again. They had had him so long that he seemed like one of the +family. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he ran off and joined the circus," said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe," spoke her brother. "But he can't do any tricks, so they won't +want him in a show." +</P> + +<P> +"He can so do tricks! He can chase his tail and almost grab it." +</P> + +<P> +"That isn't a trick." +</P> + +<P> +"It is so—as much as standing on your head." +</P> + +<P> +"Children—children—I don't know what I'll do with you if you don't +stop that constant bickering," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "You must not +dispute so." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, mamma, but isn't chasing your tail a trick?" asked Flossie. +"Freddie says it isn't." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it isn't a circus trick, anyhow," declared her brother. "I +meant a circus trick." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Snoop is a good cat, anyhow," went on Flossie, "and I wish we +had him back." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, so do I!" exclaimed Freddie, and thus that little dispute ended. +</P> + +<P> +They were walking along through a little patch of woods now, when Bert, +who was the last one in line, suddenly called out: +</P> + +<P> +"Something is coming after us!" +</P> + +<P> +"Coming after us? What do you mean?" asked Nan quickly, as she hurried +to her father's side. +</P> + +<P> +"I mean I've been listening for two or three minutes now, to some +animal following after us along the path. Some big animal, too." +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie both ran back and took hold of their mother's hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't scare the children, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey, a bit sternly. +"Did you really hear something?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, father. It's some animal walking behind us. Listen and you can +hear it your self." +</P> + +<P> +They all listened. It was very quiet. Then from down the hard dirt +path they all heard the "pitpat, pitpat" of the footsteps of some +animal. It was coming on slowly. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment Mr. Bobbsey thought of the wild animals of the circus. In +spite of what the men had said perhaps one of the beasts might have +escaped from its cage. The others in the little party evidently +thought the same thing. Mrs. Bobbsey drew her children more closely +about her. +</P> + +<P> +"'Deed an' if it's one ob dem elephants," said Dinah, "an' if he comes +fo' me I'll jab mah hat pin in his long nose—dat's what I will!" +</P> + +<P> +"It can't be an elephant," said Mr. Bobbsey. "One of the big beasts +would make more noise than that. It may be one of the monkeys—I don't +see how they could catch them all—they were so lively and full of +mischief." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, if it's a monkey, may we keep it?" begged Flossie. "I just love a +monkey." +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy, child! What would we do with it around the house?" cried Mrs. +Bobbsey. "Richard, can you see what it is?" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey peered down the road. +</P> + +<P> +"I can see something," he said. "It's coming nearer." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear!" cried Nan, trembling with fear. +</P> + +<P> +Just then a bark sounded—a friendly bark. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a dog!" said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, I'm so glad it wasn't an +elephant," and she hugged Freddie and Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! I wasn't afraid!" cried Freddie. "If it had been an elephant +I—I'd give him a cookie, and maybe he'd let me ride home on his back." +</P> + +<P> +The animal barked louder now, and a moment later he came into sight on +a moonlit part of the path. The children could see that it was a big, +shaggy white dog, who wagged his tail in greeting as he walked up to +them. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what a lovely dog!" cried Nan. "I wonder where he belongs?" +</P> + +<P> +The fine animal came on. Bert snapped his fingers, boy-fashion. +</P> + +<P> +Instantly the dog stood up on his hind legs and began marching about in +a circle on the path. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what a queer dog!" cried Flossie. "Oh I wish he was ours!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HOME IN AN AUTO +</H3> + +<P> +DOWN on his four legs dropped the big white dog, and with another wag +of his fluffy tail he came straight for Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful!" warned Mamma Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"He won't hurt her!" declared Bert. "That's a good dog, anyone can +tell that. Here, doggie; come here!" he called. +</P> + +<P> +But the dog still advanced toward Flossie, who shrank back a bit +timidly. +</P> + +<P> +"You never can tell what dogs will do," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "It is best +to be careful." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess he knew what Flossie said to him," spoke up Freddie. "He +knows we like dogs." +</P> + +<P> +The dog barked a little, and, coming up to where Flossie was, again +stood on his hind legs. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a queer trick," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I guess this dog has been +trained. He probably belongs around here." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish he belonged to us," sighed Nan. Like Flossie and Freddie she, +too, loved animals. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe we can keep him if we don't find Snoop?" suggested Freddie. +"Oh, papa, will you get Snoop back?" and Freddie's voice sounded as +though he was going to cry. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes, of course I will," said Mr. Bobbsey quickly. He did not +want the children to fret now, with still quite a distance yet to go +home, and that in a trolley car. There were bundles to carry, weary +children to look after, and Mrs. Bobbsey was rather tired also. No +wonder Papa Bobbsey thought he had many things to do that night. +</P> + +<P> +"Come along, children," called Mrs. Bobbsey, "it is getting late, and +we are only about half way to the trolley. Oh dear! If that circus +had to be wrecked I wish it could have waited until our train passed." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you very tired?" asked her husband. "I can take that valise." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed you'll not. You have enough." +</P> + +<P> +"Lemme have it, Massa Bobbsey," pleaded Dinah. "I ain't carryin' half +enough. I's pow'ful strong, I is." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense, Dinah!" said Mr. Bobbsey. "I can manage, and your arms are +full." +</P> + +<P> +"I—I wish she had Snoop," said Freddie, but he was so interested in +watching the queer dog that he half forgot his sorrow over the lost cat. +</P> + +<P> +The dog seemed to have made great friends with Flossie. She was +patting him on the head now, for the animal, after marching about on +his hind legs, was down on all fours again. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, mamma, he's awful nice!" exclaimed Flossie. "He's just as gentle, +and he's soft, like the little toy lamb I used to have." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed he does seem to be a gentle dog," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "But come +along now. Don't pet him any more, or he may follow us. Flossie, and +whoever owns him would not like it. Come on." +</P> + +<P> +"Forward—march!" called Freddie, strutting along the moonlit path as +much like a soldier as he could imitate, tired as he was. +</P> + +<P> +The Bobbseys and their faithful Dinah started off again toward the +distant trolley that would take them to their home. The dog sat down +and looked after them. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I wish he was ours," said Flossie wistfully, waving her hand to the +dog. +</P> + +<P> +The Bobbseys had not gone on very far before Nan, looking back, called +out: +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, papa, that dog is following us!" +</P> + +<P> +"He is?" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "That's queer. He must have taken a +sudden liking to us. But I guess he'll go back where he belongs pretty +soon. Are you getting tired, little Fat Fireman? And you, my Fat +Fairy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, papa," laughed Flossie. "I sat down so much in the train that +I'm glad to stand up now." +</P> + +<P> +"So am I," said Freddie, who made up his mind that he would not say he +was tired if his little sister did not. And yet, truth to tell, the +little Fat Fireman was very weary. +</P> + +<P> +On and on went the Bobbsey family, and soon Bert happened to look back, +and gave a whistle of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"That dog isn't going home, papa," he said. "He's still after us, and +look! now he's running." +</P> + +<P> +They all glanced back on hearing this. Surely enough the big white dog +was running after them, wagging his tail joyfully, and barking from +time to time. +</P> + +<P> +"This will never do!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "Whoever owns him may +think we are trying to take him away. I'll drive him back. Go home! +Go back, sir!" exclaimed Papa Bobbsey in stern tones. +</P> + +<P> +The dog stopped wagging his tail. Then he sat down on the path, and +calmly waited. Mr. Bobbsey walked toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't—don't whip him, papa!" exclaimed Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't intend to," said Mr. Bobbsey. "But I must be stern with him +or he will think I'm only playing. Go back!" he cried. +</P> + +<P> +The dog stretched out on the path, his head down between his fore paws. +</P> + +<P> +"He—he looks—sad," said Freddie. "Maybe he hasn't any home, papa." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, of course a valuable dog like that has a home," declared Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"But maybe they didn't treat him kindly, and he is looking for a new +one," suggested Nan, hopefully. +</P> + +<P> +"He doesn't seem illtreated," spoke Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, I do wish he'd +go back, so we could go on." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey pretended to pick up a stone and throw it at the dog, as +masters sometimes do when they do not want their dogs to follow them. +This dog only wagged his tail, as though he thought it the best joke he +had ever known. +</P> + +<P> +"Go back! Go back, I say!" cried Papa Bobbsey in a loud voice. The +dog did not move. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess he won't follow us any more," went on Mr. Bobbsey. "Hurry +along now, children. We are almost at the trolley." He turned away +from the dog, who seemed to be asleep now, and the family went on. For +a minute or two, as Nan could tell by looking back, the dog did not +follow, but just as the Bobbseys were about to make a turn in the path, +up jumped the animal and came trotting on after the children and their +parents, wagging his tail so fast that it seemed as if it would come +loose. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he coming?" asked Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"He certainly is," answered Bert, who was in the rear. "I guess he +wants us to take him home with us." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, let's do it!" begged Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Please, papa," pleaded Freddie. "We haven't got Snoop now, so let us +have a dog. And I'm sure we could teach him to do tricks—he's so +smart." +</P> + +<P> +"And so he's coming after us still!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, +well, I don't know what to do," and he came to a stop on the path. +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't we take him home just for tonight?" asked Nan, "and then in +the morning we could find out who owns him and return him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, please do," begged Freddie and Flossie, impulsively. +</P> + +<P> +"But how can we take him on a trolley car?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "The +conductor would not let us." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he would—if he was a kind man," suggested Freddie. "We could +tell him how it was, and how we lost our cat." +</P> + +<P> +"And our silver cup," added Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, certainly the dog doesn't seem to want to go home," said Mr. +Bobbsey, after he had tried two or three times more to drive the animal +back. But it would not go. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on a little farther," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey. "By the time we get +to the trolley he may get tired, and go back. And if we want to lose +him I think we can, by getting on the car quickly." +</P> + +<P> +"But we don't want to lose him!" cried Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no!" said Flossie. "We want to keep him. He can run along behind +the trolley car. I'll ask the motorman to go slow, papa." +</P> + +<P> +"My! This has been a mixedup day!" sighed Mr. Bobbsey. "I really +don't know what to do." +</P> + +<P> +The dog seemed to think that he was one of the family, now. He came up +to Flossie and Freddie and let them pat him. His tail kept wagging all +the while. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll see what happens where we get to the trolley," decided Mr. +Bobbsey, thinking that there would be the best and only place to get +rid of the dog. "Come along, children." +</P> + +<P> +Freddie and Flossie came on, the dog between them, and this seemed to +suit the fine animal. He had found friends, now, he evidently thought. +Mr. Bobbsey wondered why so valuable a dog would leave its home. And +he was very much puzzled as to what he should do if the children +insisted on keeping the animal, and if it came aboard the trolley car. +</P> + +<P> +"There's the car!" exclaimed Bert, as they went around another turn in +the path and came to a road. Down it could be seen the headlight of an +approaching trolley, and also the twin lamps of an oncoming automobile. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out for the auto, children!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +They stood at the side of the road, and as the auto came up the man in +it slowed down his machine. It was a big car and he was alone in it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the autoist, as his engine stopped. "If +it isn't the Bobbsey family—twins and all! What are you doing here, +Mr. Bobbsey?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it's Mr. Blake!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey, seeing that the autoist +was a neighbor, and a business friend of his. "Oh, our train was held +back by a circus wreck, so we walked across the lots to the car. We're +homeward bound from the seashore." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well! A circus wreck, eh? Where did you get the dog?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he followed us," said Mrs. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"And we're going to keep him, too!" exclaimed Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"And take him in the trolley with us," added her little brother. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well!" exclaimed Mr. Blake. "Say, now, I have a better plan +than that," he went on. "Why should you folks go home in a trolley, +when I have this big empty auto here? Pile in, all of you, and I'll +get you there in a jiffy. Come, Dinah, I see you, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sah, Massa Blake, I'se heah! Can't lose ole Dinah!" +</P> + +<P> +"But we lost our cat, Snoop!" said Flossie regretfully. +</P> + +<P> +"And we nearly ran over an elephant," added Freddie, bound that his +sister should not tell all the news. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, get in the auto," invited Mr. Blake. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really mean it?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "Perhaps we are keeping +you from going somewhere." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed not. Pile in, and you'll soon be home." +</P> + +<P> +"Can we bring the dog, too?" asked Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, there's plenty of room for the dog," laughed Mr. Blake. "Lift +him in." +</P> + +<P> +But the strange dog did not need lifting. He sprang into the tonneau +of the auto as soon as the door was opened. Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey +lifted in Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert followed. Then in got +Papa and Mamma Bobbsey and Mr. Blake started off. +</P> + +<P> +"This is lovely," said Mrs. Bobbsey with a sigh of relief. She was +more tired than she had thought. +</P> + +<P> +"It certainly is kind of you, Mr. Blake," said Papa Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm only too glad I happened to meet you. Are you children +comfortable?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yep!" chorused Freddie and Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"And the dog?" +</P> + +<P> +"We're holding him so he won't fall out," explained Flossie. She and +her little brother had the dog between them. +</P> + +<P> +On went the auto, and with the telling of the adventures of the day the +journey seemed very short. Soon the Bobbsey home was reached. There +were lights in it, for Sam, the colored man, had been telephoned to, to +have the place opened for the family. Sam came out on the stoop to +greet them and his wife Dinah. +</P> + +<P> +"Here we are!" cried Papa Bobbsey. "Come, Flossie Freddie we're home." +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie did not answer. They were fast asleep, their heads +on the shaggy back of the big dog. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SNAP DOES TRICKS +</H3> + +<P> +"WE'LL have to carry them in," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked in the +rear of the auto, and saw his two little twins fast asleep on the dog's +back. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll take 'em," said Sam kindly. "Many a time I'se carried 'em in +offen de porch when dey falled asleep. I'll carry 'em in." +</P> + +<P> +And he did, first taking Flossie, and then Freddie. Then he and Dinah +brought in the bundles and valises, while Nan and Bert and Mr. and Mrs. +Bobbsey followed, having bidden goodnight to Mr. Blake, and thanking +him for the ride. +</P> + +<P> +"Where—where are we?" asked Flossie, rubbing her eyes and looking +around the room which she had not seen in some months. +</P> + +<P> +"An'—an' where's our dog?" demanded Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, bless your hearts—that dog!" cried Mamma Bobbsey. "Sam took him +out in the barn. You may see him in the morning, if he doesn't run +away in the night." +</P> + +<P> +The twins looked worried over this suggestion, until Sam said: +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I locked him up good an' proper in a box stall; 'deed an' I did, +Mrs. Bobbsey. He won't get away tonight." +</P> + +<P> +"That's—good," murmured Freddie, and then he fell asleep again. +</P> + +<P> +Soon the little twins were undressed and put to bed; Nan and Bert soon +followed, but Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey stayed up a little later to talk +over certain matters. +</P> + +<P> +"It's good to be home again," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked about the +rooms of the town house. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but we had a delightful summer," spoke his wife, "and the +children are so well. The country was delightful, and so was the +seashore. But I think I, too, am glad to be back. It will be quite a +task, though, to get the children ready for school. Flossie and +Freddie will go regularly now, I suppose, and with Nan and Bert in a +higher class, it means plenty of work." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so," said her husband. +</P> + +<P> +"But Dinah is a great help," went on Mrs. Bobbsey, for she did not mean +to complain. Flossie and Freddie had tried a few days in the +kindergarten class at school, but Flossie said she did not like it, +and, as Freddie would not go without her, their parents had taken them +both out in the Spring. +</P> + +<P> +"There will be plenty of time to start them in the Fall," said Mrs. +Bobbsey, and so it had been arranged. And now the four twins were all +to attend the same school, which would open in about a week. +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie were both up early the next morning, and, scarcely +halfdressed, they hurried out to the barn. +</P> + +<P> +"Whar yo' chillers gwine?" demanded Dinah, as she prepared to get +breakfast. +</P> + +<P> +"Out to see our dog," answered Freddie. "Is Sam around?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he's out dere somewheres, washin' de carriage. But don't yo' let +dat dog bite yo'." +</P> + +<P> +"We won't," said Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"He wouldn't bite anyhow," declared Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +Sam opened the box stall for them, and out bounced the big white dog, +barking in delight, and almost knocking down the twins, so glad was he +to see them. +</P> + +<P> +"What shall we call him?" asked Freddie. "Maybe we'd better name him +Snoop, like our cat. I guess Snoop is gone forever." +</P> + +<P> +"No, we mustn't call him Snoop," said Flossie, "for some day our cat +might come back, and he'd want his own name again. We'll call our dog +Snap, 'cause see how bright his eyes snap. Then if our cat comes back +we'll have Snoop and Snap." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a good name," decided Freddie, after thinking it over. "Snoop +and Snap. I wonder how we can make this dog stand on his hind legs +like he did before?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bert snapped his fingers and he did it," suggested Flossie. "But +maybe he'll do it now if you just ask him to." +</P> + +<P> +Freddie tried to snap his fingers, but they were too short and fat. +Then he patted the dog an the head and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Stand up!" +</P> + +<P> +At once the dog, with a bark, did so. He sat up on his hind legs and +then walked around. Both the children laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if he can do any other tricks?" asked Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to try," said her brother. "What trick do you want him to +do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Make him lie down and roll over." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," spoke Freddie. "Now, Snap, lie down and roll over!" he +called. At once the fine animal did so, and then sprang up with a +bark, and a wag of his tail, as much as to ask: +</P> + +<P> +"What shall I do next?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, isn't he a fine dog!" cried Flossie. "I wonder who taught him +those tricks?" +</P> + +<P> +"Let's see if he can do any more," said Freddie. "There's a barrel +hoop over there. Maybe he'll jump through it if we hold it up." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, let's do it!" cried Flossie, as she ran to get the hoop. Snap +barked at the sight of it, and capered about as though he knew just +what it was for, and was pleased at the chance to do more of his +tricks. The hoop was a large one, and Freddie alone could not hold it +very steady. So Flossie took hold of one side. As soon as they were in +position, Freddie called: +</P> + +<P> +"Come on now, Snap. Jump!" +</P> + +<P> +Snap barked, ran back a little way, turned around and came racing +straight for the twins. At that moment Sam Johnson came up running, a +stick in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Heah! heah!" shouted the colored man, "You let dem chillers alone, +dog! Go 'way, I tells yo'!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's all right, Sam," said Freddie. "Don't scare him. He's our new +dog Snap, and he's going to do a trick," for the colored gardener had +supposed the dog was running at Flossie and Freddie to bite them. +</P> + +<P> +Snap paid no attention to Sam, but raced on. When a short distance +from where Flossie and Freddie held the hoop, Snap jumped up into the +air, and shot straight through the wooden circle, landing quite a way +off. +</P> + +<P> +"Mah gracious sakes alive!" gasped Sam. "Dat's a reg'lar circus +trick—at's what it am!" +</P> + +<P> +He scratched his head in surprise, and the stick he had picked up, +intending to drive away the dog with, stuck straight out. In a moment +Snap raced up, and jumped over the stick. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, look!" cried Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Another trick!" exclaimed Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Mah gracious goodness!" cried Sam. "Dat suah am wonderful!" +</P> + +<P> +Snap ran about barking in delight. He seemed happy to be doing tricks. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's go tell papa," said Freddie. "He'll want to know about this." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I do hope he lets us keep him," said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey had not yet gone to his lumber office. He listened to what +the little twins had to tell them about Snap, who lay on the lawn, +seeming to listen to his own praises. +</P> + +<P> +"A trick dog; eh?" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder who owns him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he escaped from the circus," suggested Bert, who came out just +then to see how his pigeons were getting along. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it!" cried Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder I did not think of it before. +The dog must have escaped from the wrecked circus train, and he +followed us, not knowing what else to do. That accounts for his +tricks." +</P> + +<P> +"But we can keep him; can't we?" begged Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! I'll have to see about that," said Mr. Bobbsey slowly. "I +suppose the circus people will want him back, for he must be valuable. +Perhaps some clown trained him." +</P> + +<P> +"But if we can't have Snoop, our cat, we ought to have a dog," asserted +Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll try to get Snoop back," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I'll have one of my +men go down to the place where the wreck was, today, and inquire of the +railroad men. He may be wandering about there." +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Snoop!" said Nan, coming out to feed some of her pet chickens, +that Sam had looked after all summer. +</P> + +<P> +"And while you are about it," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey, who was on the +front porch, "I wish, Richard, that you would see if you can locate +that fat lady, and get back the children's silver cup." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," replied Mr. Bobbsey. "I will have to write to them anyhow, +about the dog, and at the same time I'll ask about the cup. Though I +don't believe the fat lady meant to keep it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Probably she just held it, in the +excitement over the wreck, and she may have left it in the car. But +please write about it." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," promised Mr. Bobbsey, as he started for the office, while the +twins gathered about the new dog, who seemed ready to do more tricks. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DANNY RUGG IS MEAN +</H3> + +<P> +THAT afternoon a small fire broke out in Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard. +The alarm bell rang, and Mrs. Bobbsey, hearing it, and knowing by the +number that the blaze must be near her husband's place of business, +came hurrying down stairs. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I must go and see how dangerous it is," she said to Dinah. "It is +too bad to have it happen just after Mr. Bobbsey comes back from his +summer vacation." +</P> + +<P> +"'Deed it am!" cried the fat, colored cook. "But maybe it am only a +little fire, Mrs. Bobbsey." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure I hope so," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +As Mrs. Bobbsey was hurrying down the front walk Flossie and Freddie +saw her. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are you going, mamma?" they called. +</P> + +<P> +"Down to papa's office," she answered. "There's a fire near his place, +and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, a fire! Then I'm going!" cried Freddie. "Fire! Fire! Ding, dong! +Turn on the water!" and he raced about quite excitedly. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know," said Mrs. Bobbsey, in doubt. "Where are Nan and +Bert?" she asked. +</P> + +<P> +"They went down to the lake," said Flossie. "Oh, mamma, do take us to +the fire with you. We'll bring Snap along." +</P> + +<P> +"Sure," said Freddie. "Hi, Snap!" he called. +</P> + +<P> +The trick dog came rushing from the stable, barking and wagging his +tail. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose I might as well take you," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "But +you must stay near me. We'll leave Snap home, though." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no!" cried Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"He might get lost," said Mrs. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +That was enough for Freddie. He did not want the new pet to get lost, +so he did not make a fuss when Sam came hurrying up to lock Snap in the +stable. Poor Snap howled, for he wanted very much to go with the +children. +</P> + +<P> +The fire was, as I have said, a small one, in part of the planing mill. +But the engines puffed away, and spurted water, and this pleased +Freddie. Flossie stayed close to her mother, and Mrs. Bobbsey, once +she found out that the main lumber yard was not in danger, was ready to +come back home. But Freddie wanted to stay until the fire was wholly +out. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey came from his office to give some directions to the +firemen, and saw his wife and the two twins. Then he took charge of +them, and led them as close to the blaze as was safe. +</P> + +<P> +"It will soon be out," he said. "It was only some sawdust that got on +fire." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could squirt some water!" sighed Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that? Do you want to be a fireman?" asked one of the men in a +rubber coat and a big helmet. He smiled at Mr. Bobbsey, whom he knew +quite well. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I do," said Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Then come with me, and I'll let you help hold the hose," said the +fireman. "I'll look after him," he went on, to Mrs. Bobbsey, and she +nodded to show that Freddie could go. +</P> + +<P> +What a good time the little fellow had, standing beside a real fireman, +and helping throw real water on a real fire! Freddie never forgot +that. Of course the fire was almost out, and it was only one of the +small hose lines that the fireman let the little fellow help hold, but, +for all that, Freddie was very happy. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you write to the circus people today about our silver cup, and +that trick dog?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband, that night. +</P> + +<P> +"I declare, I didn't!" he exclaimed. "The fire upset me so that it +slipped my mind. I'll do it the first thing tomorrow. There is no +special hurry. How is the dog, by the way?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he's just lovely!" cried Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"And I do hope we can keep him forever!" exclaimed Freddie. +"'Specially since Snoop is gone." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you hear anything about our cat?" asked Nan, of her father. +</P> + +<P> +"No. I sent a man to the railroad company, but no stray cat had been +found. I am afraid Snoop is lost, children." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear!" cried Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, having learned from the railroad company where the circus +had gone after the wreck, Mr. Bobbsey sent a letter to the manager, +explaining about the lost silver cup, and the found circus dog. He +asked that the fat lady be requested to write to him, to let him know +if she had taken the cup by accident, and Mr. Bobbsey also wanted to +know if the circus had lost a trick dog. +</P> + +<P> +"There!" he exclaimed as he sent the letter to be mailed, "now we'll +just have to wait for an answer." +</P> + +<P> +Nan and Bert, and Flossie and Freddie were soon having almost as much +fun as they had had at the seashore and in the country. Their town +playmates, who had come back from their vacations, called at the +Bobbsey home, and made up games and all sorts of sports. +</P> + +<P> +"For," said Grace Lavine, with whom Nan sometimes played, "school will +soon begin, and we want to have all the fun we can until then." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's jump rope," proposed Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed Grace. "Here comes Nellie Parks, and we'll see who +can jump the most." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you mustn't do that," said Nan. "Don't you remember how you once +tried to jump a hundred, and you fainted?" +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed I do," said Grace. "I'm not going to be so silly as to try +that again. We'll only jump a little." +</P> + +<P> +Soon Nan and her chums were having good time in the yard. +</P> + +<P> +Charley Mason, with whom Bert sometimes played, came over, and the two +boys went for a row on the lake, in Bert's boat. Some little friends +of Flossie and Freddie came over, and they had fun watching Snap do +tricks. +</P> + +<P> +For the circus dog, as he had come to be called, seemed to be able to +do some new trick each day. He could "play dead," and "say his +prayers," besides turning a back somersault. The little twins, who +seemed to claim more share in Snap than did Nan and Bert, did not +really know how many tricks their pet could do. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe you'll have to give him back to the circus," said Willie Flood, +one of Freddie's chums. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if we do, papa may buy him, or get another dog like him," spoke +Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +A few days after this, when Bert was out in the front yard, watering +the grass with a hose, along came Danny Rugg. Now Danny went to the +same school that Bert did, but few of the boys and none of the girls, +liked Danny, because he was often rough, and would hit them or want to +fight, or would play mean tricks on them. Still, sometimes Danny +behaved himself, and then the boys were glad to have him on their +baseball nine as he was a good hitter and thrower, and he could run +fast. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, Bert!" exclaimed Danny, leaning on the fence. "I hear you have +a trick circus dog here." +</P> + +<P> +"Who told you?" asked Bert, wondering what Danny would say next. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Jack Parker. He says you found him." +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't," spoke Bert, spraying a bed of geranium flowers. "He +followed us the night of the circus wreck." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you took him all the same. I know who owns him, too; and I'm +going to tell that you've got him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, are you?" asked Bert. "Well, we think he belongs to the circus, +and my father has written about it, so you needn't trouble yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"He doesn't belong to any circus," went on Danny. "That dog belongs to +Mr. Peterson, who lives over in Millville. He lost a trick dog, and he +adverstised for it. He's going to give a reward. I'm going to tell +him, and get the money." +</P> + +<P> +"You can't take our dog away!" cried Freddie, coming up just then. +"Don't you dare do it, Danny Rugg." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I will!" exclaimed the mean boy, who often teased the smaller +Bobbsey twins. "You won't have that dog after today." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't mind him, Freddie," said Bert in a low voice. "He's trying to +scare you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I am eh?" cried Danny. "I'll show you what I'm trying to do. +I'll tell on you for keeping a dog that don't belong to you, and you'll +be arrested—all of you." +</P> + +<P> +Freddie looked worried, and tears came into his eyes. Bert saw this, +and was angry at Danny for being so mean. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be afraid, Freddie," said Bert, "Look, I'll let you squirt the +hose, and you can pretend to be a fireman." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, fine!" cried Freddie, in delight, as he took the nozzle from his +older brother. +</P> + +<P> +Just how it happened neither of them could tell, but the stream of +water shot right at Danny Rugg, and wet him all over in a second. +</P> + +<P> +"Hi there!" he cried. "Stop that! I'll pay you back for that, Fred +Bobbsey," and he jumped over the fence and ran toward the little fellow. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AT SCHOOL +</H3> + +<P> +FREDDIE saw Danny coming, and did the most natural thing in the world. +He dropped the hose and ran. And you know what a hose, with water +bursting from the nozzle will sometimes do if you don't hold it just +right. Well, this hose did that. It seemed to aim itself straight at +Danny, and again the rough boy received a charge of water full in the +face. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! ha! here! You quit that!" he gasped. "I'll fix you for that!" +</P> + +<P> +The water got in his eyes and mouth, and for a moment he could not see. +But with his handkerchief he soon had his eyes cleared, and then he +came running toward Bert. +</P> + +<P> +Danny Rugg was larger than Bert, and stronger, and, in addition, was a +bullying sort of chap, almost always ready to fight some one smaller +than himself. +</P> + +<P> +But what Bert lacked in size and strength he made up in a bold Spirit. +He was not at all afraid of Danny, even when the bully came rushing at +him. Bert stood his ground manfully. He had taken up the hose where +Freddie had dropped it, and the water was spurting out in a solid +stream. Freddie, having gotten a safe distance away, now turned and +stood looking at Danny. +</P> + +<P> +Danny, too, had halted and was fairly glaring at Bert, who looked at +him a bit anxiously. More than once he and the bully had come to +blows, and sometimes Bert had gotten the best of it. Still he did not +like a fight. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll get you yet, Freddie Bobbsey!" cried Danny, shaking his fist at +the little fellow. Whereupon Freddie turned and ran toward the house. +Danny saw that he could not catch him in time, and so he turned to Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"You put him up to do that—to douse me with water!" cried Danny +angrily. +</P> + +<P> +"I did not," said Bert quietly. "It was just an accident. I'm sorry." +</P> + +<P> +"You are not! I say you did that on purpose or you told Freddie to, +and I'm going to pay you back!" +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you it was an accident," insisted Bert. "But if you want to +think Freddie did it on purpose I can't stop you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm going to hit you just the same," growled Danny, and he +stepped toward Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"You'd better look out," said Bert, with just a little smile. "There's +still a lot of water in this hose," and he brought the nozzle around in +front, ready to squirt on Danny if the bad boy should come too near. +</P> + +<P> +Danny came to a stop. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you dare put any more water on me!" cried the bully. "If you +do, I'll—" He doubled up his fists and glared at Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Then don't you come any nearer if you don't want to get wet," said +Bert. "This hose might sprinkle you by accident, the same as it did +when Freddie had it," he added. +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! I know what kind of an accident that was!" spoke Danny, with a +sneer. +</P> + +<P> +"You'd better get out of the way," went on Bert quietly. "I want to +sprinkle that flower bed near where you are, and if you're there you +might get wet, and it wouldn't my fault." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll fix you!" growled Danny, springing forward. Bert got ready with +the hose, and there might have been more trouble, except that Sam, the +colored man, came out on the lawn. He saw that something out of the +ordinary was going on, and breaking into a run he called out: +</P> + +<P> +"Am anything de mattah, Massa Bert? Am yo' habin' trouble wif anybody?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess it's all over now," said Bert, as he saw Danny turn and +walk toward the gate. +</P> + +<P> +"If yo' need any help, jest remembah dat I'm around," spoke Sam, with a +wide grin that showed his white teeth in his black, but kindly face. +"I'll be right handy by, Massa Bert, yes, I will!" +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Bert, as he went on watering the flowers. +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! You needn't think I'm afraid of you!" boasted Danny, but he kept +on out of the gate just the same. Sam went back to his work, of +weeding the vegetable garden and Bert watered the flowers. Pretty soon +Freddie came back. +</P> + +<P> +"Did—did Danny do anything to you?" the little fellow wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Freddie, but the hose did something to him," said Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, did it wet him again?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what it did." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Freddie. "I wish I'd been here to see it, Bert." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, why did you run?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I—I thought maybe—mamma might want me," answered Freddie, but +Bert understood, and smiled. Then he let Freddie finish watering the +flowers, after which Freddie played he was a fireman, saving houses +from burning by means of the hose. +</P> + +<P> +Snap, the trick dog came running out, followed by Flossie, who had just +been washed and combed, her mother having put a clean dress on her. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Freddie," said the little girl, "let's make Snap do some tricks. +See if he will jump over the stream of water from the hose." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed her little brother. "I'll squirt the water out +straight, and you stand on one side of it and call Snap over. Then +he'll jump." +</P> + +<P> +Flossie tried this, but at first the dog did not seem to want to do +this particular trick. He played soldier, said his prayers, stood on +his hind legs, and turned a somersault. But he would not jump over the +water. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Snap, Snap!" called Flossie. "Jump!" +</P> + +<P> +Snap raced about and barked, and seemed to be having all sorts of fun, +but jump he would not until he got ready. Then, when he did Freddie +accidentally lowered the nozzle and Snap was soaked. +</P> + +<P> +But the dog did not mind the water in the least. In fact he seemed to +like it, for the day was warm, and he stood still and let Freddie wet +him all over. Then Snap rolled about on the lawn, Freddie and Flossie +taking turns sprinkling. +</P> + +<P> +And, as might be expected, considerable water got on the two children, +and when Snap shook himself, as he often did, to get some of the drops +off his shaggy coat, he gave Flossie and her clean dress a regular +shower bath. +</P> + +<P> +Nan, coming from the house saw this. She ran up to Flossie, who had +the hose just then, crying: +</P> + +<P> +"Flossie Bobbsey! Oh, you'll get it when mamma sees you! She cleaned +you all up and now look at yourself!" +</P> + +<P> +"She can't see—there's no looking glass here," said Freddie, with a +laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"And you're just as bad!" cried Nan. "You'd both better go in the +house right away, and stop playing with the hose." +</P> + +<P> +"We're through, anyhow," said Freddie. "You ought to see Snap jump +over the water." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you children!" cried Nan, with a shake of her head. She seemed +like a little mother to them at times, though she was only four years +older. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Bobbsey was very sorry to see Flossie so wet and bedraggled, and +said: +</P> + +<P> +"You should have known better than to play with water with a clean +dress on, Flossie. Now I must punish you. You will have to stay in +the house for an hour, and so will Freddie." +</P> + +<P> +Poor little Bobbsey twins! But then it was not a very severe +punishment, and really some was needed. It was hard when two of their +little playmates came and called for them to come out. But Mrs. +Bobbsey insisted on the two remaining in until the hour was at an end. +</P> + +<P> +Then, when they had on dry garments, and could go out, there was no one +with whom to play. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not going to squirt the hose ever again," said Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Neither am I," said his sister. "Never, never!" +</P> + +<P> +Snap didn't say anything. He lay on the porch asleep, being cooled off +after his sport with the water. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I wish we had our cat, Snoop, back," said Flossie. "Then we +wouldn't have played in the water." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed Freddie. "I wonder where he can be?" +</P> + +<P> +They asked their father that night if any of the railroad men had seen +their pet, but he said none had, and added: +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid you'll have to get along without Snoop. He seems to have +disappeared. But, anyhow, you have Snap." +</P> + +<P> +"But some one may come along and claim him," said Freddie. "That Danny +Rugg says he belongs to Mr. Peterson in Millville, father," said Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll call Mr. Peterson up on the telephone tomorrow, and find +out," spoke Mr. Bobbsey. "That much will be settled, at any rate." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you hear anything from the circus people about the fat lady?" +asked Mrs. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but no news," was her husband's answer. "The circus has gone to +Cuba and Porto Rico for the winter, and I will have to write there. It +will be some time before we can expect an answer, though, as I suppose +the show will be traveling from place to place and mail down there is +not like it is up here. But we may find the fat lady and the cup some +day." +</P> + +<P> +"And Snoop, too," put in Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Snoop too." +</P> + +<P> +One fact consoled the Bobbseys in their trouble over their lost pet and +cup. This was the answer received by Mr. Bobbsey from Mr. Peterson. +That gentleman had lost a valuable dog, but it was a small poodle, and +unlike big Snap. So far no one had claimed the trick dog, and it +seemed likely that the children could keep him. They were very glad +about this. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear!" exclaimed Bert, one afternoon a few days following the fun +with the hose, "school begins Monday. Only three more days of +vacation!" +</P> + +<P> +"I think you have had a long vacation," returned Mrs. Bobbsey, "and if +Freddie and Flossie are going to do such tricks as they did the other +day, with the hose, I, for one, shall be glad that you are in school." +</P> + +<P> +"I like school," said Nan. "There are lot of new girls coming this +term, I hear." +</P> + +<P> +"Any new fellows?" asked Bert, more interested. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know. There is a new teacher in the kindergarten, though, +where Flossie and Freddie will go. Nellie Parks has met her, and says +she's awfully nice." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good," spoke Flossie. "I like nice teachers." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I hope you and Freddie will get along well," said Mamma Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"You are getting older you know, and you must soon begin to study hard." +</P> + +<P> +"We will," they promised. +</P> + +<P> +The school bell, next Monday morning, called to many rather unwilling +children. The long vacation was over and class days had begun once +more. The four Bobbseys went off together to the building, which was +only a few blocks from their home. Mr. Tetlow was the principal, and +there were half a dozen lady teachers. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, Nan," greeted Grace Lavine. "May I sit with you this term?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I was going to ask her," said Nellie Parks. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I was first," spoke Grace, with a pout. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll be in the room where there are three seated desks," said Nan +with a smile. "Maybe we three can be together." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we'll ask teacher!" cried Nellie. "That will be lovely!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to sit with Freddie," declared Flossie. "We're to be +together—mamma said so." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, dear," agreed Nan. "I'll speak to your teacher about it." +</P> + +<P> +Bert was walking in the rear with Charley Mason, when Danny Rugg came +around a corner. +</P> + +<P> +"I know what I'm going to do to you after school, Bert Bobbsey!" called +the bully. "You just wait and see." +</P> + +<P> +"All right—I'll wait," spoke Bert quietly. "I'm not afraid." +</P> + +<P> +By this time they were at the school, and it was nearly time for the +last bell to ring. Danny went off to join some of his particular +chums, shaking his fist at Bert as he went. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BERT SEES SOMETHING +</H3> + +<P> +LESSONS were not very well learned that first day in school, but this +is generally the case when the Fall term opens after the Summer +vacation. +</P> + +<P> +Just as were the Bobbsey twins, nearly all the other pupils were +thinking of what good times they had had in the country, or at the +seashore, and in consequence little attention was paid to reading, +spelling, arithmetic and geography. +</P> + +<P> +But Principal Tetlow and his teachers were prepared for this, and they +were sure that, in another day or so, the boys and girls would settle +down and do good work. Many of the children were in new rooms and +different classes, and this did not make them feel so much "at home" as +before vacation. +</P> + +<P> +Nan Bobbsey's first duty, after reporting to her new teacher, was to go +to the kindergarten room, and ask the teacher there if Flossie and +Freddie might sit together. +</P> + +<P> +"You see," Nan explained, "this is really their first real school work. +They attended a few times before, but did not stay long." +</P> + +<P> +"I see," spoke the pretty kindergarten instructor with a laugh, "and we +must make it as pleasant for them this time as we can, so they will +want to stay. Yes, my dear, Flossie and Freddie may sit together, and +I'll look after them as much as I can. But, oh, there are such a lot +of little tots!" and she looked about the room that seemed overflowing +with small boys and girls. +</P> + +<P> +Some were playing and talking, telling of their summer experiences. +Others seemed frightened, and stood against the wall bashfully, little +girls holding to the hands of their little brothers. +</P> + +<P> +Nan looked for Freddie and Flossie. She saw her little sister trying +to comfort a small girl who was almost ready to cry, while Freddie, +like the manly little fellow he was, had taken charge of a small chap +in whose eyes were two large tears, just ready to fall. It was his +first day at school. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I am sure your little twin brother and sister will get along all +right," said the kindergarten teacher, with a smile to Nan, as she saw +what Flossie and Freddie were doing. "They are too cute for +anything—the little dears!" +</P> + +<P> +"And they are very good," said Nan, "only of course they +do—things—sometimes." +</P> + +<P> +"They wouldn't be real children if they didn't," answered the teacher. +</P> + +<P> +This was during a recess that had come after the classes were first +formed. On her way back to her room, to see if she could arrange to +sit with Grace and Nellie at one of the new big desks, Nan saw her +brother Bert. He looked a little worried, and Nan asked at once: +</P> + +<P> +"What is the matter, Bert? Haven't you got a nice teacher?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, she's fine!" exclaimed Bert "There's nothing the matter at +all." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes there is," insisted Nan. "I can tell by your face. It's that +Danny Rugg; I'm sure. Oh, Bert, is he bothering you again?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he said he was going to." +</P> + +<P> +"Then why don't you go straight and tell Mr. Tetlow? He'll make Danny +behave. I'll go tell him myself!" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you dare, Nan!" cried Bert. "All the fellows would call me +'sissy,' if I let you do that. Never mind, I can look out for my self. +I'm not afraid of Danny." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Bert, I hope you don't get into fight." +</P> + +<P> +"I won't, Nan—if I can help it. At least I won't hit first, but if he +hits me—" +</P> + +<P> +Bert looked as though he knew what he would do in that case. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear!" cried Nan, "aren't you boys just awful!" +</P> + +<P> +However, she made up her mind that if Danny got too bad she would speak +to the principal about him, whether her brother wanted her to or not. +</P> + +<P> +"He won't know it," thought Nan. +</P> + +<P> +She had no trouble in getting permission from her teacher for herself +and her two friends to sit together, and soon they had moved their +books and other things to one of the long desks that had room for three +pupils. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Flossie and Freddie got along very well in the kindergarten. +At first, just as the others did, they gave very little attention to +what the teacher wanted them to learn, but she was very patient, and +soon all the class was gathered about the sand table, in the little low +chairs, making fairy cities, caves, and even makebelieve seashore +places. +</P> + +<P> +"This is like the one where we were this Summer," said Flossie, as she +made a hole in her sand pile to take the place of the ocean. "If I had +water and a piece of wood I could show you where there was a +shipwreck," she said to the girl next to her. +</P> + +<P> +"That isn't the way it was," spoke Freddie, from the other side of the +room. "There was more sand at the seashore than on this whole +table—yes, on ten tables like this." +</P> + +<P> +"There was not!" cried Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"There was too!" insisted her brother. +</P> + +<P> +"Children—children!" called the teacher. "You must not argue like +that—ever—in school, or out of it. Now we will sing our worksong, +and after that we will march with the flags," and she went to the piano +to play. All the little ones liked this, and the dispute of Flossie +and Freddie was soon forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +Bert kept thinking of what might happen between himself and Danny Rugg +when school was out, and when his teacher asked him what the Pilgrim +Fathers did when they first came to settle in New England Bert looked +up in surprise, and said: +</P> + +<P> +"They fought." +</P> + +<P> +"Fought!" exclaimed the teacher. "The book says they gave thanks." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I meant they fought the—er—the Indians," stammered Bert. +</P> + +<P> +Poor Bert was thinking of what might take place between himself and the +bully. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, they did fight the Indians," admitted the teacher, "but +that wasn't what I was thinking of. I will ask you another question in +history." +</P> + +<P> +But I am not going to tire you with an account of what went on in the +classrooms. There were mostly lessons there, such as you have +yourselves, and I know you don't care to read about them. +</P> + +<P> +Bert did not see Danny Rugg at the noon recess, when the Bobbsey twins +and the other children went home for lunch. But when school was let +out in the afternoon, and when Bert was talking to Charley Mason about +a new way of making a kite, Danny Rugg, accompanied by several of his +chums, walked up to Bert. It was in a field some distance from the +school, and no houses were near. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I've got you, Bert Bobbsey!" taunted Danny, as he advanced with +doubledup fists. "What did you want to squirt the hose on me that time +for?" +</P> + +<P> +"I told you it was an accident," said Bert quietly. +</P> + +<P> +"And I say you did it on purpose. I said I'd get even with you, and +now I'm going to." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want to fight, Danny," said Bert quietly. +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! he's afraid!" sneered Jack Westly, one of Danny's friends. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he's a coward!" taunted Danny. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not!" cried Bert stoutly. +</P> + +<P> +"Then take that!" exclaimed Danny, and he gave Bert a push that nearly +knocked him down. Bert put out a hand to save himself and struck +Danny, not really meaning to. +</P> + +<P> +"There! He hit you back!" cried one boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, go on in, now, Dan, and beat him!" said another. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'll fix him now," boasted Danny, circling around Bert. Bert was +carefully watching. He did not mean to let Danny get the best of him +if he could help it, much as he did not like to fight. +</P> + +<P> +Danny struck Bert on the chest, and Bert hit the bully on the cheek. +Then Danny jumped forward swiftly and tried to give Bert a blow on the +head. But Bert stepped to one side, and Danny slipped down to the +ground. +</P> + +<P> +As he did so a white box fell from his pocket. Bert knew what kind of +a box it was, and what was in it, and he knew now, what had stained +Danny's fingers so yellow, and what made his clothes have such a queer +smell. For the box had in it cigarettes. +</P> + +<P> +Danny saw where it had fallen, and picked it up quickly. Then he came +running at Bert again, but a boy called: +</P> + +<P> +"Look out! Here comes Mr. Tetlow, the principal!" +</P> + +<P> +This was a signal for all the boys, even Bert, to run, for, though +school was out, they still did not want to be caught at a fight by one +of the teachers, or Mr. Tetlow. +</P> + +<P> +"Anyhow, you knocked him down, Bert," said Charley Mason, as he ran on +with Bert. "You beat!" +</P> + +<P> +"He did not—I slipped," said Danny. "I can fight him, and I will, +too, some day." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not afraid of you," answered Bert. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Tetlow did not appear to have seen the fight that amounted to so +little. Perhaps he pretended not to. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +OFF TO THE WOODS +</H3> + +<P> +WHETHER Danny Rugg was afraid the principal had seen him trying to +force a fight on Bert, or whether the unexpected fall that came to him, +caused it, no one knew, but certainly, for the next few days, Danny let +Bert alone. When he passed him he scowled, or shook his fist, or +muttered something about "getting even," but this was all. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps it was the thought of what Bert had seen fall from Danny's +pocket that made the bully less anxious to keep up the quarrel. At any +rate, Bert was left alone and he was glad of it. He was not afraid, +but he liked peace. +</P> + +<P> +The school days went on, and the classes settled down to their work for +the long Winter term. And the thought of the snow and ice that would +comparatively soon be with them, made the Bobbsey twins rejoice. +</P> + +<P> +"Charley Mason and I are going to make a dandy big bob this year," said +Bert one day. "It's going to carry ten fellows." +</P> + +<P> +"And no girls?" asked Nan with a smile. She was walking along behind +her brother, with Grace and Nellie. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure, we'll let you girls ride once in a while," said Charley, as he +caught up to his chum. "But you can't steer." +</P> + +<P> +"I steered a bob once," said Grace, who was quite athletic for her age. +"It was Danny Rugg's, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! His is a little one alongside the one Charley and I are going +to make!" exclaimed Bert. "Ours will be hard to steer, and it's going +to have a gong on it to tell folks to get out of the way." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Charley. "And we'd better start it right away, +Bert. It may soon snow." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't feel so now," spoke Nan. "It is very warm. It feels more +like ice cream cones." +</P> + +<P> +"And if you'll come with me I'll treat you all to some," exclaimed +Nellie Parks, whose father was quite well off. "I have some of my +birthday money left." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but there are five of us!" cried Nan, counting. "That is too +much—twenty-five cents, Nellie." +</P> + +<P> +"I've got fifty, and really it is very hot today." +</P> + +<P> +It was warm, being the end of September, with Indian Summer near at +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's go to Johnson's," suggested Nellie. "They have the best +cream." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, here comes Flossie and Freddie!" exclaimed Nan. "We don't want to +take them, Nellie. That means—" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I'll take them!" exclaimed Nellie, generously. "I've got +fifty cents, I told you." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll give them each a penny and let them run along home," offered Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'm going to treat them, too," insisted Nellie. "Come on!" she +called to the little twins, "we're going to get ice cream cones, it's +so warm." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, goodie!" cried Flossie. "I was just wishing for one." +</P> + +<P> +"So was I," added her brother. +</P> + +<P> +"And I'll ask you to my party next week," the little girl went on. +"I'm going to have one on my birthday." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, are you really, Flossie?" asked Nan. "I hadn't heard about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yep—I am. Mamma said I could, but she told me not to tell. I don't +care, I wanted Nellie to know, as she's going to treat us to cones." +</P> + +<P> +"And it's half my party, 'cause my birthday's the same day," explained +Freddie. "So you can come to my party at the same time, Nellie." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, dear, I shall. Now let's hurry to the store, for it's +getting warmer all the while." +</P> + +<P> +The ice cream in the funny little cones was much enjoyed by all. Bert +and Charley walked on together eating, and talking of the bob sled they +were going to make. They passed Danny Rugg, who looked rather +enviously at them. +</P> + +<P> +"Hey, Charley," called Danny, "come here, I want to speak to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm busy now," answered Charley. "Bert and I have something to do." +</P> + +<P> +"So have I. I've got a dandy plan." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll see you later," spoke Charley. +</P> + +<P> +He had once been quite friendly with Danny, but he grew not to like his +ways, and so became more chummy with Bert, who was very glad, for he +liked Charley. +</P> + +<P> +The two boys went on to Bert's barn, where they were going to build the +bob sled. The girls, with Flossie and Freddie, went on the Bobbsey +lawn, where there were some easy chairs. They sat in the shade of the +trees, and Freddie had Snap do some of his tricks for the visitors. +</P> + +<P> +"Can he jump through a hoop, covered with paper as they do in the +circus?" asked Nellie. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we never thought to try that," said Freddie. "I'm going to make +one," and, filled with this new idea, he hurried into the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Dinah," he said, "I want some paper and paste." +</P> + +<P> +"Land sakes, chile! what yo' gwine t' do now?" asked the colored cook. +</P> + +<P> +"Make a kite, an' take Snoop up in de air laik yo' brother Bert done +once?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, we're not going to do that," answered the little boy. "We're +going to cover a hoop with paper, and make Snap jump through it, like +in a circus." +</P> + +<P> +"Mah goodness mustard pot!" cried Dinah. "What will yo' all be up to +next?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered Freddie. "But will you make me some paste, +Dinah? And you know we haven't got Snoop, anyhow, so we couldn't send +him up on a kite tail," added Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Deah me! Yo' chilluns done make me do de mostest wuk!" complained +Dinah, but she laughed, which showed that she did not really mean it, +and set at mixing some flour and water for the paste. +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie insisted on making the paper covered hoop +themselves. They started, but they got so much of the sticky stuff on +their hands and faces that Nan feared they would soil their clothes, so +she insisted on being allowed to do the pasting for them. +</P> + +<P> +"But we can help, can't we?" asked Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Nan. +</P> + +<P> +Even for Nan covering a hoop with paper was not as easy as she thought +it would be. Grace and Nellie helped, but sometimes the wind would +blow the paper away just as they were ready to fold it around the rim +of the hoop. Then the paste would get on the girls' hands. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you doing?" asked Bert, as he and Charley came from the barn. +They had to stop work on their job, as they could not find a long +enough plank. They decided to get one from Mr. Bobbsey's lumber +yard, later. +</P> + +<P> +"We're going to have Snap do the circus trick of jumping through a +paper hoop," explained Nan. "Only we can't seem to get the hoop made." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do it," offered Bert, and as he and Charley had often pasted +paper on their kite frames they had better luck, and soon the hoop was +ready. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Snap!" called Freddie, it having been settled that he and +Flossie were to hold the hoop for the dog to leap through. Snap, +always ready for fun, jumped up from the grass where he had been +sleeping, and frisked about, barking loudly. +</P> + +<P> +"Now you hold him there, Charley," directed Bert, pointing to a spot +back of where Freddie and Flossie stood. "Then I'll go over here and +call him. He'll come running, and when he gets near enough, Freddie, +you and Flossie hold up the paper hoop. He'll go right through it." +</P> + +<P> +It worked out just as the children had planned. Snap raced away from +Charley, when he heard Bert calling. He ran right between Flossie and +Freddie, who raised the hoop just in time. +</P> + +<P> +"Rip! Tear!" burst the paper, and Snap sailed through the hoop just as +he probably had often done in the circus, perhaps from the back of a +horse. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that was fine!" cried Flossie. "Let's make another hoop!" +</P> + +<P> +"Let's make a lot of 'em, and have a circus with Snap, and charge money +to see him, and then we can buy a lot of ice cream for our party!" said +Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes!" agreed his sister. +</P> + +<P> +Well, they did make more hoops, and Snap seemed to enjoy jumping +through them. But when Mrs. Bobbsey heard about the circus plans she +decided it would make too much confusion. +</P> + +<P> +"Besides, you have to help me get ready for your party," she said to +the two little twins. +</P> + +<P> +This took their mind off the proposed circus, but for several days +after that they had much fun making hoops for Snap to jump through. +</P> + +<P> +Bert and Charley got a long plank from the lumber yard, and spent much +time after school in the Bobbsey barn, working over their bob sled. It +was harder than they had thought it would be, and they had to call in +some other boys to help them. Mr. Bobbsey, too, gave his son some +advice about how to build it. +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie liked it very much in school. The kindergarten +teacher was very kind, and took an interest in all her pupils. "Oh, +mamma!" cried Flossie, coming in one day from school, "I've learned how +to make a house." +</P> + +<P> +"And I can make a lantern, and a chain to hang it on, and I can put it +in front of Flossie's house!" exclaimed Freddie. "And, please, mother, +may I have some bread and jam. I'm awful hungry." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, dear, go ask Dinah," said Mrs. Bobbsey, with a smile. "And then +you may show me how you make houses and lanterns and a chain. Are they +real?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Flossie, "they're only paper, but they look nice." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure they must," said their mother. +</P> + +<P> +After each of the twins had been given a large slice of bread and +butter and jam, they showed the latest thing they had learned at +school. Flossie did manage to cut out a house, that had a chimney on +it, and a door, besides two windows. +</P> + +<P> +Freddie took several little narrow strips of paper, and pasting the +ends together, made a lot of rings. Each ring before being pasted, was +slipped into another, and soon he had A paper chain. To make the +lantern he used a piece of paper made into a roll, with slits all +around the middle of it where the light would have come out had there +been a candle in it. And the handle was a narrow slip of paper pasted +over the top of the lantern. +</P> + +<P> +"Very fine Indeed," said Mamma Bobbsey. "Run out now to play. If you +stay in the house too much you will soon lose all the lovely tan you +got in the country, and at the seashore." +</P> + +<P> +"Children," said the principal to the Bobbseys and all the others in +school the next day, "I have a little treat for you. Tomorrow will be +a holiday, and, as the weather is very warm, we will close the school +at noon, and go off in the woods for a little picnic." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, good!" cried a number of the boys and girls, and, though it was +against the rules to speak aloud during the school hours, none of the +teachers objected. +</P> + +<P> +"But I expect you all to have perfect marks from now until Friday," Mr. +Tetlow went on. "You may bring your lunches to school with you Friday +morning, if your parents will let you, and we will leave here at noon, +and go to Ward's woods." +</P> + +<P> +It was rather hard work to study after such good news, but, somehow, +the pupils managed it. Finally Friday came, and nearly every boy and +girl came to school with a basket or bundle holding his or her lunch. +Mrs. Bobbsey put up two baskets for her children, Nan taking one and +Bert the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we'll have a lovely time!" cried Freddie, dancing about on his +little fat legs. +</P> + +<P> +Twelve o'clock came, and with each teacher at the head of her class, +and Mr. Tetlow marching in front of all, the whole school started off +for the woods. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A SCARE +</H3> + +<P> +THE way to the woods where the little school outing was to be held ran +close to the road on which the Bobbsey house stood. As Freddie and +Flossie, with Nan and Bert, marched along with the others, Freddie +cried out: +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I hope we see mamma, and then we can wave to her." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and maybe she'll come with us," suggested Flossie. "Wouldn't +that be nice?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh!" exclaimed Bert. "Mamma's too busy to come to a picnic today. +She's expecting company." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," added Nan, "the minister and his wife are coming, and mamma's +cooking a lot of things." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, does a minister eat more than other folks?" asked Freddie. "If +they does, I'm going to be a minister when I grow up." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought you were going to be a fireman," said Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can be a fireman week days and a minister on Sundays," said +the little fellow, thus solving the problem. "But do they eat so much, +Nan?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, of course not, only mamma wants to be polite to them, so she has a +lot of things cooked up, so that if they don't like one thing they can +have another. Folks always give their best to the minister." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'm surely going to be one, too," declared Flossie. "I like good +things to eat. I hope our minister isn't very hungry, 'cause then +there'll be some left for us when we come home from this picnic." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Flossie!" cried Nan. "We have a lovely lunch with us; plenty, +I'm sure." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm awful hungry, Nan," said the little girl. "Besides, Sammie +Jones, and his sister Julia, haven't any lunch at all. I saw them, and +they looked terrible hungry. Couldn't we give them some of ours; if we +have so much at home?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we could, and it is very kind of you to think of them," said +Nan, as she patted her little sister on her head. "I'll look after +Sammie and Julia when we get to the grove." +</P> + +<P> +In spite of what Nan and Bert had said about Mrs. Bobbsey being very +busy, Flossie and Freddie looked anxiously in the direction of their +house as they walked along. But no sight of their mother greeted them. +They did see a friend, however, and this was none other than Snap, +their new dog, who, with many barks and wags of his fluffy tail, ran +out to meet his little masters and mistresses. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, Snap! Snap!" called Freddie. "Come on, old fellow!" and the +dog leaped all about him. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's take him to the picnic with us," suggested Flossie. "We can +have lots of fun." +</P> + +<P> +"And he can eat the scraps," said Nan. "Shall we, Bert?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care. But maybe Mr. Tetlow wouldn't like it." +</P> + +<P> +"You ask him, Bert," pleaded Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell him Snap will do tricks to amuse us." +</P> + +<P> +Bert goodnaturedly started ahead to speak to the principal, who was +talking with some of the teachers, planning games for the little folk. +Flossie and Freddie were patting their pet, when Danny Rugg, and one of +his friends came along. +</P> + +<P> +"That dog can't come to our picnic!" said Danny, with a scowl. "He +might bite some of us." +</P> + +<P> +"Snap never bites!" cried Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not," said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he can't come to this picnic!" spoke Danny, angrily. "Go on +home!" he cried, sharply, stooping to pick up a stone. Snap growled +and showed his teeth. +</P> + +<P> +"There!" cried Danny. "I told you he'd bite." +</P> + +<P> +"He will not, Danny Rugg!" exclaimed Nan, who had gone up front for a +minute to speak to some of the older girls. "He only growled because +you acted mean to him. Now you leave him alone, or I'll tell Mr. +Tetlow on you." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! Think I care? I say no dog can come to our picnic. Go on +home!" and with raised hand Danny approached Snap. Again the dog +growled angrily. He was not used to being treated in this way. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out, Danny Rugg," said Nan, severely, "or he may jump on you, and +knock you down. He wouldn't bite you, though, mean as you are, unless +I told him to do so." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not afraid of you!" cried Danny, more angry than before. "I'll +get a stick and then we'll see what will happen," and he looked about +for one. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't let Danny beat Snap!" pleaded Flossie, tears coming into her +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I won't," said Nan, looking about anxiously for Bert. She saw him +coming back, and felt better. By this time Danny had found a club, and +was coming back to where Flossie, Freddie and Nan, with some of their +friends, were walking along, Snap in their midst. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll make that dog go home now!" cried Danny. "I'm not going to get +bitten, and have hyperfobia, or whatever you call it. I'll tell Mr. +Tetlow if you don't make him go home." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't be so smart!" exclaimed Bert, stepping out from behind a +group of girls. "I've told Mr. Tetlow myself that Snap is following +us, and he said to let him come along. So you needn't take the +trouble, Danny Rugg. And if you try to hit our dog I'll have something +more to say," and Bert stepped boldly forth. +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! I'm not afraid of you," sneered Danny, but he let the club drop, +and walked off with his own particular chums. +</P> + +<P> +"Did Mr. Tetlow say Snap could come?" asked Freddie, anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. He said he'd be good to drive away the cows if they bothered +us," answered Bert, with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +After this little trouble, the Bobbseys and their friends went on +toward the grove in the woods where the picnic was to be held. There +was laughing and shouting, and much fun on the way, in which Snap +shared. +</P> + +<P> +Boys and girls would run to one side or the other of the path to gather +late flowers. Some would pick up odd stones, or pine cones, and others +would find curious little creeping or crawling things which they called +their friends to see. +</P> + +<P> +Each teacher had charge of her special class, but she did not look too +closely after them, for it was a day to be happy and free from care, +with no thought of school or lessons. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll make Snap do some tricks when we get to the grove," said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we'll have a little circus," added her brother. +</P> + +<P> +"Can he stand on his head?" one girl wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he can turn a somersault, and he's on his head for a second +while he's doing that," explained Freddie, proudly. +</P> + +<P> +"Can he roll over and over?" a boy wanted to know. "We had a dog, +once, that could." +</P> + +<P> +"Snap can, too," said Flossie. "Roll over, Snap!" she ordered, and the +dog, with a bark, did so. The children laughed and some clapped their +hands. They thought Snap was about the best dog they had ever seen. +</P> + +<P> +No accidents happened on the way to the grove, except that one little +boy tried to cross a brook on some stones, instead of the plank which +the others used. He slipped in and got his feet wet, but as the day +was warm no one worried much. +</P> + +<P> +Finally the grove was reached. It was in a wooded valley, with hills +on either side, and a cold, clear spring of water at one end, where +everyone could get a drink. And that always seems to be what is most +wanted at a picnic—a drink of water. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Tetlow called all the children together, before letting them go off +to play, and told them at what time the start for home would be made, +so that they would not be late in coming back to the meeting place. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," he said, "have the best fun you can. Play anything you +wish—school games if you like—but don't get too warm or excited. And +don't go too far away. You may eat your luncheon when you like." +</P> + +<P> +"Then let's eat ours now," suggested Flossie. "I'm awful hungry." +</P> + +<P> +"So am I," said Freddie. So Nan and Bert decided that the little ones +might at least have a sandwich and a piece of cake. Nor did they +forget the two little Jones children, who had no lunch. The Bobbseys +were well provided and soon Sammie and Julia were smiling and happy as +they sat beneath a tree, eating. +</P> + +<P> +Then came all sorts of games, from tag and jumping rope, to blindman's +bluff and hide-and-seek. Snap was made to do a number of tricks, much +to the amusement of the teachers and children. Danny Rugg, and some of +the older boys, got up a small baseball game, and then Danny, with one +or two chums, went off in a deeper part of the woods. Bert heard one +of the boys ask another if he had any matches. +</P> + +<P> +"I know what they're going to do," whispered Bert to Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"What?" she asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Smoke cigarettes. I saw Danny have a pack." +</P> + +<P> +Nan was much shocked, but she did not see anything. She was glad Bert +did not smoke. +</P> + +<P> +Bert went off with some boys to see if they could catch any fish in the +deeper part of the brook, about half a mile from the picnic grove, and +Nan, with one or two girls about her own age, took a little walk with +Flossie and Freddie to gather some late wild flowers that grew on the +side of one of the hills. +</P> + +<P> +They found a number of the blossoms, and were making pretty bouquets of +them, when Freddie, who had gone on a little ahead of the rest, came +running back so fast that he nearly rolled to the bottom of the hill, +so fat and chubby was he. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter? What is it?" asked Nan, catching her brother just +in time. +</P> + +<P> +"Up there!" he gasped. "It's up there! A great big black one!" +</P> + +<P> +"A big black what—bug?" asked Nan, ready to laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"No! a big black snake! I almost stepped on it." +</P> + +<P> +"A snake! Oh, dear!" screamed the girls. +</P> + +<P> +"Call Mr. Tetlow!" said Flossie. "He's got a book about snakes, and +he'll know what to do." +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Nellie Parks. "I'm going to run!" +</P> + +<P> +"So am I!" added Grace Lavine. "Oh, it may chase us!" +</P> + +<P> +In fright the children turned, Freddie looking back at the spot where +he thought he had seen the snake. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +DANNY'S TRICK +</H3> + +<P> +NAN BOBBSEY stood for a moment, she hardly knew why. Perhaps she +wanted to see the big snake of which Freddie spoke. It certainly was +not because she liked reptiles. +</P> + +<P> +Then she thought she saw something long and black wiggling toward her, +and, with a little exclamation of fright, she, too, turned to follow +the others. But, as she did so, she saw their dog Snap come running up +the hill, barking and wagging his tail. He seemed to have lost the +children for a moment and to be telling them how glad he was that he +had found them again. +</P> + +<P> +Straight up the hill, toward where Freddie had said the snake was, +rushed Snap. +</P> + +<P> +"Here! Come back! Don't go there!" cried Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't let him—he may be bitten!" added Flossie. "Come here, +Snap!" +</P> + +<P> +But Snap evidently did not want to mind. On up the hill he rushed, +pausing now and then to dig in the earth. Nearer and nearer he came to +where the little Bobbsey boy had said the snake was hiding in the grass +and bushes. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Snap! Snap!" cried Freddie. "Don't go there!" But Snap kept on, +and Freddie, afraid lest his pet dog be bitten, caught up a stone and +threw it at the place. His aim was pretty good, but instead of scaring +away the snake, or driving back Snap, the fall of the stone only made +Snap more eager to see what was there that his friends did not want him +to get. +</P> + +<P> +With a loud bark he rushed on, and the children, turning to look, saw +something long and black, and seemingly wiggling, come toward them. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, the snake! The snake!" cried Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"Run! Run!" shouted Grace. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" exclaimed Nellie Parks, in loud tones. +</P> + +<P> +"Freddie! Freddie!" called Flossie, afraid lest her little brother be +bitten. +</P> + +<P> +Snap rushed at the black thing so fiercely that he turned a somersault +down the hill, and rolled over and over. But he did not mind this, and +in an instant was up again. Once more he rushed at the black object, +but the children did not watch to see what happened, for they were +running away as fast as they could. +</P> + +<P> +Then Freddie, anxious as to what would become of Snap if he fought a +snake, looked back. He saw a strange sight. The dog had in his mouth +the long, black thing, and was running with it toward the Bobbseys and +their friends. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Nan! Nan! Look! Look!" cried Freddie. "Snap has the snake! +He's bringing it to us!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he mustn't do that!" shouted Nan. "It may bite him or us." +</P> + +<P> +"Run! Run faster!" shrieked Grace. +</P> + +<P> +But even though it was down hill the children could not run as fast as +Snap, and he soon caught up to them. Running on a little way ahead he +dropped the black thing. But instead of wiggling or trying to bite, it +was I very still. +</P> + +<P> +"It—it's dead," said Nan. "Snap has killed it." +</P> + +<P> +Freddie was braver now. He went closer. +</P> + +<P> +"Why—why!" he exclaimed. "It isn't a snake at all! It's only an old +black root of a tree, all twisted up like a snake! Look, Nan—Flossie!" +</P> + +<P> +Taking courage, the girls went up to look. Snap stood over it, wagging +his tail as proudly as though he had captured a real snake. As Freddie +had said, it was only a tree root. +</P> + +<P> +"But it did look a lot like a snake in the grass," said the little +fellow. +</P> + +<P> +"It must have," agreed Nan. "It looked like one even when Snap had it. +But I'm glad it wasn't." +</P> + +<P> +"So am I," spoke Grace, and Nellie made like remark. +</P> + +<P> +Snap frisked about, barking as though to ask praise for what he had +done. +</P> + +<P> +"He is a good dog," observed Freddie, hearing which the animal almost +wagged his tail off. "And if it had been a real snake he'd have gotten +it; wouldn't you?" went on the little boy. +</P> + +<P> +If barks meant anything, Snap said, with all his heart, that he +certainly would—that not even a dozen snakes could frighten a big dog +like him. +</P> + +<P> +The children soon got over the little scare, and went back up the hill +again to gather more flowers. Snap went with them this time, running +about here and there. +</P> + +<P> +"If there are any real snakes," said Freddie, "he'll scare them away. +But I guess there aren't any." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope not," said Nan, but she and the others kept a sharp lookout. +However, there was no further fright for them, and soon, with their +hands filled with blossoms the Bobbseys and the others went back to the +main party. +</P> + +<P> +Some of the teachers were arranging games with their pupils, and Nan, +Flossie and Freddie joined in, having a good time. Then, when it was +almost time to start for home, Mr. Tetlow blew loudly on a whistle he +carried to call in the stragglers. +</P> + +<P> +"Where's Bert?" asked Flossie, looking about for her older brother. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess he hasn't come back from fishing yet," said Nan. "Come, +Flossie and Freddie, I have a little bit of lunch left, and you might +as well eat it, so you won't be hungry on the way home." +</P> + +<P> +The littler Bobbsey twins were glad enough to do this. Then they had +to have a drink, and Nan went with them to the spring, carrying a glass +tumbler she had brought. +</P> + +<P> +"This isn't like our nice silver cup that the fat lady took in the +train," said Freddie, as he passed the glass of water very carefully to +Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"No," she said, after she had taken her drink. "I wonder if papa will +ever get that back?" +</P> + +<P> +"He said, the other day," remarked Nan, as she got some water for +Freddie, "that he hadn't heard from the circus yet. But I think he +will. It isn't like Snoop, our cat. We don't know where he is, but +we're pretty sure the fat lady has the cup." +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Snoop!" cried Freddie, as he thought of the fine black cat. +"Maybe some of the railroad men have him." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe," agreed Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +When they got back to where the teachers and principal were, Bert and +the boys who bad gone fishing had returned. They had one or two small +fish. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to have mamma cook them for my supper," said Bert, proudly +holding up those he had caught. +</P> + +<P> +"They're too small—there won't be anything left of them after they're +cleaned," said Nan, who was quite a little housekeeper. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, there will," declared her brother. "I'm going fishing again +tomorrow and, catch more." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Tetlow was going about among the teachers, asking if all their +pupils were on hand, ready for the march back. Danny Rugg and some of +his close friends were missing. +</P> + +<P> +"They ought not to have gone off so far," said Mr. Tetlow, as he blew +several times on the whistle. Soon Danny and the other boy, were seen +coming from a distant part of the grove. One of the boys, Harry White, +looked very pale, and not at all well. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Tetlow, and he looked curiously at +Danny and the others, and sniffed the air as though he smelled +something. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I guess I ate too many—apples," said Harry, in a faint voice. "We +found an orchard, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"I told you not to go into orchards, and take fruit," said Mr. Tetlow, +severely. +</P> + +<P> +"The man said we could," remarked Danny. "We asked him." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you should not have eaten so many," said Mr. Tetlow. "I can't +see how ripe apples, which are the only kind there are this time of +year—could make you ill unless you ate too many," and he looked at +Danny and Harry sharply. But they did not answer. +</P> + +<P> +The march home was not as joyful as the one to the grove had been, for +most of the children were tired. But they all had had a fine time, and +there were many requests of the teachers to have another picnic the +next week. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we can't have them every week, my dears," said Miss Franklin, who +had charge of Flossie, Freddie and some others in the kindergarten +class. "Besides, it will soon be too cool to go out in the woods. In +a little while we will have ice and snow, and Thanksgiving and +Christmas." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be better than picnics," said Freddie. "I'm going to have a +new sled." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to get a new doll, that can walk," declared Flossie, and +then she and the others talked about the coming holidays. +</P> + +<P> +At school several days in the following week little was talked of +except the picnic, the snake scare from the old tree root, the catching +of the fish, and the illness of Harry White, for that boy was quite +sick by the time town was reached, and Mr. Tetlow called a carriage to +send him home. +</P> + +<P> +"And I can guess what made him sick too," said Bert to Nan, privately. +</P> + +<P> +"What?" she asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Smoking cigarettes." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because when I and some of the other fellows were fishing we saw Danny +and his crowd smoking in the woods. They offered us some, but we +wouldn't take any. Harry said he was sick then, but Danny only laughed +at him." +</P> + +<P> +"That Danny Rugg is a bad boy," said Nan, severely. But she was soon +to see how much meaner Danny could be. +</P> + +<P> +Workmen had recently finished putting some new water pipes, and a place +for the children to drink, in the school yard, and one morning, +speaking to the whole school, Mr. Tetlow made a little speech, warning +the children not to play with the faucets, and spray the water about, +as some had done, in fun. +</P> + +<P> +"Whoever is caught playing with the faucets in the yard after this will +be severely punished," he said. +</P> + +<P> +As it happened, Flossie and Freddie were not at school that day, +Freddie having a slight sore throat. His mother kept him home, and +Flossie would not go without him. So they did not hear the warning, +and Bert and Nan did not think to tell the smaller children of it. +</P> + +<P> +Two days later Freddie was well enough to go back to class, and Flossie +accompanied him. It was at the morning recess when, as Freddie went to +get a drink at one of the new faucets, Danny saw him. A gleam of +mischief came into the eyes of the school bully. +</P> + +<P> +"Want to see the water squirt, Freddie?" asked Danny. "That's a new +kind of faucet. It squirts awful far." +</P> + +<P> +"Does it?" asked Freddie, innocently. "How do you make it?" He had no +idea it was forbidden fun. +</P> + +<P> +"Just put your thumb over the hole, and turn the water on," directed +Danny. "You, too, Flossie. It won't hurt you." +</P> + +<P> +Danny looked all around, thinking he was unobserved as he gave this bad +advice. Naturally, Freddie and Flossie, being so young, suspected +nothing. They covered the opening of the faucet with their thumbs, and +turned on the water. It spurted in a fine spray, and they laughed in +glee. That they wet each other did not matter. +</P> + +<P> +Danny, seeing the success of his trick, walked off as he saw Mr. Tetlow +coming. The Bobbsey twins were so intent on spurting the water that +they did not observe the principal until he was close to them. Then +they started as he called out sharply: +</P> + +<P> +"Freddie! Flossie! Stop that! You know that it is forbidden! Go to +my office at once and I will come and see you later. You will be +punished for this!" +</P> + +<P> +With tears in their eyes the little twins obeyed. They could not +understand it. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CHILDREN'S PARTY +</H3> + +<P> +WHEN Mr. Tetlow, a little later, entered his office he found Flossie +and Freddie standing by one of the windows, looking out on the other +children marching to their classrooms. They had cried a little, but +had stopped now. +</P> + +<P> +"I am very sorry to have to punish you two twins," said the principal, +"but I had given strict orders that no one was to play with that water. +Why did you do it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because," answered Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Danny Rugg told us to," added Freddie. "He said it was a new kind of +faucet." +</P> + +<P> +"Now be careful," warned Mr. Tetlow. Often before he had heard pupils +say that someone else told them to break certain rules. "Are you sure +about this?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes! sir," said Freddie, eagerly. "Danny told us to do it." +</P> + +<P> +"But didn't you know it was forbidden?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," answered Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I spoke of it in all the rooms." +</P> + +<P> +"We wasn't here yesterday or the day before," said Flossie. "Freddie +was sick." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Tetlow began to understand. +</P> + +<P> +"I will look this up," he said, "and if find—" +</P> + +<P> +He was interrupted by a boy from one of the higher classes coming in +with a note from his teacher. She wanted a new box of chalk. +</P> + +<P> +"When you go back, George," said the principal to the boy, as he gave +him what the teacher had sent for, "go to Miss Hegan's class, and have +her send Danny Rugg to me. Flossie and Freddie say he told them to +spray water with one of the new faucets." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, he did!" exclaimed George. "I heard him, but I didn't think +they would do it. He did tell them." +</P> + +<P> +At this unexpected information Mr. Tetlow was much surprised. +</P> + +<P> +"If that is the case, Danny is the one to be punished," he said. "I am +sorry, Flossie and Freddie, that I suspected you. You may go back to +your class, and I will write your teacher a note, saying you may go out +half an hour ahead of the others to make up for coming to my office. +But, after this, no matter whether anyone tells you or not, don't spray +the water." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir, we won't!" exclaimed the Bobbsey twins, now happy again. +</P> + +<P> +Danny Rugg was punished by being kept in after school for several days, +and Mr. Tetlow sent home a note to his father, explaining what a mean +trick the bully had played. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had heard Danny telling you that—just to get you in +trouble," said Bert, when he was told of what had happened. "I'd have +fixed him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't get into any more fights," begged Nan. +</P> + +<P> +Bert did not come to blows with Danny over this latest trouble, but he +did tell the bully, very plainly, what he thought of him, and said if +Danny ever did a thing like that again that he would not get off so +easily. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm not afraid of you," sneered Danny. +</P> + +<P> +Lessons and fun made up many school days for the Bobbsey twins. And, +as the Fall went on, lessons grew a little harder. Even Freddie and +Flossie, young as they were, had little tasks to do that kept them +busy. But they liked their school and the teacher, and many were the +queer stories they brought home of the happenings in the classroom. +</P> + +<P> +It was now toward the end of October, and the weather was getting +cooler, though during the day it was still very warm at times. The +twins, as did their friends, looked forward to the coming of Winter and +the Christmas holidays. +</P> + +<P> +Thanksgiving, too, would be a time of rejoicing and of good things to +eat, and this occasion was to be made more of than usual this time, for +some boys and girls the Bobbseys had met in the country and at the +seashore were to be invited to spend a few days in Lakeport. +</P> + +<P> +But before this there was another event down on the program. This was +to be a party for Flossie and Freddie, the occasion being their joint +birthdays. +</P> + +<P> +"And we're going to have candy!" cried Freddie, when the arrangements +were talked over. +</P> + +<P> +"And ice cream"—added Flossie—"a whole freezer full; aren't we, +mamma?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess a small freezer full won't be any too much," said Mrs. +Bobbsey, smiling. "But I hope none of you eat enough to make +yourselves ill." +</P> + +<P> +"We won't," promised Freddie and Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +There were busy times in the home of the twins the next few days, for +though Nan and Bert's birthdays were not to be observed, still they +were to have their part in the jolly celebration. +</P> + +<P> +Invitations were sent out, on little sheets of note paper, adorned with +flowers, and in cute little envelopes. Flossie and Freddie took them +to the post-office themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"My! what a lot of mail!" exclaimed the clerk at the stamp window, as +he saw the children dropping the invitations into the slot. "Uncle Sam +will have to get some extra men to carry that around, I guess. What's +it all about?" +</P> + +<P> +"We're going to have a party," said Flossie, proudly. +</P> + +<P> +Just then Danny Rugg came into the post-office. +</P> + +<P> +"A party; eh?" he sneered. "I'm coming to it, I am; and I'm going to +have two plates of ice cream." +</P> + +<P> +"You are not!" cried Freddie. "My mamma wouldn't let a boy like you +come to our party." +</P> + +<P> +"'Specially not after what you did—telling us to play in the water," +added Freddie. "You can't come!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I can," insisted Danny, just to tease the children. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment Flossie and Freddie almost believed him, he seemed so much +in earnest about it. +</P> + +<P> +"You can't come you haven't any invitation," said Flossie, suddenly. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll take one of those you put in the box," went on the mean boy. +</P> + +<P> +"He won't dare—will he?" and Freddie appealed to the mail clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"I should say not!" said the man at the stamp window. "If he does +Uncle Sam will be after him." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm coming to that party all the same!" insisted Danny, with a +grin on his freckled face. +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie were so worried about him that they told their +mother, but she assured them that Danny would not come to spoil their +fun. +</P> + +<P> +Finally the afternoon and evening of the party arrived, for the little +folks were to come just before supper, play some games, eat, and then +stay until about nine o'clock. +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie had been dressed in their prettiest clothes, and +Nan and Bert also attired for the affair. The ice cream had come from +the store, all packed in ice and salt, and Dinah had set it out on the +back stoop, where it would be cooler. +</P> + +<P> +Dinah was very busy that day. She hurried about here and there, +helping Mrs. Bobbsey. Sam, her husband, also had plenty to do. +</P> + +<P> +"I 'clar t' gracious goodness!" Dinah exclaimed, "I suah will get thin +ef dish yeah keeps up! I ain't set down a minute dis blessed day. My +feet'll drop off soon I 'specs." +</P> + +<P> +"Will they, really, Dinah?" asked Freddie. "And can we watch 'em fall?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bress yo' hearts, honeys!" exclaimed the colored cook, "I didn't mean +it jest dat way. But suffin's suah gwine t' happen—I feels it in mah +bones!" +</P> + +<P> +And something was to happen, though not exactly what Dinah expected. +</P> + +<P> +Finally all was in readiness for the guests. The good things to eat +were in the kitchen, all but the ice cream, which, as I have said, was +out on the back porch. Flossie and Freddie had gone to the front door +nearly a dozen times to see if any of the guests were in sight. Snap, +as a special favor, had been allowed to stay in the house that +afternoon, for the twins were going to make him do tricks for their +friends. +</P> + +<P> +There came a ring at the door bell. +</P> + +<P> +"Here they come! Here they come!" cried Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Let me answer, too," cried Freddie, and they both hurried through the +front hall to greet the first guest at their party. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE +</H3> + +<P> +QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others. Nellie +Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister +Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter +children being some of their bestliked playmates. +</P> + +<P> +All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a +bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the +walls, or sitting on chairs. +</P> + +<P> +The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the +girls in another. Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy +answering the door that they did not notice this at first. +</P> + +<P> +But Aunt Sarah, their mother's sister, who had come over to help Mrs. +Bobbsey, looking in the parlor and library, saw what the trouble was. +</P> + +<P> +"My!" she cried, with a goodnatured laugh, as she noticed how "stiff" +the children were. "This will never do. You're not that way at +school, I don't believe. Come, be lively. Mix up—play games. +Pretend this is recess at school, and make as much noise as you like." +</P> + +<P> +For a moment the boys and girls did not know what to think of this +invitation. But just then Snap, the circus dog, came in the room, and, +with a bark of welcome, he turned a somersault, and then marched around +on his hind legs, carrying a broomstick like a gun—pretending he was a +soldier. Bert had given it to him. +</P> + +<P> +Then how the children laughed and clapped their hands! And Snap barked +so loudly—for he liked applause that there was noise enough for even +jolly Aunt Sarah. After that there was no trouble. The boys and girls +talked together and soon they were playing games, and having the best +kind of fun. +</P> + +<P> +For some of the games simple prizes had been offered and it was quite +exciting toward the end to see who would win. Flossie and Freddie +thought they had never had such a good time in all their lives. Nan +and Bert were enjoying themselves, too, with their friends, who were +slightly older than those who had been asked for the younger Bobbsey +twins. +</P> + +<P> +"Going to Jerusalem," was one game that created lots of enjoyment. A +number of chairs were placed in the centre of the room, and the boys +and girls marched around them while Mrs. Bobbsey played the piano. But +there was one less chair than there were players, so that when the +music would suddenly stop, which was a signal for each one who could, +to sit down, someone was sure to be left. Then this one had to stay +out of the game. +</P> + +<P> +Then a chair would be taken away, so as always to have one less than +the number of players, and the game went on. It was great fun, +scrambling to see who would get a seat, and not be left without one, +and finally there was but one chair left, while Grace Lavine and John +Blake marched about. Mrs. Bobbsey kept playing quite some time, as the +two went around and around that one chair. Everyone was laughing, +wondering who would get a seat and so win the game, when, all at once, +Mrs. Bobbsey stopped the music. She had her back turned so it would be +perfectly fair. +</P> + +<P> +Grace and John made a rush for the one chair, but Grace got to it +first, and so she won. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad you did, anyhow," said John, politely. +</P> + +<P> +Other games were "peanut races" and "potato scrambles." In the first +each player had a certain number of peanuts and they had to start at +one end of the room, and lay the nuts at equal distances apart across +to the other side, coming back each time to their pile of peanuts to +get one. +</P> + +<P> +Sometimes a boy would slip, he was in such a hurry, or a girl would +drop her peanuts, and this made fun and confusion. +</P> + +<P> +Nan won this race easily. +</P> + +<P> +In the potato scramble several rows of potatoes were made across the +room. Each player was given a large spoon, and whoever first took up +all his or her potatoes in the spoons one at a time, and piled them up +at the far end of the room, won the game. In this Charley Mason was +successful, and won the prize—a pretty little pin for his tie. +</P> + +<P> +The afternoon wore on, and, almost before the children realized it the +hour for supper had arrived. They were not sorry, either, for they all +had good appetites. +</P> + +<P> +"Come into the dining room, children," invited Mrs. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +And Oh! such gasps of pleased surprise as were heard when the children +saw what had been prepared for them! For Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey, while +not going to any great expense, and not making the children's party too +fanciful, had made it beautiful and simple. +</P> + +<P> +The long table was set with dishes and pretty glasses. There were +flowers in the centre, and at each end, and also blooms in vases about +the room. Then, from the centre chandelier to the four corners of the +table, were strings of green smilax in which had been entwined +carnations of various colors. +</P> + +<P> +The lights were softly glowing on the pretty scene, and there were +prettily shaded candles to add to the effect. But what caught the eyes +of all the children more than anything else were two large cakes—one +at either end of the table. +</P> + +<P> +On each cake burned five candles, and on one cake was the name +"Flossie," while the other was marked "Freddie." The names were in +pink icing on top of the white frosting that covered the birthday cakes. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" could be heard all about the room. "Isn't that too +sweet for anything!" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess they are sweet!" piped up Freddie in his shrill little voice, +"'cause Dinah put lots of sugar in 'em; didn't you, Dinah?" and he +looked at Dinah, who had thrust her laughing, black, goodnatured face +into the dining room door. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's what I did, honey! Dat's what I did!" she exclaimed. "If +anybody's got a toofache he'd better not eat any ob dem cakes, 'cause +dey suah am sweet." +</P> + +<P> +How the children laughed at that! +</P> + +<P> +"All ready, now, children, sit down," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Your names +are at your plates." +</P> + +<P> +There was a little confusion getting them all seated, as those on one +side of the table found that their name cards were on the other side. +But Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert, helped the guests to find +their proper places and soon everyone was in his or her chair. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't Snap sit with us, too?" asked Freddie, looking about for his +pet, who had done all his tricks well that evening. +</P> + +<P> +"No, dear," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Snap is a good dog, but we don't want +him in the dining room when we are eating. It gives him bad habits." +</P> + +<P> +"Then can't I send him out some cakes?" asked Flossie, for Snap had +almost as large a "sweet tooth" as the children themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, as it is your birthday, I suppose you can give him some of your +good things," said Mamma Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, Dinah!" called Freddie to the cook, as he piled a plate full of +cakes. "Please give these to Snap." +</P> + +<P> +"Land sakes goodness me alive!" cried Dinah. "Dat suah am queer. +Feedin' a dog jest laik a human at a party. I can't bring mahself to +it, nohow." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll take 'em out to him," said her husband. +</P> + +<P> +Then the feast began, and such a feast as it was! Mrs. Bobbsey, +knowing how easily the delicate stomachs of children can be upset, had +wisely selected the food and sweets, and she saw to it that no one ate +too much, though she was gently suggestive about it instead of ordering. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't eat too much," advised Freddie to some of the friends who sat +near him. "We've got a lot of ice cream coming. Save room for that." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so—I almost forgot," spoke Jimmie Black. +</P> + +<P> +A little later Mrs. Bobbsey said to Dinah: +</P> + +<P> +"I think you may bring in the cream now, and I will help you serve it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, ma'am." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, goodie!" cried Freddie. "Ice cream's coming!" and he waved his +spoon above his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Freddie—Freddie!" said his mother, in gentle reproof. +</P> + +<P> +Dinah went out on the back stoop, looked around and came running back +to the dining room, where Mrs. Bobbsey was. Dinah's eyes were big with +wonder and surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Mrs. Bobbsey! Mrs. Bobbsey!" she cried. "Suffin's done gone an' +happened!" +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Mamma Bobbsey, quickly. "Is anyone hurt?" +</P> + +<P> +"No'm, but dat ice cream freezer hate jest gone and walked right off de +back stoop, an' it ain't dere at all, nohow! De ice cream is all gone!" +</P> + +<P> +The children looked at one another with pained surprise showing on +their faces. +</P> + +<P> +The ice cream was gone! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A COAT BUTTON +</H3> + +<P> +ASTONISHMENT, surprise and disappointment were so great for a few +seconds after the discovery that the best part of the party—the ice +cream—was gone, that no one knew, what to say. Then Flossie burst out +with: +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure, Dinah? Maybe it fell off the porch." +</P> + +<P> +"Deed an' it didn't, honey gal. I done looked eberywhar fo' dat +freezer, an' it's jest gone complete." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe Snap took it," suggested Freddie, as a last hope. "Once he took +my book and hid it. Snap, did you take the ice cream?" +</P> + +<P> +Snap barked and wagged his tail, looking rather pained at being asked +such a question. +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeedy, Snap couldn't take off a big freezer like dat," declared +Dinah. "It wasn't Snap." +</P> + +<P> +"Then who could it have been?" asked Nan. Everyone had stopped eating +while this talk went on. "Who could have taken our ice cream?" +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's what I don't know, honey," answered the colored cook. "Dat's +why I comed in heah to tell yo' mamma. I 'spects, Mrs. Bobbsey, dat +we'd better phonograph fo' de police." +</P> + +<P> +"Phonograph—I guess you mean telephone; don't you, Dinah?" asked Mrs. +Bobbsey, with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes'm, dat's what I done mean. Or else maybe we kin send mah man Sam +down to de station house fo' 'em." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I had better telephone, in case it is necessary. But perhaps I +had better take a look out there. Perhaps the man from the store may +have set the cream off to one side." +</P> + +<P> +"No'm, he didn't do dat. I took p'ticlar notice where he set it. +Dere's a wet ringmark on de porch where de freezer was, 'count of de +salty water leakin' out. An' dat wet ringmark am all dat's left ob de +cream, dar now!" and Dinah, standing with her hands on her hips, looked +at the startled children, whose mouths were just ready for the ice +cream. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm going to have a look, anyhow," said Bert. "Come on, +Charley. Maybe, after all, that Danny Rugg is up to some of his tricks." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm with you, Bert!" cried Charley. "But we ought to have some sort +of a light. It's dark out." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll get my little pocket electric light," said Bert. He had one, and +it gave a good light. He went to his room for it. +</P> + +<P> +Flossie and Freddie did not know what to do. That their lovely party +should be spoiled by the missing ice cream seemed too bad to be true. +</P> + +<P> +"Mamma, if we can't find this ice cream, can't we buy more?" Flossie +wanted to know. "The girls just want some—so bad!" +</P> + +<P> +"And the boys, too," added Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I guess we'll manage to get some fo you, if we can't find this," +answered Mrs. Bobbsey. "We may have to wait a little while for it, +though." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll have a look," said Bert, as he came down with his little +electric lamp. Some of his own particular chums, including Charley +Mason, followed him out to the back porch, Dinah was in her kitchen, +looking behind tables, under the sink, in the pantry and all about, +hoping that, somehow or other, the freezer might have gotten in there. +But it was not to be found. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here's where it stood," said Bert, as he looked at the round, +wet mark on the porch where the freezer had set. He flashed his torch +on it, and then cried out: +</P> + +<P> +"And look, boys, here are some spots of water that must have leaked +from the wooden tub that holds the tin freezer. See, the water has +dripped down on each step! This is the way they carried off our ice +cream." +</P> + +<P> +The others could see a trail of water drops leading from the stoop down +the steps and along the stone walk at the side of the Bobbsey house. +</P> + +<P> +"Now we can follow and see just where they took our cream!" cried Bert. +"This is the way Indians used to trail the white settlers." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me come!" cried Freddie, hearing this. "I want to help hunt +whoever took our ice cream." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you'd better stay back there," said Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" his little brother wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"Because it might be—tramps—who have it, and there'd be trouble," +said Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait until I get my cap pistol!" cried Freddie. "I can scare a tramp +with that." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you go back there, and stay in the house," went on Bert. "If we +find tramps have it, we'll get a policeman." +</P> + +<P> +"It might be that a tramp did steal up on the steps, and lift off the +freezer," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Bert, be careful," she called to her +son, who set off in the darkness with his chums, flashing his electric +light from time to time. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll look out!" he called back. +</P> + +<P> +For some distance it was easy to see which way the ice cream freezer +had been carried, for there were the marks of the dripping water. Then +these stopped about the middle of the sidewalk, and seemed to go over +in the grass. +</P> + +<P> +"We can't see 'em now," spoke Charley. "That's too bad." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll keep on this way in a straight line," suggested Bert. +"Maybe they took the freezer down back of our berry bushes to eat the +cream." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope they left some," said John Anderson, in a mournful sort of +voice. +</P> + +<P> +Hurrying on after Bert, the boys looked eagerly about in the darkness +for a sign of the missing ice cream. There were not many chances of +them finding it, for though Bert's electric torch gave a brilliant +light for a short distance, it was not very large. +</P> + +<P> +"What's over there?" asked Charley, pausing and pointing to a patch of +blackness. +</P> + +<P> +"An old barn, that we used to use before we had our new one built," +answered Bert. "Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe they took the ice cream in there to eat it," went on +Charley. "Is it open?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it's never locked. Say, we'll take a look in there, anyhow!" +exclaimed Bert. "Come on, fellows!" +</P> + +<P> +He led the way, the others following. As they approached the big, +deserted barn Frank Black exclaimed in a whisper: +</P> + +<P> +"I see a light!" +</P> + +<P> +"So do I!" added Will Evans. +</P> + +<P> +"And it's moving around," spoke Charley Mason. +</P> + +<P> +"It's them, all right," decided Bert. "The tramps who took our ice +cream are in there, all right!" +</P> + +<P> +"What makes you think they are tramps?" asked Will. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm not sure, of course," admitted Bert. "But we can soon tell. +Come on!" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you—are you going up there?" asked Charley. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure! Why not? I think we can scare em away." +</P> + +<P> +The other boys hesitated. Some of them were older than Bert, and when +they saw that he was determined to go on, they made up their minds that +they would not let him go alone. +</P> + +<P> +"All right—go ahead—we're with you," said Charley. +</P> + +<P> +Bert and the others advanced. As they walked on they could see the +light in the barn more plainly. And, as they stopped for a moment they +could hear voices talking in low tones. +</P> + +<P> +"More than one," whispered Charley. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, three or four," said Bert. +</P> + +<P> +They walked ahead again, when suddenly Charley stepped on a stick that +broke with a loud snap. In an instant the light in the barn went out, +and then could be heard the footsteps of several persons running away. +</P> + +<P> +"There they are!" shouted Bert, dashing forward. "Come on, fellows! +We'll get 'em now!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's right!" cried Charley. "Come on, surround 'em!" +</P> + +<P> +Of course this was all said for effect, as the boys had no idea of +trying to capture the tramps, or whoever it was that had taken the ice +cream. But Bert thought that they could scare the thieves away, for +the latter could not tell, in the darkness, how many, nor who were +after them. +</P> + +<P> +Flashing his light, Bert dashed ahead, followed by the others. Into +the big barn they went, and, just as they entered the main part, they +had a glimpse of someone running out of a side door. +</P> + +<P> +"There they go!" cried Charley. "We can catch 'em!" +</P> + +<P> +"No, let 'em go," advised Bert. "Here's our ice cream. Let's see if +there's any left. If there is we'll take it back to the party. We +might get into trouble if we went after those fellows." +</P> + +<P> +By the gleam of the electric light they could all see the freezer of +cream in the middle of the barn floor, near some upturned boxes. A +hasty look showed that only a little had been taken out. +</P> + +<P> +"There's plenty left!" said Bert. "We surprised 'em just in time. Now +let's get beck to the house." +</P> + +<P> +It was rather a triumphant procession that went back to the home of the +Bobbsey twins, carrying the recovered ice cream freezer. And such a +shout of delight from Flossie, Freddie and the others as greeted the +boys! +</P> + +<P> +"Is there any left?" asked Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Plenty," said Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"And did you catch the bad tramps?" Flossie wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"They got away," her brother said. "But never mind, we scared them +before they had a chance to eat much." +</P> + +<P> +"I 'clar t' goodness sakes alive!" gasped Dinah, when she saw the ice +cream freezer carried into her kitchen, "yo' am suttinly a smart boy, +Massa Bert—dat's what yo' suah am!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, the others helped me find it," said Bert, modestly. +</P> + +<P> +As Dinah and Mrs. Bobbsey were dishing out the cream, the colored cook +uttered a cry. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out!" she exclaimed. "Dere's suffin black in dere, Mrs. Bobbsey. +Maybe it's a stone dem careless tramps put in. Wait 'till I gits it +out." +</P> + +<P> +With a longhandled spoon Dinah fished for the black thing, and got it. +She put it in a dish, with a small portion of the ice cream, and when +the latter had melted, Bert, who was inspecting the object, gave a cry +of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it's a button—a coat button!" he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"A button? How in the world could that get in there?" asked his +mother. "Unless you boys dropped it in when you were carrying the +cream." +</P> + +<P> +Bert and the other boys quickly looked at their coats. There were no +buttons missing. +</P> + +<P> +"An' it suah wasn't in when de cream come heah," said Dinah. "I knows, +fo I took off de kiver an' looked in t' see how hard it were froze. +Dat button got in since!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and I think I know how, too!" exclaimed Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"It was dropped in by whoever took the freezer. They must have been +eating the cream right out of the can, and maybe they dropped the +button in. I'll save it." +</P> + +<P> +"What for?" asked Nan, wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I may be able to find out by it, who took the freezer," went on Bert. +"I'm going to look at the coats of all the fellows in school next week, +and if I find one with the button like this missing, I'll know what to +think." +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful not to accuse anyone wrongly," cautioned his mother. +</P> + +<P> +Bert put the button carefully away, and the party guests were soon +eating their ice cream, and discussing the disappearance of the freezer +and the finding of it by the boys. Then with the playing of more +games, and the singing of songs, the affair came to a close, and +goodnights were said. +</P> + +<P> +"We've had a lovely time!" said the boys and girls to Flossie and +Freddie, as they left. "Glad you did—come again," invited the small +Bobbsey twins. +</P> + +<P> +Even Snap seemed to have enjoyed himself. +</P> + +<P> +And when the house was settling down to quietness for the night, and +when Dinah and Mrs. Bobbsey were picking up the dishes, the circus dog +marched around like a soldier, with a stick for a gun, and one of the +fancy caps, that came in the "surprise" packets, on his head. +</P> + +<P> +When Bert went to bed that night he laid the button found in the ice +cream where he would be sure to see it in the morning. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to find out whose coat that came off of," he said to himself. +</P> + +<P> +The little Bobbsey twins slept late the next morning, and so did Nan, +but Bert was up early. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going over to the barn, and see if I can tell by looking around +it, how many were at our freezer," he said. +</P> + +<P> +But there was nothing there to help him in his search. Some old boxes, +placed in a sort of circle, showed where the ones who had taken the ice +cream, had rested to eat it. +</P> + +<P> +"They must have had spoons with them," said Bert to himself, as he +looked about, "That shows they came all prepared to take our ice cream. +So they must have known it was going to be here. Well, I'll see whose +coat has a button missing." +</P> + +<P> +It took Bert some days to look carefully at the coats of the various +boys in school, who might have been guilty of taking the cream. For a +time he had no luck, and then, one afternoon, as he noticed Danny Rugg +wearing a coat he seldom had on, Bert walked slowly up to him, clasping +the button, with his hand, in his pocket. +</P> + +<P> +His heart beat fast as he noticed that from the middle of Danny's coat +a button was gone. +</P> + +<P> +And a glance at the others showed Bert that they were just like the one +found in the ice cream freezer. +</P> + +<P> +"I see you've lost a button, Danny," said Bert, slowly. +</P> + +<P> +"Hey?" exclaimed the bully, with a start. +</P> + +<P> +"I see you've lost a button," repeated Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess it dropped off. Maybe it's home somewhere," said Danny. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it isn't—it's here!" exclaimed Bert, suddenly holding the button +out to him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THANKSGIVING +</H3> + +<P> +FOR a moment Danny Rugg just stared at Bert. Then the bully swallowed +a sort of lump that came in his throat, and said: +</P> + +<P> +"That isn't my button." +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't it?" asked Bert, politely. "Why, it just matches the others on +your coat, and it's got a few threads in the holes, and there are some +threads in your coat, just where the button was pulled off. I guess +it's your button, all right, Danny." +</P> + +<P> +Danny did not say anything. He looked from the button to Bert, and +then at the space on his coat where a button should have been, but +where one was missing. +</P> + +<P> +"Well—well," he stammered. "Maybe it is off my coat, but—but how did +you get it, Bert Bobbsey?" +</P> + +<P> +"I found it," was the answer. "Don't you want it back?" +</P> + +<P> +He held it out to Danny, who took it slowly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," went on Bert, with a queer little smile at his enemy, "why +don't you ask me where I found it, Danny?" +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! I don't care where you found it. I s'pose you picked it up +around the school yard, where I lost it, playing tag with the fellows." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you didn't lose it there," went on Bert, still smiling. "You have +another guess coming, Danny." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! I don't care where you found it," and Danny was about to turn +away. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait a minute," said Bert. "Suppose I say that this button was found +in our freezer of ice cream, that you and some other boys took off our +stoop the night of Flossie's and Freddie's party, Danny? What about +that?" +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't—I didn't—you can't prove anything about me, Bert Bobbsey, +and if you go around telling that I took your ice cream, I—" +</P> + +<P> +But Danny did not know what else to say. He was confused and his face +was white and red by turns, for he realized that Bert had good proof of +what he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Better go slow," advised Bert, calmly. "I don't intend to go around +telling what you did. I just want to let you know that I am sure you +took our ice cream. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I" began Danny. "You're only trying to fool me!" he exclaimed. +"That button wasn't in it at all!" +</P> + +<P> +"Wasn't it?" asked Bert, quietly. "Well, you just ask Charley Mason, +or any of the fellows who were at the party, what we found in the +freezer, and see what they say." +</P> + +<P> +Danny had nothing to reply to this. Thrusting the button in his pocket +he walked off. Bert was sure he had found the boy who had taken the +ice cream. +</P> + +<P> +Later, from a boy who had been friends with Danny for some time, but +whose father, afterward, decided that his son was getting into bad +company, and made him cease playing with the school bully, Bert learned +that Danny had planned to take the ice cream freezer off the porch. +</P> + +<P> +He and several boys did this, carrying it to the old barn. They had +provided themselves with large spoons, and were having a good time, +eating the cream, when they heard the approach of Bert and his friends, +and fled, leaving the cream behind. +</P> + +<P> +It was during a dispute as to who should have the right to first dip +into the freezer that Danny and a boy named Jake Harkness had a +struggle, and in this Danny lost a button which fell into the ice cream +without anyone knowing it. The coat Danny wore that night he did not +put on again for some time, but when he did Bert saw the missing button. +</P> + +<P> +Danny knew that he had been found out, and for a time he had little to +say. But Bert was boy enough not to be able to keep altogether quiet +over his discovery. From time to time he would ask Danny: +</P> + +<P> +"Lost any more buttons, lately?" +</P> + +<P> +"You let me alone!" Danny would reply, surlily. +</P> + +<P> +Of course this made talk, the boys wanting to know what it meant, and +at last the story came out. This made Danny so angry that he picked +several quarrels with Bert. On his part Bert tried to avoid them, but +at last he could stand it no longer, and he and Danny came to blows +again, Danny striking first. +</P> + +<P> +Bert had been brought up with the idea that fighting, unless it could +absolutely be avoided, was not gentlemanly, but in this case he could +not get out of it. +</P> + +<P> +He and Danny went at each other with their fists clenched, a crowd of +other boys looking on, and urging one or the other to do their best, +for both Danny and Bert had friends, though Bert was the best liked. +</P> + +<P> +Danny struck Bert several times, and Bert hit back, once hitting Danny +in the eye. Bert's lip was cut, and when the fight was over both boys +did not look very nice. But everyone said Bert had the best of it. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Bert!" exclaimed his mother, when he came home after the trouble +with Danny. "You've been fighting!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, mother, I have," he admitted. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help +it. Danny Rugg hit me first. I couldn't run away, could I?" +</P> + +<P> +It was a hard question for a mother to answer. No mother likes to +think her son a coward, and that was what the boys would have called +Bert had he not stood up to Danny. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I just had to!" continued Bert. "And I beat him, anyhow, mother." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Bobbsey cried a little, and then she made the best of it, and +bathed Bert's cut lip and bruised forehead. She told his father about +it, too, and Mr. Bobbsey, after hearing the account, asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Who won?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Bert says he did?" +</P> + +<P> +"Um. Well, I've no doubt but what he did. He's getting quite strong." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Richard!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, in dismay. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, boys will er—have their little troubles," said her husband. +"I'm sorry Bert had to fight, but I'm glad he wasn't a coward. But he +mustn't fight any more." +</P> + +<P> +Then Mr. Bobbsey sat down to read the evening paper. +</P> + +<P> +The weather was getting cooler. Several nights there had been heavy +frosts, and for some time the papers had been saying that it was going +to snow, but the white flakes did not sift down from the sky. +</P> + +<P> +Thanksgiving was approaching. It was the end of the Fall term of +school, and there were to be examinations to see who would pass into +the next higher classes for the Winter season. +</P> + +<P> +Of course in the case of Freddie and Flossie, who were still in the +kindergarten, the examinations were not very hard, but they were soon +to go into the regular primary class, where they would learn to read. +And both the twins were very anxious for this. Bert and Nan had +somewhat harder lessons to do, and they had to answer more difficult +questions in the examinations. +</P> + +<P> +But I am glad to say that all of the Bobbsey twins were promoted, and +Freddie and Flossie came home very proud to tell that when they went +back again, after the Thanksgiving holidays, they would be in the +primer reading book. +</P> + +<P> +And such preparations as went on for Thanksgiving! Dinah was busy from +morning until night, and when the little twins made inquiries about the +turkey they were to have Mr. Bobbsey said it would be the biggest he +could buy. +</P> + +<P> +"An' I'se gwine t' stuff him wif chestnuts an' oysters," said Dinah. +"I tells you what, chilluns, yo' all am suttinly gwine to hab one grand +feed." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish everybody was," said Flossie, a bit wistfully. "I hope our cat +Snoop, wherever he is, has plenty of milk, and some nice turkey bones." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess he will have," said Mamma Bobbsey, gently. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope all the poor children in our school have enough to eat," said +Freddie. "Mr. Tetlow said for us to bring what we could for them." +</P> + +<P> +"And you never told me!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why didn't you? I +would have sent something." +</P> + +<P> +Neither Bert nor Nan had thought to mention at home that a collection +would be taken at the school for the poor families in the town. But as +soon as Mrs. Bobbsey heard what Freddie said she telephoned to her +husband. Mr. Bobbsey went to see Mr. Tetlow, and from him learned that +there were a number of families who would not have a very happy +Thanksgiving. +</P> + +<P> +Then the lumber merchant gave certain orders to his grocer and butcher, +and if a number of poor people were not well supplied with food that +gladsome season, it was not the fault of Mr. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +But I am getting a little ahead of my story. +</P> + +<P> +A few days before Thanksgiving Mrs. Bobbsey, with a letter in her hand, +came to where the four twins were in the sitting room, talking over +what they wanted for Christmas. +</P> + +<P> +"Guess who are coming to spend Thanksgiving with us!" cried Mamma +Bobbsey, as she waved the letter in the air. +</P> + +<P> +"Uncle Bobbsey!" guessed Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"Uncle Minturn," said Bert. +</P> + +<P> +The little twins guessed other friends and relatives, and finally Mrs. +Bobbsey said: +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, your Uncle Bobbsey and Uncle Minturn are coming, and so are your +aunts, and Cousin Harry, Cousin Dorothy and also Hal Bingham, whom you +met at the seashore." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what a jolly Thanksgiving it will be!" cried the Bobbsey twins. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS +</H3> + +<P> +THANKSGIVING was celebrated in the Bobbsey home as it never had been +before. I am afraid if I told you all that went on, of the big, +brownroasted turkey, of the piles of crisp turkey, of the pumpkin and +mince pies, of the nuts and candies, of the big dishes of cranberry +sauce, and the plum pudding that Dinah carried in high above her +head—I am afraid if I told you of all these things there would be +trouble. +</P> + +<P> +For I am sure you would all be writing to me to ask where the Bobbseys +lived, so that you might go and see them, and perhaps spend Christmas +with them. Not that they would not be glad to have you, but they have +so many friends that their house is sure to be filled over the holidays. +</P> + +<P> +So I will simply say that there was the grandest time ever, and let it +go at that. +</P> + +<P> +Uncle and Aunt Bobbsey—Uncle and Aunt Minturn, from the country and +seashore, came, with Cousin Dorothy and Cousin Harry then, also, Hal +Bingham arrived, and the Bobbsey twins took great delight in showing +their former playmates about Lakeport. +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't it lonesome at the seashore now?" asked Nan of Dorothy, as she +walked with her cousin about the busy streets of the town. +</P> + +<P> +"Not at all," answered Dorothy. "The sea is never lonesome for me. It +always seems to be telling me something, Winter or Summer. +</P> + +<P> +"I love it in the Summer," said Nan, "but in the Winter it seems so +cold and cruel." +</P> + +<P> +"That is because you do not know it as well as I do," said Dorothy. +</P> + +<P> +Hal, Harry, and Bert had fine times together. There was no skating, +and the little flurry of snow there had been was not enough for +coasting, but they had other fun. +</P> + +<P> +"Do your ducks miss our duck Downy?" asked Freddie of his cousin Harry. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess they do," was the laughing answer, for Freddie and +Flossie had a pet duck which they took about with them almost as +faithfully as they did Snoop. "How is Downy, anyhow?" asked Harry. +</P> + +<P> +"He's fine," answered the little fellow. "Want to see him?" and he +took his cousin out to the barn where Downy had a pen all to himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Snoop's gone," said Freddie, "and so is our silver cup, but maybe +we'll get that back. It's in a circus." +</P> + +<P> +"In a circus!" cried Harry. "I should think your cat might be in a +circus, but not a silver cup." +</P> + +<P> +"We don't know where Snoop is," went on Freddie, "'cause he got away at +the time of the circus wreck," and he explained about it. "But we are +almost sure the circus fat lady has our cup." +</P> + +<P> +The Thanksgiving holidays came to an end at last and, much to the +regret of the Bobbseys, their visitors, old and young, had to go back +to their homes. +</P> + +<P> +"But you'll come again at Christmas, won't you?" asked Flossie as she +said goodbye. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll try," said her Uncle Bobbsey. "But maybe there won't be room, +with Santa Claus and all his reindeers." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we'll make room for you," spoke Freddie. "Santa Claus won't stay +long." +</P> + +<P> +With a merry peal of laughter the visitors went off to the station, +waving farewells. Then came rather a quiet time at the Bobbsey house, +as there always is when visitors go. There seems to be a sort of +loneliness, when company leaves, no matter how many there are in the +family, nor what fun there is. But the feeling soon passes. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll soon be at school again," said Bert, a day or so before +the opening of the Winter term. "I wish we'd get some snow. Then it +would be more fun." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Freddie. "We could build snow forts and have snowball +fights. I wish it would snow hard." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I, so we could ride down hill," said Nan. "Is your big bob +nearly done, Bert?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Charley and I have quite a lot of things to do on it yet, but +we're going to work every night after school now, and it will soon be +finished." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to have skates for Christmas," announced Freddie. "I hope +the lake will be frozen over by then." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess it will be," returned Bert. "It's getting colder every night." +</P> + +<P> +The Bobbseys were back at school. For a time Nan and Bert, who were in +a higher grade, did not like it so well, as they had a strange teacher, +and lessons, too, were more difficult. But they were not children who +gave up easily, and soon they were at the head of their class as usual. +Their teacher, too, was much nicer than they had thought at first. +They had considered her stern, but it was only her way, and soon wore +off. +</P> + +<P> +As for Freddie and Flossie, they had advanced but little except in +reading, and this opened a new world to them. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll soon be reading books," boasted Freddie, on his way home one day. +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm going to read all about firemen, soldiers and Indians." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm not," said Flossie. "I'm going to read how to be a nurse, so +I can take care of you when you're hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be nice," said Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +One day, at recess, Bert saw Jim Osborne motioning to him in a secret +sort of fashion. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on with us," said Jim, who was a new boy in school. "Danny Rugg +and some of the rest of us are going to have some sport." +</P> + +<P> +"What doing?" asked Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Smoking cigarettes back of the coal house. I've got a whole pack." +</P> + +<P> +"No; I don't smoke," said Bert quietly. +</P> + +<P> +"Bah! You're afraid!" sneered Jim. +</P> + +<P> +"Cigarettes can't hurt you. It's only cigars and pipes that do." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I admit I am afraid," said Bert. "I'm afraid of getting sick. +Besides, I promised my mother I wouldn't smoke until I was twenty-one, +and I'm not going to tell a story. Anyhow, I've got an uncle who +smokes, and he says cigarettes are worse than a pipe or cigars, and he +ought to know." +</P> + +<P> +"Aw, come on!" urged Jim. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Bert firmly, and he would not go. Jim went off with Danny +and some of the other boys, and they were laughing among themselves. +Bert felt that they were laughing at him, but he did not mind. +</P> + +<P> +There was to be an examination of the school by some of the members of +the Board of Education late that afternoon, and, directly after recess, +Mr. Tetlow went to each room to tell the pupils and teachers to get +ready for it, and to put certain work on the blackboards, so it could +be seen. +</P> + +<P> +When the principal got to the room where Danny Rugg and his particular +chums sat, Mr Tetlow, sniffing the air suspiciously, said: +</P> + +<P> +"I smell smoke!" +</P> + +<P> +"I have been noticing it, too," said the lady teacher. "Perhaps the +furnace does not work properly." +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't that kind of smoke," went on Mr. Tetlow. "It is tobacco +smoke. Have any of you boys been smoking during recess?" he asked +sternly, looking across the room. +</P> + +<P> +No one answered. Danny, Jim, and some of the others seemed to be +studying their geography lessons very hard. +</P> + +<P> +"I just want to say a word about cigarette smoking," went on Mr. +Tetlow, "for that is usually how a boy begins. Of smoking in general, +when a boy gets to be a man, I have nothing to say. Some say it is +injurious, and others not, in moderation. But there can be no doubt +that for a growing boy to smoke is very harmful. Again I ask if anyone +here has been smoking?" +</P> + +<P> +No one replied. The guilty boys bent deep over their books and did not +look up. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I am sure someone here has," said Mr. Tetlow. "I can smell it +plainly." He walked down the aisles, looking sharply from one boy to +another. If he was sure who were the guilty ones he gave no sign. +"And I want to add," said Mr. Tetlow, "that not only is cigarette +smoking harmful to the smoker, but it is dangerous. Many fires have +been caused in that way. If I find out who of my pupils have been +smoking around the school they will be severely punished." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FIRST SNOW +</H3> + +<P> +THERE was considerable talk among the boys in Danny's room after Mr. +Tetlow departed. And it was noticed that Danny and some of his +particular friends looked around with rather frightened faces, over +their shoulders, as they talked among themselves. What they said could +not be heard, for they spoke in whispers. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you weren't one of those boys, Bert," said Nan, as she passed +her brother on the way home from school that afternoon. "If you were—" +</P> + +<P> +"You needn't worry," he said, with a smile. "I'm not ready to smoke +yet." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor ever, I hope," said Nan, as she turned up her little nose. +"It—it smells so." +</P> + +<P> +Nothing more was heard of the smoking matter for several days, and it +was about forgotten, when something else came to claim the attention of +the Bobbsey twins and their friends. +</P> + +<P> +It was toward the close of school one afternoon, when all the pupils +were wishing the hands of the clock would point to letting-out time, +that Nan, looking from the window, and away from her arithmetic book, +saw a few white flakes of snow sifting lazily down. At once she was +all attention, and her lesson was forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" she thought, "it's snowing! And it looks as if it would be a big +storm. Oh, I'm so glad!" +</P> + +<P> +Nan did not know all the trouble and misery a big snow storm can cause, +so she may be forgiven for wishing for one. She only saw the side of +it that meant fun for her and her friends. +</P> + +<P> +The flakes were coming down faster now, and there was about them +something which seemed to tell that this storm would be more than a +mere flurry or squall, and that it would keep up for some time, making +big drifts. +</P> + +<P> +But now a number of other pupils in the room had noticed the storm, and +eyes were out of doors rather than on books. The teacher saw that she +was not getting the attention of her class, and she understood the +reason. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, boys and girls," she said gently, "you can have a good time in +the snow after you get out of here. So please give attention to your +lessons for a few minutes more. Then you will be finished. Nan +Bobbsey, you may go to the board and do the third example." +</P> + +<P> +But Nan was thinking so much of the fun she might have riding down +hill, or snowballing with her friends, that she got the example wrong, +and had to go to her seat. Nor was Bert any more successful. +</P> + +<P> +Bert was busy thinking about putting a bell and a steering wheel on the +new bob he and Charley had made, and when he was asked how many times +two and a half went into ten he answered: "Three." He was thinking +how many times he would ring the bell on the bob when he came to a +street crossing. +</P> + +<P> +When the Bobbsey twins, little and big, came out of school the snow was +coming down more thickly. The flakes were not so large, but there were +more of them, and they blew here and there in the wind, drifting into +piles that would make the shoveling off of walks hard the next day. +</P> + +<P> +There were just about enough of the white crystals on the ground, when +the school children came out to make a few snowballs, and this they at +once proceeded to do. +</P> + +<P> +Danny Rugg, who had not forgiven Bert for the many times the Bobbsey +lad had gotten the best of him, threw a ball at Freddie. But Bert was +on the watch, and managed to jump up and catch the white missile in his +hand. Then he threw it at Danny, striking him on the neck. +</P> + +<P> +"Here! Where you throwin'?" demanded Danny, in angry tones. +</P> + +<P> +"The same place you are," replied Bert, not a bit afraid. "Good +weather for ice cream, Danny," he added, and Danny went off in an angry +fashion. +</P> + +<P> +Other boys and girls too, threw the snowballs, but it was in +goodnatured fun, and no one was hurt. Some rough boys did use hard +snowballs, but they were soon left to play among themselves, while the +others amused themselves with soft and fluffy missiles, which, breaking +as they hit, scattered the white stuff all over, harming no one. +</P> + +<P> +The girls, while they played at this sport, also indulged in washing +the faces of each other. With handsful of snow they rubbed the ears +and cheeks of their chums so that there came a healthy glow to the skin. +</P> + +<P> +One or two children, who lived near the school, ran in their yards as +soon as the classes were dismissed, and brought out their sleds. But +the snow was too thin to pack well and at best the coasting was not +good. +</P> + +<P> +"But it soon will be," declared Bert, as he and Charley walked along. +"We must finish our bob in a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"All right. We'll work on it late tonight." +</P> + +<P> +And so the sound of hammer, plane and saw was heard in the old barn, +where the sled was being built, until nearly ten o'clock. +</P> + +<P> +"She ought to go very fast!" exclaimed Charley, as they paused to look +at their sled. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure she will," agreed Bert. "And we'll put some carpet on the +top of the main board, for a cushion for some of the girls." His chum +agreed that this would be a good plan, and so the bob was made very +attractive for the girls. +</P> + +<P> +Bert and Charley took the big sled out for a private trial on a little +hill behind the barn without telling anyone about it. They slid down +very swiftly, and as they were walking up again Bert said: +</P> + +<P> +"I think we have a fast one all right, Charley." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure we have," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"It will pass anything on the main hill," went on Bert, and his friend +believed him. +</P> + +<P> +The storm kept up all night, and in the morning there was snow enough +to suit anyone. Bert laughed as he looked out of the window and saw it. +</P> + +<P> +"There'll be coasting now all right!" he cried, as he saw the big +stretch of white over the fields and on the hills. "We can have bob +sled races, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Can't we come?" asked Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"We like sled rides," added Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"You may come part of the time," answered Bert. "But big sleds aren't +for little folks like you." +</P> + +<P> +Not far from the Bobbsey home was a long hill that was most excellent +for coasting. It was on this that Charley and Bert had decided to test +their new sled on a long stretch. +</P> + +<P> +As they hauled it from the barn where it had been made, and started to +pull it to the hill, there were many laughs at the odd homemade affair. +For Bert and Charley had done most of the work themselves, and it was +rather rough. +</P> + +<P> +"She'll never coast!" cried one boy, with a laugh. He was quite a +friend of Danny's. +</P> + +<P> +"Here comes the sled that can, though!" cried another, and Danny +himself came into view, pulling a fine, new, big bob after him. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the fastest one on the hill," boasted another lad who was +helping Danny pull his sled. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I think ours is fast, too," said Bert calmly. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you want to race?" asked Danny with a sharp glance at Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't mind," was the answer. It was after school, following the +first snow, and the hill was just right for coasting. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on! Come on!" cried a number of boys and girls, as they heard +what went on between Danny and Bert. "There's going to be a race on +the big hill between the big bobs." +</P> + +<P> +There was much excitement. The sleds were the two largest owned by +anyone in the neighborhood, and both were fine ones. Danny had bought +his, but Bert and Charley had made theirs, and so, though it was not so +fancy, it was stronger. Most eyes were on Danny's sled, for it was +painted in bright colors, and brightly varnished. It had a red cushion +of carpet on the top, and places at the side to rest one's feet. +</P> + +<P> +The bob of Bert and Charley was built just the same, but it was painted +in homemade fashion, and the carpet seat was an old and faded one. But +it had a new gong and a fine big steering wheel. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready for the race," cried Danny, as he got his sled in position. +"Who's going down with me?" +</P> + +<P> +A number of boys came forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's going with Bert and me?" asked Charley, and several others +stepped forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Go ahead, if you want to come in last!" sneered Danny, as he got his +sled in place. "I'll tell 'em you're coming, Bert." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," was the cool answer. "Get in, boys!" +</P> + +<P> +Soon both sleds were filled, and all was ready for the big race—the +first of the season. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NIGHT ALARM +</H3> + +<P> +"ARE you all ready?" called Danny to Bert, looking over at the homemade +bob, and there was something like contempt in his tone. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready," answered Bert. "I'll start as soon as you give the word." +</P> + +<P> +"We ought to have someone to shove us off," suggested Danny. "It won't +be fair if one or the other gets a headstart." +</P> + +<P> +"Hi! He's afraid already!" cried Charley Mason. "He knows we're going +to beat!" +</P> + +<P> +"I am not!" retorted Danny. "It will be a walkover for me once I +start. But I don't want Bert Bobbsey saying I took advantage of him, +after the race is over." +</P> + +<P> +"You needn't be afraid—I won't say so—I won't have to," replied Bert. +"All the same I think it would be better if we each had a push. I want +to be fair, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Hey, Bert!" called a shrill voice, as the elder Bobbsey lad was +looking about for some on the hill to whom he might appeal. "Can't I +ride down with you, Bert?" +</P> + +<P> +It was Freddie who called, and he came running up, anxious to take part +in the exciting race. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Freddie, not this time," explained Bert kindly. "I want only +large boys with me in the race. I'll give you a ride afterward." +</P> + +<P> +"After I beat him, he means," sneered Danny. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, let's race if we're going to," called some of the boys on +Danny's sled. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; don't stay here all day." +</P> + +<P> +"Get a move on!" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll beat, anyhow, what's the use of racing?" +</P> + +<P> +There were only a few of things that those on the big new sled of +Danny's, called to those on Bert's bob. On their part Bert's friends +voiced such remarks as: +</P> + +<P> +"We're not so strong on looks, but we'll get there first!" +</P> + +<P> +"We're going to give Danny a tow to the bottom of the hill!" +</P> + +<P> +"He won't know he's moving, once Bert's sled gets started going!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Danny at last. "Shall we shove +off ourselves?" +</P> + +<P> +Just then there came along two large boys, Frank Cobb, and his +particular chum, Irving Knight. +</P> + +<P> +"What's going on here; a race?" asked Frank. +</P> + +<P> +"It looks that way," said Irving. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, will you push us off?" begged Bert, appealing to Frank, whose +father worked in Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure we will," answered Frank goodnaturedly. "Take the other sled, +Irving," he said to his chum, "and we'll give 'em an even start. Then +we'll see which beats, and may the best sled win!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I say!" cried Irving. +</P> + +<P> +The two larger boys took their places behind the bobs. They slowly +shoved them to the edge of the hill, held them there a moment, and, at +a nod to each other, shoved them down evenly. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurray!" cried the crowd of other coasters. "There they go!" +</P> + +<P> +"And Danny's ahead!" said some of his friends. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Bert's sled is!" shouted his admirers. +</P> + +<P> +As a matter of fact, though, both sleds were even at the start. On and +on they went very swiftly, for the hill had been worn smooth. Then +Bert saw his bob getting ahead a little, and he felt that he was going +to win easily. +</P> + +<P> +But he was glad too soon, for, a little later, Danny's sled shot ahead, +and for some distance was in the lead. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't you beat him, Bert?" whispered Charley Mason, who sat just +behind his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," was the answer. "But I can't really do anything. We just +have to depend on the sled, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Steer a little more over to the left," suggested another boy. "It +looks smoother there." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," said Bert, and he turned the steering wheel of his bob while +Luke Morton, in the rear, pulled hard on the bell, making it clang out +a loud warning. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out where you're going, Bert Bobbsey!" warned Danny, looking back. +</P> + +<P> +"You're coming over on my side of the hill!" +</P> + +<P> +"No I'm not. I'm away from the middle even," said Bert. "Besides, I'm +behind you." +</P> + +<P> +"I know you are, and you're going to stay there; but I don't want you +to run into me." +</P> + +<P> +Bert thought of the time, the winter before, when Danny had run into +him, and broken his sled, but he said nothing. He did not want that +kind of an accident to be repeated if he could help it. +</P> + +<P> +On, on and on dashed the big bobs, with the crowd on the hill, and a +number of coasters scattered along the way, watching anxiously. As +soon as Bert had steered over to the left his sled began to go faster, +as the snow was packed better there. He was fast catching up to Danny, +when one of the boys on that bob, looking back, saw it, and warned the +steersman. +</P> + +<P> +"He's coming, Danny," he cried. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he is; eh? Well, he won't pass me," and Danny steered his sled +over directly in front of Bert's, almost causing Bert to collide with +him. +</P> + +<P> +"Shame!" cried some watchers. "That wasn't fair!" +</P> + +<P> +"Let him keep on his own side then," warned Danny. +</P> + +<P> +But this mean trick did Danny little good for, though Bert was forced +to go to the right, to avoid crashing into Danny, he, most +unexpectedly, found good coasting there, and he shot ahead until his +sled was even with that of the bully's. +</P> + +<P> +"Better look out, Danny," warned the boy sitting directly back of him. +</P> + +<P> +"He's crowding us fast." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's only a spurt. We'll soon be at the bottom of the hill and +win." +</P> + +<P> +On and on came Bert's bob, the Flier. It was a little ahead of Danny's +now, and the latter, seeing this, steered over, thinking the going was +better there. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out!" warned Bert. "Who's crowding over now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I've got a right here!" snarled Danny. +</P> + +<P> +But Bert knew his rights also, and would not give away. He held to his +place, and Danny dared not come too close. Then, as Bert found himself +on smooth, hardpacked snow, he steered as straight as he could. More +and more ahead of Danny he went, until he was fully in front of him. +</P> + +<P> +"We're going to win! We're going to win!" cried Bert's friends. +"We're going to win the race!" +</P> + +<P> +Danny was wild with anger. He steered his sled over sharply, hoping to +get on the same track as was Bert and so pass him. But it was not to +be. Danny took too sudden a turn, and the next instant his bob +overturned, spilling everyone off. +</P> + +<P> +There was a cry of surprise at the accident, and some of those on +Bert's sled looked back. Bert himself looked straight ahead as a +steersman always should. +</P> + +<P> +"Danny's upset!" cried Charley. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry!" said Bert. "Now he'll claim the race wasn't fair." +</P> + +<P> +And that is what Danny did when he picked himself up, and walked down +to meet Bert, whose bob got safely to the foot of the hill, and so won +the race. +</P> + +<P> +"Aw, I'd have beaten if you hadn't gotten in my way so I had to steer +over," cried Danny. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't talk that way now," said Irving, who, with Frank Cobb had come +to the end of the hill. "Bert beat you fair and square." +</P> + +<P> +"Aw, well," grumbled Danny. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll race over again, if you like," offered Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and do the same thing," grumbled Danny. "I will not. I know my +sled is the best." +</P> + +<P> +But few others, save those who hoped for a ride on it, agreed with the +bully, and Bert's homemade bob was held to be champion of the hill. +</P> + +<P> +Then came many more coasts, Bert giving Nan and Flossie and Freddie, +and a number of their little girl and boy friends, several rides. +</P> + +<P> +Until late that evening the coasting kept up, and Bert and Charley were +congratulated on all sides for the fine bob they had made. And what +fun Bert had home after supper, telling of how he had won the race! +</P> + +<P> +It was in the middle of the night, when the Bobbsey household was +awakened by the ringing of fire bells. They all heard the alarm, and +as Papa Bobbsey counted the number, he said to his wife: +</P> + +<P> +"That must be near here. Guess I'll look. It's a windy night and a +fire in my lumber yard would be very bad." +</P> + +<P> +As he went to the window he saw a glare on the sky in the direction of +the lake. +</P> + +<P> +"It is near here!" he said. "The engines are going past our house! +I'd better take a look." +</P> + +<P> +"Can I come?" asked the little "Fat Fireman" from his cot. "Take me, +papa!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WHO WAS SMOKING? +</H3> + +<P> +MR. BOBBSEY laughed, though he was worried about the fire. It seemed +so odd for Freddie to want to go out in the cold, dark night. +</P> + +<P> +"Not this time, my Fat Fireman!" said Freddie's papa. "It may be only +a pile of rubbish on fire. I'll tell you about it when I come back." +</P> + +<P> +"Where does it seem to be?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"Down near the lake," answered her husband. "I'm afraid, he added in a +lower voice, that it may be our boathouse. It seems to be about there." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I hope not!" she exclaimed. "Still, better that than our own +house." +</P> + +<P> +"If it's near the lake, papa," said Flossie who heard part of what her +father said, "it will be easy to put it out, for there is plenty of +water." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! engines have their own water!" exclaimed Freddie, who had rather +hazy notions as to how fire engines work. He was getting over his +disappointment about not being allowed to go with his father, and had +again cuddled down in his warm crib. +</P> + +<P> +Another engine dashed by the Bobbsey house, and the ringing of the +alarm bell increased. The voices and footsteps of many persons, as +they rushed on to the blaze, could also be heard, and there resounded +the cry of: +</P> + +<P> +"Fire! Fire! Fire!" +</P> + +<P> +Bert, who had been aroused with the others of the household, was +dressing in his room. He felt that his father would let him go to the +fire. At any rate he intended to be all ready when he made his +request, so as not to cause delay. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going, Bert?" asked Nan, as from her room, next to that of her +brother, she heard him moving around. +</P> + +<P> +"I am, if father will take me," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"It's too cold for me!" Nan exclaimed with a shiver, as she went back +in bed again. She had gotten up to peer from the window at the red +glare in the sky. +</P> + +<P> +From the third floor, where Dinah slept, the colored cook now called +down: +</P> + +<P> +"Am anybody sick, Mrs. Bobbsey? What am de mattah down dere?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's a fire, Dinah!" answered her mistress. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh good land a'massy! Don't tell me dat!" she cried. "Sam! Sam! Wake +up. De house is on fire an' you'se got t' sabe me!" +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, Dinah!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey, to calm the cook. "It isn't this +house. It's down by the lake. If you look out of your window you can +see it." +</P> + +<P> +Dinah hurried across to her window, and evidently saw the reflection of +the blaze, for she exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Thank goodness it ain't yeah! Mah goodness, but I suah was skarit fo' +a minute!" +</P> + +<P> +By this time Mr. Bobbsey had dressed, and had started downstairs. Bert +came out of his room, also ready for the street. +</P> + +<P> +"May I come, father?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey, in surprise. "So you got +dressed too, did you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir. May I come?" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey hesitated a moment, and then, with a smile, said: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose so, since you are all ready. I'm taking Bert," he +called to his wife. "Freddie, you'll have to be the Fat Fireman while +I'm gone, and look after the house." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I will," said Freddie, "and if any sparks fly over here +I'll throw the bath room sponge on 'em!" +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, and then, he and Bert hurried out. +</P> + +<P> +The fire was now larger, as they could see when they got out in the +street. There was no wind and the flames went straight up in the air. +There were not many buildings down by the lake, only some boat shelters +and places like that. The Bobbsey's boathouse was a fine large one, +having recently been made bigger as Mr. Bobbsey was thinking of buying +a new motor boat. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey and his son hurried on, following the crowd that filled the +street leading to the lake. Several gentlemen knew the lumber +merchant, and called to him. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess you're glad this isn't your lumber yard," said one. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed," was the answer. "I had a little fire there once, and I +don't want another. But I'm afraid this is some of my property just +the same." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that so?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it looks to be my boathouse." +</P> + +<P> +"So it does!" cried another man. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, father!" cried Bert. "Our nice boathouse!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the firemen may save it," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We will hope so, +anyhow," he added. +</P> + +<P> +They had not gone on much farther before Mr. Bobbsey and Bert could see +that it was indeed their boathouse on fire. One side was all ablaze, +and the flames were slowly, but surely, eating their way over the whole +place. But two engines were now pumping streams of water on the fire, +and they might put it out before too much damage was done. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey rushed forward, and, as the policemen and firemen knew him, +they let him get close to the boathouse. +</P> + +<P> +"You stay here, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey to his son. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are you going?" Bert wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to see if we can save any of the boats." +</P> + +<P> +There was a sailing craft, a number of rowboats, and a small gasoline +launch in the boathouse. They had been stored away for the winter. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, men!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, as he saw some of his workmen in the +crowd. "Help me save the boats!" +</P> + +<P> +All rushed forward willingly, and, as there was part of the place where +the flames had not yet reached, they could make their way into the +house. They began lowering the boats into the icy water, while the +firemen played the several lines of hose on the flames. +</P> + +<P> +The third engine was now working, and so much water was pumped that +even a larger fire could not have stood it for very long. The blaze +began to die down, and when Mr. Bobbsey and his men were about to lower +the gasoline launch into the icy water the chief ran up, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"You don't need to do that! We've got the fire under control now. It +will soon be out." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure?" asked the lumber merchant. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. You can see for yourself. Leave the boat there. It will be all +right." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey looked, and was satisfied that the larger part of the +boathouse would be saved. So he and his men stopped their work; and +went outside to cool off. +</P> + +<P> +A little later the fire was practically out, but one engine continued +to throw water on the smouldering sparks. The crowd began to leave +now, for there was nothing more to see, and it was cold. +</P> + +<P> +"My!" exclaimed Bert as his father came back to where he had left his +son, "it didn't take long to settle that fire." +</P> + +<P> +"No, we have a good fire department," replied Mr. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +The fire chief came up to Mr Bobbsey, who expressed his thanks for the +quick work of the firemen. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you any idea what started the fire, Mr. Bobbsey?" asked the +chief. "Was the boathouse in use?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," was the answer. "It had been closed for the winter some time +ago—in fact as soon as the carpenters finished making the changes. No +one was in it as far as I know." +</P> + +<P> +"Then how do you account for this?" asked the chief, as he held out a +box partly filled with cigarettes. "I picked these up in the living +room," he went on, for the boathouse had one room carpeted, and fitted +with chairs and tables, and electric lights where the family often +spent evenings during Summer. +</P> + +<P> +"You found those cigarettes in the living room of the boathouse?" asked +Mr. Bobbsey. +</P> + +<P> +"I did; and the question is who was smoking?" went on the chief. "In +my opinion the end of a cigarette thrown aside, or perhaps a lighted +match dropped in some corner, started this fire. Who was smoking?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A CONFESSION +</H3> + +<P> +THE chief handed Mr. Bobbsey the half-emptied cigarette box. Mr. +Bobbsey turned it over and over in his hand, as though trying to learn +to whom it belonged. +</P> + +<P> +"They are something I never use," he said. "I don't suppose we could +tell, from this, who had it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," and the chief shook his head. "It's a common kind, and a good +many of the stores sell 'em. A good many of the boys smoke 'em, +too—that's the worst of it," and he looked at Bert a bit sharply. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you needn't be afraid for my boy!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey hastily. +"I have Bert's promise that he won't smoke until he's man, and perhaps +he won't want to then." +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed the chief heartily; "That's what I like to hear. But +it's as certain as guns is, and nothing more certain than them, that +some one was smoking in your boathouse, and set fire to it. And I wish +we could find out who it was." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "If only to teach them a lesson on +how dangerous it is to be careless. Well, I suppose we can't do +anything more," and he sighed, for half the beautiful boathouse was in +ruins. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey and Bert were soon at home, telling the news to the folks. +</P> + +<P> +Freddie's eyes opened wide in surprise as he listened to the account of +how the firemen had put out the fire. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I wish I could have been there!" he cried. "I could have helped." +</P> + +<P> +"What caused the fire?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband, when the +children had gone to bed again. +</P> + +<P> +"Some boys—or some one else smoking cigarettes, the chief thinks. We +found a half-emptied box." +</P> + +<P> +In her room Nan heard the word "cigarettes" and she wondered if her +brother could be at fault, for she remembered he had told her how once +some boys had asked him to go off in secret and smoke. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey was up early, for he wanted to see by daylight what damage +the fire had done, and he also wanted to see the insurance company +about the loss. The beautiful boathouse looked worse in the daylight +than it had at night, and the neat living room, where some of the +Bobbseys had spent many happy hours, while others of them were out in +the boats, was in ruins. +</P> + +<P> +The fire chief came down while Mr. Bobbsey was there, and they talked +matters over. The chief said he would send one of his men around to +the different stores that sold cigarettes, to try and learn if boys had +purchased any that afternoon, for it was against the law to sell +cigarettes to anyone under sixteen years of age. +</P> + +<P> +One afternoon Danny's father, Mr. Rugg, came home unexpectedly, and, +wanting something that was out in his barn went to get it. As he +entered the place he heard a scramble of feet, some excited whispers, +and then silence. He was sure that some one was in the place and had +run to hide. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's there?" called Mr. Rugg sharply. There was no answer, but he +listened and was sure he heard some one in the little room where the +harness was kept. +</P> + +<P> +He walked over to the door, and tried to open it. Some one on the +inside was holding it, but Mr. Rugg gave a strong pull, and the door +flew open. To the surprise of Mr. Rugg he saw his son Danny, and a +number of boys, hiding there, and the smell of cigarette smoke was very +strong. +</P> + +<P> +"Danny!" exclaimed his father sternly, "what does this mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"We—were—playing!" stammered Danny. "Playing hide and seek." +</P> + +<P> +"And to play that is it necessary to smoke?" Mr. Rugg asked sharply. +</P> + +<P> +"We—we aren't smoking," answered Danny. +</P> + +<P> +"Not now, but you have been. I can smell it plainly. Go into the +house, Danny, and these other boys must go home. If I find them +smoking in my barn again I shall punish them. You might have set it on +fire." +</P> + +<P> +Danny had nothing to say, indeed, there was little he could say. He +had been caught in the act. +</P> + +<P> +The other boys slunk off, and Danny went into the house, his father +following. +</P> + +<P> +"Danny, I am very sorry to learn this," said Mr. Rugg. "I did not know +that you smoked—a boy of your age!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I never smoked much. Lots of the fellows smoke more than I do." +</P> + +<P> +"That is no excuse. It is a bad habit for a boy. You may go to your +room. I will consider your case later." +</P> + +<P> +From then on Mr. Rugg did some hard thinking. He began "putting two +and two together" as the old saying has it. He remembered the Bobbsey +boathouse fire. On that occasion Danny had come in late, and there had +been the smell of smoke on his clothes. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Rugg went to his son's room. A search showed a number of empty +cigarette boxes, and cigarette pictures, and the boxes were all of the +same kind—the kind that had been found in the halfburned boathouse. +</P> + +<P> +Danny was accused by his father of having been smoking in the boathouse +just before the fire, and Danny was so miserable, and so surprised at +being caught in the barn, that he made a full confession. Tearfully he +told the story, how he and some other boys, finding the boat house +unlocked, for some unknown reason, had gone in, and smoked to their +heart's content. +</P> + +<P> +They did not mean to cause the fire, and had no idea that they were to +blame. One of the boys was made ill by too much smoking, and they all +hurried away. +</P> + +<P> +But they must have left a smouldering stump of cigarette in some +corner, or a carelessly thrown match, that started the blaze. Then, +when the fire bells sounded, and they learned what had happened, Danny +and all the boys promised each other that they would keep the secret. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Danny, I can't tell you how sorry I am," said Mr. Rugg, when the +confession was over. "Sorry not only that Mr. Bobbsey's boathouse was +burned, but because you have deceived me, and your good mother, and +smoked in secret. I feel very badly about it." +</P> + +<P> +Danny did, too, for though he was not a very good boy, his heart was in +the right place, and with a little more care he might have been a +different character. There was, however, hope for him. +</P> + +<P> +"You must be punished for this," went on Mr. Rugg, "and this punishment +will be that you are not to have the motor boat I promised you for next +Summer. Perhaps it will be a lesson to you." +</P> + +<P> +Danny wept bitterly, for he had counted very much on having this boat. +But it was a good lesson to him. Mr. Rugg also told the fathers of the +other boys whom he caught with his son, and these boys were punished in +different ways. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Rugg also informed Mr. Bobbsey how the boathouse had been set +afire, and expressed his sorrow. And so the mystery was cleared up. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FAT LADY'S LETTER +</H3> + +<P> +"WELL," remarked Nan Bobbsey, a few days after it had become known that +Danny Rugg was to blame for the fire in the boathouse, "I wish we could +find out, as easily as we found out about Danny, who has our cat Snoop." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I," added Flossie. "Poor Snoop! I do miss him so much." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I!" exclaimed Freddie. "But Snap is a nice dog, and I guess I +like dogs better than cats, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Freddie Bobbsey!" cried Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you love Snoop any more?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, 'course I do, but then he isn't here to be loved, and Snap +is." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess that does make a difference," admitted Nan. "I wonder if +papa wouldn't let us go down to the railroad office and inquire once +more about him? Maybe, as it's getting cold weather now, Snoop will +come in from the fields where he may have been staying ever since the +railroad wreck." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's ask," cried Freddie, always ready for action. +</P> + +<P> +It was Saturday, and there was no school. Bert had gone off coasting +on his new bob, but Nan did not want to go, her mother having asked her +to stay and help with the dusting. But now the little bit of housework +was over, and Nan was free. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll go down to papa's office," she said to Flossie and Freddie, "and +ask him if we can go to the railroad. I know one of the ticket agents +and he can tell us of whom to ask about our cat." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Bobbsey had no objections, and soon, with Flossie and Freddie at +her side, Nan set off for her father's office in the lumber yard. The +smaller twins were delighted. +</P> + +<P> +"And maybe we can find our silver cup, too," suggested Freddie, as they +trudged along in the snow, now and then stopping to make a white ball, +which he threw at the fence or telegraph pole. +</P> + +<P> +"The fat lady has our cup—I'm sure of that," said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we can ask papa if he has heard from the circus people," +suggested Nan. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey was rather surprised to see his three children come into +the office, but he was glad to meet them, for it made a break in his +day's work. After a little thought he said they might go to the +railroad office to inquire about Snoop. Nan and her brother and sister +went in a trolley car, and were soon at the depot. +</P> + +<P> +But to their disappointment there was no news of Snoop. The fat, black +cat seemed to have completely disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +"I've had the switchmen and trackmen keep a lookout for some time +past," the agent told Nan, for Mr. Bobbsey did a large business in +shipping lumber over the railroad, and many of the men were his +friends. "One of the switchmen near where the wreck was, caught a lot +of cats, that must have been living out in the fields all Summer," went +on the agent, "but they were all sorts of colors. None was pure black, +so I knew they could not be yours. I'm sorry." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, so are we," replied Nan. "Well, I guess Snoop is lost for good. +He has been away a long time now." +</P> + +<P> +On the way back to Mr. Bobbsey's office, the trolley car got off the +track, on account of so much snow on the rails, and the children spent +some time watching the men get it back, the electricity from the wire +and rails making pretty flashes of blue fire. +</P> + +<P> +"What luck?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, as the three came in his private +office, their faces shining and red with the glow of winter. +</P> + +<P> +"None," said Nan sadly. "Snoop is gone." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you heard from the circus fat lady yet, papa?" asked Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we want our cup back," added her brother. +</P> + +<P> +"No word yet," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "That circus is traveling all +over Cuba, and the letters I sent never seem to catch up to them. +However, I am sending one on ahead now, to a city where they will soon +give a show. The fat lady will find it there waiting for her, and she +may answer then." +</P> + +<P> +And with this the children had to be content. Getting back home, +Flossie and Freddie took out their sleds and went for a coast on a +small hill, not far from their home. This was where the smaller +children had their fun, leaving the larger hill for the bigger girls +and boys. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, after this I think we all need something to cheer us up," said +Papa Bobbsey, who came home from the office early that day. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, have you got something good?" asked Nan, for she saw a queer +little twinkle in her father's eyes, and she knew that this generally +meant a treat of some kind. +</P> + +<P> +"I have some good news, if you would like to hear it," he said, as he +drew a letter from his pocket. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it to tell that some of our friends are coming to see us?" asked +Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, I think you will call it a visit from a friend—at least +part of it," said Papa Bobbsey. "Now listen. This is a letter from +the fat lady in the circus." +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried Flossie, "—the one who has our cup?" +</P> + +<P> +"The same," said Mr. Bobbsey with a smile. "And she has more than your +cup. Listen," and he read the letter. +</P> + +<P> +It was too long to put it all in here, but it went on to say how the +fat lady really had the valuable silver cup belonging to the twins. +</P> + +<P> +"They loaned it to me to drink from," she wrote, "and when the train +stopped so suddenly, there was so much confusion that I put it in my +valise by mistake. I have had it ever since and have been wondering +how I could send it back to you. The circus went to Cuba soon after +that, and has been traveling around that island ever since. I have +only just received your last letter asking me about the cup, or I would +have answered before. If you will send me directions how to ship the +cup to you I shall be very glad to return it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh goodie!" cried Freddie. "We'll have our nice cup again!" +</P> + +<P> +"Is that all in the letter, papa?" asked Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not quite," he said. "I'll read a little more," and he read: +</P> + +<P> +"When our circus was wrecked we lost a valuable trick dog. He could +play soldier, say his prayers, turn somersaults, and do a number of +tricks. The ringmaster feels very badly about losing him, and has +tried to locate him, but without success. If you should hear of anyone +near you having such a dog we would be much obliged if you would send +him to us as he belongs to the circus." +</P> + +<P> +There was a moment of silence after Mr. Bobbsey read this, and then +Freddie said: +</P> + +<P> +"Why that must be Snap—our pet dog! Oh, papa you won't give him back +to the circus; will you?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SNAP AND SNOOP +</H3> + +<P> +ALL of the Bobbsey twins—Nan, Bert, Flossie and Freddie—looked so +serious over the prospect of losing Snap that Mr. Bobbsey had to laugh. +He just couldn't help it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't see anything to make fun over," said Nan, with a little +pout. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, you all act as though you had lost your best friend—or were +going to." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Snap is one of our best friends, aren't you Snap?" said Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Still, if he belongs to the circus I don't see but what I'll have to +send him back," went on Mr. Bobbsey, slowly. +</P> + +<P> +At this Flossie burst into tears, and Mrs. Bobbsey, putting her arms +about the little girl, said to her husband: +</P> + +<P> +"Are you in earnest Richard? Don't tease the child." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not, Mary. The fat lady wrote just that. I believe the dog we +have does belong to the circus." +</P> + +<P> +"Then we'll have to give him up I suppose," and Mrs. Bobbsey sighed, +for she had grown very much attached to the fine animal. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we won't have to send him back right away," said Mr. Bobbsey. +"I will have to get more particulars. But I did not finish the fat +lady's letter." +</P> + +<P> +"What! Is there more news in it?" asked Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"Listen," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he went on reading: +</P> + +<P> +"We are sorry about losing our trick dog," the fat lady wrote, "but I +picked up a big black cat when I walked out of the train. I brought +him to Cuba with me, and I am teaching him tricks. He may be as +valuable as our dog was." +</P> + +<P> +"A black cat!" cried Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"It's our Snoop!" shouted Freddie, "yes, that's it! The fat lady has +our cat as well as our cup. Oh, papa, make her give back our Snoop!" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"You see how it is," he said. "She has our cat, and we have their dog. +We'll have to give up our dog to get our cat." +</P> + +<P> +The Bobbsey twins had not thought of this before. They looked +strangely at one another. +</P> + +<P> +"Papa!" cried Freddie, jumping up and down in his excitement, "can't we +keep both—the circus dog and our cat? Oh, do please, let us." +</P> + +<P> +"But maybe Snap would fight Snoop," said Flossie. "We wouldn't want +that." +</P> + +<P> +Freddie thought for a moment. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe he would," he said at last. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Papa Bobbsey, after a bit, "I'll see what I can do. I'll +write to the fat lady, telling her how to ship your silver cup, and +also how to send Snoop. And I'll ask if we can buy Snap. How will +that do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Fine!" cried all the Bobbsey twins at once, and they made a rush for +Mr. Bobbsey, hugging and kissing him. +</P> + +<P> +The letter was sent to the fat lady, and then came a time of anxious +waiting. Never before had the children seemed to care so much for Snap. +</P> + +<P> +One day a letter came, saying that the silver cup had been sent, and +also Snoop, the cat. +</P> + +<P> +"But what about Snap, papa?" asked Nan. +</P> + +<P> +"Does she say the circus will sell him?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, the man who owns him is away for a few days. When he comes back +he will let me know. But, anyhow, you will have your cup and cat back." +</P> + +<P> +"But we want Snap, too!" said Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +Several more days passed. They lengthened into a week, and still no +news came from where the circus was: All the Bobbsey twins could hope +was that their cat and cup were on the way, and that the man who owned +Snap would consent to sell him. +</P> + +<P> +The twins did not feel much like having fun. There was a warm spell, +and all the snow had melted. +</P> + +<P> +One day an express wagon stopped in front of the Bobbsey house. +</P> + +<P> +It was a Saturday, and there was no school, and, as it happened, all +four of the twins were in. +</P> + +<P> +"Two boxes for you, Mrs. Bobbsey," said the driver, as he opened his +receipt book. "I'll bring them in while you sign." +</P> + +<P> +The man came up the walk with two boxes. One was small, and the other +larger, with slats on one end. And from this box came a peculiar noise. +</P> + +<P> +"Listen!" cried Bert. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a cat!" shouted Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"It's Snoop—our Snoop!" cried Flossie. +</P> + +<P> +Quickly the boxes were carried into the house. Bert got a hammer and +screw driver and soon had opened the one containing the black cat. +Snap, the dog, walked slowly into the room. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear!" cried Flossie as she saw him, "now maybe they'll fight!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll hold Snap," volunteered Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, Snoop! Come out!" cried Bert, as he pried off the last slat. +</P> + +<P> +"Meouw!" cried Snoop, as he came slowly out of the box in which he had +ridden from Cuba. +</P> + +<P> +Out walked the black cat. He looked about him strangely for a moment, +and then began to purr, and rubbed up against Flossie's legs. +</P> + +<P> +They all looked anxiously at Snap. The dog glanced at the cat, +stretched lazily and wagged his tail. Snoop came over to him, and the +two animals sniffed at each other, Mrs. Bobbsey holding Snap by the +collar. Then, to the surprise of all, Snoop rubbed against the legs of +the dog, and, on his part, Snap, wagging his tail in friendly, +welcoming fashion, put out his red tongue and licked Snoop's fur. +</P> + +<P> +"He's kissing Snoop! He's kissing Snoop!" cried Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, they love each other!" exclaimed Flossie. "They are not going to +fight! Oh, how glad I am!" and she danced in delight. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, if only we can keep Snap now," said Nan, while Mrs. Bobbsey, +satisfied that the two animals would be friends, had opened the other +express box. It contained the twins' silver cup, so long missing. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bobbsey came home soon after that his face was smiling. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, papa!" Flossie greeted him, "Snoop came, and Snap kissed him!" +</P> + +<P> +"May we keep Snap, papa?" asked Freddie. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," was Mr. Bobbsey's answer. "I have a letter from the circus man, +and he will sell Snap to me. I have already sent the money. And there +is another letter from the fat lady, telling about some of the new +tricks she taught Snoop, so you can make him do them." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" cried the Bobbsey twins in firelight, as they looked at +their two pets. +</P> + +<P> +"What lots of things have happened since we came back from the +seashore," said Nan, little later. "I wonder if the rest of the Winter +will be as lively as this first part has been?" +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe," said Bert with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +And whether it was or not you may learn by reading the next volume of +this series, to be called: "The Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge," in which +we will once more hear of the doings of Flossie, Freddie Nan and Bert. +</P> + +<P> +After reading the fat lady's second letter the twins got Snoop to do +some of the tricks the cat had learned. He was not as smart at them as +Snap was at his, but then cats never do learn to do tricks as well as +do dogs. +</P> + +<P> +Still everyone agreed that the fat lady had done her training well. As +for Snap, he and Snoop became firmer friends every day, and often the +cat went to sleep on Snap's back, or between his forepaws as he lay +stretched out in front of the fire. +</P> + +<P> +And the silver cup, which, with Snoop, had gone on such a long journey, +was put back in its place on the mantle, to be admired by all. +</P> + +<P> +Now my little story has come to an end, but I hope you children who +have read it will care to hear more of the Bobbsey twins and the things +they did. So I will say goodbye for a while, trusting to meet you all +again. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Bobbsey Twins at School, by Laura Lee Hope + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL *** + +***** This file should be named 737-h.htm or 737-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/7/3/737/ + +Produced by Diane and Don Nafis. HTML version by Al Haines. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Bobbsey Twins at School + +Author: Laura Lee Hope + +Posting Date: September 27, 2008 [EBook #737] +Release Date: December, 1996 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL *** + + + + +Produced by Diane and Don Nafis. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + +The Bobbsey Twins at School + + +by + +LAURA LEE HOPE + + + + +CONTENTS + +Chapter Page + + I. A CIRCUS TRAIN . . . . . . . . 1 + II. SNOOP IS GONE . . . . . . . . 16 + III. A QUEER DOG . . . . . . . . . 27 + IV. HOME IN AN AUTO . . . . . . . 36 + V. SNAP DOES TRICKS . . . . . . . 48 + VI. DANNY RUGG IS MEAN . . . . . . 57 + VII. AT SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . 66 + VIII. BERT SEES SOMETHING . . . . . 78 + IX. OFF TO THE WOODS . . . . . . . 87 + X. A SCARE . . . . . . . . . . . 99 + XI. DANNY'S TRICK . . . . . . . . 109 + XII. THE CHILDREN'S PARTY . . . . . 121 + XIII. AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE . . . . 129 + XIV. A COAT BUTTON . . . . . . . . 138 + XV. THANKSGIVING . . . . . . . . . 152 + XVI. MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS. . . 161 + XVII. THE FIRST SNOW . . . . . . . . 169 + XVIII. A NIGHT ALARM . . . . . . . . 178 + XIX. WHO WAS SMOKING? . . . . . . . 187 + XX. A CONFESSION . . . . . . . . . 195 + XXI. THE FAT LADY'S LETTER . . . . 202 + XXII. SNAP AND SNOOP . . . . . . . 209 + + + + +THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL + + + +CHAPTER I + +A CIRCUS TRAIN + +"MAMMA, how much longer have we got to ride?" asked Nan Bobbsey, +turning in her seat in the railroad car, to look at her parents, who +sat behind her. + +"Are you getting tired?" asked Nan's brother Bert. "If you are I'll +sit next to the window, and watch the telegraph poles and trees go by. +Maybe that's what tires you, Nan," he added, and his father smiled, for +he saw that Bert had two thoughts for himself, and one for his sister. + +"No, I'm not tired of the scenery," answered the brownhaired and +browneyed girl, "but you may sit next the window, Bert, if you like." + +"Thanks!" he exclaimed as he scrambled over to the place his sister +gave up. + +"Are you tired, dearie?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey, leaning forward and +smoothing out her daughter's hair with her hand. "If you would like to +sit with me and put your head in my lap, papa can go to another seat +and--" + +"Oh, no, mamma, I'm not as tired as that," and Nan laughed. "I was +just wondering how soon we'd be home." + +"I'd rather be back at the seashore," said Bert, not turning his gaze +from the window, for the train was passing along some fields just then, +and in one a boy was driving home some cows to be milked, as evening +was coming on. Bert was wondering if one of the cows might not chase +the boy. Bert didn't really want to see the boy hurt by a cow, of +course, but he thought that if the cow was going to take after the boy, +anyhow, he might just as well see it. But the cows were very +well-behaved, and went along slowly. + +"Yes, the seashore was nice," murmured Nan, as she leaned her head back +on the cushioned seat, "but I'm glad to be going home again. I want to +see some of the girls, and--" + +"Yes, and I'll be looking for some of the boys, too," put in Bert. +"But school will soon begin, and that's no fun!" + +Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey smiled at each other, and Mr. Bobbsey, taking out +a timetable, looked to see how much longer they would be on the train. + +"It's about an hour yet," he said to Nan, and she sighed. Really she +was more tired than she cared to let her mother know. + +Just ahead of the two Bobbsey children were another set of them. I say +"set" for the Bobbsey children came "in sets." + +There were two pairs of twins, Bert and Nan, nearly nine years of age, +and Flossie and Freddie, almost five. And, whereas the two older +children were rather tall and slim, with dark brown hair and eyes, the +littler twins were short and fat, and had light hair and blue eyes. +The two pairs of twins were quite a contrast, and many persons stopped +to look at them as they passed along the street together. + +"No, sir," went on Bert musingly, "school's no fun, and it starts about +a week after we get home. No chance to have a good time!" + +"We've had fun all summer," replied his sister. "I rather like school." + +"Mamma, are we going to school this year?" asked Flossie, as she looked +back with a quick turning of her head that set her yellow curls to +dancing. + +"If we are, I'm going to sit with Flossie--can't I?" asked Freddie, +kneeling in the seat so that he could face back to his father and +mother. + +Indeed his request was not strange, since the two younger twins were +always together even more so than their brother and sister. + +"Yes, I think you and Freddie will start school regularly this term," +said Mrs. Bobbsey, "and, if it can be arranged, you may sit together. +We'll see about that. Be careful, Freddie, don't put your head out of +the window," she cautioned quickly, for the little chap had turned in +his seat again, and was leaning forward to see a horse galloping about +a field, kicking up its heels at the sound of the puffing engine. + +"It's my turn to sit by the window, anyhow," said Flossie. + +"It is not! We haven't passed a station yet," disputed Freddie. + +"Oh, we have so!" cried his little sister. "Freddie Bobbsey!" and she +pointed her finger at him. + +"Children--children," said Mrs. Bobbsey, reprovingly. + +"Are you two taking turns?" asked Bert, smiling with an older brother's +superior wisdom. + +"Yes," answered Flossie, "he was to have the seat next to the window +until we came to a station, and then it's to be my turn until we pass +another station, and we have passed one, but he won't change over." + +"Well, it was only a little station, anyhow," asserted Freddie, "and it +came awful quick after the last one. It isn't fair!" + +"There's a seat up ahead for you, Bert," suggested Mr. Bobbsey, as a +gentleman got up, when the train approached a station. "You can sit +there, and let Flossie or Freddie take your place." + +"All right," answered Bert goodnaturedly, as he got up. + +The train rolled on, the two younger twins each having a window now, +and Nan occupying the seat with her little brother. For a time there +was quietness, until Mrs. Bobbsey said to her husband: + +"Hadn't you better get some of the satchels together, Richard, and tell +Dinah what she is to carry?" + +"I think I will," he answered, as he went up the car aisle a little way +to where a very fat colored woman sat. She was Dinah, the Bobbsey +cook, and they took her with them always when going away for the +summer. Now they were on their way to their city house, and of course +Dinah came back, too. + +"Mamma, I'm thirsty," said Flossie, after a bit. "Please may I get a +drink?" + +"I want one, too," said Freddie quicky. "Come on, Flossie, we'll both +go down to the end of the car where the water cooler is." + +"There's no cup," Nan said. "I went a little while ago, but a lady let +me take her glass." + +"And if there was a cup, I would rather they didn't use it," said Mrs. +Bobbsey. "One never knows who has last handled a public cup." + +"But I want a drink," insisted Flossie, a bit fretfully, for she was +tired from the long journey. + +"I know it, dear," said her mamma gently, "and I'm getting out the +silver cup for you. Only you must be very careful of it, and not drop +it, for it is solid silver and will dent, or mar, easily." She was +searching in her bag, and presently took out a very valuable drinking +cup, gold lined and with much engraving on it. The cup had been +presented to Flossie and Freddie on their first birthday, and bore each +of their names. They were very proud of it. + +"Now be careful," warned Mrs. Bobbsey, as she held out the cup. "Hold +on to the seats as you walk along." + +"I'll carry the cup," said Freddie. "I'm the biggest." + +"You are not!" declared his sister quickly. "I'm just as big." + +"Well, anyhow, I'm a boy," went on Freddie, and Flossie could not deny +this. "And boys always carries things," her brother went on. "I'll +carry the cup." + +"Very well, but be careful of it," said his mother with a smile, as she +handed it to him. The two children went down the aisle of the car. +They stopped for a moment at the seat where Dinah was. + +"Is Snoop all right?" asked Freddie, peering into a box that was made +of slats, with spaces between them for air. + +"'Deed an' he am, honey," said Dinah with a smile, laughing so that she +shook all over her big, fleshy body. + +"I 'specs he's lonesome; aren't you, Snoop?" asked Flossie, poking her +finger in one of the cracks, to caress, as well as she could, a fat, +black cat. The cat, like Dinah the cook, went with the Bobbseys on all +their summer outings. + +"Well, maybe he am lonesome," admitted Dinah, with another laugh, "but +he's been real good. He hadn't yowled once--not once!" + +"He'll soon be out of his cage; won't you, Snoop?" said Freddie, and +then he and his sister went on to the water cooler. Near it they saw +something else to look at. This was the sight of a very, very fat lady +who occupied nearly all of one seat in the end of the car. She was so +large that only a very little baby could have found room beside her. + +"Look--look at her," whispered Flossie to Freddie, as they paused. The +fat woman's back was toward them, and she seemed to be much interested +in looking out of the window. + +"She is fat," admitted Freddie. "Did you ever see one so big before?" + +"Only in a circus," said Flossie. + +"She'd make make two of Dinah," went on her brother. + +"She would not," contradicted Flossie quickly. "'Cause Dinah's black, +and this lady is white." + +"That's so," admitted Freddie, with smile. "I didn't think of that." + +A sway of the train nearly made Flossie fall, and she caught quickly at +her brother. + +"Look out!" he cried. "You 'mos knocked the cup down." + +"I didn't mean to," spoke Flossie. "Oh, there goes my hat! Get it, +Freddie, before someone steps on it!" + +Her brother managed to get the hat just as it was sliding under the +seat where the fat lady sat. + +After some confusion the hat was placed on Flossie's head, and once +more she and her brother moved on toward the water cooler. It was +getting dusk now, and some of the lamps in the car had been lighted. + +Freddie, carrying the cup, filled it with water at the little faucet, +and, very politely, offered it to his sister first. Freddie was no +better than most boys of his age, but he did not forget some of the +little polite ways his mamma was continually teaching him. One of +these was "ladies first," though Freddie did not always carry it out, +especially when he was in a hurry. + +"Do you want any more?" he asked, before he would get himself a drink. + +"Just a little," said Flossie. "The silver cup doesn't hold much." + +"No, I guess it's 'cause there's so much silver in it," replied her +brother. "It's worth a lot of money, mamma said." + +"Yes, and it's all ours. When I grow up I'm going to have my half made +into a bracelet." + +"You are?" said Freddie slowly. "If you do there won't be enough left +for me to drink out of." + +"Well, you can have your share of it made into a watch, and drink out +of a glass." + +"That's so," agreed Freddie, his face brightening. He gave his sister +more water, and then took some himself. As he drank his eyes were +constantly looking at the very fat lady who filled so much of her seat. +She turned from the window and looked at the two children, smiling +broadly. Freddie was somewhat confused, and looked down quickly. Just +then the train gave another lurch and Freddie suddenly spilled some of +the water on his coat. + +"Oh, look what you did!" cried Flossie. "And that's your best coat!" + +"I--I couldn't help it," stammered Freddie. + +"Never mind, little boy," said the fat lady. "It's only clean water. +Come here and I'll wipe it off with my handkerchief. I'd come to you, +only I'm so stout it's hard enough for me to walk anyhow, and when the +train is moving I simply can't do it." + +Freddie and Flossie went to her seat, and with a handkerchief, that +Flossie said afterward was almost as big as a table cloth, the fat lady +wiped the water off Freddie's coat. + +The little boy held the silver cup in his hand, and feeling, somehow, +that he ought to repay the fat lady's kindness in some way, after +thanking her, he asked: + +"Would you like a drink of water? I can bring it to you if you would." + +"Thank you," she answered. "What a kind little boy you are! I saw you +give your sister a drink first, too. Yes, I would like a drink. I've +been wanting one some time, but I didn't dare get up to go after it." + +"I'll get it!" cried Freddie, eager to show what a little man he was. +He made his way to the cooler without accident, and then, moving +slowly, taking hold of the seat on the way back, so as not to spill the +water, he brought the silver cup brimful to the fat lady. + +"Oh, what a beautiful cup," she said, as she took it. + +"And it cost a lot of money, too," said Flossie. "It's ours--our +birthday cup, and when I grow up I'm going to have a bracelet made from +my half." + +"That will be nice," said the fat lady, as she prepared to drink. + +But she never got more than a sip of the water Freddie had so kindly +brought her, for, no sooner did her lips touch the cup than there was a +grinding, shrieking sound, a jar to the railway coach, and the train +came to such a sudden stop that many passengers were thrown from their +seats. + +Flossie and Freddie sat down suddenly in the aisle, but they were so +fat that they did not mind it in the least. As surprised as he was, +Freddie noticed that the fat lady was so large that she could not be +thrown out of her seat, no matter how suddenly the train stopped. The +little Bobbsey boy saw the water from the cup spill all over the fat +lady, and she held the silver vessel in her big, pudgy hand, looking +curiously at it, as though wondering what had so quickly become of the +water. + +"It's a wreck--the train's off the track!" a man exclaimed. + +"We've hit something!" cried another. + +"It's an accident, anyhow," said still a third, and then every one +seemed to be talking at once. + +Mr. Bobbsey came running down the aisle to where Flossie and Freddie +still sat, dazed. + +"Are you hurt?" he cried, picking them both up together, which was +rather hard to do. + +"No--no," said Freddie slowly. + +"Oh, papa, what is it?" asked Flossie, wondering whether she was going +to cry. + +"I don't know, my dear. Nothing serious, I guess. The engineer must +have put the brakes on too quickly. I'll look out and see." + +Knowing that his children were safe, Mr. Bobbsey put them down and led +them back to where his wife was anxiously waiting. + +"They're all right," he called. "No one seems to be hurt." + +Bert Bobbsey looked out of the window. Though darkness had fallen +there seemed to be many lights up ahead of the stopped train. And in +the light Bert could see some camels, an elephant or two, a number of +horses, and cages containing lions and tigers strung out along the +track. + +"Why--why, what's this--a circus?" he asked. "Look, Nan! See those +monkeys!" + +"Why, it is a circus--and the train must have been wrecked!" exclaimed +his sister. "Oh mamma, what can it be?" + +A brakeman came into the car where the Bobbseys were. + +"There's no danger," he said. "Please keep your seats. A circus train +that was running ahead of us got off the track, and some of the animals +are loose. Our train nearly ran into an elephant, and that's why the +engineer had to stop so suddenly. We will go on I soon." + +"A circus, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, well! This is an adventure, +children. We've run into a circus train! Let's watch them catch the +animals." + + + +CHAPTER II + +SNOOP IS GONE + +"PAPA, do you think a tiger would come in here?" asked Freddie, +remembering all the stories of wild animals he had heard in his four +years. + +"Or a lion?" asked Flossie. + +"Of course not!" exclaimed Nan. "Can't you see that all the wild +animals are still in their cages?" + +"Maybe some of 'em are loose," suggested Freddie, and he almost hoped +so, as long as his father was there to protect him. + +"I guess the circus men can look after them," said Bert. "May I get +off, father, and look around?" + +"I'd rather you wouldn't, son. You can't tell what may happen." + +"Oh, look at that man after the monkey!" cried Nan. + +"Yes, and the monkey's gone up on top of the tiger's cage," added Bert. + +"Say, this is as good as a circus, anyhow!" + +Some of the big, flaring lights, used in the tents at night, had been +set going so the circus and railroad men could see to work, and this +glare gave the Bobbseys and other passengers on the train a chance to +see what was going on. + +"There's a big elephant!" cried Freddie. "See him push the lion's cage +around. Elephants are awful strong!" + +"They couldn't push a railroad train," said Flossie. + +"They could too!" cried her little brother, quickly. + +"They could not. Could they, papa?" + +"What?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, absentmindedly. + +"Could an elephant push a railroad train?" asked Flossie. + +"I know they could," declared Freddie. "Couldn't they, papa?" + +"Now, children, don't argue. Look out of the windows," advised their +mother. + +And while the circus men are trying to catch the escaped animals I will +tell you something more about the Bobbseys, and about the other books, +before this one, relating to their doings. + +Mr. Richard Bobbsey, and his wife Mary, the parents of the Bobbsey +twins, lived in an Eastern city called Lakeport, on Lake Metoka. Mr. +Bobbsey was in the lumber business, and the yard, with its great piles +of logs and boards, was near the lake, on which the twins often went in +boats. There was also a river running into the lake, not far from the +saw mill. + +Their house was about a quarter of a mile away from the lumber yard, on +a fashionable street, and about it was a large lawn, while in the back +Sam Johnson, the colored man of all work, and the husband of Dinah, had +a fine garden. The Bobbseys had many vegetables from this garden. + +There was also a barn near the house, and in this the children had many +good times. Flossie and Freddie played there more than did Nan and +Bert, who were growing too old for games of that sort. + +As I have said, Bert and Nan were rather tall and thin, while Flossie +and Freddie were short and fat. Mr. Bobbsey used often to call Flossie +his "Fat Fairy," which always made her laugh. And Freddie had a pet +name, too. It was "Fat Fireman," for he often played that he was a +fireman; putting out makebelieve fires, and pretending he was a fire +engine. Once or twice his father had taken him to see a real one, and +this pleased Freddie very much. + +In the first book of this series, called "The Bobbsey Twins," I told +you something of the fun the four children had in their home town. +They had troubles, too, and Danny Rugg, one of the few bad boys in +Lakeport, was the cause of some. Also about a certain broken window; +what happened when the twins went coasting, how they had a good time in +an ice boat, and how they did many other things. + +Snoop, the fat, black kitten, played a part in the story also. The +Bobbsey twins were very fond of Snoop, and had kept him so many years +that I suppose he ought to be called cat, instead of a kitten, now. + +After the first winter's fun, told of in the book that began an account +of the doings of the Bobbseys, the twins and their parents went to the +home of Uncle Daniel Bobbsey, and his wife, Aunt Sarah, in Meadow Brook. + +In the book called "The Bobbsey Twins in the Country," I wrote down +many of the things that happened during the summer. + +If they had fun going off to the country, taking Snoop with them, of +course, they had many more good times on arriving at the farm. There +was a picnic, jolly times in the woods, a Fourth of July celebration, +and though a midnight scare alarmed them for a time, still they did not +mind that. + +But, though the twins liked the country very much, they soon had a +chance to see something of the ocean, and in the third book of the +series, called "The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore," my readers will +find out what happened there. + +There was fun on the sand, and more fun in the water, and once the +little ones got lost on an island. A great storm came up, and a ship +was wrecked, and this gave the twins a chance to see the life savers, +those brave men who risk their lives to help others. + +Then came closing days at Ocean Cliff, the home of Uncle William and +Aunt Emily Minturn at Sunset Beach. School was soon to open, and Mr. +and Mrs. Bobbsey were anxious to get back to their town home, for +Flossie and Freddie were to start regular lessons now, even though it +was but in the kindergarten class. + +So goodbyes were said to the ocean, and though Dorothy Minturn cried a +little when her cousins Nan and Flossie, and Bert and Freddie, had to +leave, still she said she hoped they would come again. And so the +Bobbseys were on their way home in the train when the circus accident +happened that brought them to a stop. + +"And so we nearly ran into an elephant, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey to the +brakeman, who had brought in the news. + +"Yes, sir. Our engineer stopped just in time." + +"If we had hit him we'd gone off the track," said Freddy. + +"No, we wouldn't," declared Flossie, who seemed bound to start a +dispute. Perhaps she was so tired that she was fretful. + +"Say, can't you two stop disputing all the while?" asked Bert, in a low +voice. "You make papa and mamma nervous." + +"Well, an elephant is big, anyhow," said Freddie. + +"So he is, little Fat Fireman," said Nan, "Come and sit with me, and we +can see the men catch the monkeys." + +The work of getting the escaped animals back into their cages was going +on rapidly. Some of the passengers went out to watch, but the Bobbseys +stayed in their seats, Mr. Bobbsey thinking this best. The catching of +the monkeys was the hardest work, but soon even this was accomplished. + +The wait seemed very tiresome when there was nothing more to watch, and +Mr. Bobbsey looked about for some railroad man of whom he could inquire +how much longer delay there would be. The conductor came through the +car. + +"When will we start?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. + +"Not for some time, I'm afraid," spoke the tickettaker. "The wreck is +a worse one than I thought at first, and some of the cars of the circus +train are across the track so we can't get by. We may be here two +hours yet." + +"That's too bad. Where are we?" + +"Just outside of Whitewood." + +"Oh, that's near home!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why can't we get out, +Richard, walk across the fields to the trolley line, and take that +home? It won't be far, and we'll be there ever so much quicker." + +"Well, we could do that, I suppose," said her husband, slowly. + +"That's what a number of passengers did," said the conductor. "There's +no danger in going out now--all the animals are back in their cages." + +"Then that's what we'll do, children," said their father. "Gather up +your things, and we'll take the trolley home. The moon is coming up, +and it will soon be light." + +"I'm hungry," said Freddie, fretfully. + +"So am I," added his twin sister. + +"Well, I have some crackers and cookies in my bag," replied Mrs. +Bobbsey. "You can eat those on the way. Nan, go tell Dinah that we're +going to take a trolley. We can each carry something." + +"I'll carry Snoop," exclaimed Freddie. He hurried down the aisle to +where the cook was now standing, intending to get the box containing +his pet cat. + +"Where's Snoop, Dinah?" he asked. + +"Heah he am!" she said, lifting up the slatbox. "He ain't made a sound +in all dis confusion, nuther." + +The next moment Freddie gave a cry of dismay: + +"Snoop's gone!" he wailed. "He broke open the box and he's gone! Oh, +where is Snoop?" + +"Ma sakes alive!" cried Dinah. The box was empty! + +A hurried search of the car did not bring forth the black pet. Mr. and +Mrs. Bobbsey, and some of the passengers, joined in the hunt. But +there was no Snoop, and a slat that had pulled loose from one side of +the box showed how he had gotten out. + +"Most likely Snoop got frightened when the train stopped so suddenly, +and broke loose," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We may find him outside." + +"I--I hope an elephant didn't step on him," said Flossie, with a catch +in her breath. + +"Ohooo! Maybe a tiger or a lion has him!" wailed Freddie. "Oh, Snoop!" + +"Be quiet, dear, we'll find him for you," said Mrs. Bobbsey, as she +opened her satchel to get out some cookies. Then she remembered +something. + +"Freddie, where is that silver cup?" she asked. "You had it to get a +drink. Did you give it back to me?" + +"No, mamma, I--I" + +"He gave the fat lady a drink from it," spoke Flossie, "and she didn't +give it back." + +"The train stopped just as she was drinking," went on Freddie. "I sat +down on the floor--hard, and I saw the water spill on her. The fat +lady has our silver cup! Oh, dear!" + +"And she's gone--and Snoop is gone!" cried Flossie. "Oh! oh!" + +"Is that so--did you let her take your cup, Freddie?" asked his papa. + +Freddie only nodded. He could not speak. + +"That fat lady was with the circus," said one of the men passengers. +"Maybe you can see her outside." + +"I'll look," said Mr. Bobbsey, quickly. "That cup is too valuable to +lose. Come, children, we'll see if we can't find Snoop also, and then +we'll take a trolley car for home." + + + +CHAPTER III + +A QUEER DOG + +PAPA BOBBSEY first looked for some of the circus men of whom he might +inquire about the fat lady. There was much confusion, for a circus +wreck is about as bad a kind as can happen, and for some time Mr. +Bobbsey could find no one who could tell him what he wanted to know. + +Meanwhile Mrs. Bobbsey kept the four children and Dinah with her, +surrounding their little pile of baggage off to one side of The tracks. + +Some of the big torches were still burning, and the full moon was +coming up, so that there was plenty of light, even if it was night. + +"Oh, but if we could only find Snoop!" cried Freddie. "Here, Snoop! +Snoop!" he called. + +"I had much rather find the fat lady, and get back your lovely silver +cup," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "I hope she hasn't taken it away with her." + +"She had it in her hand when the train, stopped with such a jerk," +explained Flossie. "Oh, but mamma, don't you want us to find +Snoop--dear Snoop?" + +"Of course I do. But I want that silver cup very much, too. I hope +your father finds it." + +"But there never could be another Snoop," cried Flossie. "Could there, +Freddie? And we could get another silver cup." + +"Don't be silly," advised Bert, rather shortly. + +"Oh, don't talk that way to them," said Nan. "They do love that cat +so. Never mind, Flossie and Freddie. I'm sure we'll find him soon. +Here comes papa." + +Mr. Bobbsey came back, looking somewhat worried. + +"Did you find her?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey anxiously. + +"No," he replied, with a shake of his head. "She was the circus fat +lady all right. It seems she missed the showtrain, and came on in +ours. And, when we stopped she got out, and went up ahead. Part of the +circus train, carrying the performers, was not damaged and that has +gone on. The fat lady is with that, so one of the men said." + +"And, very likely, she has carried off our silver cup," exclaimed Mrs. +Bobbsey. "Oh dear! Can you find her later, Richard?" + +"I think so. But it will take some time. The circus is going to +Danville--that's a hundred miles from here. But I will write to the +managers there, and ask them to get our cup from the fat lady." + +"But where is Snoop?" asked Freddie, with much anxiety. + +"I don't know, my dear," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "I asked the circus men +if they had seen him, but they were too busy to remember. He may be +running around some where. But we can't wait any longer. We must get +home. I'll speak to one of the switchmen, who stay around here, and if +they see Snoop I'll have them keep him for us. We'll come back +tomorrow and inquire." + +"But we want Snoop now!" exclaimed Freddie, fretfully. + +"I'm afraid we can't get him," said Mrs. Bobbsey, gently. "Come, +children, let's go home now, and leave it to papa. Oh, to think of +your lovely silver cup being gone!" + +"Snoop is worse," said Flossie, almost crying. + +"I--I'm sorry I let the fat lady take the cup," spoke Freddie. + +"Oh, you meant all right, my dear," said his mamma, "and it was very +kind of you. But we really ought to start. We may miss a trolley. +Come, Dinah, can you carry all you have?" + +"'Deed an' I can, Mrs. Bobbsey. But I suah am sorry 'bout dat ar' +Snoop." + +"Oh, it wasn't your fault, Dinah," said Nan quickly. "He is getting to +be such a big cat that he can easily push the slats off his box, now. +We must make it stronger next time." + +Flossie and Freddie wondered if there would be a "next time," for they +feared Snoop was gone forever. They did not worry so much about the +silver cup, valuable as it was. + +With everyone in the little party carrying something, the Bobbsey +family set off across, the fields toward the distant trolley line that +would take them nearly home. The moon was well up now, and there was a +good path across the fields. Nan and Bert were talking about the +wreck, and recalling some of the funny incidents of catching the circus +animals. + +Flossie and Freddie were wondering whether they would ever see their +pet cat again. They had had him so long that he seemed like one of the +family. + +"Maybe he ran off and joined the circus," said Flossie. + +"Maybe," spoke her brother. "But he can't do any tricks, so they won't +want him in a show." + +"He can so do tricks! He can chase his tail and almost grab it." + +"That isn't a trick." + +"It is so--as much as standing on your head." + +"Children--children--I don't know what I'll do with you if you don't +stop that constant bickering," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "You must not +dispute so." + +"Well, mamma, but isn't chasing your tail a trick?" asked Flossie. +"Freddie says it isn't." + +"Well, it isn't a circus trick, anyhow," declared her brother. "I +meant a circus trick." + +"Well, Snoop is a good cat, anyhow," went on Flossie, "and I wish we +had him back." + +"Oh, so do I!" exclaimed Freddie, and thus that little dispute ended. + +They were walking along through a little patch of woods now, when Bert, +who was the last one in line, suddenly called out: + +"Something is coming after us!" + +"Coming after us? What do you mean?" asked Nan quickly, as she hurried +to her father's side. + +"I mean I've been listening for two or three minutes now, to some +animal following after us along the path. Some big animal, too." + +Flossie and Freddie both ran back and took hold of their mother's hands. + +"Don't scare the children, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey, a bit sternly. +"Did you really hear something?" + +"Yes, father. It's some animal walking behind us. Listen and you can +hear it your self." + +They all listened. It was very quiet. Then from down the hard dirt +path they all heard the "pitpat, pitpat" of the footsteps of some +animal. It was coming on slowly. + +For a moment Mr. Bobbsey thought of the wild animals of the circus. In +spite of what the men had said perhaps one of the beasts might have +escaped from its cage. The others in the little party evidently +thought the same thing. Mrs. Bobbsey drew her children more closely +about her. + +"'Deed an' if it's one ob dem elephants," said Dinah, "an' if he comes +fo' me I'll jab mah hat pin in his long nose--dat's what I will!" + +"It can't be an elephant," said Mr. Bobbsey. "One of the big beasts +would make more noise than that. It may be one of the monkeys--I don't +see how they could catch them all--they were so lively and full of +mischief." + +"Oh, if it's a monkey, may we keep it?" begged Flossie. "I just love a +monkey." + +"Mercy, child! What would we do with it around the house?" cried Mrs. +Bobbsey. "Richard, can you see what it is?" + +Mr. Bobbsey peered down the road. + +"I can see something," he said. "It's coming nearer." + +"Oh dear!" cried Nan, trembling with fear. + +Just then a bark sounded--a friendly bark. + +"It's a dog!" said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, I'm so glad it wasn't an +elephant," and she hugged Freddie and Flossie. + +"Pooh! I wasn't afraid!" cried Freddie. "If it had been an elephant +I--I'd give him a cookie, and maybe he'd let me ride home on his back." + +The animal barked louder now, and a moment later he came into sight on +a moonlit part of the path. The children could see that it was a big, +shaggy white dog, who wagged his tail in greeting as he walked up to +them. + +"Oh, what a lovely dog!" cried Nan. "I wonder where he belongs?" + +The fine animal came on. Bert snapped his fingers, boy-fashion. + +Instantly the dog stood up on his hind legs and began marching about in +a circle on the path. + +"Oh, what a queer dog!" cried Flossie. "Oh I wish he was ours!" + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HOME IN AN AUTO + +DOWN on his four legs dropped the big white dog, and with another wag +of his fluffy tail he came straight for Flossie. + +"Be careful!" warned Mamma Bobbsey. + +"He won't hurt her!" declared Bert. "That's a good dog, anyone can +tell that. Here, doggie; come here!" he called. + +But the dog still advanced toward Flossie, who shrank back a bit +timidly. + +"You never can tell what dogs will do," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "It is best +to be careful." + +"I guess he knew what Flossie said to him," spoke up Freddie. "He +knows we like dogs." + +The dog barked a little, and, coming up to where Flossie was, again +stood on his hind legs. + +"That's a queer trick," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I guess this dog has been +trained. He probably belongs around here." + +"I wish he belonged to us," sighed Nan. Like Flossie and Freddie she, +too, loved animals. + +"Maybe we can keep him if we don't find Snoop?" suggested Freddie. +"Oh, papa, will you get Snoop back?" and Freddie's voice sounded as +though he was going to cry. + +"Yes, yes, of course I will," said Mr. Bobbsey quickly. He did not +want the children to fret now, with still quite a distance yet to go +home, and that in a trolley car. There were bundles to carry, weary +children to look after, and Mrs. Bobbsey was rather tired also. No +wonder Papa Bobbsey thought he had many things to do that night. + +"Come along, children," called Mrs. Bobbsey, "it is getting late, and +we are only about half way to the trolley. Oh dear! If that circus +had to be wrecked I wish it could have waited until our train passed." + +"Are you very tired?" asked her husband. "I can take that valise." + +"Indeed you'll not. You have enough." + +"Lemme have it, Massa Bobbsey," pleaded Dinah. "I ain't carryin' half +enough. I's pow'ful strong, I is." + +"Nonsense, Dinah!" said Mr. Bobbsey. "I can manage, and your arms are +full." + +"I--I wish she had Snoop," said Freddie, but he was so interested in +watching the queer dog that he half forgot his sorrow over the lost cat. + +The dog seemed to have made great friends with Flossie. She was +patting him on the head now, for the animal, after marching about on +his hind legs, was down on all fours again. + +"Oh, mamma, he's awful nice!" exclaimed Flossie. "He's just as gentle, +and he's soft, like the little toy lamb I used to have." + +"Indeed he does seem to be a gentle dog," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "But come +along now. Don't pet him any more, or he may follow us. Flossie, and +whoever owns him would not like it. Come on." + +"Forward--march!" called Freddie, strutting along the moonlit path as +much like a soldier as he could imitate, tired as he was. + +The Bobbseys and their faithful Dinah started off again toward the +distant trolley that would take them to their home. The dog sat down +and looked after them. + +"I--I wish he was ours," said Flossie wistfully, waving her hand to the +dog. + +The Bobbseys had not gone on very far before Nan, looking back, called +out: + +"Oh, papa, that dog is following us!" + +"He is?" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "That's queer. He must have taken a +sudden liking to us. But I guess he'll go back where he belongs pretty +soon. Are you getting tired, little Fat Fireman? And you, my Fat +Fairy?" + +"Oh, no, papa," laughed Flossie. "I sat down so much in the train that +I'm glad to stand up now." + +"So am I," said Freddie, who made up his mind that he would not say he +was tired if his little sister did not. And yet, truth to tell, the +little Fat Fireman was very weary. + +On and on went the Bobbsey family, and soon Bert happened to look back, +and gave a whistle of surprise. + +"That dog isn't going home, papa," he said. "He's still after us, and +look! now he's running." + +They all glanced back on hearing this. Surely enough the big white dog +was running after them, wagging his tail joyfully, and barking from +time to time. + +"This will never do!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "Whoever owns him may +think we are trying to take him away. I'll drive him back. Go home! +Go back, sir!" exclaimed Papa Bobbsey in stern tones. + +The dog stopped wagging his tail. Then he sat down on the path, and +calmly waited. Mr. Bobbsey walked toward him. + +"Oh, don't--don't whip him, papa!" exclaimed Flossie. + +"I don't intend to," said Mr. Bobbsey. "But I must be stern with him +or he will think I'm only playing. Go back!" he cried. + +The dog stretched out on the path, his head down between his fore paws. + +"He--he looks--sad," said Freddie. "Maybe he hasn't any home, papa." + +"Oh, of course a valuable dog like that has a home," declared Bert. + +"But maybe they didn't treat him kindly, and he is looking for a new +one," suggested Nan, hopefully. + +"He doesn't seem illtreated," spoke Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, I do wish he'd +go back, so we could go on." + +Mr. Bobbsey pretended to pick up a stone and throw it at the dog, as +masters sometimes do when they do not want their dogs to follow them. +This dog only wagged his tail, as though he thought it the best joke he +had ever known. + +"Go back! Go back, I say!" cried Papa Bobbsey in a loud voice. The +dog did not move. + +"I guess he won't follow us any more," went on Mr. Bobbsey. "Hurry +along now, children. We are almost at the trolley." He turned away +from the dog, who seemed to be asleep now, and the family went on. For +a minute or two, as Nan could tell by looking back, the dog did not +follow, but just as the Bobbseys were about to make a turn in the path, +up jumped the animal and came trotting on after the children and their +parents, wagging his tail so fast that it seemed as if it would come +loose. + +"Is he coming?" asked Flossie. + +"He certainly is," answered Bert, who was in the rear. "I guess he +wants us to take him home with us." + +"Oh, let's do it!" begged Flossie. + +"Please, papa," pleaded Freddie. "We haven't got Snoop now, so let us +have a dog. And I'm sure we could teach him to do tricks--he's so +smart." + +"And so he's coming after us still!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, +well, I don't know what to do," and he came to a stop on the path. + +"Couldn't we take him home just for tonight?" asked Nan, "and then in +the morning we could find out who owns him and return him." + +"Oh, please do," begged Freddie and Flossie, impulsively. + +"But how can we take him on a trolley car?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "The +conductor would not let us." + +"Maybe he would--if he was a kind man," suggested Freddie. "We could +tell him how it was, and how we lost our cat." + +"And our silver cup," added Flossie. + +"Well, certainly the dog doesn't seem to want to go home," said Mr. +Bobbsey, after he had tried two or three times more to drive the animal +back. But it would not go. + +"Go on a little farther," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey. "By the time we get +to the trolley he may get tired, and go back. And if we want to lose +him I think we can, by getting on the car quickly." + +"But we don't want to lose him!" cried Freddie. + +"No, no!" said Flossie. "We want to keep him. He can run along behind +the trolley car. I'll ask the motorman to go slow, papa." + +"My! This has been a mixedup day!" sighed Mr. Bobbsey. "I really +don't know what to do." + +The dog seemed to think that he was one of the family, now. He came up +to Flossie and Freddie and let them pat him. His tail kept wagging all +the while. + +"Well, we'll see what happens where we get to the trolley," decided Mr. +Bobbsey, thinking that there would be the best and only place to get +rid of the dog. "Come along, children." + +Freddie and Flossie came on, the dog between them, and this seemed to +suit the fine animal. He had found friends, now, he evidently thought. +Mr. Bobbsey wondered why so valuable a dog would leave its home. And +he was very much puzzled as to what he should do if the children +insisted on keeping the animal, and if it came aboard the trolley car. + +"There's the car!" exclaimed Bert, as they went around another turn in +the path and came to a road. Down it could be seen the headlight of an +approaching trolley, and also the twin lamps of an oncoming automobile. + +"Look out for the auto, children!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey. + +They stood at the side of the road, and as the auto came up the man in +it slowed down his machine. It was a big car and he was alone in it. + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the autoist, as his engine stopped. "If +it isn't the Bobbsey family--twins and all! What are you doing here, +Mr. Bobbsey?" + +"Why, it's Mr. Blake!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey, seeing that the autoist +was a neighbor, and a business friend of his. "Oh, our train was held +back by a circus wreck, so we walked across the lots to the car. We're +homeward bound from the seashore." + +"Well, well! A circus wreck, eh? Where did you get the dog?" + +"Oh, he followed us," said Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"And we're going to keep him, too!" exclaimed Flossie. + +"And take him in the trolley with us," added her little brother. + +"Well, well!" exclaimed Mr. Blake. "Say, now, I have a better plan +than that," he went on. "Why should you folks go home in a trolley, +when I have this big empty auto here? Pile in, all of you, and I'll +get you there in a jiffy. Come, Dinah, I see you, too." + +"Yes, sah, Massa Blake, I'se heah! Can't lose ole Dinah!" + +"But we lost our cat, Snoop!" said Flossie regretfully. + +"And we nearly ran over an elephant," added Freddie, bound that his +sister should not tell all the news. + +"Well, get in the auto," invited Mr. Blake. + +"Do you really mean it?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "Perhaps we are keeping +you from going somewhere." + +"Indeed not. Pile in, and you'll soon be home." + +"Can we bring the dog, too?" asked Flossie. + +"Yes, there's plenty of room for the dog," laughed Mr. Blake. "Lift +him in." + +But the strange dog did not need lifting. He sprang into the tonneau +of the auto as soon as the door was opened. Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey +lifted in Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert followed. Then in got +Papa and Mamma Bobbsey and Mr. Blake started off. + +"This is lovely," said Mrs. Bobbsey with a sigh of relief. She was +more tired than she had thought. + +"It certainly is kind of you, Mr. Blake," said Papa Bobbsey. + +"I'm only too glad I happened to meet you. Are you children +comfortable?" + +"Yep!" chorused Freddie and Flossie. + +"And the dog?" + +"We're holding him so he won't fall out," explained Flossie. She and +her little brother had the dog between them. + +On went the auto, and with the telling of the adventures of the day the +journey seemed very short. Soon the Bobbsey home was reached. There +were lights in it, for Sam, the colored man, had been telephoned to, to +have the place opened for the family. Sam came out on the stoop to +greet them and his wife Dinah. + +"Here we are!" cried Papa Bobbsey. "Come, Flossie Freddie we're home." + +Flossie and Freddie did not answer. They were fast asleep, their heads +on the shaggy back of the big dog. + + + +CHAPTER V + +SNAP DOES TRICKS + +"WE'LL have to carry them in," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked in the +rear of the auto, and saw his two little twins fast asleep on the dog's +back. + +"I'll take 'em," said Sam kindly. "Many a time I'se carried 'em in +offen de porch when dey falled asleep. I'll carry 'em in." + +And he did, first taking Flossie, and then Freddie. Then he and Dinah +brought in the bundles and valises, while Nan and Bert and Mr. and Mrs. +Bobbsey followed, having bidden goodnight to Mr. Blake, and thanking +him for the ride. + +"Where--where are we?" asked Flossie, rubbing her eyes and looking +around the room which she had not seen in some months. + +"An'--an' where's our dog?" demanded Freddie. + +"Oh, bless your hearts--that dog!" cried Mamma Bobbsey. "Sam took him +out in the barn. You may see him in the morning, if he doesn't run +away in the night." + +The twins looked worried over this suggestion, until Sam said: + +"Oh, I locked him up good an' proper in a box stall; 'deed an' I did, +Mrs. Bobbsey. He won't get away tonight." + +"That's--good," murmured Freddie, and then he fell asleep again. + +Soon the little twins were undressed and put to bed; Nan and Bert soon +followed, but Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey stayed up a little later to talk +over certain matters. + +"It's good to be home again," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked about the +rooms of the town house. + +"Yes, but we had a delightful summer," spoke his wife, "and the +children are so well. The country was delightful, and so was the +seashore. But I think I, too, am glad to be back. It will be quite a +task, though, to get the children ready for school. Flossie and +Freddie will go regularly now, I suppose, and with Nan and Bert in a +higher class, it means plenty of work." + +"I suppose so," said her husband. + +"But Dinah is a great help," went on Mrs. Bobbsey, for she did not mean +to complain. Flossie and Freddie had tried a few days in the +kindergarten class at school, but Flossie said she did not like it, +and, as Freddie would not go without her, their parents had taken them +both out in the Spring. + +"There will be plenty of time to start them in the Fall," said Mrs. +Bobbsey, and so it had been arranged. And now the four twins were all +to attend the same school, which would open in about a week. + +Flossie and Freddie were both up early the next morning, and, scarcely +halfdressed, they hurried out to the barn. + +"Whar yo' chillers gwine?" demanded Dinah, as she prepared to get +breakfast. + +"Out to see our dog," answered Freddie. "Is Sam around?" + +"Yes, he's out dere somewheres, washin' de carriage. But don't yo' let +dat dog bite yo'." + +"We won't," said Freddie. + +"He wouldn't bite anyhow," declared Flossie. + +Sam opened the box stall for them, and out bounced the big white dog, +barking in delight, and almost knocking down the twins, so glad was he +to see them. + +"What shall we call him?" asked Freddie. "Maybe we'd better name him +Snoop, like our cat. I guess Snoop is gone forever." + +"No, we mustn't call him Snoop," said Flossie, "for some day our cat +might come back, and he'd want his own name again. We'll call our dog +Snap, 'cause see how bright his eyes snap. Then if our cat comes back +we'll have Snoop and Snap." + +"That's a good name," decided Freddie, after thinking it over. "Snoop +and Snap. I wonder how we can make this dog stand on his hind legs +like he did before?" + +"Bert snapped his fingers and he did it," suggested Flossie. "But +maybe he'll do it now if you just ask him to." + +Freddie tried to snap his fingers, but they were too short and fat. +Then he patted the dog an the head and said: + +"Stand up!" + +At once the dog, with a bark, did so. He sat up on his hind legs and +then walked around. Both the children laughed. + +"I wonder if he can do any other tricks?" asked Flossie. + +"I'm going to try," said her brother. "What trick do you want him to +do?" + +"Make him lie down and roll over." + +"All right," spoke Freddie. "Now, Snap, lie down and roll over!" he +called. At once the fine animal did so, and then sprang up with a +bark, and a wag of his tail, as much as to ask: + +"What shall I do next?" + +"Oh, isn't he a fine dog!" cried Flossie. "I wonder who taught him +those tricks?" + +"Let's see if he can do any more," said Freddie. "There's a barrel +hoop over there. Maybe he'll jump through it if we hold it up." + +"Oh, let's do it!" cried Flossie, as she ran to get the hoop. Snap +barked at the sight of it, and capered about as though he knew just +what it was for, and was pleased at the chance to do more of his +tricks. The hoop was a large one, and Freddie alone could not hold it +very steady. So Flossie took hold of one side. As soon as they were in +position, Freddie called: + +"Come on now, Snap. Jump!" + +Snap barked, ran back a little way, turned around and came racing +straight for the twins. At that moment Sam Johnson came up running, a +stick in his hand. + +"Heah! heah!" shouted the colored man, "You let dem chillers alone, +dog! Go 'way, I tells yo'!" + +"That's all right, Sam," said Freddie. "Don't scare him. He's our new +dog Snap, and he's going to do a trick," for the colored gardener had +supposed the dog was running at Flossie and Freddie to bite them. + +Snap paid no attention to Sam, but raced on. When a short distance +from where Flossie and Freddie held the hoop, Snap jumped up into the +air, and shot straight through the wooden circle, landing quite a way +off. + +"Mah gracious sakes alive!" gasped Sam. "Dat's a reg'lar circus +trick--at's what it am!" + +He scratched his head in surprise, and the stick he had picked up, +intending to drive away the dog with, stuck straight out. In a moment +Snap raced up, and jumped over the stick. + +"Oh, look!" cried Flossie. + +"Another trick!" exclaimed Freddie. + +"Mah gracious goodness!" cried Sam. "Dat suah am wonderful!" + +Snap ran about barking in delight. He seemed happy to be doing tricks. + +"Let's go tell papa," said Freddie. "He'll want to know about this." + +"Oh, I do hope he lets us keep him," said Flossie. + +Mr. Bobbsey had not yet gone to his lumber office. He listened to what +the little twins had to tell them about Snap, who lay on the lawn, +seeming to listen to his own praises. + +"A trick dog; eh?" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder who owns him?" + +"Maybe he escaped from the circus," suggested Bert, who came out just +then to see how his pigeons were getting along. + +"That's it!" cried Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder I did not think of it before. +The dog must have escaped from the wrecked circus train, and he +followed us, not knowing what else to do. That accounts for his +tricks." + +"But we can keep him; can't we?" begged Flossie. + +"Hum! I'll have to see about that," said Mr. Bobbsey slowly. "I +suppose the circus people will want him back, for he must be valuable. +Perhaps some clown trained him." + +"But if we can't have Snoop, our cat, we ought to have a dog," asserted +Freddie. + +"I'll try to get Snoop back," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I'll have one of my +men go down to the place where the wreck was, today, and inquire of the +railroad men. He may be wandering about there." + +"Poor Snoop!" said Nan, coming out to feed some of her pet chickens, +that Sam had looked after all summer. + +"And while you are about it," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey, who was on the +front porch, "I wish, Richard, that you would see if you can locate +that fat lady, and get back the children's silver cup." + +"I will," replied Mr. Bobbsey. "I will have to write to them anyhow, +about the dog, and at the same time I'll ask about the cup. Though I +don't believe the fat lady meant to keep it." + +"Oh, no," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Probably she just held it, in the +excitement over the wreck, and she may have left it in the car. But +please write about it." + +"I will," promised Mr. Bobbsey, as he started for the office, while the +twins gathered about the new dog, who seemed ready to do more tricks. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +DANNY RUGG IS MEAN + +THAT afternoon a small fire broke out in Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard. +The alarm bell rang, and Mrs. Bobbsey, hearing it, and knowing by the +number that the blaze must be near her husband's place of business, +came hurrying down stairs. + +"Oh, I must go and see how dangerous it is," she said to Dinah. "It is +too bad to have it happen just after Mr. Bobbsey comes back from his +summer vacation." + +"'Deed it am!" cried the fat, colored cook. "But maybe it am only a +little fire, Mrs. Bobbsey." + +"I'm sure I hope so," was the answer. + +As Mrs. Bobbsey was hurrying down the front walk Flossie and Freddie +saw her. + +"Where are you going, mamma?" they called. + +"Down to papa's office," she answered. "There's a fire near his place, +and--" + +"Oh, a fire! Then I'm going!" cried Freddie. "Fire! Fire! Ding, dong! +Turn on the water!" and he raced about quite excitedly. + +"Oh, I don't know," said Mrs. Bobbsey, in doubt. "Where are Nan and +Bert?" she asked. + +"They went down to the lake," said Flossie. "Oh, mamma, do take us to +the fire with you. We'll bring Snap along." + +"Sure," said Freddie. "Hi, Snap!" he called. + +The trick dog came rushing from the stable, barking and wagging his +tail. + +"Well, I suppose I might as well take you," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "But +you must stay near me. We'll leave Snap home, though." + +"Oh, no!" cried Freddie. + +"He might get lost," said Mrs. Bobbsey. + +That was enough for Freddie. He did not want the new pet to get lost, +so he did not make a fuss when Sam came hurrying up to lock Snap in the +stable. Poor Snap howled, for he wanted very much to go with the +children. + +The fire was, as I have said, a small one, in part of the planing mill. +But the engines puffed away, and spurted water, and this pleased +Freddie. Flossie stayed close to her mother, and Mrs. Bobbsey, once +she found out that the main lumber yard was not in danger, was ready to +come back home. But Freddie wanted to stay until the fire was wholly +out. + +Mr. Bobbsey came from his office to give some directions to the +firemen, and saw his wife and the two twins. Then he took charge of +them, and led them as close to the blaze as was safe. + +"It will soon be out," he said. "It was only some sawdust that got on +fire." + +"I wish I could squirt some water!" sighed Freddie. + +"What's that? Do you want to be a fireman?" asked one of the men in a +rubber coat and a big helmet. He smiled at Mr. Bobbsey, whom he knew +quite well. + +"Yes, I do," said Freddie. + +"Then come with me, and I'll let you help hold the hose," said the +fireman. "I'll look after him," he went on, to Mrs. Bobbsey, and she +nodded to show that Freddie could go. + +What a good time the little fellow had, standing beside a real fireman, +and helping throw real water on a real fire! Freddie never forgot +that. Of course the fire was almost out, and it was only one of the +small hose lines that the fireman let the little fellow help hold, but, +for all that, Freddie was very happy. + +"Did you write to the circus people today about our silver cup, and +that trick dog?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband, that night. + +"I declare, I didn't!" he exclaimed. "The fire upset me so that it +slipped my mind. I'll do it the first thing tomorrow. There is no +special hurry. How is the dog, by the way?" + +"Oh, he's just lovely!" cried Flossie. + +"And I do hope we can keep him forever!" exclaimed Freddie. +"'Specially since Snoop is gone." + +"Did you hear anything about our cat?" asked Nan, of her father. + +"No. I sent a man to the railroad company, but no stray cat had been +found. I am afraid Snoop is lost, children." + +"Oh dear!" cried Flossie. + +The next day, having learned from the railroad company where the circus +had gone after the wreck, Mr. Bobbsey sent a letter to the manager, +explaining about the lost silver cup, and the found circus dog. He +asked that the fat lady be requested to write to him, to let him know +if she had taken the cup by accident, and Mr. Bobbsey also wanted to +know if the circus had lost a trick dog. + +"There!" he exclaimed as he sent the letter to be mailed, "now we'll +just have to wait for an answer." + +Nan and Bert, and Flossie and Freddie were soon having almost as much +fun as they had had at the seashore and in the country. Their town +playmates, who had come back from their vacations, called at the +Bobbsey home, and made up games and all sorts of sports. + +"For," said Grace Lavine, with whom Nan sometimes played, "school will +soon begin, and we want to have all the fun we can until then." + +"Let's jump rope," proposed Nan. + +"All right," agreed Grace. "Here comes Nellie Parks, and we'll see who +can jump the most." + +"No, you mustn't do that," said Nan. "Don't you remember how you once +tried to jump a hundred, and you fainted?" + +"Indeed I do," said Grace. "I'm not going to be so silly as to try +that again. We'll only jump a little." + +Soon Nan and her chums were having good time in the yard. + +Charley Mason, with whom Bert sometimes played, came over, and the two +boys went for a row on the lake, in Bert's boat. Some little friends +of Flossie and Freddie came over, and they had fun watching Snap do +tricks. + +For the circus dog, as he had come to be called, seemed to be able to +do some new trick each day. He could "play dead," and "say his +prayers," besides turning a back somersault. The little twins, who +seemed to claim more share in Snap than did Nan and Bert, did not +really know how many tricks their pet could do. + +"Maybe you'll have to give him back to the circus," said Willie Flood, +one of Freddie's chums. + +"Well, if we do, papa may buy him, or get another dog like him," spoke +Flossie. + +A few days after this, when Bert was out in the front yard, watering +the grass with a hose, along came Danny Rugg. Now Danny went to the +same school that Bert did, but few of the boys and none of the girls, +liked Danny, because he was often rough, and would hit them or want to +fight, or would play mean tricks on them. Still, sometimes Danny +behaved himself, and then the boys were glad to have him on their +baseball nine as he was a good hitter and thrower, and he could run +fast. + +"Hello, Bert!" exclaimed Danny, leaning on the fence. "I hear you have +a trick circus dog here." + +"Who told you?" asked Bert, wondering what Danny would say next. + +"Oh, Jack Parker. He says you found him." + +"I didn't," spoke Bert, spraying a bed of geranium flowers. "He +followed us the night of the circus wreck." + +"Well, you took him all the same. I know who owns him, too; and I'm +going to tell that you've got him." + +"Oh, are you?" asked Bert. "Well, we think he belongs to the circus, +and my father has written about it, so you needn't trouble yourself." + +"He doesn't belong to any circus," went on Danny. "That dog belongs to +Mr. Peterson, who lives over in Millville. He lost a trick dog, and he +adverstised for it. He's going to give a reward. I'm going to tell +him, and get the money." + +"You can't take our dog away!" cried Freddie, coming up just then. +"Don't you dare do it, Danny Rugg." + +"Yes, I will!" exclaimed the mean boy, who often teased the smaller +Bobbsey twins. "You won't have that dog after today." + +"Don't mind him, Freddie," said Bert in a low voice. "He's trying to +scare you." + +"Oh, I am eh?" cried Danny. "I'll show you what I'm trying to do. +I'll tell on you for keeping a dog that don't belong to you, and you'll +be arrested--all of you." + +Freddie looked worried, and tears came into his eyes. Bert saw this, +and was angry at Danny for being so mean. + +"Don't be afraid, Freddie," said Bert, "Look, I'll let you squirt the +hose, and you can pretend to be a fireman." + +"Oh, fine!" cried Freddie, in delight, as he took the nozzle from his +older brother. + +Just how it happened neither of them could tell, but the stream of +water shot right at Danny Rugg, and wet him all over in a second. + +"Hi there!" he cried. "Stop that! I'll pay you back for that, Fred +Bobbsey," and he jumped over the fence and ran toward the little fellow. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +AT SCHOOL + +FREDDIE saw Danny coming, and did the most natural thing in the world. +He dropped the hose and ran. And you know what a hose, with water +bursting from the nozzle will sometimes do if you don't hold it just +right. Well, this hose did that. It seemed to aim itself straight at +Danny, and again the rough boy received a charge of water full in the +face. + +"Ha! ha! here! You quit that!" he gasped. "I'll fix you for that!" + +The water got in his eyes and mouth, and for a moment he could not see. +But with his handkerchief he soon had his eyes cleared, and then he +came running toward Bert. + +Danny Rugg was larger than Bert, and stronger, and, in addition, was a +bullying sort of chap, almost always ready to fight some one smaller +than himself. + +But what Bert lacked in size and strength he made up in a bold Spirit. +He was not at all afraid of Danny, even when the bully came rushing at +him. Bert stood his ground manfully. He had taken up the hose where +Freddie had dropped it, and the water was spurting out in a solid +stream. Freddie, having gotten a safe distance away, now turned and +stood looking at Danny. + +Danny, too, had halted and was fairly glaring at Bert, who looked at +him a bit anxiously. More than once he and the bully had come to +blows, and sometimes Bert had gotten the best of it. Still he did not +like a fight. + +"I'll get you yet, Freddie Bobbsey!" cried Danny, shaking his fist at +the little fellow. Whereupon Freddie turned and ran toward the house. +Danny saw that he could not catch him in time, and so he turned to Bert. + +"You put him up to do that--to douse me with water!" cried Danny +angrily. + +"I did not," said Bert quietly. "It was just an accident. I'm sorry." + +"You are not! I say you did that on purpose or you told Freddie to, +and I'm going to pay you back!" + +"I tell you it was an accident," insisted Bert. "But if you want to +think Freddie did it on purpose I can't stop you." + +"Well, I'm going to hit you just the same," growled Danny, and he +stepped toward Bert. + +"You'd better look out," said Bert, with just a little smile. "There's +still a lot of water in this hose," and he brought the nozzle around in +front, ready to squirt on Danny if the bad boy should come too near. + +Danny came to a stop. + +"Don't you dare put any more water on me!" cried the bully. "If you +do, I'll--" He doubled up his fists and glared at Bert. + +"Then don't you come any nearer if you don't want to get wet," said +Bert. "This hose might sprinkle you by accident, the same as it did +when Freddie had it," he added. + +"Huh! I know what kind of an accident that was!" spoke Danny, with a +sneer. + +"You'd better get out of the way," went on Bert quietly. "I want to +sprinkle that flower bed near where you are, and if you're there you +might get wet, and it wouldn't my fault." + +"I'll fix you!" growled Danny, springing forward. Bert got ready with +the hose, and there might have been more trouble, except that Sam, the +colored man, came out on the lawn. He saw that something out of the +ordinary was going on, and breaking into a run he called out: + +"Am anything de mattah, Massa Bert? Am yo' habin' trouble wif anybody?" + +"Well, I guess it's all over now," said Bert, as he saw Danny turn and +walk toward the gate. + +"If yo' need any help, jest remembah dat I'm around," spoke Sam, with a +wide grin that showed his white teeth in his black, but kindly face. +"I'll be right handy by, Massa Bert, yes, I will!" + +"All right," said Bert, as he went on watering the flowers. + +"Huh! You needn't think I'm afraid of you!" boasted Danny, but he kept +on out of the gate just the same. Sam went back to his work, of +weeding the vegetable garden and Bert watered the flowers. Pretty soon +Freddie came back. + +"Did--did Danny do anything to you?" the little fellow wanted to know. + +"No, Freddie, but the hose did something to him," said Bert. + +"Oh, did it wet him again?" + +"That's what it did." + +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Freddie. "I wish I'd been here to see it, Bert." + +"Well, why did you run?" + +"Oh, I--I thought maybe--mamma might want me," answered Freddie, but +Bert understood, and smiled. Then he let Freddie finish watering the +flowers, after which Freddie played he was a fireman, saving houses +from burning by means of the hose. + +Snap, the trick dog came running out, followed by Flossie, who had just +been washed and combed, her mother having put a clean dress on her. + +"Oh, Freddie," said the little girl, "let's make Snap do some tricks. +See if he will jump over the stream of water from the hose." + +"All right," agreed her little brother. "I'll squirt the water out +straight, and you stand on one side of it and call Snap over. Then +he'll jump." + +Flossie tried this, but at first the dog did not seem to want to do +this particular trick. He played soldier, said his prayers, stood on +his hind legs, and turned a somersault. But he would not jump over the +water. + +"Come, Snap, Snap!" called Flossie. "Jump!" + +Snap raced about and barked, and seemed to be having all sorts of fun, +but jump he would not until he got ready. Then, when he did Freddie +accidentally lowered the nozzle and Snap was soaked. + +But the dog did not mind the water in the least. In fact he seemed to +like it, for the day was warm, and he stood still and let Freddie wet +him all over. Then Snap rolled about on the lawn, Freddie and Flossie +taking turns sprinkling. + +And, as might be expected, considerable water got on the two children, +and when Snap shook himself, as he often did, to get some of the drops +off his shaggy coat, he gave Flossie and her clean dress a regular +shower bath. + +Nan, coming from the house saw this. She ran up to Flossie, who had +the hose just then, crying: + +"Flossie Bobbsey! Oh, you'll get it when mamma sees you! She cleaned +you all up and now look at yourself!" + +"She can't see--there's no looking glass here," said Freddie, with a +laugh. + +"And you're just as bad!" cried Nan. "You'd both better go in the +house right away, and stop playing with the hose." + +"We're through, anyhow," said Freddie. "You ought to see Snap jump +over the water." + +"Oh, you children!" cried Nan, with a shake of her head. She seemed +like a little mother to them at times, though she was only four years +older. + +Mrs. Bobbsey was very sorry to see Flossie so wet and bedraggled, and +said: + +"You should have known better than to play with water with a clean +dress on, Flossie. Now I must punish you. You will have to stay in +the house for an hour, and so will Freddie." + +Poor little Bobbsey twins! But then it was not a very severe +punishment, and really some was needed. It was hard when two of their +little playmates came and called for them to come out. But Mrs. +Bobbsey insisted on the two remaining in until the hour was at an end. + +Then, when they had on dry garments, and could go out, there was no one +with whom to play. + +"I'm not going to squirt the hose ever again," said Freddie. + +"Neither am I," said his sister. "Never, never!" + +Snap didn't say anything. He lay on the porch asleep, being cooled off +after his sport with the water. + +"I--I wish we had our cat, Snoop, back," said Flossie. "Then we +wouldn't have played in the water." + +"That's so," agreed Freddie. "I wonder where he can be?" + +They asked their father that night if any of the railroad men had seen +their pet, but he said none had, and added: + +"I'm afraid you'll have to get along without Snoop. He seems to have +disappeared. But, anyhow, you have Snap." + +"But some one may come along and claim him," said Freddie. "That Danny +Rugg says he belongs to Mr. Peterson in Millville, father," said Bert. + +"Well, I'll call Mr. Peterson up on the telephone tomorrow, and find +out," spoke Mr. Bobbsey. "That much will be settled, at any rate." + +"Did you hear anything from the circus people about the fat lady?" +asked Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"Yes, but no news," was her husband's answer. "The circus has gone to +Cuba and Porto Rico for the winter, and I will have to write there. It +will be some time before we can expect an answer, though, as I suppose +the show will be traveling from place to place and mail down there is +not like it is up here. But we may find the fat lady and the cup some +day." + +"And Snoop, too," put in Nan. + +"Yes, Snoop too." + +One fact consoled the Bobbseys in their trouble over their lost pet and +cup. This was the answer received by Mr. Bobbsey from Mr. Peterson. +That gentleman had lost a valuable dog, but it was a small poodle, and +unlike big Snap. So far no one had claimed the trick dog, and it +seemed likely that the children could keep him. They were very glad +about this. + +"Oh dear!" exclaimed Bert, one afternoon a few days following the fun +with the hose, "school begins Monday. Only three more days of +vacation!" + +"I think you have had a long vacation," returned Mrs. Bobbsey, "and if +Freddie and Flossie are going to do such tricks as they did the other +day, with the hose, I, for one, shall be glad that you are in school." + +"I like school," said Nan. "There are lot of new girls coming this +term, I hear." + +"Any new fellows?" asked Bert, more interested. + +"I don't know. There is a new teacher in the kindergarten, though, +where Flossie and Freddie will go. Nellie Parks has met her, and says +she's awfully nice." + +"That's good," spoke Flossie. "I like nice teachers." + +"Well, I hope you and Freddie will get along well," said Mamma Bobbsey. + +"You are getting older you know, and you must soon begin to study hard." + +"We will," they promised. + +The school bell, next Monday morning, called to many rather unwilling +children. The long vacation was over and class days had begun once +more. The four Bobbseys went off together to the building, which was +only a few blocks from their home. Mr. Tetlow was the principal, and +there were half a dozen lady teachers. + +"Hello, Nan," greeted Grace Lavine. "May I sit with you this term?" + +"Oh, I was going to ask her," said Nellie Parks. + +"Well, I was first," spoke Grace, with a pout. + +"We'll be in the room where there are three seated desks," said Nan +with a smile. "Maybe we three can be together." + +"Oh, we'll ask teacher!" cried Nellie. "That will be lovely!" + +"I'm going to sit with Freddie," declared Flossie. "We're to be +together--mamma said so." + +"Of course, dear," agreed Nan. "I'll speak to your teacher about it." + +Bert was walking in the rear with Charley Mason, when Danny Rugg came +around a corner. + +"I know what I'm going to do to you after school, Bert Bobbsey!" called +the bully. "You just wait and see." + +"All right--I'll wait," spoke Bert quietly. "I'm not afraid." + +By this time they were at the school, and it was nearly time for the +last bell to ring. Danny went off to join some of his particular +chums, shaking his fist at Bert as he went. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +BERT SEES SOMETHING + +LESSONS were not very well learned that first day in school, but this +is generally the case when the Fall term opens after the Summer +vacation. + +Just as were the Bobbsey twins, nearly all the other pupils were +thinking of what good times they had had in the country, or at the +seashore, and in consequence little attention was paid to reading, +spelling, arithmetic and geography. + +But Principal Tetlow and his teachers were prepared for this, and they +were sure that, in another day or so, the boys and girls would settle +down and do good work. Many of the children were in new rooms and +different classes, and this did not make them feel so much "at home" as +before vacation. + +Nan Bobbsey's first duty, after reporting to her new teacher, was to go +to the kindergarten room, and ask the teacher there if Flossie and +Freddie might sit together. + +"You see," Nan explained, "this is really their first real school work. +They attended a few times before, but did not stay long." + +"I see," spoke the pretty kindergarten instructor with a laugh, "and we +must make it as pleasant for them this time as we can, so they will +want to stay. Yes, my dear, Flossie and Freddie may sit together, and +I'll look after them as much as I can. But, oh, there are such a lot +of little tots!" and she looked about the room that seemed overflowing +with small boys and girls. + +Some were playing and talking, telling of their summer experiences. +Others seemed frightened, and stood against the wall bashfully, little +girls holding to the hands of their little brothers. + +Nan looked for Freddie and Flossie. She saw her little sister trying +to comfort a small girl who was almost ready to cry, while Freddie, +like the manly little fellow he was, had taken charge of a small chap +in whose eyes were two large tears, just ready to fall. It was his +first day at school. + +"Oh, I am sure your little twin brother and sister will get along all +right," said the kindergarten teacher, with a smile to Nan, as she saw +what Flossie and Freddie were doing. "They are too cute for +anything--the little dears!" + +"And they are very good," said Nan, "only of course they +do--things--sometimes." + +"They wouldn't be real children if they didn't," answered the teacher. + +This was during a recess that had come after the classes were first +formed. On her way back to her room, to see if she could arrange to +sit with Grace and Nellie at one of the new big desks, Nan saw her +brother Bert. He looked a little worried, and Nan asked at once: + +"What is the matter, Bert? Haven't you got a nice teacher?" + +"Oh, yes, she's fine!" exclaimed Bert "There's nothing the matter at +all." + +"Yes there is," insisted Nan. "I can tell by your face. It's that +Danny Rugg; I'm sure. Oh, Bert, is he bothering you again?" + +"Well, he said he was going to." + +"Then why don't you go straight and tell Mr. Tetlow? He'll make Danny +behave. I'll go tell him myself!" + +"Don't you dare, Nan!" cried Bert. "All the fellows would call me +'sissy,' if I let you do that. Never mind, I can look out for my self. +I'm not afraid of Danny." + +"Oh, Bert, I hope you don't get into fight." + +"I won't, Nan--if I can help it. At least I won't hit first, but if he +hits me--" + +Bert looked as though he knew what he would do in that case. + +"Oh dear!" cried Nan, "aren't you boys just awful!" + +However, she made up her mind that if Danny got too bad she would speak +to the principal about him, whether her brother wanted her to or not. + +"He won't know it," thought Nan. + +She had no trouble in getting permission from her teacher for herself +and her two friends to sit together, and soon they had moved their +books and other things to one of the long desks that had room for three +pupils. + +Meanwhile Flossie and Freddie got along very well in the kindergarten. +At first, just as the others did, they gave very little attention to +what the teacher wanted them to learn, but she was very patient, and +soon all the class was gathered about the sand table, in the little low +chairs, making fairy cities, caves, and even makebelieve seashore +places. + +"This is like the one where we were this Summer," said Flossie, as she +made a hole in her sand pile to take the place of the ocean. "If I had +water and a piece of wood I could show you where there was a +shipwreck," she said to the girl next to her. + +"That isn't the way it was," spoke Freddie, from the other side of the +room. "There was more sand at the seashore than on this whole +table--yes, on ten tables like this." + +"There was not!" cried Flossie. + +"There was too!" insisted her brother. + +"Children--children!" called the teacher. "You must not argue like +that--ever--in school, or out of it. Now we will sing our worksong, +and after that we will march with the flags," and she went to the piano +to play. All the little ones liked this, and the dispute of Flossie +and Freddie was soon forgotten. + +Bert kept thinking of what might happen between himself and Danny Rugg +when school was out, and when his teacher asked him what the Pilgrim +Fathers did when they first came to settle in New England Bert looked +up in surprise, and said: + +"They fought." + +"Fought!" exclaimed the teacher. "The book says they gave thanks." + +"Well, I meant they fought the--er--the Indians," stammered Bert. + +Poor Bert was thinking of what might take place between himself and the +bully. + +"Well, yes, they did fight the Indians," admitted the teacher, "but +that wasn't what I was thinking of. I will ask you another question in +history." + +But I am not going to tire you with an account of what went on in the +classrooms. There were mostly lessons there, such as you have +yourselves, and I know you don't care to read about them. + +Bert did not see Danny Rugg at the noon recess, when the Bobbsey twins +and the other children went home for lunch. But when school was let +out in the afternoon, and when Bert was talking to Charley Mason about +a new way of making a kite, Danny Rugg, accompanied by several of his +chums, walked up to Bert. It was in a field some distance from the +school, and no houses were near. + +"Now I've got you, Bert Bobbsey!" taunted Danny, as he advanced with +doubledup fists. "What did you want to squirt the hose on me that time +for?" + +"I told you it was an accident," said Bert quietly. + +"And I say you did it on purpose. I said I'd get even with you, and +now I'm going to." + +"I don't want to fight, Danny," said Bert quietly. + +"Huh! he's afraid!" sneered Jack Westly, one of Danny's friends. + +"Yes, he's a coward!" taunted Danny. + +"I'm not!" cried Bert stoutly. + +"Then take that!" exclaimed Danny, and he gave Bert a push that nearly +knocked him down. Bert put out a hand to save himself and struck +Danny, not really meaning to. + +"There! He hit you back!" cried one boy. + +"Yes, go on in, now, Dan, and beat him!" said another. + +"Oh, I'll fix him now," boasted Danny, circling around Bert. Bert was +carefully watching. He did not mean to let Danny get the best of him +if he could help it, much as he did not like to fight. + +Danny struck Bert on the chest, and Bert hit the bully on the cheek. +Then Danny jumped forward swiftly and tried to give Bert a blow on the +head. But Bert stepped to one side, and Danny slipped down to the +ground. + +As he did so a white box fell from his pocket. Bert knew what kind of +a box it was, and what was in it, and he knew now, what had stained +Danny's fingers so yellow, and what made his clothes have such a queer +smell. For the box had in it cigarettes. + +Danny saw where it had fallen, and picked it up quickly. Then he came +running at Bert again, but a boy called: + +"Look out! Here comes Mr. Tetlow, the principal!" + +This was a signal for all the boys, even Bert, to run, for, though +school was out, they still did not want to be caught at a fight by one +of the teachers, or Mr. Tetlow. + +"Anyhow, you knocked him down, Bert," said Charley Mason, as he ran on +with Bert. "You beat!" + +"He did not--I slipped," said Danny. "I can fight him, and I will, +too, some day." + +"I'm not afraid of you," answered Bert. + +Mr. Tetlow did not appear to have seen the fight that amounted to so +little. Perhaps he pretended not to. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +OFF TO THE WOODS + +WHETHER Danny Rugg was afraid the principal had seen him trying to +force a fight on Bert, or whether the unexpected fall that came to him, +caused it, no one knew, but certainly, for the next few days, Danny let +Bert alone. When he passed him he scowled, or shook his fist, or +muttered something about "getting even," but this was all. + +Perhaps it was the thought of what Bert had seen fall from Danny's +pocket that made the bully less anxious to keep up the quarrel. At any +rate, Bert was left alone and he was glad of it. He was not afraid, +but he liked peace. + +The school days went on, and the classes settled down to their work for +the long Winter term. And the thought of the snow and ice that would +comparatively soon be with them, made the Bobbsey twins rejoice. + +"Charley Mason and I are going to make a dandy big bob this year," said +Bert one day. "It's going to carry ten fellows." + +"And no girls?" asked Nan with a smile. She was walking along behind +her brother, with Grace and Nellie. + +"Sure, we'll let you girls ride once in a while," said Charley, as he +caught up to his chum. "But you can't steer." + +"I steered a bob once," said Grace, who was quite athletic for her age. +"It was Danny Rugg's, too." + +"Pooh! His is a little one alongside the one Charley and I are going +to make!" exclaimed Bert. "Ours will be hard to steer, and it's going +to have a gong on it to tell folks to get out of the way." + +"That's right," agreed Charley. "And we'd better start it right away, +Bert. It may soon snow." + +"It doesn't feel so now," spoke Nan. "It is very warm. It feels more +like ice cream cones." + +"And if you'll come with me I'll treat you all to some," exclaimed +Nellie Parks, whose father was quite well off. "I have some of my +birthday money left." + +"Oh, but there are five of us!" cried Nan, counting. "That is too +much--twenty-five cents, Nellie." + +"I've got fifty, and really it is very hot today." + +It was warm, being the end of September, with Indian Summer near at +hand. + +"Well, let's go to Johnson's," suggested Nellie. "They have the best +cream." + +"Oh, here comes Flossie and Freddie!" exclaimed Nan. "We don't want to +take them, Nellie. That means--" + +"Of course I'll take them!" exclaimed Nellie, generously. "I've got +fifty cents, I told you." + +"I'll give them each a penny and let them run along home," offered Bert. + +"No, I'm going to treat them, too," insisted Nellie. "Come on!" she +called to the little twins, "we're going to get ice cream cones, it's +so warm." + +"Oh, goodie!" cried Flossie. "I was just wishing for one." + +"So was I," added her brother. + +"And I'll ask you to my party next week," the little girl went on. +"I'm going to have one on my birthday." + +"Oh, are you really, Flossie?" asked Nan. "I hadn't heard about it." + +"Yep--I am. Mamma said I could, but she told me not to tell. I don't +care, I wanted Nellie to know, as she's going to treat us to cones." + +"And it's half my party, 'cause my birthday's the same day," explained +Freddie. "So you can come to my party at the same time, Nellie." + +"Thank you, dear, I shall. Now let's hurry to the store, for it's +getting warmer all the while." + +The ice cream in the funny little cones was much enjoyed by all. Bert +and Charley walked on together eating, and talking of the bob sled they +were going to make. They passed Danny Rugg, who looked rather +enviously at them. + +"Hey, Charley," called Danny, "come here, I want to speak to you." + +"I'm busy now," answered Charley. "Bert and I have something to do." + +"So have I. I've got a dandy plan." + +"Well, I'll see you later," spoke Charley. + +He had once been quite friendly with Danny, but he grew not to like his +ways, and so became more chummy with Bert, who was very glad, for he +liked Charley. + +The two boys went on to Bert's barn, where they were going to build the +bob sled. The girls, with Flossie and Freddie, went on the Bobbsey +lawn, where there were some easy chairs. They sat in the shade of the +trees, and Freddie had Snap do some of his tricks for the visitors. + +"Can he jump through a hoop, covered with paper as they do in the +circus?" asked Nellie. + +"Oh, we never thought to try that," said Freddie. "I'm going to make +one," and, filled with this new idea, he hurried into the house. + +"Dinah," he said, "I want some paper and paste." + +"Land sakes, chile! what yo' gwine t' do now?" asked the colored cook. + +"Make a kite, an' take Snoop up in de air laik yo' brother Bert done +once?" + +"No, we're not going to do that," answered the little boy. "We're +going to cover a hoop with paper, and make Snap jump through it, like +in a circus." + +"Mah goodness mustard pot!" cried Dinah. "What will yo' all be up to +next?" + +"I don't know," answered Freddie. "But will you make me some paste, +Dinah? And you know we haven't got Snoop, anyhow, so we couldn't send +him up on a kite tail," added Freddie. + +"Deah me! Yo' chilluns done make me do de mostest wuk!" complained +Dinah, but she laughed, which showed that she did not really mean it, +and set at mixing some flour and water for the paste. + +Flossie and Freddie insisted on making the paper covered hoop +themselves. They started, but they got so much of the sticky stuff on +their hands and faces that Nan feared they would soil their clothes, so +she insisted on being allowed to do the pasting for them. + +"But we can help, can't we?" asked Freddie. + +"Yes," said Nan. + +Even for Nan covering a hoop with paper was not as easy as she thought +it would be. Grace and Nellie helped, but sometimes the wind would +blow the paper away just as they were ready to fold it around the rim +of the hoop. Then the paste would get on the girls' hands. + +"What are you doing?" asked Bert, as he and Charley came from the barn. +They had to stop work on their job, as they could not find a long +enough plank. They decided to get one from Mr. Bobbsey's lumber +yard, later. + +"We're going to have Snap do the circus trick of jumping through a +paper hoop," explained Nan. "Only we can't seem to get the hoop made." + +"I'll do it," offered Bert, and as he and Charley had often pasted +paper on their kite frames they had better luck, and soon the hoop was +ready. + +"Come, Snap!" called Freddie, it having been settled that he and +Flossie were to hold the hoop for the dog to leap through. Snap, +always ready for fun, jumped up from the grass where he had been +sleeping, and frisked about, barking loudly. + +"Now you hold him there, Charley," directed Bert, pointing to a spot +back of where Freddie and Flossie stood. "Then I'll go over here and +call him. He'll come running, and when he gets near enough, Freddie, +you and Flossie hold up the paper hoop. He'll go right through it." + +It worked out just as the children had planned. Snap raced away from +Charley, when he heard Bert calling. He ran right between Flossie and +Freddie, who raised the hoop just in time. + +"Rip! Tear!" burst the paper, and Snap sailed through the hoop just as +he probably had often done in the circus, perhaps from the back of a +horse. + +"Oh, that was fine!" cried Flossie. "Let's make another hoop!" + +"Let's make a lot of 'em, and have a circus with Snap, and charge money +to see him, and then we can buy a lot of ice cream for our party!" said +Freddie. + +"Oh, yes!" agreed his sister. + +Well, they did make more hoops, and Snap seemed to enjoy jumping +through them. But when Mrs. Bobbsey heard about the circus plans she +decided it would make too much confusion. + +"Besides, you have to help me get ready for your party," she said to +the two little twins. + +This took their mind off the proposed circus, but for several days +after that they had much fun making hoops for Snap to jump through. + +Bert and Charley got a long plank from the lumber yard, and spent much +time after school in the Bobbsey barn, working over their bob sled. It +was harder than they had thought it would be, and they had to call in +some other boys to help them. Mr. Bobbsey, too, gave his son some +advice about how to build it. + +Flossie and Freddie liked it very much in school. The kindergarten +teacher was very kind, and took an interest in all her pupils. "Oh, +mamma!" cried Flossie, coming in one day from school, "I've learned how +to make a house." + +"And I can make a lantern, and a chain to hang it on, and I can put it +in front of Flossie's house!" exclaimed Freddie. "And, please, mother, +may I have some bread and jam. I'm awful hungry." + +"Yes, dear, go ask Dinah," said Mrs. Bobbsey, with a smile. "And then +you may show me how you make houses and lanterns and a chain. Are they +real?" + +"No," said Flossie, "they're only paper, but they look nice." + +"I'm sure they must," said their mother. + +After each of the twins had been given a large slice of bread and +butter and jam, they showed the latest thing they had learned at +school. Flossie did manage to cut out a house, that had a chimney on +it, and a door, besides two windows. + +Freddie took several little narrow strips of paper, and pasting the +ends together, made a lot of rings. Each ring before being pasted, was +slipped into another, and soon he had A paper chain. To make the +lantern he used a piece of paper made into a roll, with slits all +around the middle of it where the light would have come out had there +been a candle in it. And the handle was a narrow slip of paper pasted +over the top of the lantern. + +"Very fine Indeed," said Mamma Bobbsey. "Run out now to play. If you +stay in the house too much you will soon lose all the lovely tan you +got in the country, and at the seashore." + +"Children," said the principal to the Bobbseys and all the others in +school the next day, "I have a little treat for you. Tomorrow will be +a holiday, and, as the weather is very warm, we will close the school +at noon, and go off in the woods for a little picnic." + +"Oh, good!" cried a number of the boys and girls, and, though it was +against the rules to speak aloud during the school hours, none of the +teachers objected. + +"But I expect you all to have perfect marks from now until Friday," Mr. +Tetlow went on. "You may bring your lunches to school with you Friday +morning, if your parents will let you, and we will leave here at noon, +and go to Ward's woods." + +It was rather hard work to study after such good news, but, somehow, +the pupils managed it. Finally Friday came, and nearly every boy and +girl came to school with a basket or bundle holding his or her lunch. +Mrs. Bobbsey put up two baskets for her children, Nan taking one and +Bert the other. + +"Oh, we'll have a lovely time!" cried Freddie, dancing about on his +little fat legs. + +Twelve o'clock came, and with each teacher at the head of her class, +and Mr. Tetlow marching in front of all, the whole school started off +for the woods. + + + +CHAPTER X + +A SCARE + +THE way to the woods where the little school outing was to be held ran +close to the road on which the Bobbsey house stood. As Freddie and +Flossie, with Nan and Bert, marched along with the others, Freddie +cried out: + +"Oh, I hope we see mamma, and then we can wave to her." + +"Yes, and maybe she'll come with us," suggested Flossie. "Wouldn't +that be nice?" + +"Pooh!" exclaimed Bert. "Mamma's too busy to come to a picnic today. +She's expecting company." + +"Yes," added Nan, "the minister and his wife are coming, and mamma's +cooking a lot of things." + +"Why, does a minister eat more than other folks?" asked Freddie. "If +they does, I'm going to be a minister when I grow up." + +"I thought you were going to be a fireman," said Bert. + +"Well, I can be a fireman week days and a minister on Sundays," said +the little fellow, thus solving the problem. "But do they eat so much, +Nan?" + +"No, of course not, only mamma wants to be polite to them, so she has a +lot of things cooked up, so that if they don't like one thing they can +have another. Folks always give their best to the minister." + +"Then I'm surely going to be one, too," declared Flossie. "I like good +things to eat. I hope our minister isn't very hungry, 'cause then +there'll be some left for us when we come home from this picnic." + +"Why, Flossie!" cried Nan. "We have a lovely lunch with us; plenty, +I'm sure." + +"Well, I'm awful hungry, Nan," said the little girl. "Besides, Sammie +Jones, and his sister Julia, haven't any lunch at all. I saw them, and +they looked terrible hungry. Couldn't we give them some of ours; if we +have so much at home?" + +"Of course we could, and it is very kind of you to think of them," said +Nan, as she patted her little sister on her head. "I'll look after +Sammie and Julia when we get to the grove." + +In spite of what Nan and Bert had said about Mrs. Bobbsey being very +busy, Flossie and Freddie looked anxiously in the direction of their +house as they walked along. But no sight of their mother greeted them. +They did see a friend, however, and this was none other than Snap, +their new dog, who, with many barks and wags of his fluffy tail, ran +out to meet his little masters and mistresses. + +"Here, Snap! Snap!" called Freddie. "Come on, old fellow!" and the +dog leaped all about him. + +"Let's take him to the picnic with us," suggested Flossie. "We can +have lots of fun." + +"And he can eat the scraps," said Nan. "Shall we, Bert?" + +"I don't care. But maybe Mr. Tetlow wouldn't like it." + +"You ask him, Bert," pleaded Flossie. + +"Tell him Snap will do tricks to amuse us." + +Bert goodnaturedly started ahead to speak to the principal, who was +talking with some of the teachers, planning games for the little folk. +Flossie and Freddie were patting their pet, when Danny Rugg, and one of +his friends came along. + +"That dog can't come to our picnic!" said Danny, with a scowl. "He +might bite some of us." + +"Snap never bites!" cried Freddie. + +"Of course not," said Flossie. + +"Well, he can't come to this picnic!" spoke Danny, angrily. "Go on +home!" he cried, sharply, stooping to pick up a stone. Snap growled +and showed his teeth. + +"There!" cried Danny. "I told you he'd bite." + +"He will not, Danny Rugg!" exclaimed Nan, who had gone up front for a +minute to speak to some of the older girls. "He only growled because +you acted mean to him. Now you leave him alone, or I'll tell Mr. +Tetlow on you." + +"Pooh! Think I care? I say no dog can come to our picnic. Go on +home!" and with raised hand Danny approached Snap. Again the dog +growled angrily. He was not used to being treated in this way. + +"Look out, Danny Rugg," said Nan, severely, "or he may jump on you, and +knock you down. He wouldn't bite you, though, mean as you are, unless +I told him to do so." + +"I'm not afraid of you!" cried Danny, more angry than before. "I'll +get a stick and then we'll see what will happen," and he looked about +for one. + +"Don't let Danny beat Snap!" pleaded Flossie, tears coming into her +eyes. + +"I won't," said Nan, looking about anxiously for Bert. She saw him +coming back, and felt better. By this time Danny had found a club, and +was coming back to where Flossie, Freddie and Nan, with some of their +friends, were walking along, Snap in their midst. + +"I'll make that dog go home now!" cried Danny. "I'm not going to get +bitten, and have hyperfobia, or whatever you call it. I'll tell Mr. +Tetlow if you don't make him go home." + +"Oh, don't be so smart!" exclaimed Bert, stepping out from behind a +group of girls. "I've told Mr. Tetlow myself that Snap is following +us, and he said to let him come along. So you needn't take the +trouble, Danny Rugg. And if you try to hit our dog I'll have something +more to say," and Bert stepped boldly forth. + +"Huh! I'm not afraid of you," sneered Danny, but he let the club drop, +and walked off with his own particular chums. + +"Did Mr. Tetlow say Snap could come?" asked Freddie, anxiously. + +"Yes. He said he'd be good to drive away the cows if they bothered +us," answered Bert, with a smile. + +After this little trouble, the Bobbseys and their friends went on +toward the grove in the woods where the picnic was to be held. There +was laughing and shouting, and much fun on the way, in which Snap +shared. + +Boys and girls would run to one side or the other of the path to gather +late flowers. Some would pick up odd stones, or pine cones, and others +would find curious little creeping or crawling things which they called +their friends to see. + +Each teacher had charge of her special class, but she did not look too +closely after them, for it was a day to be happy and free from care, +with no thought of school or lessons. + +"We'll make Snap do some tricks when we get to the grove," said Flossie. + +"Yes, we'll have a little circus," added her brother. + +"Can he stand on his head?" one girl wanted to know. + +"Well, he can turn a somersault, and he's on his head for a second +while he's doing that," explained Freddie, proudly. + +"Can he roll over and over?" a boy wanted to know. "We had a dog, +once, that could." + +"Snap can, too," said Flossie. "Roll over, Snap!" she ordered, and the +dog, with a bark, did so. The children laughed and some clapped their +hands. They thought Snap was about the best dog they had ever seen. + +No accidents happened on the way to the grove, except that one little +boy tried to cross a brook on some stones, instead of the plank which +the others used. He slipped in and got his feet wet, but as the day +was warm no one worried much. + +Finally the grove was reached. It was in a wooded valley, with hills +on either side, and a cold, clear spring of water at one end, where +everyone could get a drink. And that always seems to be what is most +wanted at a picnic--a drink of water. + +Mr. Tetlow called all the children together, before letting them go off +to play, and told them at what time the start for home would be made, +so that they would not be late in coming back to the meeting place. + +"And now," he said, "have the best fun you can. Play anything you +wish--school games if you like--but don't get too warm or excited. And +don't go too far away. You may eat your luncheon when you like." + +"Then let's eat ours now," suggested Flossie. "I'm awful hungry." + +"So am I," said Freddie. So Nan and Bert decided that the little ones +might at least have a sandwich and a piece of cake. Nor did they +forget the two little Jones children, who had no lunch. The Bobbseys +were well provided and soon Sammie and Julia were smiling and happy as +they sat beneath a tree, eating. + +Then came all sorts of games, from tag and jumping rope, to blindman's +bluff and hide-and-seek. Snap was made to do a number of tricks, much +to the amusement of the teachers and children. Danny Rugg, and some of +the older boys, got up a small baseball game, and then Danny, with one +or two chums, went off in a deeper part of the woods. Bert heard one +of the boys ask another if he had any matches. + +"I know what they're going to do," whispered Bert to Nan. + +"What?" she asked. + +"Smoke cigarettes. I saw Danny have a pack." + +Nan was much shocked, but she did not see anything. She was glad Bert +did not smoke. + +Bert went off with some boys to see if they could catch any fish in the +deeper part of the brook, about half a mile from the picnic grove, and +Nan, with one or two girls about her own age, took a little walk with +Flossie and Freddie to gather some late wild flowers that grew on the +side of one of the hills. + +They found a number of the blossoms, and were making pretty bouquets of +them, when Freddie, who had gone on a little ahead of the rest, came +running back so fast that he nearly rolled to the bottom of the hill, +so fat and chubby was he. + +"What's the matter? What is it?" asked Nan, catching her brother just +in time. + +"Up there!" he gasped. "It's up there! A great big black one!" + +"A big black what--bug?" asked Nan, ready to laugh. + +"No! a big black snake! I almost stepped on it." + +"A snake! Oh, dear!" screamed the girls. + +"Call Mr. Tetlow!" said Flossie. "He's got a book about snakes, and +he'll know what to do." + +"Come on!" cried Nellie Parks. "I'm going to run!" + +"So am I!" added Grace Lavine. "Oh, it may chase us!" + +In fright the children turned, Freddie looking back at the spot where +he thought he had seen the snake. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DANNY'S TRICK + +NAN BOBBSEY stood for a moment, she hardly knew why. Perhaps she +wanted to see the big snake of which Freddie spoke. It certainly was +not because she liked reptiles. + +Then she thought she saw something long and black wiggling toward her, +and, with a little exclamation of fright, she, too, turned to follow +the others. But, as she did so, she saw their dog Snap come running up +the hill, barking and wagging his tail. He seemed to have lost the +children for a moment and to be telling them how glad he was that he +had found them again. + +Straight up the hill, toward where Freddie had said the snake was, +rushed Snap. + +"Here! Come back! Don't go there!" cried Nan. + +"No, don't let him--he may be bitten!" added Flossie. "Come here, +Snap!" + +But Snap evidently did not want to mind. On up the hill he rushed, +pausing now and then to dig in the earth. Nearer and nearer he came to +where the little Bobbsey boy had said the snake was hiding in the grass +and bushes. + +"Oh, Snap! Snap!" cried Freddie. "Don't go there!" But Snap kept on, +and Freddie, afraid lest his pet dog be bitten, caught up a stone and +threw it at the place. His aim was pretty good, but instead of scaring +away the snake, or driving back Snap, the fall of the stone only made +Snap more eager to see what was there that his friends did not want him +to get. + +With a loud bark he rushed on, and the children, turning to look, saw +something long and black, and seemingly wiggling, come toward them. + +"Oh, the snake! The snake!" cried Nan. + +"Run! Run!" shouted Grace. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Nellie Parks, in loud tones. + +"Freddie! Freddie!" called Flossie, afraid lest her little brother be +bitten. + +Snap rushed at the black thing so fiercely that he turned a somersault +down the hill, and rolled over and over. But he did not mind this, and +in an instant was up again. Once more he rushed at the black object, +but the children did not watch to see what happened, for they were +running away as fast as they could. + +Then Freddie, anxious as to what would become of Snap if he fought a +snake, looked back. He saw a strange sight. The dog had in his mouth +the long, black thing, and was running with it toward the Bobbseys and +their friends. + +"Oh, Nan! Nan! Look! Look!" cried Freddie. "Snap has the snake! +He's bringing it to us!" + +"Oh, he mustn't do that!" shouted Nan. "It may bite him or us." + +"Run! Run faster!" shrieked Grace. + +But even though it was down hill the children could not run as fast as +Snap, and he soon caught up to them. Running on a little way ahead he +dropped the black thing. But instead of wiggling or trying to bite, it +was I very still. + +"It--it's dead," said Nan. "Snap has killed it." + +Freddie was braver now. He went closer. + +"Why--why!" he exclaimed. "It isn't a snake at all! It's only an old +black root of a tree, all twisted up like a snake! Look, Nan--Flossie!" + +Taking courage, the girls went up to look. Snap stood over it, wagging +his tail as proudly as though he had captured a real snake. As Freddie +had said, it was only a tree root. + +"But it did look a lot like a snake in the grass," said the little +fellow. + +"It must have," agreed Nan. "It looked like one even when Snap had it. +But I'm glad it wasn't." + +"So am I," spoke Grace, and Nellie made like remark. + +Snap frisked about, barking as though to ask praise for what he had +done. + +"He is a good dog," observed Freddie, hearing which the animal almost +wagged his tail off. "And if it had been a real snake he'd have gotten +it; wouldn't you?" went on the little boy. + +If barks meant anything, Snap said, with all his heart, that he +certainly would--that not even a dozen snakes could frighten a big dog +like him. + +The children soon got over the little scare, and went back up the hill +again to gather more flowers. Snap went with them this time, running +about here and there. + +"If there are any real snakes," said Freddie, "he'll scare them away. +But I guess there aren't any." + +"I hope not," said Nan, but she and the others kept a sharp lookout. +However, there was no further fright for them, and soon, with their +hands filled with blossoms the Bobbseys and the others went back to the +main party. + +Some of the teachers were arranging games with their pupils, and Nan, +Flossie and Freddie joined in, having a good time. Then, when it was +almost time to start for home, Mr. Tetlow blew loudly on a whistle he +carried to call in the stragglers. + +"Where's Bert?" asked Flossie, looking about for her older brother. + +"I guess he hasn't come back from fishing yet," said Nan. "Come, +Flossie and Freddie, I have a little bit of lunch left, and you might +as well eat it, so you won't be hungry on the way home." + +The littler Bobbsey twins were glad enough to do this. Then they had +to have a drink, and Nan went with them to the spring, carrying a glass +tumbler she had brought. + +"This isn't like our nice silver cup that the fat lady took in the +train," said Freddie, as he passed the glass of water very carefully to +Flossie. + +"No," she said, after she had taken her drink. "I wonder if papa will +ever get that back?" + +"He said, the other day," remarked Nan, as she got some water for +Freddie, "that he hadn't heard from the circus yet. But I think he +will. It isn't like Snoop, our cat. We don't know where he is, but +we're pretty sure the fat lady has the cup." + +"Poor Snoop!" cried Freddie, as he thought of the fine black cat. +"Maybe some of the railroad men have him." + +"Maybe," agreed Flossie. + +When they got back to where the teachers and principal were, Bert and +the boys who bad gone fishing had returned. They had one or two small +fish. + +"I'm going to have mamma cook them for my supper," said Bert, proudly +holding up those he had caught. + +"They're too small--there won't be anything left of them after they're +cleaned," said Nan, who was quite a little housekeeper. + +"Oh, yes, there will," declared her brother. "I'm going fishing again +tomorrow and, catch more." + +Mr. Tetlow was going about among the teachers, asking if all their +pupils were on hand, ready for the march back. Danny Rugg and some of +his close friends were missing. + +"They ought not to have gone off so far," said Mr. Tetlow, as he blew +several times on the whistle. Soon Danny and the other boy, were seen +coming from a distant part of the grove. One of the boys, Harry White, +looked very pale, and not at all well. + +"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Tetlow, and he looked curiously at +Danny and the others, and sniffed the air as though he smelled +something. + +"I--I guess I ate too many--apples," said Harry, in a faint voice. "We +found an orchard, and--" + +"I told you not to go into orchards, and take fruit," said Mr. Tetlow, +severely. + +"The man said we could," remarked Danny. "We asked him." + +"Then you should not have eaten so many," said Mr. Tetlow. "I can't +see how ripe apples, which are the only kind there are this time of +year--could make you ill unless you ate too many," and he looked at +Danny and Harry sharply. But they did not answer. + +The march home was not as joyful as the one to the grove had been, for +most of the children were tired. But they all had had a fine time, and +there were many requests of the teachers to have another picnic the +next week. + +"Oh, we can't have them every week, my dears," said Miss Franklin, who +had charge of Flossie, Freddie and some others in the kindergarten +class. "Besides, it will soon be too cool to go out in the woods. In +a little while we will have ice and snow, and Thanksgiving and +Christmas." + +"That will be better than picnics," said Freddie. "I'm going to have a +new sled." + +"I'm going to get a new doll, that can walk," declared Flossie, and +then she and the others talked about the coming holidays. + +At school several days in the following week little was talked of +except the picnic, the snake scare from the old tree root, the catching +of the fish, and the illness of Harry White, for that boy was quite +sick by the time town was reached, and Mr. Tetlow called a carriage to +send him home. + +"And I can guess what made him sick too," said Bert to Nan, privately. + +"What?" she asked. + +"Smoking cigarettes." + +"How do you know?" + +"Because when I and some of the other fellows were fishing we saw Danny +and his crowd smoking in the woods. They offered us some, but we +wouldn't take any. Harry said he was sick then, but Danny only laughed +at him." + +"That Danny Rugg is a bad boy," said Nan, severely. But she was soon +to see how much meaner Danny could be. + +Workmen had recently finished putting some new water pipes, and a place +for the children to drink, in the school yard, and one morning, +speaking to the whole school, Mr. Tetlow made a little speech, warning +the children not to play with the faucets, and spray the water about, +as some had done, in fun. + +"Whoever is caught playing with the faucets in the yard after this will +be severely punished," he said. + +As it happened, Flossie and Freddie were not at school that day, +Freddie having a slight sore throat. His mother kept him home, and +Flossie would not go without him. So they did not hear the warning, +and Bert and Nan did not think to tell the smaller children of it. + +Two days later Freddie was well enough to go back to class, and Flossie +accompanied him. It was at the morning recess when, as Freddie went to +get a drink at one of the new faucets, Danny saw him. A gleam of +mischief came into the eyes of the school bully. + +"Want to see the water squirt, Freddie?" asked Danny. "That's a new +kind of faucet. It squirts awful far." + +"Does it?" asked Freddie, innocently. "How do you make it?" He had no +idea it was forbidden fun. + +"Just put your thumb over the hole, and turn the water on," directed +Danny. "You, too, Flossie. It won't hurt you." + +Danny looked all around, thinking he was unobserved as he gave this bad +advice. Naturally, Freddie and Flossie, being so young, suspected +nothing. They covered the opening of the faucet with their thumbs, and +turned on the water. It spurted in a fine spray, and they laughed in +glee. That they wet each other did not matter. + +Danny, seeing the success of his trick, walked off as he saw Mr. Tetlow +coming. The Bobbsey twins were so intent on spurting the water that +they did not observe the principal until he was close to them. Then +they started as he called out sharply: + +"Freddie! Flossie! Stop that! You know that it is forbidden! Go to +my office at once and I will come and see you later. You will be +punished for this!" + +With tears in their eyes the little twins obeyed. They could not +understand it. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE CHILDREN'S PARTY + +WHEN Mr. Tetlow, a little later, entered his office he found Flossie +and Freddie standing by one of the windows, looking out on the other +children marching to their classrooms. They had cried a little, but +had stopped now. + +"I am very sorry to have to punish you two twins," said the principal, +"but I had given strict orders that no one was to play with that water. +Why did you do it?" + +"Because," answered Flossie. + +"Danny Rugg told us to," added Freddie. "He said it was a new kind of +faucet." + +"Now be careful," warned Mr. Tetlow. Often before he had heard pupils +say that someone else told them to break certain rules. "Are you sure +about this?" he asked. + +"Yes! sir," said Freddie, eagerly. "Danny told us to do it." + +"But didn't you know it was forbidden?" + +"No, sir," answered Flossie. + +"Why, I spoke of it in all the rooms." + +"We wasn't here yesterday or the day before," said Flossie. "Freddie +was sick." + +Mr. Tetlow began to understand. + +"I will look this up," he said, "and if find--" + +He was interrupted by a boy from one of the higher classes coming in +with a note from his teacher. She wanted a new box of chalk. + +"When you go back, George," said the principal to the boy, as he gave +him what the teacher had sent for, "go to Miss Hegan's class, and have +her send Danny Rugg to me. Flossie and Freddie say he told them to +spray water with one of the new faucets." + +"Yes, sir, he did!" exclaimed George. "I heard him, but I didn't think +they would do it. He did tell them." + +At this unexpected information Mr. Tetlow was much surprised. + +"If that is the case, Danny is the one to be punished," he said. "I am +sorry, Flossie and Freddie, that I suspected you. You may go back to +your class, and I will write your teacher a note, saying you may go out +half an hour ahead of the others to make up for coming to my office. +But, after this, no matter whether anyone tells you or not, don't spray +the water." + +"No, sir, we won't!" exclaimed the Bobbsey twins, now happy again. + +Danny Rugg was punished by being kept in after school for several days, +and Mr. Tetlow sent home a note to his father, explaining what a mean +trick the bully had played. + +"I wish I had heard Danny telling you that--just to get you in +trouble," said Bert, when he was told of what had happened. "I'd have +fixed him." + +"Oh, don't get into any more fights," begged Nan. + +Bert did not come to blows with Danny over this latest trouble, but he +did tell the bully, very plainly, what he thought of him, and said if +Danny ever did a thing like that again that he would not get off so +easily. + +"Oh, I'm not afraid of you," sneered Danny. + +Lessons and fun made up many school days for the Bobbsey twins. And, +as the Fall went on, lessons grew a little harder. Even Freddie and +Flossie, young as they were, had little tasks to do that kept them +busy. But they liked their school and the teacher, and many were the +queer stories they brought home of the happenings in the classroom. + +It was now toward the end of October, and the weather was getting +cooler, though during the day it was still very warm at times. The +twins, as did their friends, looked forward to the coming of Winter and +the Christmas holidays. + +Thanksgiving, too, would be a time of rejoicing and of good things to +eat, and this occasion was to be made more of than usual this time, for +some boys and girls the Bobbseys had met in the country and at the +seashore were to be invited to spend a few days in Lakeport. + +But before this there was another event down on the program. This was +to be a party for Flossie and Freddie, the occasion being their joint +birthdays. + +"And we're going to have candy!" cried Freddie, when the arrangements +were talked over. + +"And ice cream"--added Flossie--"a whole freezer full; aren't we, +mamma?" + +"Well, I guess a small freezer full won't be any too much," said Mrs. +Bobbsey, smiling. "But I hope none of you eat enough to make +yourselves ill." + +"We won't," promised Freddie and Flossie. + +There were busy times in the home of the twins the next few days, for +though Nan and Bert's birthdays were not to be observed, still they +were to have their part in the jolly celebration. + +Invitations were sent out, on little sheets of note paper, adorned with +flowers, and in cute little envelopes. Flossie and Freddie took them +to the post-office themselves. + +"My! what a lot of mail!" exclaimed the clerk at the stamp window, as +he saw the children dropping the invitations into the slot. "Uncle Sam +will have to get some extra men to carry that around, I guess. What's +it all about?" + +"We're going to have a party," said Flossie, proudly. + +Just then Danny Rugg came into the post-office. + +"A party; eh?" he sneered. "I'm coming to it, I am; and I'm going to +have two plates of ice cream." + +"You are not!" cried Freddie. "My mamma wouldn't let a boy like you +come to our party." + +"'Specially not after what you did--telling us to play in the water," +added Freddie. "You can't come!" + +"Yes, I can," insisted Danny, just to tease the children. + +For a moment Flossie and Freddie almost believed him, he seemed so much +in earnest about it. + +"You can't come you haven't any invitation," said Flossie, suddenly. + +"I'll take one of those you put in the box," went on the mean boy. + +"He won't dare--will he?" and Freddie appealed to the mail clerk. + +"I should say not!" said the man at the stamp window. "If he does +Uncle Sam will be after him." + +"Well, I'm coming to that party all the same!" insisted Danny, with a +grin on his freckled face. + +Flossie and Freddie were so worried about him that they told their +mother, but she assured them that Danny would not come to spoil their +fun. + +Finally the afternoon and evening of the party arrived, for the little +folks were to come just before supper, play some games, eat, and then +stay until about nine o'clock. + +Flossie and Freddie had been dressed in their prettiest clothes, and +Nan and Bert also attired for the affair. The ice cream had come from +the store, all packed in ice and salt, and Dinah had set it out on the +back stoop, where it would be cooler. + +Dinah was very busy that day. She hurried about here and there, +helping Mrs. Bobbsey. Sam, her husband, also had plenty to do. + +"I 'clar t' gracious goodness!" Dinah exclaimed, "I suah will get thin +ef dish yeah keeps up! I ain't set down a minute dis blessed day. My +feet'll drop off soon I 'specs." + +"Will they, really, Dinah?" asked Freddie. "And can we watch 'em fall?" + +"Bress yo' hearts, honeys!" exclaimed the colored cook, "I didn't mean +it jest dat way. But suffin's suah gwine t' happen--I feels it in mah +bones!" + +And something was to happen, though not exactly what Dinah expected. + +Finally all was in readiness for the guests. The good things to eat +were in the kitchen, all but the ice cream, which, as I have said, was +out on the back porch. Flossie and Freddie had gone to the front door +nearly a dozen times to see if any of the guests were in sight. Snap, +as a special favor, had been allowed to stay in the house that +afternoon, for the twins were going to make him do tricks for their +friends. + +There came a ring at the door bell. + +"Here they come! Here they come!" cried Flossie. + +"Let me answer, too," cried Freddie, and they both hurried through the +front hall to greet the first guest at their party. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE + +QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others. Nellie +Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister +Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter +children being some of their bestliked playmates. + +All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a +bit stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the +walls, or sitting on chairs. + +The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the +girls in another. Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy +answering the door that they did not notice this at first. + +But Aunt Sarah, their mother's sister, who had come over to help Mrs. +Bobbsey, looking in the parlor and library, saw what the trouble was. + +"My!" she cried, with a goodnatured laugh, as she noticed how "stiff" +the children were. "This will never do. You're not that way at +school, I don't believe. Come, be lively. Mix up--play games. +Pretend this is recess at school, and make as much noise as you like." + +For a moment the boys and girls did not know what to think of this +invitation. But just then Snap, the circus dog, came in the room, and, +with a bark of welcome, he turned a somersault, and then marched around +on his hind legs, carrying a broomstick like a gun--pretending he was a +soldier. Bert had given it to him. + +Then how the children laughed and clapped their hands! And Snap barked +so loudly--for he liked applause that there was noise enough for even +jolly Aunt Sarah. After that there was no trouble. The boys and girls +talked together and soon they were playing games, and having the best +kind of fun. + +For some of the games simple prizes had been offered and it was quite +exciting toward the end to see who would win. Flossie and Freddie +thought they had never had such a good time in all their lives. Nan +and Bert were enjoying themselves, too, with their friends, who were +slightly older than those who had been asked for the younger Bobbsey +twins. + +"Going to Jerusalem," was one game that created lots of enjoyment. A +number of chairs were placed in the centre of the room, and the boys +and girls marched around them while Mrs. Bobbsey played the piano. But +there was one less chair than there were players, so that when the +music would suddenly stop, which was a signal for each one who could, +to sit down, someone was sure to be left. Then this one had to stay +out of the game. + +Then a chair would be taken away, so as always to have one less than +the number of players, and the game went on. It was great fun, +scrambling to see who would get a seat, and not be left without one, +and finally there was but one chair left, while Grace Lavine and John +Blake marched about. Mrs. Bobbsey kept playing quite some time, as the +two went around and around that one chair. Everyone was laughing, +wondering who would get a seat and so win the game, when, all at once, +Mrs. Bobbsey stopped the music. She had her back turned so it would be +perfectly fair. + +Grace and John made a rush for the one chair, but Grace got to it +first, and so she won. + +"Well, I'm glad you did, anyhow," said John, politely. + +Other games were "peanut races" and "potato scrambles." In the first +each player had a certain number of peanuts and they had to start at +one end of the room, and lay the nuts at equal distances apart across +to the other side, coming back each time to their pile of peanuts to +get one. + +Sometimes a boy would slip, he was in such a hurry, or a girl would +drop her peanuts, and this made fun and confusion. + +Nan won this race easily. + +In the potato scramble several rows of potatoes were made across the +room. Each player was given a large spoon, and whoever first took up +all his or her potatoes in the spoons one at a time, and piled them up +at the far end of the room, won the game. In this Charley Mason was +successful, and won the prize--a pretty little pin for his tie. + +The afternoon wore on, and, almost before the children realized it the +hour for supper had arrived. They were not sorry, either, for they all +had good appetites. + +"Come into the dining room, children," invited Mrs. Bobbsey. + +And Oh! such gasps of pleased surprise as were heard when the children +saw what had been prepared for them! For Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey, while +not going to any great expense, and not making the children's party too +fanciful, had made it beautiful and simple. + +The long table was set with dishes and pretty glasses. There were +flowers in the centre, and at each end, and also blooms in vases about +the room. Then, from the centre chandelier to the four corners of the +table, were strings of green smilax in which had been entwined +carnations of various colors. + +The lights were softly glowing on the pretty scene, and there were +prettily shaded candles to add to the effect. But what caught the eyes +of all the children more than anything else were two large cakes--one +at either end of the table. + +On each cake burned five candles, and on one cake was the name +"Flossie," while the other was marked "Freddie." The names were in +pink icing on top of the white frosting that covered the birthday cakes. + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" could be heard all about the room. "Isn't that too +sweet for anything!" + +"I guess they are sweet!" piped up Freddie in his shrill little voice, +"'cause Dinah put lots of sugar in 'em; didn't you, Dinah?" and he +looked at Dinah, who had thrust her laughing, black, goodnatured face +into the dining room door. + +"Dat's what I did, honey! Dat's what I did!" she exclaimed. "If +anybody's got a toofache he'd better not eat any ob dem cakes, 'cause +dey suah am sweet." + +How the children laughed at that! + +"All ready, now, children, sit down," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Your names +are at your plates." + +There was a little confusion getting them all seated, as those on one +side of the table found that their name cards were on the other side. +But Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert, helped the guests to find +their proper places and soon everyone was in his or her chair. + +"Can't Snap sit with us, too?" asked Freddie, looking about for his +pet, who had done all his tricks well that evening. + +"No, dear," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Snap is a good dog, but we don't want +him in the dining room when we are eating. It gives him bad habits." + +"Then can't I send him out some cakes?" asked Flossie, for Snap had +almost as large a "sweet tooth" as the children themselves. + +"Yes, as it is your birthday, I suppose you can give him some of your +good things," said Mamma Bobbsey. + +"Here, Dinah!" called Freddie to the cook, as he piled a plate full of +cakes. "Please give these to Snap." + +"Land sakes goodness me alive!" cried Dinah. "Dat suah am queer. +Feedin' a dog jest laik a human at a party. I can't bring mahself to +it, nohow." + +"I'll take 'em out to him," said her husband. + +Then the feast began, and such a feast as it was! Mrs. Bobbsey, +knowing how easily the delicate stomachs of children can be upset, had +wisely selected the food and sweets, and she saw to it that no one ate +too much, though she was gently suggestive about it instead of ordering. + +"Don't eat too much," advised Freddie to some of the friends who sat +near him. "We've got a lot of ice cream coming. Save room for that." + +"That's so--I almost forgot," spoke Jimmie Black. + +A little later Mrs. Bobbsey said to Dinah: + +"I think you may bring in the cream now, and I will help you serve it." + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Oh, goodie!" cried Freddie. "Ice cream's coming!" and he waved his +spoon above his head. + +"Freddie--Freddie!" said his mother, in gentle reproof. + +Dinah went out on the back stoop, looked around and came running back +to the dining room, where Mrs. Bobbsey was. Dinah's eyes were big with +wonder and surprise. + +"Mrs. Bobbsey! Mrs. Bobbsey!" she cried. "Suffin's done gone an' +happened!" + +"What is it?" asked Mamma Bobbsey, quickly. "Is anyone hurt?" + +"No'm, but dat ice cream freezer hate jest gone and walked right off de +back stoop, an' it ain't dere at all, nohow! De ice cream is all gone!" + +The children looked at one another with pained surprise showing on +their faces. + +The ice cream was gone! + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A COAT BUTTON + +ASTONISHMENT, surprise and disappointment were so great for a few +seconds after the discovery that the best part of the party--the ice +cream--was gone, that no one knew, what to say. Then Flossie burst out +with: + +"Are you sure, Dinah? Maybe it fell off the porch." + +"Deed an' it didn't, honey gal. I done looked eberywhar fo' dat +freezer, an' it's jest gone complete." + +"Maybe Snap took it," suggested Freddie, as a last hope. "Once he took +my book and hid it. Snap, did you take the ice cream?" + +Snap barked and wagged his tail, looking rather pained at being asked +such a question. + +"No, indeedy, Snap couldn't take off a big freezer like dat," declared +Dinah. "It wasn't Snap." + +"Then who could it have been?" asked Nan. Everyone had stopped eating +while this talk went on. "Who could have taken our ice cream?" + +"Dat's what I don't know, honey," answered the colored cook. "Dat's +why I comed in heah to tell yo' mamma. I 'spects, Mrs. Bobbsey, dat +we'd better phonograph fo' de police." + +"Phonograph--I guess you mean telephone; don't you, Dinah?" asked Mrs. +Bobbsey, with a smile. + +"Yes'm, dat's what I done mean. Or else maybe we kin send mah man Sam +down to de station house fo' 'em." + +"No, I had better telephone, in case it is necessary. But perhaps I +had better take a look out there. Perhaps the man from the store may +have set the cream off to one side." + +"No'm, he didn't do dat. I took p'ticlar notice where he set it. +Dere's a wet ringmark on de porch where de freezer was, 'count of de +salty water leakin' out. An' dat wet ringmark am all dat's left ob de +cream, dar now!" and Dinah, standing with her hands on her hips, looked +at the startled children, whose mouths were just ready for the ice +cream. + +"Well, I'm going to have a look, anyhow," said Bert. "Come on, +Charley. Maybe, after all, that Danny Rugg is up to some of his tricks." + +"I'm with you, Bert!" cried Charley. "But we ought to have some sort +of a light. It's dark out." + +"I'll get my little pocket electric light," said Bert. He had one, and +it gave a good light. He went to his room for it. + +Flossie and Freddie did not know what to do. That their lovely party +should be spoiled by the missing ice cream seemed too bad to be true. + +"Mamma, if we can't find this ice cream, can't we buy more?" Flossie +wanted to know. "The girls just want some--so bad!" + +"And the boys, too," added Freddie. + +"Oh, I guess we'll manage to get some fo you, if we can't find this," +answered Mrs. Bobbsey. "We may have to wait a little while for it, +though." + +"Well, we'll have a look," said Bert, as he came down with his little +electric lamp. Some of his own particular chums, including Charley +Mason, followed him out to the back porch, Dinah was in her kitchen, +looking behind tables, under the sink, in the pantry and all about, +hoping that, somehow or other, the freezer might have gotten in there. +But it was not to be found. + +"Well, here's where it stood," said Bert, as he looked at the round, +wet mark on the porch where the freezer had set. He flashed his torch +on it, and then cried out: + +"And look, boys, here are some spots of water that must have leaked +from the wooden tub that holds the tin freezer. See, the water has +dripped down on each step! This is the way they carried off our ice +cream." + +The others could see a trail of water drops leading from the stoop down +the steps and along the stone walk at the side of the Bobbsey house. + +"Now we can follow and see just where they took our cream!" cried Bert. +"This is the way Indians used to trail the white settlers." + +"Let me come!" cried Freddie, hearing this. "I want to help hunt +whoever took our ice cream." + +"No, you'd better stay back there," said Bert. + +"Why?" his little brother wanted to know. + +"Because it might be--tramps--who have it, and there'd be trouble," +said Bert. + +"Wait until I get my cap pistol!" cried Freddie. "I can scare a tramp +with that." + +"No, you go back there, and stay in the house," went on Bert. "If we +find tramps have it, we'll get a policeman." + +"It might be that a tramp did steal up on the steps, and lift off the +freezer," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Bert, be careful," she called to her +son, who set off in the darkness with his chums, flashing his electric +light from time to time. + +"I'll look out!" he called back. + +For some distance it was easy to see which way the ice cream freezer +had been carried, for there were the marks of the dripping water. Then +these stopped about the middle of the sidewalk, and seemed to go over +in the grass. + +"We can't see 'em now," spoke Charley. "That's too bad." + +"Well, we'll keep on this way in a straight line," suggested Bert. +"Maybe they took the freezer down back of our berry bushes to eat the +cream." + +"I hope they left some," said John Anderson, in a mournful sort of +voice. + +Hurrying on after Bert, the boys looked eagerly about in the darkness +for a sign of the missing ice cream. There were not many chances of +them finding it, for though Bert's electric torch gave a brilliant +light for a short distance, it was not very large. + +"What's over there?" asked Charley, pausing and pointing to a patch of +blackness. + +"An old barn, that we used to use before we had our new one built," +answered Bert. "Why?" + +"Well, maybe they took the ice cream in there to eat it," went on +Charley. "Is it open?" + +"Yes, it's never locked. Say, we'll take a look in there, anyhow!" +exclaimed Bert. "Come on, fellows!" + +He led the way, the others following. As they approached the big, +deserted barn Frank Black exclaimed in a whisper: + +"I see a light!" + +"So do I!" added Will Evans. + +"And it's moving around," spoke Charley Mason. + +"It's them, all right," decided Bert. "The tramps who took our ice +cream are in there, all right!" + +"What makes you think they are tramps?" asked Will. + +"Well, I'm not sure, of course," admitted Bert. "But we can soon tell. +Come on!" + +"Are you--are you going up there?" asked Charley. + +"Sure! Why not? I think we can scare em away." + +The other boys hesitated. Some of them were older than Bert, and when +they saw that he was determined to go on, they made up their minds that +they would not let him go alone. + +"All right--go ahead--we're with you," said Charley. + +Bert and the others advanced. As they walked on they could see the +light in the barn more plainly. And, as they stopped for a moment they +could hear voices talking in low tones. + +"More than one," whispered Charley. + +"Yes, three or four," said Bert. + +They walked ahead again, when suddenly Charley stepped on a stick that +broke with a loud snap. In an instant the light in the barn went out, +and then could be heard the footsteps of several persons running away. + +"There they are!" shouted Bert, dashing forward. "Come on, fellows! +We'll get 'em now!" + +"That's right!" cried Charley. "Come on, surround 'em!" + +Of course this was all said for effect, as the boys had no idea of +trying to capture the tramps, or whoever it was that had taken the ice +cream. But Bert thought that they could scare the thieves away, for +the latter could not tell, in the darkness, how many, nor who were +after them. + +Flashing his light, Bert dashed ahead, followed by the others. Into +the big barn they went, and, just as they entered the main part, they +had a glimpse of someone running out of a side door. + +"There they go!" cried Charley. "We can catch 'em!" + +"No, let 'em go," advised Bert. "Here's our ice cream. Let's see if +there's any left. If there is we'll take it back to the party. We +might get into trouble if we went after those fellows." + +By the gleam of the electric light they could all see the freezer of +cream in the middle of the barn floor, near some upturned boxes. A +hasty look showed that only a little had been taken out. + +"There's plenty left!" said Bert. "We surprised 'em just in time. Now +let's get beck to the house." + +It was rather a triumphant procession that went back to the home of the +Bobbsey twins, carrying the recovered ice cream freezer. And such a +shout of delight from Flossie, Freddie and the others as greeted the +boys! + +"Is there any left?" asked Freddie. + +"Plenty," said Bert. + +"And did you catch the bad tramps?" Flossie wanted to know. + +"They got away," her brother said. "But never mind, we scared them +before they had a chance to eat much." + +"I 'clar t' goodness sakes alive!" gasped Dinah, when she saw the ice +cream freezer carried into her kitchen, "yo' am suttinly a smart boy, +Massa Bert--dat's what yo' suah am!" + +"Oh, well, the others helped me find it," said Bert, modestly. + +As Dinah and Mrs. Bobbsey were dishing out the cream, the colored cook +uttered a cry. + +"Look out!" she exclaimed. "Dere's suffin black in dere, Mrs. Bobbsey. +Maybe it's a stone dem careless tramps put in. Wait 'till I gits it +out." + +With a longhandled spoon Dinah fished for the black thing, and got it. +She put it in a dish, with a small portion of the ice cream, and when +the latter had melted, Bert, who was inspecting the object, gave a cry +of surprise. + +"Why, it's a button--a coat button!" he exclaimed. + +"A button? How in the world could that get in there?" asked his +mother. "Unless you boys dropped it in when you were carrying the +cream." + +Bert and the other boys quickly looked at their coats. There were no +buttons missing. + +"An' it suah wasn't in when de cream come heah," said Dinah. "I knows, +fo I took off de kiver an' looked in t' see how hard it were froze. +Dat button got in since!" + +"Yes, and I think I know how, too!" exclaimed Bert. + +"How?" asked Freddie. + +"It was dropped in by whoever took the freezer. They must have been +eating the cream right out of the can, and maybe they dropped the +button in. I'll save it." + +"What for?" asked Nan, wonderingly. + +"I may be able to find out by it, who took the freezer," went on Bert. +"I'm going to look at the coats of all the fellows in school next week, +and if I find one with the button like this missing, I'll know what to +think." + +"Be careful not to accuse anyone wrongly," cautioned his mother. + +Bert put the button carefully away, and the party guests were soon +eating their ice cream, and discussing the disappearance of the freezer +and the finding of it by the boys. Then with the playing of more +games, and the singing of songs, the affair came to a close, and +goodnights were said. + +"We've had a lovely time!" said the boys and girls to Flossie and +Freddie, as they left. "Glad you did--come again," invited the small +Bobbsey twins. + +Even Snap seemed to have enjoyed himself. + +And when the house was settling down to quietness for the night, and +when Dinah and Mrs. Bobbsey were picking up the dishes, the circus dog +marched around like a soldier, with a stick for a gun, and one of the +fancy caps, that came in the "surprise" packets, on his head. + +When Bert went to bed that night he laid the button found in the ice +cream where he would be sure to see it in the morning. + +"I'm going to find out whose coat that came off of," he said to himself. + +The little Bobbsey twins slept late the next morning, and so did Nan, +but Bert was up early. + +"I'm going over to the barn, and see if I can tell by looking around +it, how many were at our freezer," he said. + +But there was nothing there to help him in his search. Some old boxes, +placed in a sort of circle, showed where the ones who had taken the ice +cream, had rested to eat it. + +"They must have had spoons with them," said Bert to himself, as he +looked about, "That shows they came all prepared to take our ice cream. +So they must have known it was going to be here. Well, I'll see whose +coat has a button missing." + +It took Bert some days to look carefully at the coats of the various +boys in school, who might have been guilty of taking the cream. For a +time he had no luck, and then, one afternoon, as he noticed Danny Rugg +wearing a coat he seldom had on, Bert walked slowly up to him, clasping +the button, with his hand, in his pocket. + +His heart beat fast as he noticed that from the middle of Danny's coat +a button was gone. + +And a glance at the others showed Bert that they were just like the one +found in the ice cream freezer. + +"I see you've lost a button, Danny," said Bert, slowly. + +"Hey?" exclaimed the bully, with a start. + +"I see you've lost a button," repeated Bert. + +"Yes, I guess it dropped off. Maybe it's home somewhere," said Danny. + +"No, it isn't--it's here!" exclaimed Bert, suddenly holding the button +out to him. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THANKSGIVING + +FOR a moment Danny Rugg just stared at Bert. Then the bully swallowed +a sort of lump that came in his throat, and said: + +"That isn't my button." + +"Isn't it?" asked Bert, politely. "Why, it just matches the others on +your coat, and it's got a few threads in the holes, and there are some +threads in your coat, just where the button was pulled off. I guess +it's your button, all right, Danny." + +Danny did not say anything. He looked from the button to Bert, and +then at the space on his coat where a button should have been, but +where one was missing. + +"Well--well," he stammered. "Maybe it is off my coat, but--but how did +you get it, Bert Bobbsey?" + +"I found it," was the answer. "Don't you want it back?" + +He held it out to Danny, who took it slowly. + +"Well," went on Bert, with a queer little smile at his enemy, "why +don't you ask me where I found it, Danny?" + +"Huh! I don't care where you found it. I s'pose you picked it up +around the school yard, where I lost it, playing tag with the fellows." + +"No, you didn't lose it there," went on Bert, still smiling. "You have +another guess coming, Danny." + +"Pooh! I don't care where you found it," and Danny was about to turn +away. + +"Wait a minute," said Bert. "Suppose I say that this button was found +in our freezer of ice cream, that you and some other boys took off our +stoop the night of Flossie's and Freddie's party, Danny? What about +that?" + +"It isn't--I didn't--you can't prove anything about me, Bert Bobbsey, +and if you go around telling that I took your ice cream, I--" + +But Danny did not know what else to say. He was confused and his face +was white and red by turns, for he realized that Bert had good proof of +what he said. + +"Better go slow," advised Bert, calmly. "I don't intend to go around +telling what you did. I just want to let you know that I am sure you +took our ice cream. + +"I--I" began Danny. "You're only trying to fool me!" he exclaimed. +"That button wasn't in it at all!" + +"Wasn't it?" asked Bert, quietly. "Well, you just ask Charley Mason, +or any of the fellows who were at the party, what we found in the +freezer, and see what they say." + +Danny had nothing to reply to this. Thrusting the button in his pocket +he walked off. Bert was sure he had found the boy who had taken the +ice cream. + +Later, from a boy who had been friends with Danny for some time, but +whose father, afterward, decided that his son was getting into bad +company, and made him cease playing with the school bully, Bert learned +that Danny had planned to take the ice cream freezer off the porch. + +He and several boys did this, carrying it to the old barn. They had +provided themselves with large spoons, and were having a good time, +eating the cream, when they heard the approach of Bert and his friends, +and fled, leaving the cream behind. + +It was during a dispute as to who should have the right to first dip +into the freezer that Danny and a boy named Jake Harkness had a +struggle, and in this Danny lost a button which fell into the ice cream +without anyone knowing it. The coat Danny wore that night he did not +put on again for some time, but when he did Bert saw the missing button. + +Danny knew that he had been found out, and for a time he had little to +say. But Bert was boy enough not to be able to keep altogether quiet +over his discovery. From time to time he would ask Danny: + +"Lost any more buttons, lately?" + +"You let me alone!" Danny would reply, surlily. + +Of course this made talk, the boys wanting to know what it meant, and +at last the story came out. This made Danny so angry that he picked +several quarrels with Bert. On his part Bert tried to avoid them, but +at last he could stand it no longer, and he and Danny came to blows +again, Danny striking first. + +Bert had been brought up with the idea that fighting, unless it could +absolutely be avoided, was not gentlemanly, but in this case he could +not get out of it. + +He and Danny went at each other with their fists clenched, a crowd of +other boys looking on, and urging one or the other to do their best, +for both Danny and Bert had friends, though Bert was the best liked. + +Danny struck Bert several times, and Bert hit back, once hitting Danny +in the eye. Bert's lip was cut, and when the fight was over both boys +did not look very nice. But everyone said Bert had the best of it. + +"Oh, Bert!" exclaimed his mother, when he came home after the trouble +with Danny. "You've been fighting!" + +"Yes, mother, I have," he admitted. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help +it. Danny Rugg hit me first. I couldn't run away, could I?" + +It was a hard question for a mother to answer. No mother likes to +think her son a coward, and that was what the boys would have called +Bert had he not stood up to Danny. + +"I--I just had to!" continued Bert. "And I beat him, anyhow, mother." + +Mrs. Bobbsey cried a little, and then she made the best of it, and +bathed Bert's cut lip and bruised forehead. She told his father about +it, too, and Mr. Bobbsey, after hearing the account, asked: + +"Who won?" + +"Well, Bert says he did?" + +"Um. Well, I've no doubt but what he did. He's getting quite strong." + +"Oh, Richard!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, in dismay. + +"Well, boys will er--have their little troubles," said her husband. +"I'm sorry Bert had to fight, but I'm glad he wasn't a coward. But he +mustn't fight any more." + +Then Mr. Bobbsey sat down to read the evening paper. + +The weather was getting cooler. Several nights there had been heavy +frosts, and for some time the papers had been saying that it was going +to snow, but the white flakes did not sift down from the sky. + +Thanksgiving was approaching. It was the end of the Fall term of +school, and there were to be examinations to see who would pass into +the next higher classes for the Winter season. + +Of course in the case of Freddie and Flossie, who were still in the +kindergarten, the examinations were not very hard, but they were soon +to go into the regular primary class, where they would learn to read. +And both the twins were very anxious for this. Bert and Nan had +somewhat harder lessons to do, and they had to answer more difficult +questions in the examinations. + +But I am glad to say that all of the Bobbsey twins were promoted, and +Freddie and Flossie came home very proud to tell that when they went +back again, after the Thanksgiving holidays, they would be in the +primer reading book. + +And such preparations as went on for Thanksgiving! Dinah was busy from +morning until night, and when the little twins made inquiries about the +turkey they were to have Mr. Bobbsey said it would be the biggest he +could buy. + +"An' I'se gwine t' stuff him wif chestnuts an' oysters," said Dinah. +"I tells you what, chilluns, yo' all am suttinly gwine to hab one grand +feed." + +"I wish everybody was," said Flossie, a bit wistfully. "I hope our cat +Snoop, wherever he is, has plenty of milk, and some nice turkey bones." + +"I guess he will have," said Mamma Bobbsey, gently. + +"I hope all the poor children in our school have enough to eat," said +Freddie. "Mr. Tetlow said for us to bring what we could for them." + +"And you never told me!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why didn't you? I +would have sent something." + +Neither Bert nor Nan had thought to mention at home that a collection +would be taken at the school for the poor families in the town. But as +soon as Mrs. Bobbsey heard what Freddie said she telephoned to her +husband. Mr. Bobbsey went to see Mr. Tetlow, and from him learned that +there were a number of families who would not have a very happy +Thanksgiving. + +Then the lumber merchant gave certain orders to his grocer and butcher, +and if a number of poor people were not well supplied with food that +gladsome season, it was not the fault of Mr. Bobbsey. + +But I am getting a little ahead of my story. + +A few days before Thanksgiving Mrs. Bobbsey, with a letter in her hand, +came to where the four twins were in the sitting room, talking over +what they wanted for Christmas. + +"Guess who are coming to spend Thanksgiving with us!" cried Mamma +Bobbsey, as she waved the letter in the air. + +"Uncle Bobbsey!" guessed Nan. + +"Uncle Minturn," said Bert. + +The little twins guessed other friends and relatives, and finally Mrs. +Bobbsey said: + +"Yes, your Uncle Bobbsey and Uncle Minturn are coming, and so are your +aunts, and Cousin Harry, Cousin Dorothy and also Hal Bingham, whom you +met at the seashore." + +"Oh, what a jolly Thanksgiving it will be!" cried the Bobbsey twins. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS + +THANKSGIVING was celebrated in the Bobbsey home as it never had been +before. I am afraid if I told you all that went on, of the big, +brownroasted turkey, of the piles of crisp turkey, of the pumpkin and +mince pies, of the nuts and candies, of the big dishes of cranberry +sauce, and the plum pudding that Dinah carried in high above her +head--I am afraid if I told you of all these things there would be +trouble. + +For I am sure you would all be writing to me to ask where the Bobbseys +lived, so that you might go and see them, and perhaps spend Christmas +with them. Not that they would not be glad to have you, but they have +so many friends that their house is sure to be filled over the holidays. + +So I will simply say that there was the grandest time ever, and let it +go at that. + +Uncle and Aunt Bobbsey--Uncle and Aunt Minturn, from the country and +seashore, came, with Cousin Dorothy and Cousin Harry then, also, Hal +Bingham arrived, and the Bobbsey twins took great delight in showing +their former playmates about Lakeport. + +"Isn't it lonesome at the seashore now?" asked Nan of Dorothy, as she +walked with her cousin about the busy streets of the town. + +"Not at all," answered Dorothy. "The sea is never lonesome for me. It +always seems to be telling me something, Winter or Summer. + +"I love it in the Summer," said Nan, "but in the Winter it seems so +cold and cruel." + +"That is because you do not know it as well as I do," said Dorothy. + +Hal, Harry, and Bert had fine times together. There was no skating, +and the little flurry of snow there had been was not enough for +coasting, but they had other fun. + +"Do your ducks miss our duck Downy?" asked Freddie of his cousin Harry. + +"Well, I guess they do," was the laughing answer, for Freddie and +Flossie had a pet duck which they took about with them almost as +faithfully as they did Snoop. "How is Downy, anyhow?" asked Harry. + +"He's fine," answered the little fellow. "Want to see him?" and he +took his cousin out to the barn where Downy had a pen all to himself. + +"Snoop's gone," said Freddie, "and so is our silver cup, but maybe +we'll get that back. It's in a circus." + +"In a circus!" cried Harry. "I should think your cat might be in a +circus, but not a silver cup." + +"We don't know where Snoop is," went on Freddie, "'cause he got away at +the time of the circus wreck," and he explained about it. "But we are +almost sure the circus fat lady has our cup." + +The Thanksgiving holidays came to an end at last and, much to the +regret of the Bobbseys, their visitors, old and young, had to go back +to their homes. + +"But you'll come again at Christmas, won't you?" asked Flossie as she +said goodbye. + +"We'll try," said her Uncle Bobbsey. "But maybe there won't be room, +with Santa Claus and all his reindeers." + +"Oh, we'll make room for you," spoke Freddie. "Santa Claus won't stay +long." + +With a merry peal of laughter the visitors went off to the station, +waving farewells. Then came rather a quiet time at the Bobbsey house, +as there always is when visitors go. There seems to be a sort of +loneliness, when company leaves, no matter how many there are in the +family, nor what fun there is. But the feeling soon passes. + +"Well, we'll soon be at school again," said Bert, a day or so before +the opening of the Winter term. "I wish we'd get some snow. Then it +would be more fun." + +"Yes," said Freddie. "We could build snow forts and have snowball +fights. I wish it would snow hard." + +"So do I, so we could ride down hill," said Nan. "Is your big bob +nearly done, Bert?" + +"No, Charley and I have quite a lot of things to do on it yet, but +we're going to work every night after school now, and it will soon be +finished." + +"I'm going to have skates for Christmas," announced Freddie. "I hope +the lake will be frozen over by then." + +"I guess it will be," returned Bert. "It's getting colder every night." + +The Bobbseys were back at school. For a time Nan and Bert, who were in +a higher grade, did not like it so well, as they had a strange teacher, +and lessons, too, were more difficult. But they were not children who +gave up easily, and soon they were at the head of their class as usual. +Their teacher, too, was much nicer than they had thought at first. +They had considered her stern, but it was only her way, and soon wore +off. + +As for Freddie and Flossie, they had advanced but little except in +reading, and this opened a new world to them. + +"We'll soon be reading books," boasted Freddie, on his way home one day. + +"And I'm going to read all about firemen, soldiers and Indians." + +"Oh, I'm not," said Flossie. "I'm going to read how to be a nurse, so +I can take care of you when you're hurt." + +"That will be nice," said Freddie. + +One day, at recess, Bert saw Jim Osborne motioning to him in a secret +sort of fashion. + +"Come on with us," said Jim, who was a new boy in school. "Danny Rugg +and some of the rest of us are going to have some sport." + +"What doing?" asked Bert. + +"Smoking cigarettes back of the coal house. I've got a whole pack." + +"No; I don't smoke," said Bert quietly. + +"Bah! You're afraid!" sneered Jim. + +"Cigarettes can't hurt you. It's only cigars and pipes that do." + +"Yes, I admit I am afraid," said Bert. "I'm afraid of getting sick. +Besides, I promised my mother I wouldn't smoke until I was twenty-one, +and I'm not going to tell a story. Anyhow, I've got an uncle who +smokes, and he says cigarettes are worse than a pipe or cigars, and he +ought to know." + +"Aw, come on!" urged Jim. + +"No," said Bert firmly, and he would not go. Jim went off with Danny +and some of the other boys, and they were laughing among themselves. +Bert felt that they were laughing at him, but he did not mind. + +There was to be an examination of the school by some of the members of +the Board of Education late that afternoon, and, directly after recess, +Mr. Tetlow went to each room to tell the pupils and teachers to get +ready for it, and to put certain work on the blackboards, so it could +be seen. + +When the principal got to the room where Danny Rugg and his particular +chums sat, Mr Tetlow, sniffing the air suspiciously, said: + +"I smell smoke!" + +"I have been noticing it, too," said the lady teacher. "Perhaps the +furnace does not work properly." + +"It isn't that kind of smoke," went on Mr. Tetlow. "It is tobacco +smoke. Have any of you boys been smoking during recess?" he asked +sternly, looking across the room. + +No one answered. Danny, Jim, and some of the others seemed to be +studying their geography lessons very hard. + +"I just want to say a word about cigarette smoking," went on Mr. +Tetlow, "for that is usually how a boy begins. Of smoking in general, +when a boy gets to be a man, I have nothing to say. Some say it is +injurious, and others not, in moderation. But there can be no doubt +that for a growing boy to smoke is very harmful. Again I ask if anyone +here has been smoking?" + +No one replied. The guilty boys bent deep over their books and did not +look up. + +"Well, I am sure someone here has," said Mr. Tetlow. "I can smell it +plainly." He walked down the aisles, looking sharply from one boy to +another. If he was sure who were the guilty ones he gave no sign. +"And I want to add," said Mr. Tetlow, "that not only is cigarette +smoking harmful to the smoker, but it is dangerous. Many fires have +been caused in that way. If I find out who of my pupils have been +smoking around the school they will be severely punished." + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE FIRST SNOW + +THERE was considerable talk among the boys in Danny's room after Mr. +Tetlow departed. And it was noticed that Danny and some of his +particular friends looked around with rather frightened faces, over +their shoulders, as they talked among themselves. What they said could +not be heard, for they spoke in whispers. + +"I hope you weren't one of those boys, Bert," said Nan, as she passed +her brother on the way home from school that afternoon. "If you were--" + +"You needn't worry," he said, with a smile. "I'm not ready to smoke +yet." + +"Nor ever, I hope," said Nan, as she turned up her little nose. +"It--it smells so." + +Nothing more was heard of the smoking matter for several days, and it +was about forgotten, when something else came to claim the attention of +the Bobbsey twins and their friends. + +It was toward the close of school one afternoon, when all the pupils +were wishing the hands of the clock would point to letting-out time, +that Nan, looking from the window, and away from her arithmetic book, +saw a few white flakes of snow sifting lazily down. At once she was +all attention, and her lesson was forgotten. + +"Oh!" she thought, "it's snowing! And it looks as if it would be a big +storm. Oh, I'm so glad!" + +Nan did not know all the trouble and misery a big snow storm can cause, +so she may be forgiven for wishing for one. She only saw the side of +it that meant fun for her and her friends. + +The flakes were coming down faster now, and there was about them +something which seemed to tell that this storm would be more than a +mere flurry or squall, and that it would keep up for some time, making +big drifts. + +But now a number of other pupils in the room had noticed the storm, and +eyes were out of doors rather than on books. The teacher saw that she +was not getting the attention of her class, and she understood the +reason. + +"Now, boys and girls," she said gently, "you can have a good time in +the snow after you get out of here. So please give attention to your +lessons for a few minutes more. Then you will be finished. Nan +Bobbsey, you may go to the board and do the third example." + +But Nan was thinking so much of the fun she might have riding down +hill, or snowballing with her friends, that she got the example wrong, +and had to go to her seat. Nor was Bert any more successful. + +Bert was busy thinking about putting a bell and a steering wheel on the +new bob he and Charley had made, and when he was asked how many times +two and a half went into ten he answered: "Three." He was thinking +how many times he would ring the bell on the bob when he came to a +street crossing. + +When the Bobbsey twins, little and big, came out of school the snow was +coming down more thickly. The flakes were not so large, but there were +more of them, and they blew here and there in the wind, drifting into +piles that would make the shoveling off of walks hard the next day. + +There were just about enough of the white crystals on the ground, when +the school children came out to make a few snowballs, and this they at +once proceeded to do. + +Danny Rugg, who had not forgiven Bert for the many times the Bobbsey +lad had gotten the best of him, threw a ball at Freddie. But Bert was +on the watch, and managed to jump up and catch the white missile in his +hand. Then he threw it at Danny, striking him on the neck. + +"Here! Where you throwin'?" demanded Danny, in angry tones. + +"The same place you are," replied Bert, not a bit afraid. "Good +weather for ice cream, Danny," he added, and Danny went off in an angry +fashion. + +Other boys and girls too, threw the snowballs, but it was in +goodnatured fun, and no one was hurt. Some rough boys did use hard +snowballs, but they were soon left to play among themselves, while the +others amused themselves with soft and fluffy missiles, which, breaking +as they hit, scattered the white stuff all over, harming no one. + +The girls, while they played at this sport, also indulged in washing +the faces of each other. With handsful of snow they rubbed the ears +and cheeks of their chums so that there came a healthy glow to the skin. + +One or two children, who lived near the school, ran in their yards as +soon as the classes were dismissed, and brought out their sleds. But +the snow was too thin to pack well and at best the coasting was not +good. + +"But it soon will be," declared Bert, as he and Charley walked along. +"We must finish our bob in a hurry." + +"All right. We'll work on it late tonight." + +And so the sound of hammer, plane and saw was heard in the old barn, +where the sled was being built, until nearly ten o'clock. + +"She ought to go very fast!" exclaimed Charley, as they paused to look +at their sled. + +"I'm sure she will," agreed Bert. "And we'll put some carpet on the +top of the main board, for a cushion for some of the girls." His chum +agreed that this would be a good plan, and so the bob was made very +attractive for the girls. + +Bert and Charley took the big sled out for a private trial on a little +hill behind the barn without telling anyone about it. They slid down +very swiftly, and as they were walking up again Bert said: + +"I think we have a fast one all right, Charley." + +"I'm sure we have," was the answer. + +"It will pass anything on the main hill," went on Bert, and his friend +believed him. + +The storm kept up all night, and in the morning there was snow enough +to suit anyone. Bert laughed as he looked out of the window and saw it. + +"There'll be coasting now all right!" he cried, as he saw the big +stretch of white over the fields and on the hills. "We can have bob +sled races, too." + +"Can't we come?" asked Flossie. + +"We like sled rides," added Freddie. + +"You may come part of the time," answered Bert. "But big sleds aren't +for little folks like you." + +Not far from the Bobbsey home was a long hill that was most excellent +for coasting. It was on this that Charley and Bert had decided to test +their new sled on a long stretch. + +As they hauled it from the barn where it had been made, and started to +pull it to the hill, there were many laughs at the odd homemade affair. +For Bert and Charley had done most of the work themselves, and it was +rather rough. + +"She'll never coast!" cried one boy, with a laugh. He was quite a +friend of Danny's. + +"Here comes the sled that can, though!" cried another, and Danny +himself came into view, pulling a fine, new, big bob after him. + +"That's the fastest one on the hill," boasted another lad who was +helping Danny pull his sled. + +"Well, I think ours is fast, too," said Bert calmly. + +"Do you want to race?" asked Danny with a sharp glance at Bert. + +"I don't mind," was the answer. It was after school, following the +first snow, and the hill was just right for coasting. + +"Come on! Come on!" cried a number of boys and girls, as they heard +what went on between Danny and Bert. "There's going to be a race on +the big hill between the big bobs." + +There was much excitement. The sleds were the two largest owned by +anyone in the neighborhood, and both were fine ones. Danny had bought +his, but Bert and Charley had made theirs, and so, though it was not so +fancy, it was stronger. Most eyes were on Danny's sled, for it was +painted in bright colors, and brightly varnished. It had a red cushion +of carpet on the top, and places at the side to rest one's feet. + +The bob of Bert and Charley was built just the same, but it was painted +in homemade fashion, and the carpet seat was an old and faded one. But +it had a new gong and a fine big steering wheel. + +"All ready for the race," cried Danny, as he got his sled in position. +"Who's going down with me?" + +A number of boys came forward. + +"Who's going with Bert and me?" asked Charley, and several others +stepped forward. + +"Go ahead, if you want to come in last!" sneered Danny, as he got his +sled in place. "I'll tell 'em you're coming, Bert." + +"All right," was the cool answer. "Get in, boys!" + +Soon both sleds were filled, and all was ready for the big race--the +first of the season. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A NIGHT ALARM + +"ARE you all ready?" called Danny to Bert, looking over at the homemade +bob, and there was something like contempt in his tone. + +"All ready," answered Bert. "I'll start as soon as you give the word." + +"We ought to have someone to shove us off," suggested Danny. "It won't +be fair if one or the other gets a headstart." + +"Hi! He's afraid already!" cried Charley Mason. "He knows we're going +to beat!" + +"I am not!" retorted Danny. "It will be a walkover for me once I +start. But I don't want Bert Bobbsey saying I took advantage of him, +after the race is over." + +"You needn't be afraid--I won't say so--I won't have to," replied Bert. +"All the same I think it would be better if we each had a push. I want +to be fair, too." + +"Hey, Bert!" called a shrill voice, as the elder Bobbsey lad was +looking about for some on the hill to whom he might appeal. "Can't I +ride down with you, Bert?" + +It was Freddie who called, and he came running up, anxious to take part +in the exciting race. + +"No, Freddie, not this time," explained Bert kindly. "I want only +large boys with me in the race. I'll give you a ride afterward." + +"After I beat him, he means," sneered Danny. + +"Come on, let's race if we're going to," called some of the boys on +Danny's sled. + +"Yes; don't stay here all day." + +"Get a move on!" + +"We'll beat, anyhow, what's the use of racing?" + +There were only a few of things that those on the big new sled of +Danny's, called to those on Bert's bob. On their part Bert's friends +voiced such remarks as: + +"We're not so strong on looks, but we'll get there first!" + +"We're going to give Danny a tow to the bottom of the hill!" + +"He won't know he's moving, once Bert's sled gets started going!" + +"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Danny at last. "Shall we shove +off ourselves?" + +Just then there came along two large boys, Frank Cobb, and his +particular chum, Irving Knight. + +"What's going on here; a race?" asked Frank. + +"It looks that way," said Irving. + +"Oh, will you push us off?" begged Bert, appealing to Frank, whose +father worked in Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard. + +"Sure we will," answered Frank goodnaturedly. "Take the other sled, +Irving," he said to his chum, "and we'll give 'em an even start. Then +we'll see which beats, and may the best sled win!" + +"That's what I say!" cried Irving. + +The two larger boys took their places behind the bobs. They slowly +shoved them to the edge of the hill, held them there a moment, and, at +a nod to each other, shoved them down evenly. + +"Hurray!" cried the crowd of other coasters. "There they go!" + +"And Danny's ahead!" said some of his friends. + +"No, Bert's sled is!" shouted his admirers. + +As a matter of fact, though, both sleds were even at the start. On and +on they went very swiftly, for the hill had been worn smooth. Then +Bert saw his bob getting ahead a little, and he felt that he was going +to win easily. + +But he was glad too soon, for, a little later, Danny's sled shot ahead, +and for some distance was in the lead. + +"Can't you beat him, Bert?" whispered Charley Mason, who sat just +behind his chum. + +"I hope so," was the answer. "But I can't really do anything. We just +have to depend on the sled, you know." + +"Steer a little more over to the left," suggested another boy. "It +looks smoother there." + +"I will," said Bert, and he turned the steering wheel of his bob while +Luke Morton, in the rear, pulled hard on the bell, making it clang out +a loud warning. + +"Look out where you're going, Bert Bobbsey!" warned Danny, looking back. + +"You're coming over on my side of the hill!" + +"No I'm not. I'm away from the middle even," said Bert. "Besides, I'm +behind you." + +"I know you are, and you're going to stay there; but I don't want you +to run into me." + +Bert thought of the time, the winter before, when Danny had run into +him, and broken his sled, but he said nothing. He did not want that +kind of an accident to be repeated if he could help it. + +On, on and on dashed the big bobs, with the crowd on the hill, and a +number of coasters scattered along the way, watching anxiously. As +soon as Bert had steered over to the left his sled began to go faster, +as the snow was packed better there. He was fast catching up to Danny, +when one of the boys on that bob, looking back, saw it, and warned the +steersman. + +"He's coming, Danny," he cried. + +"Oh, he is; eh? Well, he won't pass me," and Danny steered his sled +over directly in front of Bert's, almost causing Bert to collide with +him. + +"Shame!" cried some watchers. "That wasn't fair!" + +"Let him keep on his own side then," warned Danny. + +But this mean trick did Danny little good for, though Bert was forced +to go to the right, to avoid crashing into Danny, he, most +unexpectedly, found good coasting there, and he shot ahead until his +sled was even with that of the bully's. + +"Better look out, Danny," warned the boy sitting directly back of him. + +"He's crowding us fast." + +"Oh, it's only a spurt. We'll soon be at the bottom of the hill and +win." + +On and on came Bert's bob, the Flier. It was a little ahead of Danny's +now, and the latter, seeing this, steered over, thinking the going was +better there. + +"Look out!" warned Bert. "Who's crowding over now?" + +"Well, I've got a right here!" snarled Danny. + +But Bert knew his rights also, and would not give away. He held to his +place, and Danny dared not come too close. Then, as Bert found himself +on smooth, hardpacked snow, he steered as straight as he could. More +and more ahead of Danny he went, until he was fully in front of him. + +"We're going to win! We're going to win!" cried Bert's friends. +"We're going to win the race!" + +Danny was wild with anger. He steered his sled over sharply, hoping to +get on the same track as was Bert and so pass him. But it was not to +be. Danny took too sudden a turn, and the next instant his bob +overturned, spilling everyone off. + +There was a cry of surprise at the accident, and some of those on +Bert's sled looked back. Bert himself looked straight ahead as a +steersman always should. + +"Danny's upset!" cried Charley. + +"I'm sorry!" said Bert. "Now he'll claim the race wasn't fair." + +And that is what Danny did when he picked himself up, and walked down +to meet Bert, whose bob got safely to the foot of the hill, and so won +the race. + +"Aw, I'd have beaten if you hadn't gotten in my way so I had to steer +over," cried Danny. + +"Don't talk that way now," said Irving, who, with Frank Cobb had come +to the end of the hill. "Bert beat you fair and square." + +"Aw, well," grumbled Danny. + +"I'll race over again, if you like," offered Bert. + +"Yes, and do the same thing," grumbled Danny. "I will not. I know my +sled is the best." + +But few others, save those who hoped for a ride on it, agreed with the +bully, and Bert's homemade bob was held to be champion of the hill. + +Then came many more coasts, Bert giving Nan and Flossie and Freddie, +and a number of their little girl and boy friends, several rides. + +Until late that evening the coasting kept up, and Bert and Charley were +congratulated on all sides for the fine bob they had made. And what +fun Bert had home after supper, telling of how he had won the race! + +It was in the middle of the night, when the Bobbsey household was +awakened by the ringing of fire bells. They all heard the alarm, and +as Papa Bobbsey counted the number, he said to his wife: + +"That must be near here. Guess I'll look. It's a windy night and a +fire in my lumber yard would be very bad." + +As he went to the window he saw a glare on the sky in the direction of +the lake. + +"It is near here!" he said. "The engines are going past our house! +I'd better take a look." + +"Can I come?" asked the little "Fat Fireman" from his cot. "Take me, +papa!" + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHO WAS SMOKING? + +MR. BOBBSEY laughed, though he was worried about the fire. It seemed +so odd for Freddie to want to go out in the cold, dark night. + +"Not this time, my Fat Fireman!" said Freddie's papa. "It may be only +a pile of rubbish on fire. I'll tell you about it when I come back." + +"Where does it seem to be?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"Down near the lake," answered her husband. "I'm afraid, he added in a +lower voice, that it may be our boathouse. It seems to be about there." + +"Oh, I hope not!" she exclaimed. "Still, better that than our own +house." + +"If it's near the lake, papa," said Flossie who heard part of what her +father said, "it will be easy to put it out, for there is plenty of +water." + +"Pooh! engines have their own water!" exclaimed Freddie, who had rather +hazy notions as to how fire engines work. He was getting over his +disappointment about not being allowed to go with his father, and had +again cuddled down in his warm crib. + +Another engine dashed by the Bobbsey house, and the ringing of the +alarm bell increased. The voices and footsteps of many persons, as +they rushed on to the blaze, could also be heard, and there resounded +the cry of: + +"Fire! Fire! Fire!" + +Bert, who had been aroused with the others of the household, was +dressing in his room. He felt that his father would let him go to the +fire. At any rate he intended to be all ready when he made his +request, so as not to cause delay. + +"Are you going, Bert?" asked Nan, as from her room, next to that of her +brother, she heard him moving around. + +"I am, if father will take me," he said. + +"It's too cold for me!" Nan exclaimed with a shiver, as she went back +in bed again. She had gotten up to peer from the window at the red +glare in the sky. + +From the third floor, where Dinah slept, the colored cook now called +down: + +"Am anybody sick, Mrs. Bobbsey? What am de mattah down dere?" + +"It's a fire, Dinah!" answered her mistress. + +"Oh good land a'massy! Don't tell me dat!" she cried. "Sam! Sam! Wake +up. De house is on fire an' you'se got t' sabe me!" + +"No, no, Dinah!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey, to calm the cook. "It isn't this +house. It's down by the lake. If you look out of your window you can +see it." + +Dinah hurried across to her window, and evidently saw the reflection of +the blaze, for she exclaimed: + +"Thank goodness it ain't yeah! Mah goodness, but I suah was skarit fo' +a minute!" + +By this time Mr. Bobbsey had dressed, and had started downstairs. Bert +came out of his room, also ready for the street. + +"May I come, father?" he asked. + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey, in surprise. "So you got +dressed too, did you?" + +"Yes, sir. May I come?" + +Mr. Bobbsey hesitated a moment, and then, with a smile, said: + +"Well, I suppose so, since you are all ready. I'm taking Bert," he +called to his wife. "Freddie, you'll have to be the Fat Fireman while +I'm gone, and look after the house." + +"That's what I will," said Freddie, "and if any sparks fly over here +I'll throw the bath room sponge on 'em!" + +"Good!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, and then, he and Bert hurried out. + +The fire was now larger, as they could see when they got out in the +street. There was no wind and the flames went straight up in the air. +There were not many buildings down by the lake, only some boat shelters +and places like that. The Bobbsey's boathouse was a fine large one, +having recently been made bigger as Mr. Bobbsey was thinking of buying +a new motor boat. + +Mr. Bobbsey and his son hurried on, following the crowd that filled the +street leading to the lake. Several gentlemen knew the lumber +merchant, and called to him. + +"I guess you're glad this isn't your lumber yard," said one. + +"Yes, indeed," was the answer. "I had a little fire there once, and I +don't want another. But I'm afraid this is some of my property just +the same." + +"Is that so?" + +"Yes, it looks to be my boathouse." + +"So it does!" cried another man. + +"Oh, father!" cried Bert. "Our nice boathouse!" + +"Well, the firemen may save it," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We will hope so, +anyhow," he added. + +They had not gone on much farther before Mr. Bobbsey and Bert could see +that it was indeed their boathouse on fire. One side was all ablaze, +and the flames were slowly, but surely, eating their way over the whole +place. But two engines were now pumping streams of water on the fire, +and they might put it out before too much damage was done. + +Mr. Bobbsey rushed forward, and, as the policemen and firemen knew him, +they let him get close to the boathouse. + +"You stay here, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey to his son. + +"Where are you going?" Bert wanted to know. + +"I'm going to see if we can save any of the boats." + +There was a sailing craft, a number of rowboats, and a small gasoline +launch in the boathouse. They had been stored away for the winter. + +"Come on, men!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, as he saw some of his workmen in the +crowd. "Help me save the boats!" + +All rushed forward willingly, and, as there was part of the place where +the flames had not yet reached, they could make their way into the +house. They began lowering the boats into the icy water, while the +firemen played the several lines of hose on the flames. + +The third engine was now working, and so much water was pumped that +even a larger fire could not have stood it for very long. The blaze +began to die down, and when Mr. Bobbsey and his men were about to lower +the gasoline launch into the icy water the chief ran up, saying: + +"You don't need to do that! We've got the fire under control now. It +will soon be out." + +"Are you sure?" asked the lumber merchant. + +"Yes. You can see for yourself. Leave the boat there. It will be all +right." + +Mr. Bobbsey looked, and was satisfied that the larger part of the +boathouse would be saved. So he and his men stopped their work; and +went outside to cool off. + +A little later the fire was practically out, but one engine continued +to throw water on the smouldering sparks. The crowd began to leave +now, for there was nothing more to see, and it was cold. + +"My!" exclaimed Bert as his father came back to where he had left his +son, "it didn't take long to settle that fire." + +"No, we have a good fire department," replied Mr. Bobbsey. + +The fire chief came up to Mr Bobbsey, who expressed his thanks for the +quick work of the firemen. + +"Have you any idea what started the fire, Mr. Bobbsey?" asked the +chief. "Was the boathouse in use?" + +"No," was the answer. "It had been closed for the winter some time +ago--in fact as soon as the carpenters finished making the changes. No +one was in it as far as I know." + +"Then how do you account for this?" asked the chief, as he held out a +box partly filled with cigarettes. "I picked these up in the living +room," he went on, for the boathouse had one room carpeted, and fitted +with chairs and tables, and electric lights where the family often +spent evenings during Summer. + +"You found those cigarettes in the living room of the boathouse?" asked +Mr. Bobbsey. + +"I did; and the question is who was smoking?" went on the chief. "In +my opinion the end of a cigarette thrown aside, or perhaps a lighted +match dropped in some corner, started this fire. Who was smoking?" + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A CONFESSION + +THE chief handed Mr. Bobbsey the half-emptied cigarette box. Mr. +Bobbsey turned it over and over in his hand, as though trying to learn +to whom it belonged. + +"They are something I never use," he said. "I don't suppose we could +tell, from this, who had it?" + +"No," and the chief shook his head. "It's a common kind, and a good +many of the stores sell 'em. A good many of the boys smoke 'em, +too--that's the worst of it," and he looked at Bert a bit sharply. + +"Oh, you needn't be afraid for my boy!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey hastily. +"I have Bert's promise that he won't smoke until he's man, and perhaps +he won't want to then." + +"Good!" exclaimed the chief heartily; "That's what I like to hear. But +it's as certain as guns is, and nothing more certain than them, that +some one was smoking in your boathouse, and set fire to it. And I wish +we could find out who it was." + +"So do I!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "If only to teach them a lesson on +how dangerous it is to be careless. Well, I suppose we can't do +anything more," and he sighed, for half the beautiful boathouse was in +ruins. + +Mr. Bobbsey and Bert were soon at home, telling the news to the folks. + +Freddie's eyes opened wide in surprise as he listened to the account of +how the firemen had put out the fire. + +"Oh, I wish I could have been there!" he cried. "I could have helped." + +"What caused the fire?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband, when the +children had gone to bed again. + +"Some boys--or some one else smoking cigarettes, the chief thinks. We +found a half-emptied box." + +In her room Nan heard the word "cigarettes" and she wondered if her +brother could be at fault, for she remembered he had told her how once +some boys had asked him to go off in secret and smoke. + +Mr. Bobbsey was up early, for he wanted to see by daylight what damage +the fire had done, and he also wanted to see the insurance company +about the loss. The beautiful boathouse looked worse in the daylight +than it had at night, and the neat living room, where some of the +Bobbseys had spent many happy hours, while others of them were out in +the boats, was in ruins. + +The fire chief came down while Mr. Bobbsey was there, and they talked +matters over. The chief said he would send one of his men around to +the different stores that sold cigarettes, to try and learn if boys had +purchased any that afternoon, for it was against the law to sell +cigarettes to anyone under sixteen years of age. + +One afternoon Danny's father, Mr. Rugg, came home unexpectedly, and, +wanting something that was out in his barn went to get it. As he +entered the place he heard a scramble of feet, some excited whispers, +and then silence. He was sure that some one was in the place and had +run to hide. + +"Who's there?" called Mr. Rugg sharply. There was no answer, but he +listened and was sure he heard some one in the little room where the +harness was kept. + +He walked over to the door, and tried to open it. Some one on the +inside was holding it, but Mr. Rugg gave a strong pull, and the door +flew open. To the surprise of Mr. Rugg he saw his son Danny, and a +number of boys, hiding there, and the smell of cigarette smoke was very +strong. + +"Danny!" exclaimed his father sternly, "what does this mean?" + +"We--were--playing!" stammered Danny. "Playing hide and seek." + +"And to play that is it necessary to smoke?" Mr. Rugg asked sharply. + +"We--we aren't smoking," answered Danny. + +"Not now, but you have been. I can smell it plainly. Go into the +house, Danny, and these other boys must go home. If I find them +smoking in my barn again I shall punish them. You might have set it on +fire." + +Danny had nothing to say, indeed, there was little he could say. He +had been caught in the act. + +The other boys slunk off, and Danny went into the house, his father +following. + +"Danny, I am very sorry to learn this," said Mr. Rugg. "I did not know +that you smoked--a boy of your age!" + +"Well, I never smoked much. Lots of the fellows smoke more than I do." + +"That is no excuse. It is a bad habit for a boy. You may go to your +room. I will consider your case later." + +From then on Mr. Rugg did some hard thinking. He began "putting two +and two together" as the old saying has it. He remembered the Bobbsey +boathouse fire. On that occasion Danny had come in late, and there had +been the smell of smoke on his clothes. + +Mr. Rugg went to his son's room. A search showed a number of empty +cigarette boxes, and cigarette pictures, and the boxes were all of the +same kind--the kind that had been found in the halfburned boathouse. + +Danny was accused by his father of having been smoking in the boathouse +just before the fire, and Danny was so miserable, and so surprised at +being caught in the barn, that he made a full confession. Tearfully he +told the story, how he and some other boys, finding the boat house +unlocked, for some unknown reason, had gone in, and smoked to their +heart's content. + +They did not mean to cause the fire, and had no idea that they were to +blame. One of the boys was made ill by too much smoking, and they all +hurried away. + +But they must have left a smouldering stump of cigarette in some +corner, or a carelessly thrown match, that started the blaze. Then, +when the fire bells sounded, and they learned what had happened, Danny +and all the boys promised each other that they would keep the secret. + +"Well, Danny, I can't tell you how sorry I am," said Mr. Rugg, when the +confession was over. "Sorry not only that Mr. Bobbsey's boathouse was +burned, but because you have deceived me, and your good mother, and +smoked in secret. I feel very badly about it." + +Danny did, too, for though he was not a very good boy, his heart was in +the right place, and with a little more care he might have been a +different character. There was, however, hope for him. + +"You must be punished for this," went on Mr. Rugg, "and this punishment +will be that you are not to have the motor boat I promised you for next +Summer. Perhaps it will be a lesson to you." + +Danny wept bitterly, for he had counted very much on having this boat. +But it was a good lesson to him. Mr. Rugg also told the fathers of the +other boys whom he caught with his son, and these boys were punished in +different ways. + +Mr. Rugg also informed Mr. Bobbsey how the boathouse had been set +afire, and expressed his sorrow. And so the mystery was cleared up. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FAT LADY'S LETTER + +"WELL," remarked Nan Bobbsey, a few days after it had become known that +Danny Rugg was to blame for the fire in the boathouse, "I wish we could +find out, as easily as we found out about Danny, who has our cat Snoop." + +"So do I," added Flossie. "Poor Snoop! I do miss him so much." + +"So do I!" exclaimed Freddie. "But Snap is a nice dog, and I guess I +like dogs better than cats, anyhow." + +"Why, Freddie Bobbsey!" cried Nan. + +"Don't you love Snoop any more?" + +"Oh, yes, 'course I do, but then he isn't here to be loved, and Snap +is." + +"Yes, I guess that does make a difference," admitted Nan. "I wonder if +papa wouldn't let us go down to the railroad office and inquire once +more about him? Maybe, as it's getting cold weather now, Snoop will +come in from the fields where he may have been staying ever since the +railroad wreck." + +"Let's ask," cried Freddie, always ready for action. + +It was Saturday, and there was no school. Bert had gone off coasting +on his new bob, but Nan did not want to go, her mother having asked her +to stay and help with the dusting. But now the little bit of housework +was over, and Nan was free. + +"We'll go down to papa's office," she said to Flossie and Freddie, "and +ask him if we can go to the railroad. I know one of the ticket agents +and he can tell us of whom to ask about our cat." + +Mrs. Bobbsey had no objections, and soon, with Flossie and Freddie at +her side, Nan set off for her father's office in the lumber yard. The +smaller twins were delighted. + +"And maybe we can find our silver cup, too," suggested Freddie, as they +trudged along in the snow, now and then stopping to make a white ball, +which he threw at the fence or telegraph pole. + +"The fat lady has our cup--I'm sure of that," said Flossie. + +"Well, we can ask papa if he has heard from the circus people," +suggested Nan. + +Mr. Bobbsey was rather surprised to see his three children come into +the office, but he was glad to meet them, for it made a break in his +day's work. After a little thought he said they might go to the +railroad office to inquire about Snoop. Nan and her brother and sister +went in a trolley car, and were soon at the depot. + +But to their disappointment there was no news of Snoop. The fat, black +cat seemed to have completely disappeared. + +"I've had the switchmen and trackmen keep a lookout for some time +past," the agent told Nan, for Mr. Bobbsey did a large business in +shipping lumber over the railroad, and many of the men were his +friends. "One of the switchmen near where the wreck was, caught a lot +of cats, that must have been living out in the fields all Summer," went +on the agent, "but they were all sorts of colors. None was pure black, +so I knew they could not be yours. I'm sorry." + +"Yes, so are we," replied Nan. "Well, I guess Snoop is lost for good. +He has been away a long time now." + +On the way back to Mr. Bobbsey's office, the trolley car got off the +track, on account of so much snow on the rails, and the children spent +some time watching the men get it back, the electricity from the wire +and rails making pretty flashes of blue fire. + +"What luck?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, as the three came in his private +office, their faces shining and red with the glow of winter. + +"None," said Nan sadly. "Snoop is gone." + +"Have you heard from the circus fat lady yet, papa?" asked Flossie. + +"Yes, we want our cup back," added her brother. + +"No word yet," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "That circus is traveling all +over Cuba, and the letters I sent never seem to catch up to them. +However, I am sending one on ahead now, to a city where they will soon +give a show. The fat lady will find it there waiting for her, and she +may answer then." + +And with this the children had to be content. Getting back home, +Flossie and Freddie took out their sleds and went for a coast on a +small hill, not far from their home. This was where the smaller +children had their fun, leaving the larger hill for the bigger girls +and boys. + +"Well, after this I think we all need something to cheer us up," said +Papa Bobbsey, who came home from the office early that day. + +"Oh, have you got something good?" asked Nan, for she saw a queer +little twinkle in her father's eyes, and she knew that this generally +meant a treat of some kind. + +"I have some good news, if you would like to hear it," he said, as he +drew a letter from his pocket. + +"Is it to tell that some of our friends are coming to see us?" asked +Bert. + +"Well, yes, I think you will call it a visit from a friend--at least +part of it," said Papa Bobbsey. "Now listen. This is a letter from +the fat lady in the circus." + +"What!" cried Flossie, "--the one who has our cup?" + +"The same," said Mr. Bobbsey with a smile. "And she has more than your +cup. Listen," and he read the letter. + +It was too long to put it all in here, but it went on to say how the +fat lady really had the valuable silver cup belonging to the twins. + +"They loaned it to me to drink from," she wrote, "and when the train +stopped so suddenly, there was so much confusion that I put it in my +valise by mistake. I have had it ever since and have been wondering +how I could send it back to you. The circus went to Cuba soon after +that, and has been traveling around that island ever since. I have +only just received your last letter asking me about the cup, or I would +have answered before. If you will send me directions how to ship the +cup to you I shall be very glad to return it." + +"Oh goodie!" cried Freddie. "We'll have our nice cup again!" + +"Is that all in the letter, papa?" asked Flossie. + +"No, not quite," he said. "I'll read a little more," and he read: + +"When our circus was wrecked we lost a valuable trick dog. He could +play soldier, say his prayers, turn somersaults, and do a number of +tricks. The ringmaster feels very badly about losing him, and has +tried to locate him, but without success. If you should hear of anyone +near you having such a dog we would be much obliged if you would send +him to us as he belongs to the circus." + +There was a moment of silence after Mr. Bobbsey read this, and then +Freddie said: + +"Why that must be Snap--our pet dog! Oh, papa you won't give him back +to the circus; will you?" + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +SNAP AND SNOOP + +ALL of the Bobbsey twins--Nan, Bert, Flossie and Freddie--looked so +serious over the prospect of losing Snap that Mr. Bobbsey had to laugh. +He just couldn't help it. + +"Well, I don't see anything to make fun over," said Nan, with a little +pout. + +"Why, you all act as though you had lost your best friend--or were +going to." + +"Well, Snap is one of our best friends, aren't you Snap?" said Freddie. + +"Still, if he belongs to the circus I don't see but what I'll have to +send him back," went on Mr. Bobbsey, slowly. + +At this Flossie burst into tears, and Mrs. Bobbsey, putting her arms +about the little girl, said to her husband: + +"Are you in earnest Richard? Don't tease the child." + +"I'm not, Mary. The fat lady wrote just that. I believe the dog we +have does belong to the circus." + +"Then we'll have to give him up I suppose," and Mrs. Bobbsey sighed, +for she had grown very much attached to the fine animal. + +"Well, we won't have to send him back right away," said Mr. Bobbsey. +"I will have to get more particulars. But I did not finish the fat +lady's letter." + +"What! Is there more news in it?" asked Nan. + +"Listen," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he went on reading: + +"We are sorry about losing our trick dog," the fat lady wrote, "but I +picked up a big black cat when I walked out of the train. I brought +him to Cuba with me, and I am teaching him tricks. He may be as +valuable as our dog was." + +"A black cat!" cried Nan. + +"It's our Snoop!" shouted Freddie, "yes, that's it! The fat lady has +our cat as well as our cup. Oh, papa, make her give back our Snoop!" + +Mr. Bobbsey laughed. + +"You see how it is," he said. "She has our cat, and we have their dog. +We'll have to give up our dog to get our cat." + +The Bobbsey twins had not thought of this before. They looked +strangely at one another. + +"Papa!" cried Freddie, jumping up and down in his excitement, "can't we +keep both--the circus dog and our cat? Oh, do please, let us." + +"But maybe Snap would fight Snoop," said Flossie. "We wouldn't want +that." + +Freddie thought for a moment. + +"I don't believe he would," he said at last. + +"Well," said Papa Bobbsey, after a bit, "I'll see what I can do. I'll +write to the fat lady, telling her how to ship your silver cup, and +also how to send Snoop. And I'll ask if we can buy Snap. How will +that do?" + +"Fine!" cried all the Bobbsey twins at once, and they made a rush for +Mr. Bobbsey, hugging and kissing him. + +The letter was sent to the fat lady, and then came a time of anxious +waiting. Never before had the children seemed to care so much for Snap. + +One day a letter came, saying that the silver cup had been sent, and +also Snoop, the cat. + +"But what about Snap, papa?" asked Nan. + +"Does she say the circus will sell him?" + +"No, the man who owns him is away for a few days. When he comes back +he will let me know. But, anyhow, you will have your cup and cat back." + +"But we want Snap, too!" said Flossie. + +Several more days passed. They lengthened into a week, and still no +news came from where the circus was: All the Bobbsey twins could hope +was that their cat and cup were on the way, and that the man who owned +Snap would consent to sell him. + +The twins did not feel much like having fun. There was a warm spell, +and all the snow had melted. + +One day an express wagon stopped in front of the Bobbsey house. + +It was a Saturday, and there was no school, and, as it happened, all +four of the twins were in. + +"Two boxes for you, Mrs. Bobbsey," said the driver, as he opened his +receipt book. "I'll bring them in while you sign." + +The man came up the walk with two boxes. One was small, and the other +larger, with slats on one end. And from this box came a peculiar noise. + +"Listen!" cried Bert. + +"It's a cat!" shouted Freddie. + +"It's Snoop--our Snoop!" cried Flossie. + +Quickly the boxes were carried into the house. Bert got a hammer and +screw driver and soon had opened the one containing the black cat. +Snap, the dog, walked slowly into the room. + +"Oh dear!" cried Flossie as she saw him, "now maybe they'll fight!" + +"I'll hold Snap," volunteered Freddie. + +"Come on, Snoop! Come out!" cried Bert, as he pried off the last slat. + +"Meouw!" cried Snoop, as he came slowly out of the box in which he had +ridden from Cuba. + +Out walked the black cat. He looked about him strangely for a moment, +and then began to purr, and rubbed up against Flossie's legs. + +They all looked anxiously at Snap. The dog glanced at the cat, +stretched lazily and wagged his tail. Snoop came over to him, and the +two animals sniffed at each other, Mrs. Bobbsey holding Snap by the +collar. Then, to the surprise of all, Snoop rubbed against the legs of +the dog, and, on his part, Snap, wagging his tail in friendly, +welcoming fashion, put out his red tongue and licked Snoop's fur. + +"He's kissing Snoop! He's kissing Snoop!" cried Freddie. + +"Yes, they love each other!" exclaimed Flossie. "They are not going to +fight! Oh, how glad I am!" and she danced in delight. + +"Oh, if only we can keep Snap now," said Nan, while Mrs. Bobbsey, +satisfied that the two animals would be friends, had opened the other +express box. It contained the twins' silver cup, so long missing. + +Mr. Bobbsey came home soon after that his face was smiling. + +"Oh, papa!" Flossie greeted him, "Snoop came, and Snap kissed him!" + +"May we keep Snap, papa?" asked Freddie. + +"Yes," was Mr. Bobbsey's answer. "I have a letter from the circus man, +and he will sell Snap to me. I have already sent the money. And there +is another letter from the fat lady, telling about some of the new +tricks she taught Snoop, so you can make him do them." + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" cried the Bobbsey twins in firelight, as they looked at +their two pets. + +"What lots of things have happened since we came back from the +seashore," said Nan, little later. "I wonder if the rest of the Winter +will be as lively as this first part has been?" + +"Maybe," said Bert with a smile. + +And whether it was or not you may learn by reading the next volume of +this series, to be called: "The Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge," in which +we will once more hear of the doings of Flossie, Freddie Nan and Bert. + +After reading the fat lady's second letter the twins got Snoop to do +some of the tricks the cat had learned. He was not as smart at them as +Snap was at his, but then cats never do learn to do tricks as well as +do dogs. + +Still everyone agreed that the fat lady had done her training well. As +for Snap, he and Snoop became firmer friends every day, and often the +cat went to sleep on Snap's back, or between his forepaws as he lay +stretched out in front of the fire. + +And the silver cup, which, with Snoop, had gone on such a long journey, +was put back in its place on the mantle, to be admired by all. + +Now my little story has come to an end, but I hope you children who +have read it will care to hear more of the Bobbsey twins and the things +they did. So I will say goodbye for a while, trusting to meet you all +again. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Bobbsey Twins at School, by Laura Lee Hope + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL *** + +***** This file should be named 737.txt or 737.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/7/3/737/ + +Produced by Diane and Don Nafis. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association / Benedictine + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Benedictine University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +[ Prepared by Diane and Don Nafis, dnafis@nazlo.com ] + + + + + +The Bobbsey Twins at School + +LAURA LEE HOPE + + + + + +CONTENTS +chapter page +I. A CIRCUS TRAIN . . . . . . . . 1 +II. SNOOP IS GONE . . . . . . . . 16 +III. A QUEER DOG . . . . . . . . 27 +IV. HOME IN AN AUTO . . . . . . . 36 +V. SNAP DOES TRICKS . . . . . . 48 +VI. DANNY RUGG IS MEAN . . . . . 57 +VII. AT SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . 66 +VIII. BERT SEES SOMETHING . . . . 78 +IX. OFF TO THE WOODS . . . . . . 87 +X. A SCARE . . . . . . . . . . . 99 +XI. DANNY'S TRICK . . . . . . . .1O9 +XII. THE CHILDREN'S PARTY . . . .121 +XIII. AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE . . 129 +XIV. A COAT BUTTON . . . . . . . 138 +XV. THANKSGIVING . . . . . . . . 152 +XVI. MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS. .161 +XVII. THE FIRST SNOW . . . . . . 169 +XVIII. A NIGHT ALARM . . . . . . 178 +XIX. WHO WAS SMOKING? . 187 +XX. A CONFESSION . . . . . . . 195 +XXI. THE FAT LADY'S LETTER . . . 202 +XII. SNAP AND SNOOP . . . . . . . 209 + +THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL + +CHAPTER I +A CIRCUS TRAIN + +"MAMMA, how much longer have we got to ride?" asked Nan Bobbsey, turning +in her seat in the railroad car, to look at her parents, who sat behind +her. + +"Are you getting tired?" asked Nan's brother Bert. "If you are I'll sit +next to the window, and watch the telegraph poles and trees go by. +Maybe that's what tires you, Nan," he added, and his father smiled, for +he saw that Bert had two thoughts for himself, and one for his sister. + +"No, I'm not tired of the scenery," answered the brownhaired and +browneyed girl, "but you may sit next the window, Bert, if you like." + +"Thanks!" he exclaimed as he scrambled over to the place his sister gave +up. + +"Are you tired, dearie?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey, leaning forward and +smoothing out her daughter's hair with her hand. "If you would like to +sit with me and put your head in my lap, papa can go to another seat and +-" + +"Oh, no, mamma, I'm not as tired as that," and Nan laughed. "I was just +wondering how soon we'd be home." + +"I'd rather be back at the seashore," said Bert, not turning his gaze +from the window, for the train was passing along some fields just then, +and in one a boy was driving home some cows to be milked, as evening was +coming on. Bert was wondering if one of the cows might not chase the +boy. Bert didn't really want to see the boy hurt by a cow, of course, +but he thought that if the cow was going to take after the boy, anyhow, +he might just as well see it. But the cows were very well-behaved, and +went along slowly. + +"Yes, the seashore was nice," murmured Nan, as she leaned her head back +on the cushioned seat, "but I'm glad to be going home again. I want to +see some of the girls, and -" + +"Yes, and I'll be looking for some of the boys, too," put in Bert. "But +school will soon begin, and that's no fun!" + +Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey smiled at each other, and Mr. Bobbsey, taking out a +timetable, looked to see how much longer they would be on the train. + +"It's about an hour yet," he said to Nan, and she sighed. Really she +was more tired than she cared to let her mother know. + +Just ahead of the two Bobbsey children were another set of them. I say +"set" for the Bobbsey children came "in sets." + +There were two pairs of twins, Bert and Nan, nearly nine years of age, +and Flossie and Freddie, almost five. And, whereas the two older +children were rather tall and slim, with dark brown hair and eyes, the +littler twins were short and fat, and had light hair and blue eyes. The +two pairs of twins were quite a contrast, and many persons stopped to +look at them as they passed along the street together. + +"No, sir," went on Bert musingly, "school's no fun, and it starts about +a week after we get home. No chance to have a good time!" + +"We've had fun all summer," replied his sister. "I rather like school." + +"Mamma, are we going to school this year?" asked Flossie, as she looked +back with a quick turning of her head that set her yellow curls to +dancing. + +"If we are, I'm going to sit with Flossie - can't I?" asked Freddie, +kneeling in the seat so that he could face back to his father and +mother. + +Indeed his request was not strange, since the two younger twins were +always together even more so than their brother and sister. + +"Yes, I think you and Freddie will start school regularly this term," +said Mrs. Bobbsey, "and, if it can be arranged, you may sit together. +We'll see about that. Be careful, Freddie, don't put your head out of +the window," she cautioned quickly, for the little chap had turned in +his seat again, and was leaning forward to see a horse galloping about a +field, kicking up its heels at the sound of the puffing engine. + +"It's my turn to sit by the window, anyhow," said Flossie. + +"It is not! We haven't passed a station yet," disputed Freddie. + +"Oh, we have so!" cried his little sister. "Freddie Bobbsey!" and she +pointed her finger at him. + +"Children - children," said Mrs. Bobbsey, reprovingly. + +"Are you two taking turns?" asked Bert, smiling with an older brother's +superior wisdom. + +"Yes," answered Flossie, "he was to have the seat next to the window +until we came to a station, and then it's to be my turn until we pass +another station, and we have passed one, but he won't change over." + +"Well, it was only a little station, anyhow," asserted Freddie, "and it +came awful quick after the last one. It isn't fair!" + +"There's a seat up ahead for you, Bert," suggested Mr. Bobbsey, as a +gentleman got up, when the train approached a station." You can sit +there, and let Flossie or Freddie take your place." + +"All right," answered Bert goodnaturedly, as he got up. + +The train rolled on, the two younger twins each having a window now, and +Nan occupying the seat with her little brother. For a time there was +quietness, until Mrs. Bobbsey said to her husband: + +"Hadn't you better get some of the satchels together, Richard, and tell +Dinah what she is to carry?" + +"I think I will," he answered, as he went up the car aisle a little way +to where a very fat colored woman sat. She was Dinah, the Bobbsey cook, +and they took her with them always when going away for the summer. Now +they were on their way to their city house, and of course Dinah came +back, too. + +"Mamma, I'm thirsty," said Flossie, after a bit. "Please may I get a +drink?" + +"I want one, too," said Freddie quicky. "Come on, Flossie, we'll both +go down to the end of the car where the water cooler is." + +"There's no cup," Nan said. "I went a little while ago, but a lady let +me take her glass." + +"And if there was a cup, I would rather they didn't use it," said Mrs. +Bobbsey. "One never knows who has last handled a public cup." + +"But I want a drink," insisted Flossie, a bit fretfully, for she was +tired from the long journey. + +"I know it, dear," said her mamma gently, "and I'm getting out the +silver cup for you. Only you must be very careful of it, and not drop +it, for it is solid silver and will dent, or mar, easily." She was +searching in her bag, and presently took out a very valuable drinking +cup, gold lined and with much engraving on it. The cup had been +presented to Flossie and Freddie on their first birthday, and bore each +of their names. They were very proud of it. + +"Now be careful," warned Mrs. Bobbsey, as she held out the cup. "Hold +on to the seats as you walk along." + +"I'll carry the cup," said Freddie. "I'm the biggest." + +"You are not!" declared his sister quickly. "I'm just as big." + +"Well, anyhow, I'm a boy," went on Freddie, and Flossie could not deny +this. "And boys always carries things," her brother went on. "I'll +carry the cup." + +"Very well, but be careful of it," said his mother with a smile, as she +handed it to him. The two children went down the aisle of the car. +They stopped for a moment at the seat where Dinah was. + +"Is Snoop all right?" asked Freddie, peering into a box that was made of +slats, with spaces between them for air. + +"'Deed an' he am, honey," said Dinah with a smile, laughing so that she +shook all over her big, fleshy body. + +"I 'specs he's lonesome; aren't you, Snoop?" asked Flossie, poking her +finger in one of the cracks, to caress, as well as she could, a fat, +black cat. The cat, like Dinah the cook, went with the Bobbseys on all +their summer outings. + +"Well, maybe he am lonesome," admitted Dinah, with another laugh, "but +he's been real good. He hadn't yowled once - not once!" + +"He'll soon be out of his cage; won't you, Snoop?" said Freddie, and +then he and his sister went on to the water cooler. Near it they saw +something else to look at. This was the sight of a very, very fat lady +who occupied nearly all of one seat in the end of the car. She was so +large that only a very little baby could have found room beside her. + +"Look - look at her," whispered Flossie to Freddie, as they paused. The +fat woman's back was toward them, and she seemed to be much interested +in looking out of the window. + +"She is fat," admitted Freddie. "Did you ever see one so big before?" + +"Only in a circus," said Flossie. + +"She'd make make two of Dinah," went on her brother. + +"She would not," contradicted Flossie quickly. "'Cause Dinah's black, +and this lady is white." + +"That's so," admitted Freddie, with smile. "I didn't think of that." + +A sway of the train nearly made Flossic fall, and she caught quickly at +her brother. + +"Look out!" he cried. "You 'mos knocked the cup down." + +"I didn't mean to," spoke Flossie. "Oh, there goes my hat! Get it, +Freddie, before someone steps on it!" + +Her brother managed to get the hat just as it was sliding under the seat +where the fat lady sat. + +After some confusion the hat was placed on Flossie's head, and once more +she and her brother moved on toward the water cooler. It was getting +dusk now, and some of the lamps in the car had been lighted. + +Freddie, carrying the cup, filled it with water at the little faucet, +and, very politely, offered it to his sister first. Freddie was no +better than most boys of his age, but he did not forget some of the +little polite ways his mamma was continually teaching him. One of these +was "ladies first," though Freddie did not always carry it out, +especially when he was in a hurry. + +"Do you want any more?" he asked, before he would get himself a drink. + +"Just a little," said Flossie. "The silver cup doesn't hold much." + +"No, I guess it's 'cause there's so much silver in it," replied her +brother. "It's worth a lot of money, mamma said." + +"Yes, and it's all ours. When I grow up I'm going to have my half made +into a bracelet." + +"You are?" said Freddie slowly. "If you do there won't be enough left +for me to drink out of." + +"Well, you can have your share of it made into a watch, and drink out of +a glass." + +"That's so," agreed Freddie, his face brightening. He gave his sister +more water, and then took some himself. As he drank his eyes were +constantly looking at the very fat lady who filled so much of her seat. +She turned from the window and looked at the two children, smiling +broadly. Freddie was somewhat confused, and looked down quickly. Just +then the train gave another lurch and Freddie suddenly spilled some of +the water on his coat. + +"Oh, look what you did!" cried Flossie. "And that's your best coat!" + +"I - I couldn't help it," stammered Freddie. + +"Never mind, little boy," said the fat lady. "It's only clean water. +Come here and I'll wipe it off with my handkerchief. I'd come to you, +only I'm so stout it's hard enough for me to walk anyhow, and when the +train is moving I simply can't do it." + +Freddie and Flossie went to her seat, and with a handkerchief, that +Flossie said afterward was almost as big as a table cloth, the fat lady +wiped the water off Freddie's coat. + +The little boy held the silver cup in his hand, and feeling, somehow, +that he ought to repay the fat lady's kindness in some way, after +thanking her, he asked: + +"Would you like a drink of water? I can bring it to you if you would." + +"Thank you," she answered. "What a kind little boy you are! I saw you +give your sister a drink first, too. Yes, I would like a drink. I've +been wanting one some time, but I didn't dare get up to go after it." + +"I'll get it!" cried Freddie, eager to show what a little man he was. +He made his way to the cooler without accident, and then, moving slowly, +taking hold of the seat on the way back, so as not to spill the water, +he brought the silver cup brimful to the fat lady. + +"Oh, what a beautiful cup," she said, as she took it. + +"And it cost a lot of money, too," said Flossie. "It's ours - our +birthday cup, and when I grow up I'm going to have a bracelet made from +my half." + +"That will be nice," said the fat lady, as she prepared to drink. + +But she never got more than a sip of the water Freddie had so kindly +brought her, for, no sooner did her lips touch the cup than there was a +grinding, shrieking sound, a jar to the railway coach, and the train +came to such a sudden stop that many passengers were thrown from their +seats. + +Flossie and Freddie sat down suddenly in the aisle, but they were so fat +that they did not mind it in the least. As surprised as he was, Freddie +noticed that the fat lady was so large that she could not be thrown out +of her seat, no matter how suddenly the train stopped. The little +Bobbsey boy saw the water from the cup spill all over the fat lady, and +she held the silver vessel in her big, pudgy hand, looking curiously at +it, as though wondering what had so quickly become of the water. + +"It's a wreck - the train's off the track!" a man exclaimed. + +"We've hit something!" cried another. + +"It's an accident, anyhow," said still a third, and then every one +seemed to be talking at once. + +Mr. Bobbsey came running down the aisle to where Flossie and Freddie +still sat, dazed. + +"Are you hurt?" he cried, picking them both up together, which was +rather hard to do. + +"No - no," said Freddie slowly. + +"Oh, papa, what is it?" asked Flossie, wondering whether she was going +to cry. + +"I don't know, my dear. Nothing serious, I guess. The engineer must +have put the brakes on too quickly. I'll look out and see." + +Knowing that his children were safe, Mr. Bobbsey put them down and led +them back to where his wife was anxiously waiting. + +"They're all right," he called. "No one seems to be hurt." + +Bert Bobbsey looked out of the window. Though darkness had fallen there +seemed to be many lights up ahead of the stopped train. And in the +light Bert could see some camels, an elephant or two, a number of +horses, and cages containing lions and tigers strung out along the +track. + +"Why - why, what's this - a circus?" he asked. "Look, Nan! See +those monkeys!" + +"Why, it is a circus - and the train must have been wrecked!" +exclaimed his sister. "Oh mamma, what can it be?" + +A brakeman came into the car where the Bobbseys were. + +"There's no danger," he said. "Please keep your seats. A circus train +that was running ahead of us got off the track, and some of the animals +are loose. Our train nearly ran into an elephant, and that's why the +engineer had to stop so suddenly. We will go on I soon." + +"A circus, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, well! This is an adventure, +children. We've run into a circus train! Let's watch them catch the +animals." + +CHAPTER II +SNOOP IS GONE + +"PAPA, do you think a tiger would come in here?" asked Freddie, +remembering all the stories of wild animals he had heard in his four +years. + +"Or a lion?" asked Flossie. + +"Of course not!" exclaimed Nan. "Can't you see that all the wild +animals are still in their cages?" + +"Maybe some of 'em are loose," suggested Freddie, and he almost hoped +so, as long as his father was there to protect him. + +"I guess the circus men can look after them," said Bert. "May I get +off, father, and look around?" + +"I'd rather you wouldn't, son. You can't tell what may happen." + +"Oh, look at that man after the monkey!" cried Nan. + +"Yes, and the monkey's gone up on top of the tiger's cage," added Bert. + +"Say, this is as good as a circus, anyhow!" + +Some of the big, flaring lights, used in the tents at night, had been +set going so the circus and railroad men could see to work, and this +glare gave the Bobbseys and other passengers on the train a chance to +see what was going on. + +"There's a big elephant!" cried Freddie. "See him push the lion's cage +around. Elephants are awful strong!" + +"They couldn't push a railroad train," said Flossie. + +"They could too!" cried her little brother, quickly. + +"They could not. Could they, papa?" + +"What?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, absentmindedly. + +"Could an elephant push a railroad train?" asked Flossie. + +"I know they could," declared Freddie. "Couldn't they, papa?" + +"Now, children, don't argue. Look out of the windows," adivsed their +mother. + +And while the circus men are trying to catch the escaped animals I will +tell you something more about the Bobbseys, and about the other books, +before this one, relating to their doings. + +Mr. Richard Bobbsey, and his wife Mary, the parents of the Bobbsey +twins, lived in an Eastern city called Lakeport, on Lake Metoka. Mr. +Bobbsey was in the lumber business, and the yard, with its great piles +of logs and boards, was near the lake, on which the twins often went in +boats. There was also a river running into the lake, not far from the +saw mill. + +Their house was about a quarter of a mile away from the lumber yard, on +a fashionable street, and about it was a large lawn, while in the back +Sam Johnson, the colored man of all work, and the husband of Dinah, had +a fine garden. The Bobbseys had many vegetables from this garden. + +There was also a barn near the house, and in this the children had many +good times. Flossie and Freddie played there more than did Nan and +Bert, who were growing too old for games of that sort. + +As I have said, Bert and Nan were rather tall and thin, while Flossie +and Freddie were short and fat. Mr. Bobbsey used often to call Flossie +his "Fat Fairy," which always made her laugh. And Freddie had a pet +name, too. It was "Fat Fireman," for he often played that he was a +fireman; putting out makebelieve fires, and pretending he was a fire +engine. Once or twice his father had taken him to see a real one, and +this pleased Freddie very much. + +In the first book of this series, called "The Bobbsey Twins," I told you +something of the fun the four children had in their home town. They had +troubles, too, and Danny Rugg, one of the few bad boys in Lakeport, was +the cause of some. Also about a certain broken window; what happened +when the twins went coasting, how they had a good time in an ice boat, +and how they did many other things. + +Snoop, the fat, black kitten, played a part in the story also. The +Bobbsey twins were very fond of Snoop, and had kept him so many years +that I suppose he ought to be called cat, instead of a kitten, now. + +After the first winter's fun, told of in the book that began an account +of the doings of the Bobbseys, the twins and their parents went to the +home of Uncle Daniel Bobbsey, and his wife, Aunt Sarah, in Meadow Brook. + +In the book called "The Bobbsey Twins in the Country," I wrote down many +of the things that happened during the summer. + +If they had fun going off to the country, taking Snoop with them, of +course, they had many more good times on arriving at the farm. There +was a picnic, jolly times in the woods, a Fourth of July celebration, +and though a midnight scare alarmed them for a time, still they did not +mind that. + +But, though the twins liked the country very much, they soon had a +chance to see something of the ocean, and in the third book of the +series, called "The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore," my readers will find +out what happened there. + +There was fun on the sand, and more fun in the water, and once the +little ones got lost on an island. A great storm came up, and a ship +was wrecked, and this gave the twins a chance to see the life savers, +those brave men who risk their lives to help others. + +Then came closing days at Ocean Cliff, the home of Uncle William and +Aunt Emily Minturn at Sunset Beach. School was soon to open, and Mr. +and Mrs. Bobbsey were anxious to get back to their town home, for +Flossie and Freddie were to start regular lessons now, even though it +was but in the kindergarten class. + +So goodbyes were said to the ocean, and though Dorothy Minturn cried a +little when her cousins Nan and Flossie, and Bert and Freddie, had to +leave, still she said she hoped they would come again. And so the +Bobbseys were on their way home in the train when the circus accident +happened that brought them to a stop. + +"And so we nearly ran into an elephant, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey to the +brakeman, who had brought in the news. + +"Yes, sir. Our engineer stopped just in time." + +"If we had hit him we'd gone off the track," said Freddy. + +"No, we wouldn't," declared Flossie, who seemed bound to start a +dispute. Perhaps she was so tired that she was fretful. + +"Say, can't you two stop disputing all the while?" asked Bert, in a low +voice. "You make papa and mamma nervous." + +"Well, an elephant is big, anyhow," said Freddie. + +"So he is, little Fat Fireman," said Nan, "Come and sit with me, and we +can see the men catch the monkeys." + +The work of getting the escaped animals back into their cages was going +on rapidly. Some of the passengers went out to watch, but the Bobbseys +stayed in their seats, Mr. Bobbsey thinking this best. The catching of +the monkeys was the hardest work, but soon even this was accomplished. + +The wait seemed very tiresome when there was nothing more to watch, and +Mr. Bobbsey looked about for some railroad man of whom he could inquire +how much longer delay there would be. The conductor came through the +car. + +"When will we start?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. + +"Not for some time, I'm afraid," spoke the tickettaker. "The wreck is a +worse one than I thought at first, and some of the cars of the circus +train are across the track so we can't get by. We may be here two hours +yet." + +"That's too bad. Where are we?" + +"Just outside of Whitewood." + +"Oh, that's near home!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why can't we get out, +Richard, walk across the fields to the trolley line, and take that home? +It won't be far, and we'll be there ever so much quicker." + +"Well, we could do that, I suppose," said her husband, slowly. + +"That's what a number of passengers did," said the conductor. "There's +no danger in going out now - all the animals are back in their cages." + +"Then that's what we'll do, children," said their father. "Gather up +your things, and we'll take the trolley home. The moon is coming up, +and it will soon be light." + +"I'm hungry," said Freddie, fretfully. + +"So am I," added his twin sister. + +"Well, I have some crackers and cookies in my bag," replied Mrs. +Bobbsey." You can eat those on the way. Nan, go tell Dinah that we're +going to take a trolley. We can each carry something." + +"I'll carry Snoop," exclaimed Freddie. He hurried down the aisle to +where the cook was now standing, intending to get the box containing his +pet cat." + +"Where's Snoop, Dinah? " he asked. + +"Heah he am!" she said, lifting up the slatbox. "He ain't made a sound +in all dis confusion, nuther." + +The next moment Freddie gave a cry of dismay: + +"Snoop's gone!" he wailed. "He broke open the box and he's gone! Oh, +where is Snoop?" + +"Ma sakes alive!" cried Dinah. The box was empty! + +A hurried search of the car did not bring forth the black pet. Mr. and +Mrs. Bobbsey, and some of the passengers, joined in the hunt. But there +was no Snoop, and a slat that had pulled loose from one side of the box +showed how he had gotten out. + +"Most likely Snoop got frightened when the train stopped so suddenly, +and broke loose," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We may find him outside." + +"I - I hope an elephant didn't step on him" said Flossie, with a catch +in her breath. + +"Ohooo! Maybe a tiger or a lion has him!" wailed Freddie. "Oh, Snoop!" + +"Be quiet, dear, we'll find him for you," said Mrs. Bobbsey, as she +opened her satchel to get out some cookies. Then she remembered +something. + +"Freddie, where is that silver cup?" she asked. "You had it to get a +drink. Did you give it back to me?" + +"No, mamma, I - I" + +"He gave the fat lady a drink from it," spoke Flossie, "and she didn't +give it back." + +"The train stopped just as she was drinking," went on Freddie. "I sat +down on the floor - hard, and I saw the water spill on her. The fat +lady has our silver cup! Oh, dear!" + +"And she's gone - and Snoop is gone!" cried Flossie. "Oh! oh!" + +"Is that so - did you let her take your cup, Freddie?" asked his papa. + +Freddie only nodded. He could not speak. + +"That fat lady was with the circus," said one of the men passengers. +"Maybe you can see her outside." + +"I'll look," said Mr. Bobbsey, quickly. "That cup is too valuable to +lose. Come, children, we'll see if we can't find Snoop also, and then +we'll take a trolley car for home." + +CHAPTER III +A QUEER DOG + +PAPA BOBBSEY first looked for some of the circus men of whom he might +inquire about the fat lady. There was much confusion, for a circus +wreck is about as bad a kind as can happen, and for some time Mr. +Bobbsey could find no one who could tell him what he wanted to know. + +Meanwhile Mrs. Bobbsey kept the four children and Dinah with her, +surrounding their little pile of baggage off to one side of The tracks. + +Some of the big torches were still burning, and the full moon was coming +up, so that there was plenty of light, even if it was night. + +"Oh, but if we could only find Snoop!" cried Freddie. "Here, Snoop! +Snoop!" he called. + +"I had much rather find the fat lady, and get back your lovely silver +cup," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "I hope she hasn't taken it away with her." + +"She had it in her hand when the train, stopped with such a jerk," +explained Flossie. "Oh, but mamma, don't you want us to find Snoop - +dear Snoop?" + +"Of course I do. But I want that silver cup very much, too. I hope +your father finds it." + +"But there never could be another Snoop," cried Flossie. "Could there, +Freddie? And we could get another silver cup." + +"Don't be silly," advised Bert, rather shortly. + +"Oh, don't talk that way to them," said Nan. "They do love that cat so. +Never mind, Flossie and Freddie. I'm sure we'll find him soon. Here +comes papa." + +Mr. Bobbsey came back, looking somewhat worried. + +"Did you find her?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey anxiously. + +"No," he replied, with a shake of his head. "She was the circus fat +lady all right. It seems she missed the showtrain, and came on in ours. +And, when we stopped she got out, and went up ahead. Part of the circus +train, carrying the performers, was not damaged and that has gone on. +The fat lady is with that, so one of the men said." + +"And, very likely, she has carried off our silver cup," exclaimed Mrs. +Bobbsey. "Oh dear! Can you find her later, Richard?" + +"I think so. But it will take some time. The circus is going to +Danville - that's a hundred miles from here. But I will write to the +managers there, and ask them to get our cup from the fat lady." + +"But where is Snoop?" asked Freddie, with much anxiety. + +"I don't know, my dear," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "I asked the circus men +if they had seen him, but they were too busy to remember. He may be +running around some where. But we can't wait any longer. We must get +home. I'll speak to one of the switchmen, who stay around here, and if +they see Snoop I'll have them keep him for us. We'll come back tomorrow +and inquire." + +"But we want Snoop now!" exclaimed Freddie, fretfully. + +"I'm afraid we can't get him," said Mrs. Bobbsey, gently. "Come, +children, let's go home now, and leave it to papa. Oh, to think of your +lovely silver cup being gone!" + +"Snoop is worse," said Flossie, almost crying. + +"I - I'm sorry I let the fat lady take the cup," spoke Freddie. + +"Oh, you meant all right, my dear," said his mamma, "and it was very +kind of you. But we really ought to start. We may miss a trolley. +Come, Dinah, can you carry all you have?" + +"'Deed an' I can, Mrs. Bobbsey. But I suah am sorry 'bout dat ar' +Snoop." + +"Oh, it wasn't your fault, Dinah," said Nan quickly. "He is getting to +be such a big cat that he can easily push the slats off his box, now. +We must make it stronger next time." + +Flossie and Freddie wondered if there would be a "next time," for they +feared Snoop was gone forever. They did not worry so much about the +silver cup, valuable as it was. + +With everyone in the little party carrying something, the Bobbsey family +set off across, the fields toward the distant trolley line that would +take them nearly home. The moon was well up now, and there was a good +path across the fields. Nan and Bert were talking about the wreck, and +recalling some of the funny incidents of catching the circus animals. + +Flossie and Freddie were wondering whether they would ever see their pet +cat again. They had had him so long that he seemed like one of the +family. + +"Maybe he ran off and joined the circus," said Flossle. + +"Maybe," spoke her brother. "But he can't do any tricks, so they won't +want him in a show." + +"He can so do tricks! He can chase his tail and almost grab it." + +"That isn't a trick." + +"It is so - as much as standing on your head." + +"Children - children - I don't know what I'll do with you if you +don't stop that constant bickering," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "You must not +dispute so." + +"Well, mamma, but isn't chasing your tail a trick?" asked Flossie. +"Freddie says it isn't." + +"Well, it isn't a circus trick, anyhow," declared her brother. "I meant +a circus trick." + +"Well, Snoop is a good cat, anyhow," went on Flossie, "and I wish we had +him back." + +"Oh, so do I!" exclaimed Freddie, and thus that little dispute ended. + +They were walking along through a little patch of woods now, when Bert, +who was the last one in line, suddenly called out: + +"Something is coming after us!" + +"Coming after us? What do you mean?" asked Nan quickly, as she hurried +to her father's side. + +"I mean I've been listening for two or three minutes now, to some animal +following after us along the path. Some big animal, too." + +Flossie and Freddie both ran back and took hold of their mother's hands. + +"Don't scare the children, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey, a bit sternly. "Did +you really hear something?" + +"Yes, father. It's some animal walking behind us. Listen and you can +hear it your self." + +They all listened. It was very quiet. Then from down the hard dirt +path they all heard the "pitpat, pitpat" of the footsteps of some +animal. It was coming on slowly. + +For a moment Mr. Bobbsey thought of the wild animals of the circus. In +spite of what the men had said perhaps one of the beasts might have +escaped from its cage. The others in the little party evidently thought +the same thing. Mrs. Bobbsey drew her children more closely about her. + +"'Deed an' if it's one ob dem elephants," said Dinah, "an' if he comes +fo' me I'll jab mah hat pin in his long nose - dat's what I will!" + +"It can't be an elephant," said Mr. Bobbsey. "One of the big beasts +would make more noise than that. It may be one of the monkeys - I +don't see how they could catch them all - they were so lively and full +of mischief." + +"Oh, if it's a monkey, may we keep it?" begged Flossie. "I just love a +monkey." + +"Mercy, child! What would we do with it around the house?" cried Mrs. +Bobbsey. "Richard, can you see what it is?" + +Mr. Bobbsey peered down the road. + +"I can see something," he said. "It's coming nearer." + +"Oh dear!" cried Nan, trembling with fear. + +Just then a bark sounded - a friendly bark. + +"It's a dog!" said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, I'm so glad it wasn't an +elephant," and she hugged Freddie and Flossie. + +"Pooh! I wasn't afraid!" cried Freddie. "If it had been an elephant I +- I'd give him a cookie, and maybe he'd let me ride home on his back." + +The animal barked louder now, and a moment later he came into sight on a +moonlit part of the path. The children could see that it was a big, +shaggy white dog, who wagged his tail in greeting as he walked up to +them. + +"Oh, what a lovely dog!" cried Nan. "I wonder where he belongs?" + +The fine animal came on. Bert snapped his fingers, boy-fashion. + +Instantly the dog stood up on his hind legs and began marching about in +a circle on the path. + +"Oh, what a queer dog!" cried Flossie. "Oh I wish he was ours!" + +CHAPTER IV +HOME IN AN AUTO + +DOWN on his four legs dropped the big white dog, and with another wag of +his fluffy tail he came straight for Flossie. + +"Be careful!" warned Mamma Bobbsey. + +"He won't hurt her!" declared Bert. "That's a good dog, anyone can tell +that. Here, doggie; come here!" he called. + +But the dog still advanced toward Flossie, who shrank back a bit +timidly. + +"You never can tell what dogs will do," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "It is best +to be careful." + +"I guess he knew what Flossie said to him," spoke up Freddie. "He knows +we like dogs." + +The dog barked a little, and, coming up to where Flossie was, again +stood on his hind legs. + +"That's a queer trick," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I guess this dog has been +trained. He probably belongs around here." + +"I wish he belonged to us," sighed Nan. Like Flossie and Freddie she, +too, loved animals. + +"Maybe we can keep him if we don't find Snoop?" suggested Freddie. "Oh, +papa, will you get Snoop back?" and Freddie's voice sounded as though he +was going to cry. + +"Yes, yes, of course I will," said Mr. Bobbsey quickly. He did not want +the children to fret now, with still quite a distance yet to go home, +and that in a trolley car. There were bundles to carry, weary children +to look after, and Mrs. Bobbsey was rather tired also. No wonder Papa +Bobbsey thought he had many things to do that night. + +"Come along, children," called Mrs. Bobbsey, "it is getting late, and we +are only about half way to the trolley. Oh dear! If that circus had to +be wrecked I wish it could have waited until our train passed." + +"Are you very tired?" asked her husband. "I can take that valise." + +"Indeed you'll not. You have enough." + +"Lemme have it, Massa Bobbsey," pleaded Dinah. "I ain't carryin' half +enough. I's pow'ful strong, I is." + +"Nonsense, Dinah!" said Mr. Bobbiey. "I can manage, and your arms are +full." + +"I - I wish she had Snoop," said Freddie, but he was so interested in +watching the queer dog that he half forgot his sorrow over the lost cat. + +The dog seemed to have made great friends with Flossie. She was patting +him on the head now, for the animal, after marching about on his hind +legs, was down on all fours again. + +"Oh, mamma, he's awful nice!" exclaimed Flossie. "He's just as gentle, +and he's soft, like the little toy lamb I used to have." + +"Indeed he does seem to be a gentle dog," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "But come +along now. Don't pet him any more, or he may follow us. Flossie, and +whoever owns him would not like it. Come on." + +"Forward - march!" called Freddie, strutting along the moonlit path as +much like a soldier as he could imitate, tired as he was. + +The Bobbseys and their faithful Dinah started off again toward the +distant trolley that would take them to their home. The dog sat down +and looked after them. + +"I - I wish he was ours," said Flossie wistfully, waving her hand to the +dog. + +The Bobbseys had not gone on very far before Nan, looking back, called +out: + +"Oh, papa, that dog is following us!" + +"He is?" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "That's queer. He must have taken a +sudden liking to us. But I guess he'll go back where he belongs pretty +soon. Are you getting tired, little Fat Fireman? And you, my Fat +Fairy?" + +"Oh, no, papa," laughed Flossie. "I sat down so much in the train that +I'm glad to stand up now." + +"So am I," said Freddie, who made up his mind that he would not say he +was tired if his little sister did not. And yet, truth to tell, the +little Fat Fireman was very weary. + +On and on went the Bobbsey family, and soon Bert happened to look back, +and gave a whistle of surprise. + +"That dog isn't going home, papa," he said. "He's still after us, and +look! now he's running." + +They all glanced back on hearing this. Surely enough the big white dog +was running after them, wagging his tail joyfully, and barking from time +to time. + +"This will never do!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "Whoever owns him may +think we are trying to take him away. I'll drive him back. Go home! +Go back, sir!" exclaimed Papa Bobbsey in stern tones. + +The dog stopped wagging his tail. Then he sat down on the path, and +calmly waited. Mr. Bobbsey walked toward him. + +"Oh, don't - don't whip him, papa!" exclaimed Flossie. + +"I don't intend to," said Mr. Bobbsey. "But I must be stern with him or +he will think I'm only playing. Go back!" he cried. + +The dog stretched out on the path, his head down between his fore paws. + +"He - he looks - sad," said Freddie. "Maybe he hasn't any home, +papa." + +"Oh, of course a valuable dog like that has a home," declared Bert. + +"But maybe they didn't treat him kindly, and he is looking for a new +one," suggested Nan, hopefully. + +"He doesn't seem illtreated," spoke Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, I do wish he'd +go back, so we could go on." + +Mr. Bobbsey pretended to pick up a stone and throw it at the dog, as +masters sometimes do when they do not want their dogs to follow them. +This dog only wagged his tail, as though he thought it the best joke he +had ever known. + +"Go back! Go back, I say!" cried Papa Bobbsey in a loud voice. The dog +did not move. + +"I guess he won't follow us any more," went on Mr. Bobbsey. "Hurry +along now, children. We are almost at the trolley." He turned away +from the dog, who seemed to be asleep now, and the family went on. For +a minute or two, as Nan could tell by looking back, the dog did not +follow, but just as the Bobbseys were about to make a turn in the path, +up jumped the animal and came trotting on after the children and their +parents, wagging his tail so fast that it seemed as if it would come +loose. + +"Is he coming?" asked Flossie. + +"He certainly is," answered Bert, who was in the rear. "I guess he +wants us to take him home with us." + +"Oh, let's do it!" begged Flossie. + +"Please, papa," pleaded Freddie. "We haven't got Snoop now, so let us +have a dog. And I'm sure we could teach him to do tricks - he's so +smart." + +"And so he's coming after us still!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, +well, I don't know what to do," and he came to a stop on the path. + +"Couldn't we take him home just for to-night?" asked Nan, "and then in +the morning we could find out who owns him and return him." + +"Oh, please do," begged Freddie and Flossie, impulsively. + +"But how can we take him on a trolley car?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "The +conductor would not let us." + +"Maybe he would - if he was a kind man," suggested Freddie. "We could +tell him how it was, and how we lost our cat." + +"And our silver cup," added Flossie. + +"Well, certainly the dog doesn't seem to want to go home," said Mr. +Bobbsey, after he had tried two or three times more to drive the animal +back. But it would not go. + +"Go on a little farther," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey. "By the time we get +to the trolley he may get tired, and go back. And if we want to lose +him I think we can, by getting on the car quickly." + +"But we don't want to lose him!" cried Freddie. + +"No, no!" said Flossie. "We want to keep him. He can run along behind +the trolley car. I'll ask the motorman to go slow, papa." + +"My! This has been a mixedup day!" sighed Mr. Bobbsey. "I really don't +know what to do." + +The dog seemed to think that he was one of the family, now. He came up +to Flossie and Freddie and let them pat him. His tail kept wagging all +the while. + +"Well, we'll see what happens where we get to the trolley," decided Mr. +Bobbsey, thinking that there would be the best and only place to get rid +of the dog." Come along, children." + +Freddie and Flossie came on, the dog between them, and this seemed to +suit the fine animal. He had found friends, now, he evidently thought. +Mr. Bobbsey wondered why so valuable a dog would leave its home. And he +was very much puzzled as to what he should do if the children insisted +on keeping the animal, and if it came aboard the trolley car. + +"There's the car!" exclaimed Bert, as they went around another turn in +the path and came to a road. Down it could be seen the headlight of an +approaching trolley, and also the twin lamps of an oncoming automobile. + +"Look out for the auto, children!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey. + +They stood at the side of the road, and as the auto came up the man in +it slowed down his machine. It was a big car and he was alone in it. + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the autoist, as his engine stopped. "If it +isn't the Bobbsey family - twins and all! What are you doing here, Mr. +Bobbsey?" + +"Why, it's Mr. Blake!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey, seeing that the autoist +was a neighbor, and a business friend of his. "Oh, our train was held +back by a circus wreck, so we walked across the lots to the car. We're +homeward bound from the seashore." + +"Well, well! A circus wreck, eh? Where did you get the dog?" + +"Oh, he followed us," said Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"And we're going to keep him, too!" exclaimed Flossie. + +"And take him in the trolley with us," added her little brother. + +"Well, well!" exclaimed Mr. Blake. "Say, now, I have a better plan than +that," he went on. "Why should you folks go home in a trolley, when I +have this big empty auto here? Pile in, all of you, and I'll get you +there in a jiffy. Come, Dinah, I see you, too." + +"Yes, sah, Massa Blake, I'se heah! Can't lose ole Dinah!" + +"But we lost our cat, Snoop!" said Flossie regretfully. + +"And we nearly ran over an elephant," added Freddie, bound that his +sister should not tell all the news. + +"Well, get in the auto," invited Mr. Blake. + +"Do you really mean it?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "Perhaps we are keeping you +from going somewhere." + +"Indeed not. Pile in, and you'll soon be home." + +"Can we bring the dog, too?" asked Flossie. + +"Yes, there's plenty of room for the dog," laughed Mr. Blake. "Lift him +in." + +But the strange dog did not need lifting. He sprang into the tonneau of +the auto as soon as the door was opened. Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey lifted in +Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert followed. Then in got Papa and +Mamma Bobbsey and Mr. Blake started off. + +"This is lovely," said Mrs. Bobbsey with a sigh of relief. She was more +tired than she had thought. + +"It certainly is kind of you, Mr. Blake," said Papa Bobbsey. + +"I'm only too glad I happened to meet you. Are you children +comfortable?" + +"Yep!" chorused Freddie and Flossie. + +"And the dog?" + +"We're holding him so he won't fall out," explained Flossie. She and +her little brother had the dog between them. + +On went the auto, and with the telling of the adventures of the day the +journey seemed very short. Soon the Bobbsey home was reached. There +were lights in it, for Sam, the colored man, had been telephoned to, to +have the place opened for the family. Sam came out on the stoop to +greet them and his wife Dinah. + +"Here we are!" cried Papa Bobbsey. "Come, Flossie Freddie we're home." + +Flossie and Freddie did not answer. They were fast asleep, their heads +on the shaggy back of the big dog. + +CHAPTER V +SNAP DOES TRICKS + +"WE'LL have to carry them in," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked in the +rear of the auto, and saw his two little twins fast asleep on the dog's +back. + +"I'll take 'em," said Sam kindly. "Many a time I'se carried 'em in +offen de porch when dey falled asleep. I'll carry 'em in." + +And he did, first taking Flossie, and then Freddie. Then he and Dinah +brought in the bundles and valises, while Nan and Bert and Mr. and Mrs. +Bobbsey followed, having bidden goodnight to Mr. Blake, and thanking him +for the ride. + +"Where - where are we?" asked Flossie, rubbing her eyes and looking +around the room which she had not seen in some months. + +"An' - an' where's our dog?" demanded Freddie. + +"Oh, bless your hearts - that dog!" cried Mamma Bobbsey. "Sam took him +out in the barn. You may see him in the morning, if he doesn't run away +in the night." + +The twins looked worried over this suggestion, until Sam said: + +"Oh, I locked him up good an' proper in a box stall; 'deed an' I did, +Mrs. Bobbsey. He won't get away tonight." + +"That's - good," murmured Freddie, and then he fell asleep again. + +Soon the little twins were undressed and put to bed; Nan and Bert soon +followed, but Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey stayed up a little later to talk over +certain matters. + +"It's good to be home again," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked about the +rooms of the town house. + +"Yes, but we had a delightful summer," spoke his wife, "and the children +are so well. The country was delightful, and so was the seashore. But +I think I, too, am glad to be back. It will be quite a task, though, to +get the children ready for school. Flossie and Freddie will go +regularly now, I suppose, and with Nan and Bert in a higher class, it +means plenty of work." + +"I suppose so," said her husband. + +"But Dinah is a great help," went on Mrs. Bobbsey, for she did not mean +to complain. Flossie and Freddie had tried a few days in the +kindergarten class at school, but Flossie said she did not like it, and, +as Freddie would not go without her, their parents had taken them both +out in the Spring. + +"There will be plenty of time to start them in the Fall," said Mrs. +Bobbsey, and so it had been arranged. And now the four twins were all +to attend the same school, which would open in about a week. + +Flossie and Freddie were both up early the next morning, and, scarcely +halfdressed, they hurried out to the barn. + +"Whar yo' chillers gwine?" demanded Dinah, as she prepared to get +breakfast. + +"Out to see our dog," answered Freddie. "Is Sam around?" + +"Yes, he's out dere somewheres, washin' de carriage. But don't yo' let +dat dog bite yo'." + +"We won't," said Freddie. + +"He wouldn't bite anyhow," declared Flossie. + +Sam opened the box stall for them, and out bounced the big white dog, +barking in delight, and almost knocking down the twins, so glad was he +to see them. + +"What shall we call him?" asked Freddie. "Maybe we'd better name him +Snoop, like our cat. I guess Snoop is gone forever." + +"No, we mustn't call him Snoop," said Flossie, "for some day our cat +might come back, and he'd want his own name again. We'll call our dog +Snap, 'cause see how bright his eyes snap. Then if our cat comes back +we'll have Snoop and Snap." + +"That's a good name," decided Freddie, after thinking it over. "Snoop +and Snap. I wonder how we can make this dog stand on his hind legs like +he did before?" + +"Bert snapped his fingers and he did it," suggested Flossie. "But maybe +he'll do it now if you just ask him to." + +Freddie tried to snap his fingers, but they were too short and fat. +Then he patted the dog an the head and said: + +"Stand up!" + +At once the dog, with a bark, did so. He sat up on his hind legs and +then walked around. Both the children laughed. + +"I wonder if he can do any other tricks?" asked Flossie. + +"I'm going to try," said her brother. "What trick do you want him to +do?" + +"Make him lie down and roll over." + +"All right," spoke Freddie. "Now, Snap, lie down and roll over!" he +called. At once the fine animal did so, and then sprang up with a bark, +and a wag of his tail, as much as to ask: + +"What shall I do next?" + +"Oh, isn't he a fine dog!" cried Flossie. "I wonder who taught him +those tricks?" + +"Let's see if he can do any more," said Freddie. "There's a barrel hoop +over there. Maybe he'll jump through it if we hold it up" + +"Oh, let's do it!" cried Flossie, as she ran to get the hoop. Snap +barked at the sight of it, and capered about as though he knew just what +it was for, and was pleased at the chance to do more of his tricks. The +hoop was a large one, and Freddie alone could not hold it very steady. +So Flossie took hold of one side. As soon as they were in position, +Freddie called: + +"Come on now, Snap. Jump!" + +Snap barked, ran back a little way, turned around and came racing +straight for the twins. At that moment Sam Johnson came up running, a +stick in his hand. + +"Heah! heah!" shouted the colored man, "You let dem chillers alone, dog! +Go 'way, I tells yo'!" + +"That's all right, Sam," said Freddie. "Don't scare him. He's our new +dog Snap, and he's going to do a trick," for the colored gardener had +supposed the dog was running at Flossie and Freddie to bite them. + +Snap paid no attention to Sam, but raced on. When a short distance from +where Flosxie and Freddie held the hoop, Snap jumped up into the air, +and shot straight through the wooden circle, landing quite a way off. + +"Mah gracious sakes alive!" gasped Sam. "Dat's a reg'lar circus trick`- +at's what it am!" + +He scratched his head in surprise, and the stick he had picked up, +intending to drive away the dog with, stuck straight out. In a moment +Snap raced up, and jumped over the stick. + +"Oh, look!" cried Flossie. + +"Another trick!" exclaimed Freddie. + +"Mah gracious goodness!" cried Sam. "Dat suah am wonderful!" + +Snap ran about barking in delight. He seemed happy to be doing tricks. + +"Let's go tell papa," said Freddie. "He'll want to know about this." + +"Oh, I do hope he lets us keep him," said Flossie. + +Mr. Bobbsey had not yet gone to his lumber office. He listened to what +the little twins had to tell them about Snap, who lay on the lawn, +seeming to listen to his own praises. + +"A trick dog; eh?" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder who owns him?" + +"Maybe he escaped from the circus," suggested Bert, who came out just +then to see how his pigeons were getting along. + +"That's it!" cried Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder I did not think of it before. +The dog must have escaped from the wrecked circus train, and he followed +us, not knowing what else to do. That accounts for his tricks." + +"But we can keep him; can't we?" begged Flossie. + +"Hum! I'll have to see about that," said Mr. Bobbsey slowly. "I +suppose the circus people will want him back, for he must be valuable. +Perhaps some clown trained him." + +"But if we can't have Snoop, our cat, we ought to have a dog," asserted +Freddie. + +"I'll try to get Snoop back," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I'll have one of my +men go down to the place where the wreck was, today, and inquire of the +railroad men. He may be wandering about there." + +"Poor Snoop!" said Nan, coming out to feed some of her pet chickens, +that Sam had looked after all summer. + +"And while you are about it," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey, who was on the +front porch, "I wish, Richard, that you would see if you can locate that +fat lady, and get back the children's silver cup." + +"I will," replied Mr. Bobbsey. "I will have to write to them anyhow, +about the dog, and at the same time I'll ask about the cup. Though I +don't believe the fat lady meant to keep it." + +"Oh, no," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Probably she just held it, in the +excitement over the wreck, and she may have left it in the car. But +please write about it." + +"I will," promised Mr. Bobbsey, as he started for the office, while the +twins gathered about the new dog, who seemed ready to do more tricks. + +CHAPTER Vl +DANNY RUGG IS MEAN + +THAT afternoon a small fire broke out in Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard. The +alarm bell rang, and Mrs. Bobbsey, hearing it, and knowing by the number +that the blaze must be near her husband's place of business, came +hurrying down stairs. + +"Oh, I must go and see how dangerous it is," she said to Dinah. "It is +too bad to have it happen just after Mr. Bobbsey comes back from his +summer vacation." + +"'Deed it am!" cried the fat, colored cook. "But maybe it am only a +little fire, Mrs. Bobbsey." + +"I'm sure I hope so," was the answer. + +As Mrs. Bobbsey was hurrying down the front walk Flossie and Freddie saw +her. + +"Where are you going, mamma?" they called. + +"Down to papa's office," she answered. "There's a fire near his place, +and - " + +"Oh, a fire! Then I'm going!" cried Freddie. "Fire! Fire! Ding, dong"! +Turn on the water!" and he raced about quite excitedly. + +"Oh, I don't know," said Mrs. Bobbsey, in doubt. "Where are Nan and +Bert?" she asked. + +"They went down to the lake," said Flossie. "Oh, mamma, do take us to +the fire with you. We'll bring Snap along." + +"Sure," said Freddie. "Hi, Snap!" he called. + +The trick dog came rushing from the stable, barking and wagging his +tail. + +"Well, I suppose I might as well take you," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "But you +must stay near me. We'll leave Snap home, though." + +"Oh, no!" cried Freddie. + +"He might get lost," said Mrs. Bobbsey. + +That was enough for Freddie. He did not want the new pet to get lost, +so he did not make a fuss when Sam came hurrying up to lock Snap in the +stable. Poor Snap howled, for he wanted very much to go with the +children. + +The fire was, as I have said, a small one, in part of the planing mill. +But the engines puffed away, and spurted water, and this pleased +Freddie. Flossie stayed close to her mother, and Mrs. Bobbsey, once she +found out that the main lumber yard was not in danger, was ready to come +back home. But Freddie wanted to stay until the fire was wholly out. + +Mr. Bobbsey came from his office to give some directions to the firemen, +and saw his wife and the two twins. Then he took charge of them, and +led them as close to the blaze as was safe. + +"It will soon be out," he said. "It was only some sawdust that got on +fire." + +"I wish I could squirt some water!" sighed Freddie. + +"What's that? Do you want to be a fireman?" asked one of the men in a +rubber coat and a big helmet. He smiled at Mr. Bobbsey, whom he knew +quite well. + +"Yes, I do," said Freddie. + +"Then come with me, and I'll let you help hold the hose," said the +fireman. "I'll look after him," he went on, to Mrs. Bobbsey, and she +nodded to show that Freddie could go. + +What a good time the little fellow had, standing beside a real fireman, +and helping throw real water on a real fire! Freddie never forgot that. +Of course the fire was almost out, and it was only one of the small hose +lines that the fireman let the little fellow help hold, but, for all +that, Freddie was very happy. + +"Did you write to the circus people today about our silver cup, and that +trick dog?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband, that night. + +"I declare, I didn't!" he exclaimed. "The fire upset me so that it +slipped my mind. I'll do it the first thing tomorrow. There is no +special hurry. How is the dog, by the way?" + +"Oh, he's just lovely!" cried Flossie. + +"And I do hope we can keep him forever!" exclaimed Freddie. "'Specially +since Snoop is gone." + +"Did you hear anything about our cat?" asked Nan, of her father. + +"No. I sent a man to the railroad company, but no stray cat had been +found. I am afraid Snoop is lost, children." + +"Oh dear!" cried Flossie. + +The next day, having learned from the railroad company where the circus +had gone after the wreck, Mr. Bobbsey sent a letter to the manager, +explaining about the lost silver cup, and the found circus dog. He +asked that the fat lady be requested to write to him, to let him know if +she had taken the cup by accident, and Mr. Bobbsey also wanted to know +if the circus had lost a trick dog. + +"There!" he exclaimed as he sent the letter to be mailed, "now we'll +just have to wait for an answer." + +Nan and Bert, and Flossie and Freddie were soon having almost as much +fun as they had had at the seashore and in the country. Their town +playmates, who had come back from their vacations, called at the Bobbsey +home, and made up games and all sorts of sports. + +"For," said Grace Lavine, with whom Nan sometimes played, "school will +soon begin, and we want to have all the fun we can until then." + +"Let's jump rope," proposed Nan. + +"All right," agreed Grace. "Here comes Nellie Parks, and we'll see who +can jump the most." + +"No, you mustn't do that," said Nan. "Don't you remember how you once +tried to jump a hundred, and you fainted?" + +"Indeed I do," said Grace. "I'm not going to be so silly as to try that +again. We'll only jump a little." + +Soon Nan and her chums were having good time in the yard. + +Charley Mason, with whom Bert sometimes played, came over, and the two +boys went for a row on the lake, in Bert's boat. Some little friends of +Flossie and Freddie came over, and they had fun watching Snap do tricks. + +For the circus dog, as he had come to be called, seemed to be able to do +some new trick each day. He could "play dead," and "say his prayers," +besides turning a back somersault. The little twins, who seemed to +claim more share in Snap than did Nan and Bert, did not really know how +many tricks their pet could do. + +"Maybe you'll have to give him back to the circus," said Willie Flood, +one of Freddie's chums. + +"Well, if we do, papa may buy him, or get another dog like him," spoke +Flossie. + +A few days after this, when Bert was out in the front yard, watering the +grass with a hose, along came Danny Rugg. Now Danny went to the same +school that Bert did, but few of the boys and none of the girls, liked +Danny, because he was often rough, and would hit them or want to fight, +or would play mean tricks on them. Still, sometimes Danny behaved +himself, and then the boys were glad to have him on their baseball nine +as he was a good hitter and thrower, and he could run fast. + +"Hello, Bert!" exclaimed Danny, leaning on the fence. "I hear you have a +trick circus dog here." + +"Who told you?" asked Bert, wondering what Danny would say next. + +"Oh, Jack Parker. He says you found him." + +"I didn't," spoke Bert, spraying a bed of geranium flowers. "He +followed us the night of the circus wreck." + +"Well, you took him all the same. I know who owns him, too; and I'm +going to tell that you've got him." + +"Oh, are you?" asked Bert. "Well, we think he belongs to the circus, +and my father has written about it, so you needn't trouble yourself." + +"He doesn't belong to any circus," went on Danny. "That dog belongs to +Mr. Peterson, who lives over in Millville. He lost a trick dog, and he +adverstised for it. He's going to give a reward. I'm going to tell +him, and get the money." + +"You can't take our dog away!" cried Freddie, coming up just then. +"Don't you dare do it, Danny Rugg." + +"Yes, I will!" exclaimed the mean boy, who often teased the smaller +Bobbsey twins. "You won't have that dog after today." + +"Don't mind him, Freddie," said Bert in a low voice. "He's trying to +scare you." + +"Oh, I am eh?" cried Danny. "I'll show you what I'm trying to do. I'll +tell on you for keeping a dog that don't belong to you, and you'll be +arrested - all of you." + +Freddie looked worried, and tears came into his eyes. Bert saw this, +and was angry at Danny for being so mean. + +"Don't be afraid, Freddie," said Bert, "Look, I'll let you squirt the +hose, and you can pretend to be a fireman." + +"Oh, fine!" cried Freddie, in delight, as he took the nozzle from his +older brother. + +Just how it happened neither of them could tell, but the stream of water +shot right at Danny Rugg, and wet him all over in a second. + +"Hi there!" he cried. "Stop that! I'll pay you back for that, Fred +Bobbsey," and he jumped over the fence and ran toward the little fellow. + +CHAPTER VII +AT SCHOOL + +FREDDIE saw Danny coming, and did the most natural thing in the world. +He dropped the hose and ran. And you know what a hose, with water +bursting from the nozzle will sometimes do if you don't hold it just +right. Well, this hose did that. It seemed to aim itself straight at +Danny, and again the rough boy received a charge of water full in the +face. + +"Ha—ha—here! You quit that!" he gasped. "I'll fix you for that!" + +The water got in his eyes and mouth, and for a moment he could not see. +But with his handkerchief he soon had his eyes cleared, and then he came +running toward Bert. + +Danny Rugg was larger than Bert, and stronger, and, in addition, was a +bullying sort of chap, almost always ready to fight some one smaller +than himself. + +But what Bert lacked in size and strength he made up in a bold Spirit. +He was not at all afraid of Danny, even when the bully came rushing at +him. Bert stood his ground manfully. He had taken up the hose where +Freddie had dropped it, and the water was spurting out in a solid +stream. Freddie, having gotten a safe distance away, now turned and +stood looking at Danny. + +Danny, too, had halted and was fairly glaring at Bert, who looked at him +a bit anxiously. More than once he and the bully had come to blows, and +sometimes Bert had gotten the best of it. Still he did not like a +fight. + +"I'll get you yet, Freddie Bobbsey!" cried Danny, shaking his fist at +the little fellow. Whereupon Freddie turned and ran toward the house. +Danny saw that he could not catch him in time, and so he turned to Bert. + +"You put him up to do that - to douse me with water!" cried Danny +angrily. + +"I did not," said Bert quietly. "It was just an accident. I'm sorry." + +"You are not! I say you did that on purpose or you told Freddie to, and +I'm going to pay you back!" + +"I tell you it was an accident," insisted Bert. "But if you want to +think Freddie did it on purpose I can't stop you." + +"Well, I'm going to hit you just the same," growled Danny, and he +stepped toward Bert. + +"You'd better look out," said Bert, with just a little smile. "There's +still a lot of water in this hose," and he brought the nozzle around in +front, ready to squirt on Danny if the bad boy should come too near. + +Danny came to a stop. + +"Don't you dare put any more water on me!" cried the bully. "If you do, +I'll -" He doubled up his fists and glared at Bert. + +"Then don't you come any nearer if you don't want to get wet," said +Bert. "This hose might sprinkle you by accident, the same as it did +when Freddie had it," he added. + +"Huh! I know what kind of an accident that was!" spoke Danny, with a +sneer. + +"You'd better get out of the way," went on Bert quietly. "I want to +sprinkle that flower bed near where you are, and if you're there you +might get wet, and it wouldn't my fault." + +"I'll fix you!" growled Danny, springing forward. Bert got ready with +the hose, and there might have been more trouble, except that Sam, the +colored man, came out on the lawn. He saw that something out of the +ordinary was going on, and breaking into a run he called out: + +"Am anything de mattah, Massa Bert? Am yo' habin' trouble wif anybody?" + +"Well, I guess it's all over now," said Bert, as he saw Danny turn and +walk toward the gate. + +"If yo' need any help, jest remembah dat I'm around," spoke Sam, with a +wide grin that showed his white teeth in his black, but kindly face. +"I'l1 be right handy by, Massa Bert, yes, I will!" + +"All right," said Bert, as he went on watering the flowers. + +"Huh! You needn't think I'm afraid of you!" boasted Danny, but he kept +on out of the gate just the same. Sam went back to his work, of weeding +the vegetable garden and Bert watered the flowers. Pretty soon Freddie +came back. + +"Did - did Danny do anything to you?" the little fellow wanted to know. + +"No, Freddie, but the hose did something to him," said Bert. + +"Oh, did it wet him again?" + +"That's what it did." + +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Freddie. "I wish I'd been here to see it, Bert." + +"Well, why did you run?" + +"Oh, I - I thought maybe - mamma might want me," answered Freddie, but +Bert understood, and smiled. Then he let Freddie finish watering the +flowers, after which Freddie played he was a fireman, saving houses from +burning by means of the hose. + +Snap, the trick dog came running out, followed by Flossie, who had just +been washed and combed, her mother having put a clean dress on her. + +"Oh, Freddie," said the little girl, "let's make Snap do some tricks. +See if he will jump over the stream of water from the hose." + +"All right," agreed her little brother. "I'll squirt the water out +straight, and you stand on one side of it and call Snap over. Then +he'll jump." + +Flossie tried this, but at first the dog did not seem to want to do this +particular trick. He played soldier, said his prayers, stood on his +hind legs, and turned a somersault. But he would not jump over the +water. + +"Come, Snap, Snap!" called Flossie. "Jump!" + +Snap raced about and barked, and seemed to be having all sorts of fun, +but jump he would not until he got ready. Then, when he did Freddie +accidentally lowered the nozzle and Snap was soaked. + +But the dog did not mind the water in the least. In fact he seemed to +like it, for the day was warm, and he stood still and let Freddie wet +him all over. Then Snap rolled about on the lawn, Freddie and Flossie +taking turns sprinkling. + +And, as might be expected, considerable water got on the two children, +and when Snap shook himself, as he often did, to get some of the drops +off his shaggy coat, he gave Flossie and her clean dress a regular +shower bath. + +Nan, coming from the house saw this. She ran up to Flossie, who had the +hose just then, crying: + +"Flossie Bobbsey! Oh, you'll get it when mamma sees you! She cleaned +you all up and now look at yourself!" + +"She can't see - there's no looking glass here," said Freddie, with a +laugh. + +"And you're just as bad!" cried Nan. "You'd both better go in the house +right away, and stop playing with the hose." + +"We're through, anyhow," said Freddie. "You ought to see Snap jump over +the water." + +"Oh, you children!" cried Nan, with a shake of her head. She seemed +like a little mother to them at times, though she was only four years +older. + +Mrs. Bobbsey was very sorry to see Flossie so wet and bedraggled, and +said: + +"You should have known better than to play with water with a clean dress +on, Flossie. Now I must punish you. You will have to stay in the house +for an hour, and so will Freddie." + +Poor little Bobbsey twins! But then it was not a very severe +punishment, and really some was needed. It was hard when two of their +little playmates came and called for them to come out. But Mrs. Bobbsey +insisted on the two remaining in until the hour was at an end. + +Then, when they had on dry garments, and could go out, there was no one +with whom to play. + +"I'm not going to squirt the hose ever again," said Freddie. + +"Neither am I," said his sister. "Never, never!" + +Snap didn't say anything. He lay on the porch asleep, being cooled off +after his sport with the water. + +"I - I wish we had our cat, Snoop, back," said Flossie. "Then we +wouldn't have played in the water." + +"That's so," agreed Freddie. "I wonder where he can be?" + +They asked their father that night if any of the railroad men had seen +their pet, but he said none had, and added: + +"I'm afraid you'll have to get along without Snoop. He seems to have +disappeared. But, anyhow, you have Snap." + +"But some one may come along and claim him," said Freddie. "That Danny +Rugg says he belongs to Mr. Peterson in Millville, father," said Bert. + +"Well, I'll call Mr. Peterson up on the telephone tomorrow, and find +out," spoke Mr. Bobbsey. "That much will be settled, at any rate." + +"Did you hear anything from the circus people about the fat lady?" asked +Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"Yes, but no news," was her husband's answer. "The circus has gone to +Cuba and Porto Rico for the winter, and I will have to write there. It +will be some time before we can expect an answer, though, as I suppose +the show will be traveling from place to place and mail down there is +not like it is up here. But we may find the fat lady and the cup some +day." + +"And Snoop, too," put in Nan. + +"Yes, Snoop too." + +One fact consoled the Bobbseys in their trouble over their lost pet and +cup. This was the answer received by Mr. Bobbsey from Mr. Peterson. +That gentleman had lost a valuable dog, but it was a small poodle, and +unlike big Snap. So far no one had claimed the trick dog, and it seemed +likely that the children could keep him. They were very glad about +this. + +"Oh dear!" exclaimed Bert, one afternoon a few days following the fun +with the hose, "school begins Monday. Only three more days of +vacation!" + +"I think you have had a long vacation," returned Mrs. Bobbsey, "and if +Freddie and Flossie are going to do such tricks as they did the other +day, with the hose, I, for one, shall be glad that you are in school." + +"I like school," said Nan. "There are lot of new girls coming this +term, I hear." + +"Any new fellows?" asked Bert, more interested. + +"I don't know. There is a new teacher in the kindergarten, though, +where Flossie and Freddie will go. Nellie Parks has met her, and says +she's awfully nice." + +"That's good," spoke Flossie. "I like nice teachers." + +"Well, I hope you and Freddie will get along well," said Mamma Bobbsey. + +"You are getting older you know, and you must soon begin to study hard." + +"We will," they promised. + +The school bell, next Monday morning, called to many rather unwilling +children. The long vacation was over and class days had begun once +more. The four Bobbseys went off together to the building, which was +only a few blocks from their home. Mr. Tetlow was the principal, and +there were half a dozen lady teachers. + +"Hello, Nan," greeted Grace Lavine. "May I sit with you this term?" + +"Oh, I was going to ask her," said Nellie Parks. + +"Well, I was first," spoke Grace, with a pout. + +"We'll be in the room where there are three seated desks," said Nan with +a smile. "Maybe we three can be together." + +"Oh, we'll ask teacher!" cried Nellie. "That will be lovely!" + +"I'm going to sit with Freddie," declared Flossie. "We're to be +together - mamma said so." + +"Of course, dear," agreed Nan. "I'll speak to your teacher about it." + +Bert was walking in the rear with Charley Mason, when Danny Rugg came +around a corner. + +"I know what I'm going to do to you after school, Bert Bobbsey!" called +the bully. "You just wait and see." + +"A11 right - I'll wait" spoke Bert quietly. "I'm not afraid." + +By this time they were at the school, and it was nearly time for the +last bell to ring. Danny went off to join some of his particular chums, +shaking his fist at Bert as he went. + +CHAPTER VIII +BERT SEES SOMETHING + +LESSONS were not very well learned that first day in school, but this is +generally the case when the Fall term opens after the Summer vacation. + +Just as were the Bobbsey twins, nearly all the other pupils were +thinking of what good times they had had in the country, or at the +seashore, and in consequence little attention was paid to reading, +spelling, arithmetic and geography. + +But Principal Tetlow and his teachers were prepared for this, and they +were sure that, in another day or so, the boys and girls would settle +down and do good owrk [sic]. Many of the children were in new rooms and +different classes, and this did not make them feel so much "at home" as +before vacation. + +Nan Bobbsey's first duty, after reporting to her new teacher, was to go +to the kindergarten room, and ask the teacher there if Flossie and +Freddie might sit together. + +"You see," Nan explained, "this is really their first real school work. +They attended a few times before, but did not stay long." + +"I see," spoke the pretty kindergarten instructor with a laugh, "and we +must make it as pleasant for them this time as we can, so they will want +to stay. Yes, my dear, Flossie and Freddie may sit together, and I'll +look after them as much as I can. But, oh, there are such a lot of +little tots!" and she looked about the room that seemed overflowing with +small boys and girls. + +Some were playing and talking, telling of their summer experiences. +Others seemed frightened, and stood against the wall bashfully, little +girls holding to the hands of their little brothers. + +Nan looked for Freddie and Flossie. She saw her little sister trying to +comfort a small girl who was almost ready to cry, while Freddie, like +the manly little fellow he was, had taken charge of a small chap in +whose eyes were two large tears, just ready to fall. It was his first +day at school. + +"Oh, I am sure your little twin brother and sister will get along all +right," said the kindergarten teacher, with a smile to Nan, as she saw +what Flossie and Freddie were doing. "They are too cute for anything - +the little dears!" + +"And they are very good," said Nan, "only of course they do - things - +sometimes." + +"They wouldn't be real children if they didn't," answered the teacher. + +This was during a recess that had come after the classes were first +formed. On her way back to her room, to see if she could arrange to sit +with Grace and Nellie at one of the new big desks, Nan saw her brother +Bert. He looked a little worried, and Nan asked at once: + +"What is the matter, Bert? Haven't you got a nice teacher?" + +"Oh, yes, she's fine!" exclaimed Bert "There's nothing the matter at +all." + +"Yes there is," insisted Nan. "I can tell by your face. It's that +Danny Rugg; I'm sure. Oh, Bert, is he bothering you again?" + +"Well, he said he was going to." + +"Then why don't you go straight and tell Mr. Tetlow? He'll make Danny +behave. I'll go tell him myself!" + +"Don't you are [sic], Nan!" cried Bert. "All the fellows would call me +'sissy,' if I let you do that. Never mind, I can look out for my self. +I'm not afraid of Danny." + +"Oh, Bert, I hope you don't get into fight." + +"I won't, Nan - if I can help it. At least I won't hit first, but if he +hits me - " + +Bert looked as though he knew what he would do in that case. + +"Oh dear!" cried Nan, "aren't you boys just awful!" + +However, she made up her mind that if Danny got too bad she would speak +to the principal about him, whether her brother wanted her to or not. + +"He won't know it," thought Nan. + +She had no trouble in getting permission from her teacher for herself +and her two friends to sit together, and soon they had moved their books +and other things to one of the long desks that had room for three +pupils. + +Meanwhile Flossie and Freddie got along very well in the kindergarten. +At first, just as the others did, they gave very little attention to +what the teacher wanted them to learn, but she was very patient, and +soon all the class was gathered about the sand table, in the little low +chairs, making fairy cities, caves, and even makebelieve seashore +places. + +"This is like the one where we were this Summer," said Flossie, as she +made a hole in her sand pile to take the place of the ocean." If I had +water and a piece of wood I could show you where there was a shipwreck," +she said to the girl next to her. + +"That isn't the way it was," spoke Freddie, from the other side of the +room." There was more sand at the seashore than on this whole table - +yes, on ten tables like this." + +"There was not!" cried Flossie. + +"There was too!" insisted her brother. + +"Children - children!" called the teacher. "You must not argue like +that - ever - in school, or out of it. Now we will sing our worksong, +and after that we will march with the flags," and she went to the piano +to play. All the little ones liked this, and the dispute of Flossie and +Freddie was soon forgotten. + +Bert kept thinking of what might happen between himself and Danny Rugg +when school was out, and when his teacher asked him what the Pilgrim +Fathers did when they first came to settle in New England Bert looked up +in surprise, and said: + +"They fought." + +"Fought!" exclaimed the teacher. "The book says they gave thanks." + +"Well, I meant they fought the - er - the Indians." stammered Bert. + +Poor Bert was thinking of what might take place between himself and the +bully. + +"Well, yes, they did fight the Indians," admitted the teacher, "but that +wasn't what I was thinking of. I will ask you another question in +history." + +But I am not going to tire you with an account of what went on in the +classrooms. There were mostly lessons there, such as you have +yourselves, and I know you don't care to read about them. + +Bert did not see Danny Rugg at the noon recess, when the Bobbsey twins +and the other children went home for lunch. But when school was let out +in the afternoon, and when Bert was talking to Charley Mason about a new +way of making a kite, Danny Rugg, accompanied by several of his chums, +walked up to Bert. It was in a field some distance from the school, and +no houses were near. + +"Now I've got you, Bert Bobbsey!" taunted Danny, as he advanced with +doubledup fists. "What did you want to squirt the hose on me that time +for?" + +"I told you it was an accident," said Bert quietly. + +"And I say you did it on purpose. I said I'd get even with you, and now +I'm going to." + +"I don't want to fight, Danny," said Bert quietly. + +"Huh! he's afraid!" sneered Jack Westly, one of Danny's friends. + +"Yes, he's a coward!" taunted Danny. + +"I'm not!" cried Bert stoutly. + +"Then take that!" exclaimed Danny, and he gave Bert a push that nearly +knocked him down. Bert put out a hand to save himself and struck Danny, +not really meaning to. + +"There! He hit you back!" cried one boy. + +"Yes, go on in, now, Dan, and beat him!" said another. + +"Oh, I'll fix him now," boasted Danny, circling around Bert. Bert was +carefully watching. He did not mean to let Danny get the best of him if +he could help it, much as he did not like to fight. + +Danny struck Bert on the chest, and Bert hit the bully on the cheek. +Then Danny jumped forward swiftly and tried to give Bert a blow on the +head. But Bert stepped to one side, and Danny slipped down to the +ground. + +As he did so a white box fell from his pocket. Bert knew what kind of a +box it was, and what was in it, and he knew now, what had stained +Danny's fingers so yellow, and what made his clothes have such a queer +smell. For the box had in it cigarettes. + +Danny saw where it had fallen, and picked it up quickly. Then he came +running at Bert again, but a boy called: + +"Look out! Here comes Mr. Tetlow, the principal!" + +This was a signal for all the boys, even Bert, to run, for, though +school was out, they still did not want to be caught at a fight by one +of the teachers, or Mr. Tetlow. + +"Anyhow, you knocked him down, Bert," said Charley Mason, as he ran on +with Bert. "You beat!" + +"He did not - I slipped," said Danny. "I can fight him, and I will, +too, some day." + +"I'm not afraid of you," answered Bert. + +Mr. Tetlow did not appear to have seen the fight that amounted to so +little. Perhaps he pretended not to. + +CHAPTER IX +OFF TO THE WOODS + +WHETHER Danny Rugg was afraid the principal had seen him trying to force +a fight on Bert, or whether the unexpected fall that came to him, caused +it, no one knew, but certainly, for the next few days, Danny let Bert +alone. When he passed him he scowled, or shook his fist, or muttered +something about "getting even," but this was all. + +Perhaps it was the thought of what Bert had seen fall from Danny's +pocket that made the bully less anxious to keep up the quarrel. At any +rate, Bert was left alone and he was glad of it. He was not afraid, but +he liked peace. + +The school days went on, and the classes settled down to their work for +the long Winter term. And the thought of the snow and ice that would +comparatively soon be with them, made the Bobbsey twins rejoice. + +"Charley Mason and I are going to make a dandy big bob this year," said +Bert one day. "It's going to carry ten fellows." + +"And no girls?" asked Nan with a smile. She was walking along behind +her brother, with Grace and Nellie. + +"Sure, we'll let you girls ride once in a while," said Charley, as he +caught up to his chum. "But you can't steer." + +"I steered a bob once," said Grace, who was quite athletic for her age. +"It was Danny Rugg's, too." + +"Pooh! His is a little one alongside the one Charley and I are going to +make!" exclaimed Bert. "Ours will be hard to steer, and it's going to +have a gong on it to tell folks to get out of the way." + +"That's right," agreed Charley. "And we'd better start it right away, +Bert. It may soon snow." + +"It doesn't feel so now," spoke Nan. "It is very warm. It feels more +like ice cream cones." + +"And if you'll come with me I'll treat you all to some," exclaimed +Nellie Parks, whose father was quite well off. "I have some of my +birthday money left." + +"Oh, but there are five of us!" cried Nan, counting. "That is too much +- twenty-five cents, Nellie." + +"I've got fifty, and really it is very hot today." + +It was warm, being the end of September, with Indian Summer near at +hand. + +"Well, let's go to Johnson's," suggested Nellie. "They have the best +cream." + +"Oh, here comes Flossie and Freddie!" exclaimed Nan. "We don't want to +take them, Nellie. That means -" + +"Of course I'll take them!" exclaimed Nellie, generously. "I've got +fifty cents, I told you." + +"I'll give them each a penny and let them run along home," offered Bert. + +"No, I'm going to treat them, too," insisted Nellie. "Come on!" she +called to the little twins, "we're going to get ice cream cones, it's so +warm." + +"Oh, goodie! " cried Flossie. "I was just wishing for one." + +"So was I," added her brother. + +"And I'll ask you to my party next week," the little girl went on. "I'm +going to have one on my birthday." + +"Oh, are you really, Flossie?" asked Nan. "I hadn't heard about it." + +"Yep - I am. Mamma said I could, but she told me not to tell. I don't +care, I wanted Nellie to know, as she's going to treat us to cones." + +"And it's half my party, 'cause my birthday's the same day," explained +Freddie. "So you can come to my party at the same time, Nellie." + +"Thank you, dear, I shall. Now let's hurry to the store, for it's +getting warmer all the while." + +The ice cream in the funny little cones was much enjoyed by all. Bert +and Charley walked on together eating, and talking of the bob sled they +were going to make. They passed Danny Rugg, who looked rather enviously +at them. + +"Hey, Charley," called Danny, "come here, I want to speak to you." + +"I'm busy now," answered Charley. "Bert and I have something to do." + +"So have I. I've got a dandy plan." + +"Well, I'll see you later," spoke Charley. + +He had once been quite friendly with Danny, but he grew not to like his +ways, and so became more chummy with Bert, who was very glad, for he +liked Charley. + +The two boys went on to Bert's barn, where they were going to build the +bob sled. The girls, with Flossie and Freddie, went on the Bobbsey +lawn, where there were some easy chairs. They sat in the shade of the +trees, and Freddie had Snap do some of his tricks for the visitors. + +"Can he jump through a hoop, covered with paper as they do in the +circus?" asked Nellie. + +"Oh, we never thought to try that," said Freddie. "I'm going to make +one," and, filled with this new idea, he hurried into the house. + +"Dinah," he said, "I want some paper and paste." + +"Land sakes, chile! what yo' gwine t' do now?" asked the colored cook. + +"Make a kite, an' take Snoop up in de air laik yo' brother Bert done +once?" + +"No, we're not going to do that," answered the little boy. " We're +going to cover a hoop with paper, and make Snap jump through it, like in +a circus." + +"Mah goodness mustard pot!" cried Dinah. What will yo' all be up to +next?" + +"I don't know," answered Freddie. "But will you make me some paste, +Dinah? And you know we haven't got Snoop, anyhow, so we couldn't send +him up on a kite tail," added Freddie. + +"Deah me! Yo' chilluns done make me do de mostest wuk!" complained +Dinah, but she laughed, which showed that she did not really mean it, +and set at mixing some flour and water for the paste. + +Flossie and Freddie insisted on making the paper covered hoop +themselves. They started, but they got so much of the sticky stuff on +their hands and faces that Nan feared they would soil their clothes, so +she insisted on being allowed to do the pasting for them. + +"But we can help, can't we?" asked Freddie. + +"Yes," said Nan. + +Even for Nan covering a hoop with paper was not as easy as she thought +it would be. Grace and Nellie helped, but sometimes the wind would blow +the paper away just as they were ready to fold it around the rim of the +hoop. Then the paste would get on the girls' hands. + +"What are you doing? " asked Bert, as he and Charley came from the barn. +They had to stop work on their job, as they could not find a long enough +plank. The [sic] decided to get one from Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard, +later. + +"We're going to have Snap do the circus trick of jumping through a paper +hoop," explained Nan. "Only we can't seem to get the hoop made." + +"I'll do it," offered Bert, and as he and Charley had often pasted paper +on their kite frames they had better luck, and soon the hoop was ready. + +"Come, Snap!" called Freddie, it having been settled that he and Flossie +were to hold the hoop for the dog to leap through. Snap, always ready +for fun, jumped up from the grass where he had been sleeping, and +frisked about, barking loudly. + +"Now you hold him there, Charley," directed Bert, pointing to a spot +back of where Freddie and Flossie stood. "Then I'll go over here and +call him. He'll come running, and when he gets near enough, Freddie, +you and Flossie hold up the paper hoop. He'll go right through it." + +It worked out just as the children had planned. Snap raced away from +Charley, when he heard Bert calling. He ran right between Flossie and +Freddie, who raised the hoop just in time. + +"Rip! Tear!" burst the paper, and Snap sailed through the hoop just as +he probably had often done in the circus, perhaps from the back of a +horse. + +"Oh, that was fine!" cried Flossie. "Let's make another hoop!" + +"Let's make a lot of 'em, and have a circus with Snap, and charge money +to see him, and then we can buy a lot of ice cream for our party!" said +Freddie. + +"Oh, yes!" agreed his sister. + +Well, they did make more hoops, and Snap seemed to enjoy jumping through +them. But when Mrs. Bobbsey heard about the circus plans she decided it +would make too much confusion. + +"Besides, you have to help me get ready for your party," she said to the +two little twins. + +This took their mind off the proposed circus, but for several days after +that they had much fun making hoops for Snap to jump through. + +Bert and Charley got a long plank from the lumber yard, and spent much +time after school in the Bobbsey barn, working over their bob sled. It +was harder than they had thought it would be, and they had to call in +some other boys to help them. Mr. Bobbsey, too, gave his son some +advice about how to build it. + +Flossie and Freddie liked it very much in school. The kindergarten +teacher was very kind, and took an interest in all her pupils. "Oh, +mamma!" cried Flossie, coming in one day from school, "I've learned how +to make a house." + +"And I can make a lantern, and a chain to hang it on, and I can put it +in front of Flossie's house!" exclaimed Freddie. "And, please, mother, +may I have some bread and jam. I'm awful hungry." + +"Yes, dear, go ask Dinah," said Mrs. Bobbsey, with a smile. "And then +you may show me how you make houses and lanterns and a chain. Are they +real?" + +"No," said Flossie, "they're only paper, but they look nice." + +"I'm sure they must," said their mother. + +After each of the twins had been given a large slice of bread and butter +and jam, they showed the latest thing they had learned at school. +Flossie did manage to cut out a house, that had a chimney on it, and a +door, besides two windows. + +Freddie took several little narrow strips of paper, and pasting the ends +together, made a lot of rings. Each ring before being pasted, was +slipped into another, and soon he had A paper chain. To make the +lantern he used a piece of paper made into a roll, with slits all around +the middle of it where the light would have come out had there been a +candle in it. And the handle was a narrow slip of paper pasted over the +top of the lantern. + +"Very fine Indeed," said Mamma BobbSey. "Run out now to play. If you +stay in the house too much you will soon lose all the lovely tan you got +in the country, and at the seashore." + +"Children," said the principal to the Bobbseys and all the others in +school the next day, "I have a little treat for you. Tomorrow will be a +holiday, and, as the weather is very warm, we will close the school at +noon, and go off in the woods for a little picnic." + +"Oh, good!" cried a number of the boys and girls, and, though it was +against the rules to speak aloud during the school hours, none of the +teachers objected. + +"But I expect you all to have perfect marks from now until Friday," Mr. +Tetlow went on. "You may bring your lunches to school with you Friday +morning, if your parents will let you, and we will leave here at noon, +and go to Ward's woods." + +It was rather hard work to study after such good news, but, somehow, the +pupils managed it. Finally Friday came, and nearly every boy and girl +came to school with a basket or bundle holding his or her lunch. Mrs. +Bobbsey put up two baskets for her children, Nan taking one and Bert the +other. + +"Oh, we'll have a lovely time!" cried Freddie, dancing about on his +little fat legs. + +Twelve o'clock came, and with each teacher at the head of her class, and +Mr. Tetlow marching in front of all, the whole school started off for +the woods. + +CHAPTER X +A SCARE + +THE way to the woods where the little school outing was to be held ran +close to the road on which the Bobbsey house stood. As Freddie and +Flossie, with Nan and Bert, marched along with the others, Freddie cried +out: + +"0h, I hope we see mamma, and then we can wave to her." + +"Yes, and maybe she'll come with us," suggested Flossie. "Wouldn't that +be nice?" + +"Pooh!" exclaimed Bert. "Mamma's too busy to come to a picnic today. +She's expecting company." + +"Yes," added Nan, "the minister and his wife are coming, and mamma's +cooking a lot of things." + +"Why, does a minister eat more than other folks?" asked Freddie. "If +they does, I'm going to be a minister when I grow up." + +"I thought you were going to be a fireman," said Bert. + +"Well, I can be a fireman week days and a minister on Sundays," said the +little fellow, thus solving the problem. "But do they eat so much, +Nan?" + +"No, of course not, only mamma wants to be polite to them, so she has a +lot of things cooked up, so that if they don't like one thing they can +have another. Folks always give their best to the minister." + +"Then I'm surely going to be one, too," declared Flossie. "I like good +things to eat. I hope our minister isn't very hungry, 'cause then +there'll be some left for us when we come home from this picnic." + +"Why, Flossie!" cried Nan. "We have a lovely lunch with us; plenty, I'm +sure." + +"Well, I'm awful hungry, Nan," said the little girl. "Besides, Sammie +Jones, and his sister Julia, haven't any lunch at all. I saw them, and +they looked terrible hungry. Couldn't we give them some of ours; if we +have so much at home?" + +"Of course we could, and it is very kind of you to think of them," said +Nan, as she patted her little sister on her head. "I'll look after +Sammie and Julia when we get to the grove." + +In spite of what Nan and Bert had said about Mrs. Bobbsey being very +busy, Flossie and Freddie looked anxiously in the direction of their +house as they walked along. But no sight of their mother greeted them. +They did see a friend, however, and this was none other than Snap, their +new dog, who, with many barks and wags of his fluffy tail, ran out to +meet his little masters and mistresses. + +"Here, Snap! Snap!" called Freddie. "Come on, old fellow!" and the dog +leaped all about him. + +"Let's take him to the picnic with us," suggested Flossie. "We can have +lots of fun." + +"And he can eat the scraps," said Nan. "Shall we, Bert?" + +"I don't care. But maybe Mr. Tetlow wouldn't like it." + +"You ask him, Bert," pleaded Flossie. + +"Tell him Snap will do tricks to amuse us." + +Bert goodnaturedly started ahead to speak to the principal, who was +talking with some of the teachers, planning games for the little folk. +Flossie and Freddie were patting their pet, when Danny Rugg, and one of +his friends came along. + +"That dog can't come to our picnic!" said Danny, with a scowl. "He +might bite some of us." + +"Snap never bites!" cried Freddie. + +"Of course not," said Flossie. + +"Well, he can't come to this picnic!" spoke Danny, angrily. "Go on +home!" he cried, sharply, stooping to pick up a stone. Snap growled and +showed his teeth. + +"There!" cried Danny. "I told you he'd bite." + +"He will not, Danny Rugg!" exclaimed Nan, who had gone up front for a +minute to speak to some of the older girls. "He only growled because +you acted mean to him. Now you leave him alone, or I'll tell Mr. Tetlow +on you." + +"Pooh! Think I care? I say no dog can come to our picnic. Go on +home!" and with raised hand Danny approached Snap. Again the dog +growled angrily. He was not used to being treated in this way. + +"Look out, Danny Rugg," said Nan, severely, "or he may jump on you, and +knock you down. He wouldn't bite you, though, mean as you are, unless I +told him to do so." + +"I'm not afraid of you!" cried Danny, more angry than before. "I'll get +a stick and then we'll see what will happen," and he looked about for +one. + +"Don't let Danny beat Snap!" pleaded Flossie, tears coming into her +eyes. + +"I won't," said Nan, looking about anxiously for Bert. She saw him +coming back, and felt better. By this time Danny had found a club, and +was coming back to where Flossie, Freddie and Nan, with some of their +friends, were walking along, Snap in their midst. + +"I'll make that dog go home now!" cried Danny. "I'm not going to get +bitten, and have hyperfobia, or whatever you call it. I'll tell Mr. +Tetlow if you don't make him go home." + +"Oh, don't be so smart!" exclaimed Bert, stepping out from behind a +group of girls. "I've told Mr. Tetlow myself that Snap is following us, +and he said to let him come along. So you needn't take the trouble, +Danny Rugg. And if you try to hit our dog I'll have something more to +say," and Bert stepped boldly forth. + +"Huh! I'm not afraid of you," sneered Danny, but he let the club drop, +and walked off with his own particular chums. + +"Did Mr. Tetlow say Snap could come?" asked Freddie, anxiously. + +"Yes. He said he'd be good to drive away the cows if they bothered us," +answered Bert, with a smile. + +After this little trouble, the Bobbseys and their friends went on toward +the grove in the woods where the picnic was to be held. There was +laughing and shouting, and much fun on the way, in which Snap shared. + +Boys and girls would run to one side or the other of the path to gather +late flowers. Some would pick up odd stones, or pine cones, and others +would find curious little creeping or crawling things which they called +their friends to see. + +Each teacher had charge of her special class, but she did not look too +closely after them, for it was a day to be happy and free from care, +with no thought of school or lessons. + +"We'll make Snap do some tricks when we get to the grove," said Flossie. + +"Yes, we'll have a little circus," added her brother. + +"Can he stand on his head?" one girl wanted to know. + +"Well, he can turn a somersault, and he's on his head for a second while +he's doing that," explained Freddie, proudly. + +"Can he roll over and over?" a boy wanted to know. "We had a dog, once, +that could." + +"Snap can, too," said Flossie. "Roll over, Snap!" she ordered, and the +dog, with a bark, did so. The children laughed and some clapped their +hands. They thought Snap was about the best dog they had ever seen. + +No accidents happened on the way to the grove, except that one little +boy tried to cross a brook on some stones, instead of the plank which +the others used. He slipped in and got his feet wet, but as the day was +warm no one worried much. + +Finally the grove was reached. It was in a wooded valley, with hills on +either side, and a cold, clear spring of water at one end, where +everyone could get a drink. And that always seems to be what is most +wanted at a picnic - a drink of water. + +Mr. Tetlow called all the children together, before letting them go off +to play, and told them at what time the start for home would be made, so +that they would not be late in coming back to the meeting place. + +"And now," he said, "have the best fun you can. Play anything you wish +- school games if you like - but don't get too warm or excited. And +don't go too far away. You may eat your luncheon when you like." + +"Then let's eat ours now," suggested Flosssie. "I'm awful hungry." + +"So am I," said Freddie. So Nan and Bert decided that the little ones +might at least have a sandwich and a piece of cake. Nor did they forget +the two little Jones children, who had no lunch. The Bobbseys were well +provided and soon Sammie and Julia were smiling and happy as they sat +beneath a tree, eating. + +Then came all sorts of games, from tag and jumping rope, to blindman's +bluff and hide-and-seek. Snap was made to do a number of tricks, much +to the amusement of the teachers and children. Danny Rugg, and some of +the older boys, got up a small baseball game, and then Danny, with one +or two chums, went off in a deeper part of the woods. Bert heard one of +the boys ask another if he had any matches. + +"I know what they're going to do," whispered Bert to Nan. + +"What?" she asked. + +"Smoke cigarettes. I saw Danny have a pack." + +Nan was much shocked, but she did not see anything. She was glad Bert +did not smoke. + +Bert went off with some boys to see if they could catch any fish in the +deeper part of the brook, about half a mile from the picnic grove, and +Nan, with one or two girls about her own age, took a little walk with +Flossie and Freddie to gather some late wild flowers that grew on the +side of one of the hills. + +They found a number of the blossoms, and were making pretty bouquets of +them, when Freddie, who had gone on a little ahead of the rest, came +running back so fast that he nearly rolled to the bottom of the hill, so +fat and chubby was he. + +"What's the matter? What is it?" asked Nan, catching her brother just +in time. + +"Up there!" he gasped. "It's up there! A great big black one!" + +"A big black what - bug?" asked Nan, ready to laugh. + +"No! a big black snake! I almost stepped on it." + +"A snake! Oh, dear!" screamed the girls. + +"Call Mr. Tetlow!" said Flossie. "He's got a book about snakes, and +he'll know what to do." + +"Come on!" cried Nellie Parks. "I'm going to run!" + +"So am I!" added Grace Lavine. "Oh, it may chase us!" + +In fright the children turned, Freddie looking back at the spot where he +thought he had seen the snake. + +CHAPTER XI +DANNY'S TRICK + +NAN BOBBSEY stood for a moment, she hardly knew why. Perhaps she wanted +to see the big snake of which Freddie spoke. It certainly was not +because she liked reptiles. + +Then she thought she saw something long and black wiggling toward her, +and, with a little exclamation of fright, she, too, turned to follow the +others. But, as she did so, she saw their dog Snap come running up the +hill, barking and wagging his tail. He seemed to have lost the children +for a moment and to be telling them how glad he was that he had found +them again. + +Straight up the hill, toward where Freddie had said the snake was, +rushed Snap. + +"Here! Come back! Don't go there!" cried Nan. + +"No, don't let him - he may be bitten!" added Flossie. "Come here, +Snap!" + +But Snap evidently did not want to mind. On up the hill he rushed, +pausing now and then to dig in the earth. Nearer and nearer he came to +where the little Bobbsey boy had said the snake was hiding in the grass +and bushes. + +"Oh, Snap! Snap!" cried Freddie. "Don't go there!" But Snap kept on, +and Freddie, afraid lest his pet dog be bitten, caught up a stone and +threw it at the place. His aim was pretty good, but instead of scaring +away the snake, or driving back Snap, the fall of the stone only made +Snap more eager to see what was there that his friends did not want him +to get. + +With a loud bark he rushed on, and the children, turning to look, saw +something long and black, and seemingly wiggling, come toward them. + +"Oh, the snake! The snake!" cried Nan. + +"Run! Run!" shouted Grace. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Nellie Parks, in loud tones. + +"Freddie! Freddie!" called Flossie, afraid lest her little brother be +bitten. + +Snap rushed at the black thing so fiercely that he turned a somersault +down the hill, and rolled over and over. But he did not mind this, and +in an instant was up again. Once more he rushed at the black object, +but the children did not watch to see what happened, for they were +running away as fast as they could. + +Then Freddie, anxious as to what would become of Snap if he fought a +snake, looked back. He saw a strange sight. The dog had in his mouth +the long, black thing, and was running with it toward the Bobbseys and +their friends. + +"Oh, Nan! Nan! Look! Look!" cried Freddie. "Snap has the snake! +He's bringing it to us!" + +"Oh, he mustn't do that!" shouted Nan. "It may bite him or us." + +"Run! Run faster!" shrieked Grace. + +But even though it was down hill the children could not run as fast as +Snap, and he soon caught up to them. Running on a little way ahead he +dropped the black thing. But instead of wiggling or trying to bite, it +was I very still. + +"It - it's dead," said Nan. "Snap has killed it." + +Freddie was braver now. He went closer. + +"Why - why!" he exclaimed. "It isn't a snake at all! It's only an old +black root of a tree, all twisted up like a snake! Look, Nan - +Flossie!" + +Taking courage, the girls went up to look. Snap stood over it, wagging +his tail as proudly as though he had captured a real snake. As Freddie +had said, it was only a tree root. + +"But it did look a lot like a snake in the grass," said the little +fellow. + +"It must have," agreed Nan. "It looked like one even when Snap had it. +But I'm glad it wasn't." + +"So am I," spoke Grace, and Nellie made like remark. + +Snap frisked about, barking as though to ask praise for what he had +done. + +"He is a good dog," observed Freddie, hearing which the animal almost +wagged his tail off. "And if it had been a real snake he'd have gotten +it; wouldn't you?" went on the little boy. + +If barks meant anything, Snap said, with all his heart, that he +certainly would - that not even a dozen snakes could frighten a big dog +like him. + +The children soon got over the little scare, and went back up the hill +again to gather more flowers. Snap went with them this time, running +about here and there. + +"If there are any real snakes," said Freddie, "he'll scare them away. +But I guess there aren't any." + +"I hope not," said Nan, but she and the others kept a sharp lookout. +However, there was no further fright for them, and soon, with their +hands filled with blossoms the Bobbseys and the others went back to the +main party. + +Some of the teachers were arranging games with their pupils, and Nan, +Flossie and Freddie joined in, having a good time. Then, when it was +almost time to start for home, Mr. Tetlow blew loudly on a whistle he +carried to call in the stragglers. + +"Where's Bert?" asked Flossie, looking about for her older brother. + +"I guess he hasn't come back from fishing yet," said Nan. "Come, +Flossie and Freddie, I have a little bit of lunch left, and you might as +well eat it, so you won't be hungry on the way home." + +The littler Bobbsey twins were glad enough to do this. Then they had to +have a drink, and Nan went with them to the spring, carrying a glass +tumbler she had brought. + +"This isn't like our nice silver cup that the fat lady took in the +train," said Freddie, as he passed the glass of water very carefully to +Flossie. + +"No," she said, after she had taken her drink. "I wonder if papa will +ever get that back?" + +"He said, the other day," remarked Nan, as she got some water for +Freddie, "that he hadn't heard from the circus yet. But I think he +will. It isn't like Snoop, our cat. We don't know where he is, but +we're pretty sure the fat lady has the cup." + +"Poor Snoop!" cried Freddie, as he thought of the fine black cat. +"Maybe some of the railroad men have him." + +"Maybe," agreed Flossie. + +When they got back to where the teachers and principal were, Bert and +the boys who bad gone fishing had returned. They had one or two small +fish. + +"I'm going to have mamma cook them for my supper," said Bert, proudly +holding up those he had caught. + +"They're too small - there won't be anything left of them after +they're cleaned," said Nan, who was quite a little housekeeper. + +"Oh, yes, there will," declared her brother. "I'm going fishing again +tomorrow and, catch more." + +Mr. Tetlow was going about among the teachers, asking if all their +pupils were on hand, ready for the march back. Danny Rugg and some of +his close friends were missing. + +"They ought not to have gone off so far," said Mr. Tetlow, as he blew +several times on the whistle. Soon Danny and the other boy, were seen +coming from a distant part of the grove. One of the boys, Harry White, +looked very pale, and not at all well. + +"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Tetlow, and he looked curiously at Danny +and the others, and sniffed the air as though he smelled something. + +"I - I guess I ate too many - apples," said Harry, in a faint voice. +"We found an orchard, and -" + +"I told you not to go into orchards, and take fruit," said Mr. Tetlow, +severely. + +"The man said we could," remarked Danny. "We asked him." + +"Then you should not have eaten so many," said Mr. Tetlow. "I can't see +how ripe apples, which are the only kind there are this time of year - +could make you ill unless you ate too many," and he looked at Danny and +Harry sharply. But they did not answer. + +The march home was not as joyful as the one to the grove had been, for +most of the children were tired. But they all had had a fine time, and +there were many requests of the teachers to have another picnic the next +week. + +"Oh, we can't have them every week, my dears," said Miss Franklin, who +had charge of Flossie, Freddie and some others in the kindergarten +class. "Besides, it will soon be too cool to go out in the woods. In a +little while we will have ice and snow, and Thanksgiving and Christmas." + +"That will be better than picnics," said Freddie. "I'm going to have a +new sled." + +"I'm going to get a new doll, that can walk," declared Flossie, and then +she and the others talked about the coming holidays. + +At school several days in the following week little was talked of except +the picnic, the snake scare from the old tree root, the catching of the +fish, and the illness of Harry White, for that boy was quite sick by the +time town was reached, and Mr. Tetlow called a carriage to send him +home. + +"And I can guess what made him sick too," said Bert to Nan, privately. + +"What?" she asked. + +"Smoking cigarettes." + +"How do you know?" + +Because when I and some of the other fellows were fishing we saw Danny +and his crowd smoking in the woods. They offered us some, but we +wouldn't take any. Harry said he was sick then, but Danny only laughed +at him." + +"That Danny Rugg is a bad boy," said Nan, severely. But she was soon to +see how much meaner Danny could be. + +Workmen had recently finished putting some new water pipes, and a place +for the children to drink, in the school yard, and one morning, speaking +to the whole school, Mr. Tetlow made a little speech, warning the +children not to play with the faucets, and spray the water about, as +some had done, in fun. + +"Whoever is caught playing with the faucets in the yard after this will +be severely punished," he said. + +As it happened, Flossie and Freddie were not at school that day, Freddie +having a slight sore throat. His mother kept him home, and Flossie +would not go without him. So they did not hear the warning, and Bert +and Nan did not think to tell the smaller children of it. + +Two days later Freddie was well enough to go back to class, and Flossie +accompanied him. It was at the morning recess when, as Freddie went to +get a drink at one of the new faucets, Danny saw him. A gleam of +mischief came into the eyes of the school bully. + +"Want to see the water squirt, Freddie?" asked Danny. "That's a new +kind of faucet. It squirts awful far." + +"Does it?" asked Freddie, innocently. "How do you make it?" He had no +idea it was forbidden fun. + +"Just put your thumb over the hole, and turn the water on," directed +Danny. "You, too, Flossie. It won't hurt you." + +Danny looked all around, thinking he was unobserved as he gave this bad +advice. Naturally, Freddie and Flossie, being so young, suspected +nothing. They covered the opening of the faucet with their thumbs, and +turned on the water. It spurted in a fine spray, and they laughed in +glee. That they wet each other did not matter. + +Danny, seeing the success of his trick, walked off as he saw Mr. Tetlow +coming. The Bobbsey twins were so intent on spurting the water that +they did not observe the principal until he was close to them. Then +they started as he called out sharply: + +"Freddie! Flossie! Stop that! You know that it is forbidden! Go to +my office at once and I will come and see you later. You will be +punished for this!" + +With tears in their eyes the little twins obeyed. They could not +understand it. + +CHAPTER XII +THE CHILDREN'S PARTY + +WHEN Mr. Tetlow, a little later, entered his office he found Flossie and +Freddie standing by one of the windows, looking out on the other +children marching to their classrooms. They had cried a little, but had +stopped now. + +"I am very sorry to have to punish you two twins," said the principal, +"but I had given strict orders that no one was to play with that water. +Why did you do it?" + +"Because," answered Flossie. + +"Danny Rugg told us to," added Freddie. "He said it was a new kind of +faucet." + +"Now be careful," warned Mr. Tetlow. Often before he had heard pupils +say that someone else told them to break certain rules. "Are you sure +about this?" he asked. + +"Yes! sir," said Freddie, eagerly. "Danny told us to do it." + +"But didn't you know it was forbidden?." + +"No, sir," answered Flossie. + +"Why, I spoke of it in all the rooms." + +"We wasn't here yesterday or the day before," said Flossie. "Freddie +was sick." + +Mr. Tetlow began to understand. + +"I will look this up," he said, "and if find -" + +He was interrupted by a boy from one of the higher classes coming in +with a note from his teacher. She wanted a new box of chalk. + +"When you go back, George," said the principal to the boy, as he gave +him what the teacher had sent for, "go to Miss Hegan's class, and have +her send Danny Rugg to me. Flossie and Freddie say he told them to +spray water with one of the new faucets." + +"Yes, sir, he did!" exclaimed George. "I heard him, but I didn't think +they would do it. He did tell them." + +At this unexpected information Mr. Tetlow was much surprised. + + If that is the case, Danny is the one to be punished," he said. "I am +sorry, Flossie and Freddie, that I suspected you. You may go back to +your class, and I will write your teacher a note, saying you may go out +half an hour ahead of the others to make up for coming to my office. +But, after this, no matter whether anyone tells you or not, don't spray +the water." + +"No, sir, we won't!" exclaimed the Bobbsey twins, now happy again. + +Danny Rugg was punished by being kept in after school for several days, +and Mr. Tetlow sent home a note to his father, explaining what a mean +trick the bully had played. + +"I wish I had heard Danny telling you that - just to get you in +trouble," said Bert, when he was told of what had happened. "I'd have +fixed him." + +"Oh, don't get into any more fights," begged Nan. + +Bert did not come to blows with Danny over this latest trouble, but he +did tell the bully, very plainly, what he thought of him, and said if +Danny ever did a thing like that again that he would not get off so +easily. + +"Oh, I'm not afraid of you," sneered Danny. + +Lessons and fun made up many school days for the Bobbsey twins. And, as +the Fall went on, lessons grew a little harder. Even Freddie and +Flossie, young as they were, had little tasks to do that kept them busy. +But they liked their school and the teacher, and many were the queer +stories they brought home of the happenings in the classroom. + +It was now toward the end of October, and the weather was getting +cooler, though during the day it was still very warm at times. The +twins, as did their friends, looked forward to the coming of Winter and +the Christmas holidays. + +Thanksgiving, too, would be a time of rejoicing and of good things to +eat, and this occasion was to be made more of than usual this time, for +some boys and girls the Bobbseys had met in the country and at the +seashore were to be invited to spend a few days in Lakeport. + +But before this there was another event down on the program. This was +to be a party for Flossie and Freddie, the occasion being their joint +birthdays. + +"And we're going to have candy!" cried Freddie, when the arrangements +were talked over. + +"And ice cream" - added Flossie - "a whole freezer full; aren't we, +mamma?" + +"Well, I guess a small freezer full won't be any too much," said Mrs. +Bobbsey, smiling. "But I hope none of you eat enough to make yourselves +ill." + +"We won't," promised Freddie and Flossie. + +There were busy times in the home of the twins the next few days, for +though Nan and Bert's birthdays were not to be observed, still they were +to have their part in the jolly celebration. + +Invitations were sent out, on little sheets of note paper, adorned with +flowers, and in cute little envelopes. Flossie and Freddie took them to +the postoffice themselves. + +"My! what a lot of mail!" exclaimed the clerk at the stamp window, as he +saw the children dropping the invitations into the slot. "Uncle Sam +will have to get some extra men to carry that around, I guess. What's +it all about?" + +"We're going to have a party," said Flossie, proudly. + +Just then Danny Rugg came into the post-office. + +"A party; eh?" he sneered. "I'm coming to it, I am; and I'm going to +have two plates of ice cream." + +"You are not!" cried Freddie. "My mamma wouldn't let a boy like you +come to our party." + +"'Specially not after what you did - telling us to play in the water," +added Freddie. "You can't come!" + +"Yes, I can," insisted Danny, just to tease the children. + +For a moment Flossie and Freddie almost believed him, he seemed so much +in earnest about it. + +"You can't come you haven't any invitation," said Flossie, suddenly. + +"I'll take one of those you put in the box," went on the mean boy. + +"He won't dare - will he?" and Freddie appealed to the mail clerk. + +"I should say not!" said the man at the stamp window. "If he does Uncle +Sam will be after him." + +"Well, I'm coming to that party all the same!" insisted Danny, with a +grin on his freckled face. + +Flossie and Freddie were so worried about him that they told their +mother, but she assured them that Danny would not come to spoil their +fun. + +Finally the afternoon and evening of the party arrived, for the little +folks were to come just before supper, play some games, eat, and then +stay until about nine o'clock. + +Flossie and Freddie had been dressed in their prettiest clothes, and Nan +and Bert also attired for the affair. The ice cream had come from the +store, all packed in ice and salt, and Dinah had set it out on the back +stoop, where it would be cooler. + +Dinah was very busy that day. She hurried about here and there, helping +Mrs. Bobbsey. Sam, her husband, also had plenty to do. + +"I 'clar t' gracious goodness!" Dinah exclaimed, "I suah will get thin +ef dish yeah keeps up! I ain't set down a minute dis blessed day. My +feet'll drop off soon I 'specs." + +"Will they, really, Dinah?" asked Freddie. "And can we watch 'em fall?" + +"Bress yo' hearts, honeys!" exclaimed the colored cook, "I didn't mean +it jest dat way. But suffin's suah gwine t' happen - I feels it in +mah bones!" + +And something was to happen, though not exactly what Dinah expected. + +Finally all was in readiness for the guests. The good things to eat +were in the kitchen, all but the ice cream, which, as I have said, was +out on the back porch. Flossie and Freddie had gone to the front door +nearly a dozen times to see if any of the guests were in sight. Snap, +as a special favor, had been allowed to stay in the house that +afternoon, for the twins were going to make him do tricks for their +friends. + +There came a ring at the door bell. + +"Here they come! Here they come!" cried Flossie. + +"Let me answer, too," cried Freddie, and they both hurried through the +front hall to greet the first guest at their party. + +CHAPTER XIII +AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE + +QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others. Nellie +Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister +Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter +children being some of their bestliked playmates. + +All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit +stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, +or sitting on chairs. + +The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the +girls in another. Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy +answering the door that they did not notice this at first. + +But Aunt Sarah, their mother's sister, who had come over to help Mrs. +Bobbsey, looking in the parlor and library, saw what the trouble was. + +"My!" she cried, with a goodnatured laugh, as she noticed how "stiff" +the children were. "This will never do. You're not that way at school, +I don't believe. Come, be lively. Mix up - play games. Pretend this +is recess at school, and make as much noise as you like." + +For a moment the boys and girls did not know what to think of this +invitation. But just then Snap, the circus dog, came in the room, and, +with a bark of welcome, he turned a somersault, and then marched around +on his hind legs, carrying a broomstick like a gun - pretending he was a +soldier. Bert had given it to him. + +Then how the children laughed and clapped their hands! And Snap barked +so loudly - for he liked applause that there was noise enough for even +jolly Aunt Sarah. After that there was no trouble. The boys and girls +talked together and soon they were playing games, and having the best +kind of fun. + +For some of the games simple prizes had been offered and it was quite +exciting toward the end to see who would win. Flossie and Freddie +thought they had never had such a good time in all their lives. Nan and +Bert were enjoying themselves, too, with their friends, who were +slightly older than those who had been asked for the younger Bobbsey +twins. + +"Going to Jerusalem," was one game that created lots of enjoyment. A +number of chairs were placed in the centre of the room, and the boys and +girls marched around them while Mrs. Bobbsey played the piano. But +there was one less chair than there were players, so that when the music +would suddenly stop, which was a signal for each one who could, to sit +down, someone was sure to be left. Then this one had to stay out of the +game. + +Then a chair would be taken away, so as always to have one less than the +number of players, and the game went on. It was great fun, scrambling +to see who would get a seat, and not be left without one, and finally +there was but one chair left, while Grace Lavine and John Blake marched +about. Mrs. Bobbsey kept playing quite some time, as the two went +around and around that one chair. Everyone was laughing, wondering who +would get a seat and so win the game, when, all at once, Mrs. Bobbsey +stopped the music. She had her back turned so it would be perfectly +fair. + +Grace and John made a rush for the one chair, but Grace got to it first, +and so she won. + +"Well, I'm glad you did, anyhow," said John, politely. + +Other games were "peanut races" and "potato scrambles." In the first +each player had a certain number of peanuts and they had to start at one +end of the room, and lay the nuts at equal distances apart across to the +other side, coming back each time to their pile of peanuts to get one. + +Sometimes a boy would slip, he was in such a hurry, or a girl would drop +her peanuts, and this made fun and confusion. + +Nan won this race easily. + +In the potato scramble several rows of potatoes were made across the +room. Each player was given a large spoon, and whoever first +took up all his or her potatoes in the spoons one at a time, and piled +them up at the far end of the room, won the game. In this Charley Mason +was successful, and won the prize - a pretty little pin for his tie. + +The afternoon wore on, and, almost before the children realized it the +hour for supper had arrived. They were not sorry, either, for they all +had good appetites. + +"Come into the dining room, children," invited Mrs. Bobbsey. + +And Oh! such gasps of pleased surprise as were heard when the children +saw what had been prepared for them! For Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey, while +not going to any great expense, and not making the children's party too +fanciful, had made it beautiful and simple. + +The long table was set with dishes and pretty glasses. There were +flowers in the centre, and at each end, and also blooms in vases about +the room. Then, from the centre chandelier to the four corners of the +table, were strings of green smilax in which had been entwined +carnations of various colors. + +The lights were softly glowing on the pretty scene, and there were +prettily shaded candles to add to the effect. But what caught the eyes +of all the children more than anything else were two large cakes - one +at either end of the table. + +On each cake burned five candles, and on one cake was the name +"Flossie," while the other was marked "Freddie." The names were in pink +icing on top of the white frosting that covered the birthday cakes. + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" could be heard all about the room. "Isn't that too +sweet for anything!" + +"I guess they are sweet!" piped up Freddie in his shrill little voice, +"'cause Dinah put lots of sugar in 'em; didn't you, Dinah?" and he +looked at Dinah, who had thrust her laughing, black, goodnatured face +into the dining room door. + +"Dat's what I did, honey! Dat's what I did!" she exclaimed. "If +anybody's got a toofache he'd better not eat any ob dem cakes, 'cause +dey suah am sweet." + +How the children laughed at that! + +"All ready, now, children, sit down," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Your names +are at your plates." + +There was a little confusion getting them all seated, as those on one +side of the table found that their name cards were on the other side. +But Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert, helped the guests to find +their proper places and soon everyone was in his or her chair. + +"Can't Snap sit with us, too?" asked Freddie, looking about for his pet, +who had done all his tricks well that evening. + +"No, dear," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Snap is a good dog, but we don't want +him in the dining room when we are eating. It gives him bad habits." + +"Then can't I send him out some cakes?" asked Flossie, for Snap had +almost as large a "sweet tooth" as the children themselves. + +"Yes, as it is your birthday, I suppose you can give him some of your +good things," said Mamma Bobbsey. + +"Here, Dinah!" called Freddie to the cook, as he piled a plate full of +cakes. "Please give these to Snap." + +"Land sakes goodness me alive!" cried Dinah. "Dat suah am queer. +Feedin' a dog jest laik a human at a party. I can't bring mahself to +it, nohow." + +"I'll take 'em out to him," said her husband. + +Then the feast began, and such a feast as it was! Mrs. Bobbsey, knowing +how easily the delicate stomachs of children can be upset, had wisely +selected the food and sweets, and she saw to it that no one ate too +much, though she was gently suggestive about it instead of ordering. + +"Don't eat too much," advised Freddie to some of the friends who sat +near him. "We've got a lot of ice cream coming. Save room for that." + +"That's so - I almost forgot," spoke Jimmie Black. + +A little later Mrs. Bobbsey said to Dinah: + +"I think you may bring in the cream now, and I will help you serve it." + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Oh, goodie!" cried Freddie. "Ice cream's coming!" and he waved his +spoon above his head. + +"Freddie - Freddie!" said his mother, in gentle reproof. + +Dinah went out on the back stoop, looked around and came running back to +the dining room, where Mrs. Bobbsey was. Dinah's eyes were big with +wonder and surprise. + +"Mrs. Bobbsey! Mrs. Bobbsey!" she cried. "Suffin's done gone an' +happened!" + +"What is it?" asked Mamma Bobbsey, quickly. "Is anyone hurt?" + +"No'm, but dat ice cream freezer hate jest gone and walked right off de +back stoop, an' it ain't dere at all, nohow! De ice cream is all gone!" + +The children looked at one another with pained surprise showing on their +faces. + +The ice cream was gone! + +CHAPTER XIV +A COAT BUTTON + +ASTONISHMENT, surprise and disappointment were so great for a few +seconds after the discovery that the best part of the party - the ice +cream - was gone, that no one knew, what to say. Then Flossie burst out +with: + +"Are you sure, Dinah? Maybe it fell off the porch." + +"Deed an' it didn't, honey gal. I done looked eberywhar fo' dat +freezer, an' it's jest gone complete." + +"Maybe Snap took it," suggested Freddie, as a last hope. "Once he took +my book and hid it. Snap, did you take the ice cream?" + +Snap barked and wagged his tail, looking rather pained at being asked +such a question. + +"No, indeedy, Snap couldn't take off a big freezer like dat," declared +Dinah. "It wasn't Snap." + +"Then who could it have been?" asked Nan. Everyone had stopped eating +while this talk went on. "Who could have taken our ice cream?" + +"Dat's what I don't know, honey," answered the colored cook. "Dat's why +I comed in heah to tell yo' mamma. I 'spects, Mrs. Bobbsey, dat we'd +better phonograph fo' de police." + +"Phonograph - I guess you mean telephone; don't you, Dinah?" asked Mrs. +Bobbsey, with a smile. + +"Yes'm, dat's what I done mean. Or else maybe we kin send mah man Sam +down to de station house fo' 'em." + +"No, I had better telephone, in case it is necessary. But perhaps I had +better take a look out there. Perhaps the man from the store may have +set the cream off to one side." + +"No'm, he didn't do dat. I took p'ticlar notice where he set it. +Dere's a wet ringmark on de porch where de freezer was, 'count of de +salty water leakin' out. An' dat wet ringmark am all dat's left ob de +cream, dar now!" and Dinah, standing with her hands on her hips, looked +at the startled children, whose mouths were just ready for the ice +cream. + +"Well, I'm going to have a look, anyhow," said Bert. "Come on, Charley. +Maybe, after all, that Danny Rugg is up to some of his tricks." + +"I'm with you, Bert!" cried Charley. "But we ought to have some sort of +a light. It's dark out." + +"I'll get my little pocket electric light," said Bert. He had one, and +it gave a good light. He went to his room for it. + +Flossie and Freddie did not know what to do. That their lovely party +should be spoiled by the missing ice cream seemed too bad to be true. + +"Mamma, if we can't find this ice cream, can't we buy more?" Flossie +wanted to know. "The girls just want some - so bad!" + +"And the boys, too," added Freddie. + +"Oh, I guess we'll manage to get some fo you, if we can't find this," +answered Mrs. Bobbsey. "We may have to wait a little while for it, +though." + +"Well, we'll have a look," said Bert, as he came down with his little +electric lamp. Some of his own particular chums, including Charley +Mason, followed him out to the back porch, Dinah was in her kitchen, +looking behind tables, under the sink, in the pantry and all about, +hoping that, somehow or other, the freezer might have gotten in there. +But it was not to be found. + +"Well, here's where it stood," said Bert, as he looked at the round, wet +mark on the porch where the freezer had set. He flashed his torch on +it, and then cried out: + +"And look, boys, here are some spots of water that must have leaked from +the wooden tub that holds the tin freezer. See, the water has dripped +down on each step! This is the way they carried off our ice cream." + +The others could see a trail of water drops leading from the stoop down +the steps and along the stone walk at the side of the Bobbsey house. + +"Now we can follow and see just where they took our cream!" cried Bert. +"This is the way Indians used to trail the white settlers." + +"Let me come!" cried Freddie, hearing this. "I want to help hunt +whoever took our ice cream." + +"No, you'd better stay back there," said Bert. + +"Why?" his little brother wanted to know. + +"Because it might be - tramps - who have it, and there'd be trouble," +said Bert. + +"Wait until I get my cap pistol!" cried Freddie. "I can scare a tramp +with that." + +"No, you go back there, and stay in the house," went on Bert. "If we +find tramps have it, we'll get a policeman." + +"It might be that a tramp did steal up on the steps, and lift off the +freezer," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Bert, be careful," she called to her son, +who set off in the darkness with his chums, flashing his electric light +from time to time. + +"I'll look out!" he called back. + +For some distance it was easy to see which way the ice cream freezer had +been carried, for there were the marks of the dripping water. Then +these stopped about the middle of the sidewalk, and seemed to go over in +the grass. + +"We can't see 'em now," spoke Charley. "That's too bad." + +"Well, we'll keep on this way in a straight line," suggested Bert. +"Maybe they took the freezer down back of our berry bushes to eat the +cream." + +"I hope they left some," said John Anderson, in a mournful sort of +voice. + +Hurrying on after Bert, the boys looked eagerly about in the darkness +for a sign of the missing ice cream. There were not many chances of +them finding it, for though Bert's electric torch gave a brilliant light +for a short distance, it was not very large. + +"What's over there?" asked Charley, pausing and pointing to a patch of +blackness. + +"An old barn, that we used to use before we had our new one built," +answered Bert. "Why?" + +"Well, maybe they took the ice cream in there to eat it," went on +Charley. "Is it open?" + +"Yes, it's never locked. Say, we'll take a look in there, anyhow!" +exclaimed Bert. "Come on, fellows!" + +He led the way, the others following. As they approached the big, +deserted barn Frank Black exclaimed in a whisper: + +"I see a light!" + +"So do I!" added Will Evans. + +"And it's moving around," spoke Charley Mason. + +"It's them, all right," decided Bert. "The tramps who took our ice +cream are in there, all right!" + +"What makes you think they are tramps?" asked Will. + +"Well, I'm not sure, of course," admitted Bert. "But we can soon tell. +Come on!" + +"Are you - are you going up there?" sked Charley. + +"Sure! Why not? I think we can scare em away." + +The other boys hesitated. Some of them were older than Bert, and when +they saw that he was determined to go on, they made up their minds that +they would not let him go alone. + +"All right - go ahead - we're with you," said Charley. + +Bert and the others advanced. As they walked on they could see the +light in the barn more plainly. And, as they stopped for a moment they +could hear voices talking in low tones. + +"More than one," whispered Charley. + +"Yes, three or four," said Bert. + +They walked ahead again, when suddenly Charley stepped on a stick that +broke with a loud snap. In an instant the light in the barn went out, +and then could be heard the footsteps of several persons running away. + +"There they are!" shouted Bert, dashing forward. "Come on, fellows! +We'll get 'em now!" + +"That's right!" cried Charley. "Come on, surround 'em!" + +Of course this was all said for effect, as the boys had no idea of +trying to capture the tramps, or whoever it was that had taken the ice +cream. But Bert thought that they could scare the thieves away, for the +latter could not tell, in the darkness, how many, nor who were after +them. + +Flashing his light, Bert dashed ahead, followed by the others. Into the +big barn they went, and, just as they entered the main part, they had a +glimpse of someone running out of a side door. + +"There they go!" cried Charley. "We can catch 'em!" + +"No, let 'em go," advised Bert. "Here's our ice cream. Let's see if +there's any left. If there is we'll take it back to the party. We +might get into trouble if we went after those fellows." + +By the gleam of the electric light they could all see the freezer of +cream in the middle of the barn floor, near some upturned boxes. A +hasty look showed that only a little had been taken out. + +"There's plenty left!" said Bert. "We surprised 'em just in time. Now +let's get beck to the house." + +It was rather a triumphant procession that went back to the home of the +Bobbsey twins, carrying the recovered ice cream freezer. And such a +shout of delight from Flossie, Freddie and the others as greeted the +boys! + +"Is there any left?" asked Freddie. + +"Plenty," said Bert. + +"And did you catch the bad tramps?" Flossie wanted to know. + +"They got away," her brother said. "But never mind, we scared them +before they had a chance to eat much." + +"I 'clar t' goodness sakes alive!" gasped Dinah, when she saw the ice +cream freezer carried into her kitchen, "yo' am suttinly a smart boy, +Massa Bert - dat's what yo' suah am!" + +"Oh, well, the others helped me find it," said Bert, modestly. + +As Dinah and Mrs. Bobbsey were dishing out the cream, the colored cook +uttered a cry. + +"Look out!" she exclaimed. "Dere's suffin black in dere, Mrs. Bobbsey. +Maybe it's a stone dem careless tramps put in. Wait 'till I gits it +out." + +With a longhandled spoon Dinah fished for the black thing, and got it. +She put it in a dish, with a small portion of the ice cream, and when +the latter had melted, Bert, who was inspecting the object, gave a cry +of surprise. + +"Why, it's a button - a coat button!" he exclaimed. + +"A button? How in the world could that get in there?" asked his mother. +"Unless you boys dropped it in when you were carrying the cream." + +Bert and the other boys quickly looked at their coats. There were no +buttons missing. + +"An' it suah wasn't in when de cream come heah," said Dinah. "I knows, +fo I took off de kiver an' looked in t' see how hard it were froze. Dat +button got in since!" + +"Yes, and I think I know how, too!" exclaimed Bert. + +"How?" asked Freddie. + +"It was dropped in by whoever took the freezer. They must have been +eating the cream right out of the can, and maybe they dropped the button +in. I'll save it." + +"What for?" asked Nan, wonderingly. + +"I may be able to find out by it, who took the freezer," went on Bert. +"I'm going to look at the coats of all the fellows in school next week, +and if I find one with the button like this missing, I'll know what to +think." + +"Be careful not to accuse anyone wrongly," cautioned his mother. + +Bert put the button carefully away, and the party guests were soon +eating their ice cream, and discussing the disappearance of the freezer +and the finding of it by the boys. Then with the playing of more games, +and the singing of songs, the affair came to a close, and goodnights +were said. + +"We've had a lovely time!" said the boys and girls to Flossie and +Freddie, as they left. "Glad you did - come again," invited the small +Bobbsey twins. + +Even Snap seemed to have enjoyed himself. + +And when the house was settling down to quietness for the night, and +when Dinah and Mrs. Bobbsey were picking up the dishes, the circus dog +marched around like a soldier, with a stick for a gun, and one of the +fancy caps, that came in the "surprise" packets, on his head. + +When Bert went to bed that night he laid the button found in the ice +cream where he would be sure to see it in the morning. + +"I'm going to find out whose coat that came off of," he said to himself. + +The little Bobbsey twins slept late the next morning, and so did Nan, +but Bert was up early. + +"I'm going over to the barn, and see if I can tell by looking around it, +how many were at our freezer," he said. + +But there was nothing there to help him in his search. Some old boxes, +placed in a sort of circle, showed where the ones who had taken the ice +cream, had rested to eat it. + +"They must have had spoons with them," said Bert to himself, as he +looked about, "That shows they came all prepared to take our ice cream. +So they must have known it was going to be here. Well, I'll see whose +coat has a button missing." + +It took Bert some days to look carefully at the coats of the various +boys in school, who might have been guilty of taking the cream. For a +time he had no luck, and then, one afternoon, as he noticed Danny Rugg +wearing a coat he seldom had on, Bert walked slowly up to him, clasping +the button, with his hand, in his pocket. + +His heart beat fast as he noticed that from the middle of Danny's coat a +button was gone. + +And a glance at the others showed Bert that they were just like the one +found in the ice cream freezer. + +"I see you've lost a button, Danny," said Bert, slowly. + +"Hey?" exclaimed the bully, with a start. + +"I see you've lost a button," repeated Bert. + +"Yes, I guess it dropped off. Maybe it's home somewhere," said Danny. + +"No, it isn't - it's here!" exclaimed Bert, suddenly holding the button +out to him. + +CHAPTER XV +THANKSGIVING + +FOR a moment Danny Rugg just stared at Bert. Then the bully swallowed a +sort of lump that came in his throat, and said: + +"That isn't my button." + +"Isn't it?" asked Bert, politely. "Why, it just matches the others on +your coat, and it's got a few threads in the holes, and there are some +threads in your coat, just where the button was pulled off. I guess +it's your button, all right, Danny." + +Danny did not say anything. He looked from the button to Bert, and then +at the space on his coat where a button should have been, but where one +was missing. + +"Well - well," he stammered. "Maybe it is off my coat, but - but how +did you get it, Bert Bobbsey?" + +"I found it," was the answer. "Don't you want it back?" + +He held it out to Danny, who took it slowly. + +"Well," went on Bert, with a queer little smile at his enemy, "why don't +you ask me where I found it, Danny7" + +"Huh! I don't care where you found it. I s'pose you picked it up +around the school yard, where I lost it, playing tag with the fellows." + +"No, you didn't lose it there," went on Bert, still smiling. "You have +another guess coming, Danny." + +"Pooh! I don't care where you found it," and Danny was about to turn +away. + +"Wait a minute," said Bert. "Suppose I say that this button was found +in our freezer of ice cream, that you and some other boys took off our +stoop the night of Flossie's and Freddie's party, Danny? What about +that?" + +"It isn't - I didn't - you can't prove anything about me, Bert Bobbsey, +and if you go around telling that I took your ice cream, I -" + +But Danny did not know what else to say. He was confused and his face +was white and red by turns, for he realized that Bert had good proof of +what he said. + +"Better go slow," advised Bert, calmly. "I don't intend to go around +telling what you did. I just want to let you know that I am sure you +took our ice cream. + +"I - I" began Danny. "You're only trying to fool me!" he exclaimed. +"That button wasn't in it at all!" + +"Wasn't it?" asked Bert, quietly. "Well, you just ask Charley Mason, or +any of the fellows who were at the party, what we found in the freezer, +and see what they say." + +Danny had nothing to reply to this. Thrusting the button in his pocket +he walked off. Bert was sure he had found the boy who had taken the ice +cream. + +Later, from a boy who had been friends with Danny for some time, but +whose father, afterward, decided that his son was getting into bad +company, and made him cease playing with the school bully, Bert learned +that Danny had planned to take the ice cream freezer off the porch. + +He and several boys did this, carrying it to the old barn. They had +provided themselves with large spoons, and were having a good time, +eating the cream, when they heard the approach of Bert and his friends, +and fled, leaving the cream behind. + +It was during a dispute as to who should have the right to first dip +into the freezer that Danny and a boy named Jake Harkness had a +struggle, and in this Danny lost a button which fell into the ice cream +without anyone knowing it. The coat Danny wore that night he did not +put on again for some time, but when he did Bert saw the missing button. + +Danny knew that he had been found out, and for a time he had little to +say. But Bert was boy enough not to be able to keep altogether quiet +over his discovery. From time to time he would ask Danny: + +"Lost any more buttons, lately?" + +"You let me alone!" Danny would reply, surlily. + +Of course this made talk, the boys wanting to know what it meant, and at +last the story came out. This made Danny so angry that he picked +several quarrels with Bert. On his part Bert tried to avoid them, but +at last he could stand it no longer, and he and Danny came to blows +again, Danny striking first. + +Bert had been brought up with the idea that fighting, unless it could +absolutely be avoided, was not gentlemanly, but in this case he could +not get out of it. + +He and Danny went at each other with their fists clenched, a crowd of +other boys looking on, and urging one or the other to do their best, for +both Danny and Bert had friends, though Bert was the best liked. + +Danny struck Bert several times, and Bert hit back, once hitting Danny +in the eye. Bert's lip was cut, and when the fight was over both boys +did not look very nice. But everyone said Bert had the best of it. + +"Oh, Bert!" exclaimed his mother, when he came home after the trouble +with Danny. "You've been fighting!" + +"Yes, mother, I have," he admitted. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it. +Danny Rugg hit me first. I couldn't run away, could I?" + +It was a hard question for a mother to answer. No mother likes to think +her son a coward, and that was what the boys would have called Bert had +he not stood up to Danny. + +"I - I just had to!" continued Bert. "And I beat him, anyhow, mother." + +Mrs. Bobbsey cried a little, and then she made the best of it, and +bathed Bert's cut lip and bruised forehead. She told his father about +it, too, and Mr. Bobbsey, after hearing the account, asked: + +"Who won?" + +"Well, Bert says he did?" + +"Um. Well, I've no doubt but what he did. He's getting quite strong." + +"Oh, Richard!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, in dismay. + +"Well, boys will er - have their little troubles," said her husband. +"I'm sorry Bert had to fight, but I'm glad he wasn't a coward. But he +mustn't fight any more." + +Then Mr. Bobbsey sat down to read the evening paper. + +The weather was getting cooler. Several nights there had been heavy +frosts, and for some time the papers had been saying that it was going +to snow, but the white flakes did not sift down from the sky. + +Thanksgiving was approaching. It was the end of the Fall term of +school, and there were to be examinations to see who would pass into the +next higher classes for the Winter season. + +Of course in the case of Freddie and Flossie, who were still in the +kindergarten, the examinations were not very hard, but they were soon to +go into the regular primary class, where they would learn to read. And +both the twins were very anxious for this. Bert and Nan had somewhat +harder lessons to do, and they had to answer more difficult questions in +the examinations. + +But I am glad to say that all of the Bobbsey twins were promoted, and +Freddie and Flossie came home very proud to tell that when they went +back again, after the Thanksgiving holidays, they would be in the primer +reading book. + +And such preparations as went on for Thanksgiving! Dinah was busy from +morning until night, and when the little twins made inquiries about the +turkey they were to have Mr. Bobbsey said it would be the biggest he +could buy. + +"An' I'se gwine t' stuff him wif chestnuts an' oysters," said Dinah. "I +tells you what, chilluns, yo' all am suttinly gwine to hab one grand +feed." + +"I wish everybody was," said Flossie, a bit wistfully. "I hope our cat +Snoop, wherever he is, has plenty of milk, and some nice turkey bones." + +"I guess he will have," said Mamma Bobbsey, gently. + +"I hope all the poor children in our school have enough to eat," said +Freddie. "Mr. Tetlow said for us to bring what we could for them." + +"And you never told me!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why didn't you? I +would have sent something." + +Neither Bert nor Nan had thought to mention at home that a collection +would be taken at the school for the poor families in the town. But as +soon as Mrs. Bobbsey heard what Freddie said she telephoned to her +husband. Mr. Bobbsey went to see Mr. Tetiow, and from him learned that +there were a number of families who would not have a very happy +Thanksgiving. + +Then the lumber merchant gave certain orders to his grocer and butcher, +and if a number of poor people were not well supplied with food that +gladsome season, it was not the fault of Mr. Bobbsey. + +But I am getting a little ahead of my story. + +A few days before Thanksgiving Mrs. Bobbsey, with a letter in her hand, +came to where the four twins were in the sitting room, talking over what +they wanted for Christmas. + +"Guess who are coming to spend Thanksgiving with us!" cried Mamma +Bobbsey, as she waved the letter in the air. + +"Uncle Bobbsey!" guessed Nan. + +"Uncle Minturn," said Bert. + +The little twins guessed other friends and relatives, and finally Mrs. +Bobbsey said: + +"Yes, your Uncle Bobbsey and Uncle Minturn are coming, and so are your +aunts, and Cousin Harry, Cousin Dorothy and also Hal Bingham, whom you +met at the seashore." + +"Oh, what a jolly Thanksgiving it will be!" cried the Bobbsey twins. + +CHAPIER XVI +MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS + +THANKSGIVING was celebrated in the Bobbsey home as it never had been +before. I am afraid if I told you all that went on, of the big, +brownroasted turkey, of the piles of crisp turkey, of the pumpkin and +mince pies, of the nuts and candies, of the big dishes of cranberry +sauce, and the plum pudding that Dinah carried in high above her head - +I am afraid if I told you of all these things there would be trouble. + +For I am sure you would all be writing to me to ask where the Bobbseys +lived, so that you might go and see them, and perhaps spend Christmas +with them. Not that they would not be glad to have you, but they have +so many friends that their house is sure to be filled over the holidays. + +So I will simply say that there was the grandest time ever, and let it +go at that. + +Uncle and Aunt Bobbsey - Uncle and Aunt Minturn, from the country and +seashore, came, with Cousin Dorothy and Cousin Harry then, also, Hal +Bingham arrived, and the Bobbsey twins took great delight in showing +their former playmates about Lakeport. + +"Isn't it lonesome at the seashore now?" asked Nan of Dorothy, as she +walked with her cousin about the busy streets of the town. + +"Not at all," answered Dorothy. "The sea is never lonesome for me. It +always seems to be telling me something, Winter or Summer. + +"I love it in the Summer," said Nan, "but in the Winter it seems so cold +and cruel." + +"That is because you do not know it as well as I do," said Dorothy. + +Hal, Harry, and Bert had fine times together. There was no skating, and +the little flurry of snow there had been was not enough for coasting, +but they had other fun. + +"Do your ducks miss our duck Downy?" asked Freddie of his cousin Harry. + +"Well, I guess they do," was the laughing answer, for Freddie and +Flossie had a pet duck which they took about with them almost as +faithfully as they did Snoop. "How is Downy, anyhow?" asked Harry. + +"He's fine," answered the little fellow. "Want to see him?" and he took +his cousin out to the barn where Downy had a pen all to himself. + +"Snoop's gone," said Freddie, "and so is our silver cup, but maybe we'll +get that back. It's in a circus." + +"In a circus!" cried Harry. "I should think your cat might be in a +circus, but not a silver cup." + +"We don't know where Snoop is," went on Freddie, "'cause he got away at +the time of the circus wreck," and he explained about it. "But we are +almost sure the circus fat lady has our cup." + +The Thanksgiving holidays came to an end at last and, much to the regret +of the Bobbseys, their visitors, old and young, had to go back to their +homes. + +"But you'll come again at Christmas, won't you?" asked Flossie as she +said goodbye. + +"We'll try," said her Uncle Bobbsey. "But maybe there won't be room, +with Santa Claus and all his reindeers." + +"Oh, we'll make room for you," spoke Freddie. "Santa Claus won't stay +long." + +With a merry peal of laughter the visitors went off to the station, +waving farewells. Then came rather a quiet time at the Bobbsey house, +as there always is when visitors go. There seems to be a sort of +loneliness, when company leaves, no matter how many there are in the +family, nor what fun there is. But the feeling soon passes. + +"Well, we'll soon be at school again," said Bert, a day or so before the +opening of the Winter term. "I wish we'd get some snow. Then it would +be more fun." + +"Yes," said Freddie. "We could build snow forts and have snowball +fights. I wish it would snow hard." + +"So do I, so we could ride down hill," said Nan. "Is your big bob +nearly done, Bert?" + +"No, Charley and I have quite a lot of things to do on it yet, but we're +going to work every night after school now, and it will soon be +finished." + +"I'm going to have skates for Christmas," announced Freddie. "I hope +the lake will be frozen over by then." + +"I guess it will be," returned Bert. "It's getting colder every night." + +The Bobbseys were back at school. For a time Nan and Bert, who were in +a higher grade, did not like it so well, as they had a strange teacher, +and lessons, too, were more difficult. But they were not children who +gave up easily, and soon they were at the head of their class as usual. +Their teacher, too, was much nicer than they had thought at first. They +had considered her stern, but it was only her way, and soon wore off. + +As for Freddie and Flossie, they had advanced but little except in +reading, and this opened a new world to them. + +"We'll soon be reading books," boasted Freddie, on his way home one day. + +"And I'm going to read all about firemen, soldiers and Indians." + +"Oh, I'm not," said Flossie. "I'm going to read how to be a nurse, so I +can take care of you when you're hurt." + +"That will be nice," said Freddie. + +One day, at recess, Bert saw Jim Osborne motioning to him in a secret +sort of fashion. + +"Come on with us," said Jim, who was a new boy in school. "Danny Rugg +and some of the rest of us are going to have some sport." + +"What doing?" asked Bert. + +"Smoking cigarettes back of the coal house. I've got a whole pack." + +"No; I don't smoke," said Bert quietly. + +"Bah! You're afraid!" sneered Jim. + +"Cigarettes can't hurt you. It's only cigars and pipes that do." + +"Yes, I admit I am afraid," said Bert. "I'm afraid of getting sick. +Besides, I promised my mother I wouldn't smoke until I was twenty-one, +and I'm not going to tell a story. Anyhow, I've got an uncle who +smokes, and he says cigarettes are worse than a pipe or cigars, and he +ought to know." + +"Aw, come on! " urged Jim. + +"No," said Bert firmly, and he would not go. Jim went off with Danny +and some of the other boys, and they were laughing among themselves. +Bert felt that they were laughing at him, but he did not mind. + +There was to be an examination of the school by some of the members of +the Board of Education late that afternoon, and, directly after recess, +Mr. Tetlow went to each room to tell the pupils and teachers to get +ready for it, and to put certain work on the blackboards, so it could be +seen. + +When the principal got to the room where Danny Rugg and his particular +chums sat, Mr Tetlow, sniffing the air suspiciously, said: + +"I smell smoke!" + +"I have been noticing it, too," said the lady teacher. "Perhaps the +furnace does not work properly." + +"It isn't that kind of smoke," went on Mr. Tetlow. "It is tobacco +smoke. Have any of you boys been smoking during recess?" he asked +sternly, looking across the room. + +No one answered. Danny, Jim, and some of the others seemed to be +studying their geography lessons very hard. + +"I just want to say a word about cigarette smoking," went on Mr. Tetlow, +"for that is usually how a boy begins. Of smoking in general, when a +boy gets to be a man, I have nothing to say. Some say it is injurious, +and others not, in moderation. But there can be no doubt that for a +growing boy to smoke is very harmful. Again I ask if anyone here has +been smoking?" + +No one replied. The guilty boys bent deep over their books and did not +look up. + +"Well, I am sure someone here has," said Mr. Tetlow. "I can smell it +plainly." He walked down the aisles, looking sharply from one boy to +another. If he was sure who were the guilty ones he gave no sign. "And +I want to add," said Mr. Tetlow, "that not only is cigarette smoking +harmful to the smoker, but it is dangerous. Many fires have been caused +in that way. If I find out who of my pupils have been smoking around +the school they will be severely punished." + +CHAPTER XVII +THE FIRST SNOW + +THERE was considerable talk among the boys in Danny's room after Mr. +Tetlow departed. And it was noticed that Danny and some of his +particular friends looked around with rather frightened faces, over +their shoulders, as they talked among themselves. What they said could +not be heard, for they spoke in whispers. + +"I hope you weren't one of those boys, Bert," said Nan, as she passed +her brother on the way home from school that afternoon. "If you were -" + +"You needn't worry," he said, with a smile. "I'm not ready to smoke +yet." + +"Nor ever, I hope," said Nan, as she turned up her little nose. "It - +it smells so." + +Nothing more was heard of the smoking matter for several days, and it +was about forgotten, when something else came to claim the attention of +the Bobbsey twins and their friends. + +It was toward the close of school one afternoon, when all the pupils +were wishing the hands of the clock would point to letting-out time, +that Nan, looking from the window, and away from her arithmetic book, +saw a few white flakes of snow sifting lazily down. At once she was all +attention, and her lesson was forgotten. + +"Oh!" she thought, "it's snowing! And it looks as if it would be a big +storm. Oh, I'm so glad!" + +Nan did not know all the trouble and misery a big snow storm can cause, +so she may be forgiven for wishing for one. She only saw the side of it +that meant fun for her and her friends. + +The flakes were coming down faster now, and there was about them +something which seemed to tell that this storm would be more than a mere +flurry or squall, and that it would keep up for some time, making big +drifts. + +But now a number of other pupils in the room had noticed the storm, and +eyes were out of doors rather than on books. The teacher saw that she +was not getting the attention of her class, and she understood the +reason. + +"Now, boys and girls," she said gently, "you can have a good time in the +snow after you get out of here. So please give attention to your +lessons for a few minutes more. Then you will be finished. Nan +Bobbsey, you may go to the board and do the third example." + +But Nan was thinking so much of the fun she might have riding down hill, +or snowballing with her friends, that she got the example wrong, and had +to go to her seat. Nor was Bert any more successful. + +Bert was busy thinking about putting a bell and a steering wheel on the +new bob he and Charley had made, and when he was asked how many times +two and a half went into ten he answered: "Three." He was thinking how +many times he would ring the bell on the bob when he came to a street +crossing. + +When the Bobbsey twins, little and big, came out of school the snow was +coming down more thickly. The flakes were not so large, but there were +more of them, and they blew here and there in the wind, drifting into +piles that would make the shoveling off of walks hard the next day. + +There were just about enough of the white crystals on the ground, when +the school children came out to make a few snowballs, and this they at +once proceeded to do. + +Danny Rugg, who had not forgiven Bert for the many times the Bobbsey lad +had gotten the best of him, threw a ball at Freddie. But Bert was on +the watch, and managed to jump up and catch the white missile in his +hand. Then he threw it at Danny, striking him on the neck. + +"Here! Where you throwin'?" demanded Danny, in angry tones. + +"The same place you are," replied Bert, not a bit afraid. "Good weather +for ice cream, Danny," he added, and Danny went off in an angry fashion. + +Other boys and girls too, threw the snowballs, but it was in goodnatured +fun, and no one was hurt. Some rough boys did use hard snowballs, but +they were soon left to play among themselves, while the others amused +themselves with soft and fluffy missiles, which, breaking as they hit, +scattered the white stuff all over, harming no one. + +The girls, while they played at this sport, also indulged in washing the +faces of each other. With handsful of snow they rubbed the ears and +cheeks of their chums so that there came a healthy glow to the skin. + +One or two children, who lived near the school, ran in their yards as +soon as the classes were dismissed, and brought out their sleds. But +the snow was too thin to pack well and at best the coasting was not +good. + +"But it soon will be," declared Bert, as he and Charley walked along. +"We must finish our bob in a hurry." + +"All right. We'll work on it late tonight." + +And so the sound of hammer, plane and saw was heard in the old barn, +where the sled was being built, until nearly ten o'clock. + +"She ought to go very fast!" exclaimed Charley, as they paused to look +at their sled. + +"I'm sure she will," agreed Bert. "And we'll put some carpet on the top +of the main board, for a cushion for some of the girls." His chum +agreed that this would be a good plan, and so the bob was made very +attractive for the girls. + +Bert and Charley took the big sled out for a private trial on a little +hill behind the barn without telling anyone about it. They slid down +very swiftly, and as they were walking up again Bert said: + +"I think we have a fast one all right, Charley." + +"I'm sure we have," was the answer. + +"It will pass anything on the main hill," went on Bert, and his friend +believed him. + +The storm kept up all night, and in the morning there was snow enough to +suit anyone. Bert laughed as he looked out of the window and saw it. + +"There'll be coasting now all right!" he cried, as he saw the big +stretch of white over the fields and on the hills. "We can have bob +sled races, too." + +"Can't we come?" asked Flossie. + +"We like sled rides," added Freddie. + +"You may come part of the time," answered Bert. "But big sleds aren't +for little folks like you." + +Not far from the Bobbsey home was a long hill that was most excellent +for coasting. It was on this that Charley and Bert had decided to test +their new sled on a long stretch. + +As they hauled it from the barn where it had been made, and started to +pull it to the hill, there were many laughs at the odd homemade affair. +For Bert and Charley had done most of the work themselves, and it was +rather rough. + +"She'll never coast!" cried one boy, with a laugh. He was quite a +friend of Danny's. + +"Here comes the sled that can, though!" cried another, and Danny himself +came into view, pulling a fine, new, big bob after him. + +"That's the fastest one on the hill," boasted another lad who was +helping Danny pull his sled. + +"Well, I think ours is fast, too," said Bert calmly. + +"Do you want to race?" asked Danny with a sharp glance at Bert. + +"I don't mind," was the answer. It was after school, following the +first snow, and the hill was just right for coasting. + +"Come on! Come on!" cried a number of boys and girls, as they heard +what went on between Danny and Bert. "There's going to be a race on the +big hill between the big bobs." + +There was much excitement. The sleds were the two largest owned by +anyone in the neighborhood, and both were fine ones. Danny had bought +his, but Bert and Charley had made theirs, and so, though it was not so +fancy, it was stronger. Most eyes were on Danny's sled, for it was +painted in bright colors, and brightly varnished. It had a red cushion +of carpet on the top, and places at the side to rest one's feet. + +The bob of Bert and Charley was built just the same, but it was painted +in homemade fashion, and the carpet seat was an old and faded one. But +it had a new gong and a fine big steering wheel. + +"All ready for the race," cried Danny, as he got his sled in position. +"Who's going down with me?" + +A number of boys came forward. + +"Who's going with Bert and me?" asked Charley, and several others +stepped forward. + +"Go ahead, if you want to come in last!" sneered Danny, as he got his +sled in place. "I'll tell 'em you're coming, Bert." + +"All right," was the cool answer. "Get an, boys!" + +Soon both sleds were filled, and all was ready for the big race - the +first of the season. + +CHAPTER XVIII +A NIGHT ALARM + +ARE you all ready?" called Danny to Bert, looking over at the homemade +bob, and there was something like contempt in his tone. + +"All ready," answered Bert. "I'll start as soon as you give the word." + +"We ought to have someone to shove us off," suggested Danny. "It won't +be fair if one or the other gets a headstart." + +"Hi! He's afraid already!" cried Charley Mason. "He knows we're going +to beat!" + +"I am not!" retorted Danny. "It will be a walkover for me once I start. +But I don't want Bert Bobbsey saying I took advantage of him, after the +race is over." + +"You needn't be afraid - I won't say so - I won't have to," replied +Bert. "All the same I think it would be better if we each had a push. +I want to be fair, too." + +"Hey, Bert!" called a shrill voice, as the elder Bobbsey lad was looking +about for some on the hill to whom he might appeal. "Can't I ride down +with you, Bert?" + +It was Freddie who called, and he came runnining up, anxious to take +part in the exciting race. + +"No, Freddie, not this time," explained Bert kindly. "I want only large +boys with me in the race. I'll give you a ride afterward." + +"After I beat him, he means," sneered Danny. + +"Come on, let's race if we're going to," called some of the boys on +Danny's sled. + +"Yes; don't stay here all day." + +"Get a move on!" + +"We'll beat, anyhow, what's the use of racing?" + +There were only a few of things that those on the big new sled of +Danny's, called to those on Bert's bob. On their part Bert's friends +voiced such remarks as: + +"We're not so strong on looks, but we'll get there first!" + +"We're going to give Danny a tow to the bottom of the hill!" + +"He won't know he's moving, once Bert's sled gets started going!" + +"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Danny at last. "Shall we shove +off ourselves?" + +Just then there came along two large boys, Frank Cobb, and his +particular chum, Irving Knight. + +"What's going on here; a race? " asked Frank. + +"It looks that way," said Irving. + +"Oh, will you push us off?" begged Bert, appealing to Frank, whose +father worked in Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard. + +"Sure we will," answered Frank goodnaturedly. "Take the other sled, +Irving," he said to his chum, "and we'll give 'em an even start. Then +we'll see which beats, and may the best sled win!" + +"That's what I say!" cried Irving. + +The two larger boys took their places behind the bobs. They slowly +shoved them to the edge of the hill, held them there a moment, and, at a +nod to each other, shoved them down evenly. + +"Hurray!" cried the crowd of other coasters. "There they go!" + +"And Danny's ahead!" said some of his friends. + +"No, Bert's sled is!" shouted his admirers. + +As a matter of fact, though, both sleds were even at the start. On and +on they went very swiftly, for the hill had been worn smooth. Then Bert +saw his bob getting ahead a little, and he felt that he was going to win +easily. + +But he was glad too soon, for, a little later, Danny's sled shot ahead, +and for some distance was in the lead. + +"Can't you beat him, Bert?" whispered Charley Mason, who sat just behind +his chum. + +"I hope so," was the answer. "But I can't really do anything. We just +have to depend on the sled, you know." + +"Steer a little more over to the left," suggested another boy. "It +looks smoother there." + +"I will," said Bert, and he turned the steertng wheel of his bob while +Luke Morton, in the rear, pulled hard on the bell, making it clang out a +loud warning. + +"Look out where you're going, Bert Bobbsey!" warned Danny, looking back. + +"You're coming over on my side of the hill!" + +"No I'm not. I'm away from the middle even," said Bert. "Besides, I'm +behind you." + +"I know you are, and you're going to stay there; but I don't want you to +run into me." + +Bert thought of the time, the winter before, when Danny had run into +him, and broken his sled, but he said nothing. He did not want that +kind of an accident to be repeated if he could help it. + +On, on and on dashed the big bobs, with the crowd on the hill, and a +number of coasters scattered along the way, watching anxiously. As soon +as Bert had steered over to the left his sled began to go faster, as the +snow was packed better there. He was fast catching up to Danny, when +one of the boys on that bob, looking back, saw it, and warned the +steersman. + +"He's coming, Danny," he cried. + +"Oh, he is; eh? Well, he won't pass me," and Danny steered his sled +over directly in front of Bert's, almost causing Bert to collide vith +him. + +"Shame!" cried some watchers. "That wasn't fair!" + +"Let him keep on his own side then," warned Danny. + +But this mean trick did Danny little good for, though Bert was forced to +go to the right, to avoid crashing into Danny, he, most unexpectedly, +found good coasting there, and he shot ahead until his sled was even +with that of the bully's. + +"Better look out, Danny," warned the boy sitting directly back of him. + +"He's crowding us fast." + +"Oh, it's only a spurt. We'll soon be at the bottom of the hill and +win." + +On and on came Bert's bob, the Flier. It was a little ahead of Danny's +now, and the latter, seeing this, steered over, thinking the going was +better there. + +"Look out!" warned Bert. "Who's crowding over now?" + +"Well, I've got a right here!" snarled Danny. + +But Bert knew his rights also, and would not give away. He held to his +place, and Danny dared not come too close. Then, as Bert found himself +on smooth, hardpacked snow, he steered as straight as he could. More +and more ahead of Danny he went, until he was fully in front of him. + +"We're going to win! We're going to win!" cried Bert's friends. "We're +going to win the race!" + +Danny was wild with anger. He steered his sled over sharply, hoping to +get on the same track as was Bert and so pass him. But it was not to +be. Danny took too sudden a turn, and the next instant his bob +overturned, spilling everyone off. + +There was a cry of surprise at the accident, and some of those on Bert's +sled looked back. Bert himself looked straight ahead as a steersman +always should. + +"Danny's upset!" cried Charley. + +"I'm sorry!" said Bert. "Now he'll claim the race wasn't fair." + +And that is what Danny did when he picked himself up, and walked down to +meet Bert, whose bob got safely to the foot of the hill, and so won the +race. + +"Aw, I'd have beaten if you hadn't gotten in my way so I had to steer +over," cried Danny. + +"Don't talk that way now," said Irving, who, with Frank Cobb had come to +the end of the hill. "Bert beat you fair and square." + +"Aw, well" grumbled Danny. + +"I'll race over again, if you like," offered Bert. + +"Yes, and do the same thing," grumbled Danny. "I will not. I know my +sled is the best." + +But few others, save those who hoped for a ride on it, agreed with the +bully, and Bert's homemade bob was held to be champion of the hill. + +Then came many more coasts, Bert giving Nan and Flossie and Freddie, and +a number of their little girl and boy friends, several rides. + +Until late that evening the coasting kept up, and Bert and Charley were +congratulated on all sides for the fine bob they had made. And what fun +Bert had home after supper, telling of how he had won the race! + +It was in the middle of the night, when the Bobbsey household was +awakened by the ringing of fire bells. They all heard the alarm, and as +Papa Bobbsey counted the number, he said to his wife: + +"That must be near here. Guess I'll look. It's a windy night and a +fire in my lumber yard would be very bad." + +As he went to the window he saw a glare on the sky in the direction of +the lake. + +"It is near here!" he said. "The engines are going past our house! I'd +better take a look." + +"Can I come?" asked the little "Fat Fireman" from his cot. "Take me, +papa!" + +CHAPTER XIX +WHO WAS SMOKING? + +MR. BOBBSEY laughed, though he was worried about the fire. It seemed so +odd for Freddie to want to go out in the cold, dark night. + +"Not this time, my Fat Fireman!" said Freddie's papa. "It may be only a +pile of rubbish on fire. I'll tell you about it when I come back." + +"Where does it seem to be?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"Down near the lake," answered her husband. "I'm afraid, he added in a +lower voice, "that it may be our boathouse. It seems to be about +there." + +"Oh, I hope not!" she exclaimed. "Still, better that than our own +house." + +"If it's near the lake, papa," said Flossie who heard part of what her +father said, "it will be easy to put it out, for there is plenty of +water." + +"Pooh! engines have their own water!" exclaimed Freddie, who had rather +hazy notions as to how fire engines work. He was getting over his +disappointment about not being allowed to go with his father, and had +again cuddled down in his warm crib. + +Another engine dashed by the Bobbsey house, and the ringing of the alarm +bell increased. The voices and footsteps of many persons, as they +rushed on to the blaze, could also be heard, and there resounded the cry +of: + +"Fire! Fire! Fire!" + +Bert, who had been aroused with the others of the household, was +dressing in his room. He felt that his father would let him go to the +fire. At any rate he intended to be all ready when he made his request, +so as not to cause delay. + +"Are you going, Bert?" asked Nan, as from her room, next to that of her +brother, she heard him moving around. + +"I am, if father will take me," he said. + +"It's too cold for me!" Nan exclaimed with a shiver, as she went back in +bed again. She had gotten up to peer from the window at the red glare +in the sky. + +From the third floor, where Dinah slept, the colored cook now called +down: + +"Am anybody sick, Mrs. Bobbsey? What am de mattah down dere?" + +"It's a fire, Dinah!" answered her mistress. + +"Oh good land a'massy! Don't tell me dat!" she cried. "Sam ! Sam! Wake +up. De house is on fire an' you'se got t' sabe me!" + +"No, no, Dinah!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey, to calm the cook. "It isn't this +house. It's down by the lake. If you look out of your window you can +see it." + +Dinah hurried across to her window, and evidently saw the reflection of +the blaze, for she exclaimed: + +"Thank goodness it ain't yeah! Mah goodness, but I suah was skarit fo' +a minute!" + +By this time Mr. Bobbsey had dressed, and had started downstairs. Bert +came out of his room, also ready for the street. + +"May I come, father?" he asked. + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey, in surprise. "So you got +dressed too, did you?" + +"Yes, sir. May I come?" + +Mr. Bobbsey hesitated a moment, and then, with a smile, said: + +"Well, I suppose so, since you are all ready. I'm taking Bert," he +called to his wife. "Freddie, you'll have to be the Fat Fireman while +I'm gone, and look after the house." + +"That's what I will," said Freddie, "and if any sparks fly over here +I'll throw the bath room sponge on 'em!" + +"Good!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, and then, he and Bert hurried out. + +The fire was now larger, as they could see when they got out in the +street. There was no wind and the flames went straight up in the air. +There were not many buildings down by the lake, only some boat shelters +and places like that. The Bobbsey's boathouse was a fine large one, +having recently been made bigger as Mr. Bobbsey was thinking of buying a +new motor boat. + +Mr. Bobbsey and his son hurried on, following the crowd that filled the +street leading to the lake. Several gentlemen knew the lumber merchant, +and called to him. + +"I guess you're glad this isn't your lumber yard," said one. + +"Yes, indeed," was the answer. "I had a little fire there once, and I +don't want another. But I'm afraid this is some of my property just the +same." + +"Is that so?" + +"Yes, it looks to be my boathouse." + +"So it does!" cried another man. + +"Oh, father!" cried Bert. "Our nice boathouse!" + +"Well, the firemen may save it," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We will hope so, +anyhow," he added. + +They had not gone on much farther before Mr. Bobbsey and Bert could see +that it was indeed their boathouse on fire. One side was all ablaze, +and the flames were slowly, but surely, eating their way over the whole +place. But two engines were now pumping streams of water on the fire, +and they might put it out before too much damage was done. + +Mr. Bobbsey rushed forward, and, as the policemen and firemen knew him, +they let him get close to the boathouse. + +"You stay here, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey to his son. + +"Where are you going?" Bert wanted to know. + +"I'm going to see if we can save any of the boats." + +There was a sailing craft, a number of rowboats, and a small gasoline +launch in the boathouse. They had been stored away for the winter. + +"Come on, men!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, as he saw some of his workmen in the +crowd. "Help me save the boats!" + +All rushed forward willingly, and, as there was part of the place where +the flames had not yet reached, they could make their way into the +house. They began lowering the boats into the icy water, while the +firemen played the several lines of hose on the flames. + +The third engine was now working, and so much water was pumped that even +a larger fire could not have stood it for very long. The blaze began to +die down, and when Mr. Bobbsey and his men were about to lower the +gasoline launch into the icy water the chief ran up, saying: + +"You don't need to do that! We've got the fire under control now. It +will soon be out." + +"Are you sure?" asked the lumber merchant. + +"Yes. You can see for yourself. Leave the boat there. It will be all +right." + +Mr. Bobbsey looked, and was satisfied that the larger part of the +boathouse would be saved. So he and his men stopped their work; and +went outside to cool off. + +A little later the fire was practically out, but one engine continued to +throw water on the smouldering sparks. The crowd began to leave now, +for there was nothing more to see, and it was cold. + +"My!" exclaimed Bert as his father came back to where he had left his +son, "it didn't take long to settle that fire." + +"No, we have a good fire department," replied Mr. Bobbsey. + +The fire chief came up to Mr Bobbsey, who expressed his thanks for the +quick work of the firemen. + +"Have you any idea what started the fire, Mr. Bobbsey?" asked the chief. +"Was the boathouse in use?" + +"No," was the answer. "It had been closed for the winter some time ago +- in fact as soon as the carpenters finished making the changes. No one +was in it as far as I know." + +"Then how do you account for this?" asked the chief, as he held out a +box partly filled with cigarettes. "I picked these up in the living +room," he went on, for the boathouse had one room carpeted, and fitted +with chairs and tables, and electric lights where the family often spent +evenings during Summer. + +"You found those cigarettes in the living room of the boathouse?" asked +Mr. Bobbsey. + +"I did; and the question is who was smoking?" went on the chief. "In my +opinion the end of a cigarette thrown aside, or perhaps a lighted match +dropped in some corner, started this fire. Who was smoking?" + +CHAPTER XX +A CONFESSION + +THE chief handed Mr. Bobbsey the half-emptied cigarette box. Mr. +Bobbsey turned it over and over in his hand, as though trying to learn +to whom it belonged. + +"They are something I never use," he said. "I don't suppose we could +tell, from this, who had it?" + +"No," and the chief shook his head. "It's a common kind, and a good +many of the stores sell 'em. A good many of the boys smoke 'em, too - +that's the worst of it," and he looked at Bert a bit sharply. + +"Oh, you needn't be afraid for my boy!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey hastily. +"I have Bert's promise that he won't smoke until he's man, and perhaps +he won't want to then." + +"Good!" exclaimed the chief heartily; "That's what I like to hear. But +it's as certain as guns is, and nothing more certain than them, that +some one was smoking in your boathouse, and set fire to it. And I wish +we could find out who it was." + +"So do I!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "If only to teach them a lesson on +how dangerous it is to be careless. Well, I suppose we can't do +anything more," and he sighed, for half the beautiful boathouse was in +ruins. + +Mr. Bobbsey and Bert were soon at home, telling the news to the folks. + +Freddie's eyes opened wide in surprise as he listened to the account of +how the firemen had put out the fire. + +"Oh, I wish I could have been there!" he cried. "I could have helped." + +"What caused the fire?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband, when the +children had gone to bed again. + +"Some boys - or some one else smoking cigarettes, the chief thinks. We +found a half-emptied box." + +In her room Nan heard the word "cigarettes" and she wondered if her +brother could be at fault, for she remembered he had told her how once +some boys had asked him to go off in secret and smoke. + +Mr. Bobbsey was up early, for he wanted to see by daylight what damage +the fire had done, and he also wanted to see the insurance company about +the loss. The beautiful boathouse looked worse in the daylight than it +had at night, and the neat living room, where some of the Bobbseys had +spent many happy hours, while others of them were out in the boats, was +in ruins. + +The fire chief came down while Mr. Bobbsey was there, and they talked +matters over. The chief said he would send one of his men around to the +different stores that sold cigarettes, to try and learn if boys had +purchased any that afternoon, for it was against the law to sell +cigarettes to anyone under sixteen years of age. + +One afternoon Danny's father, Mr. Rugg, came home unexpectedly, and, +wanting something that was out in his barn went to get it. As he +entered the place he heard a scramble of feet, some excited whispers, +and then silence. He was sure that some one was in the place and had +run to hide. + +"Who's there?" called Mr. Rugg sharply. There was no answer, but he +listened and was sure he heard some one in the little room where the +harness was kept. + +He walked over to the door, and tried to open it. Some one on the +inside was holding it, but Mr. Rugg gave a strong pull, and the door +flew open. To the surprise of Mr. Rugg he saw his son Danny, and a +number of boys, hiding there, and the smell of cigarette smoke was very +strong. + +"Danny!" exclaimed his father sternly, "what does this mean?" + +"We - were - playing!" stammered Danny. "Playing hide and seek." + +"And to play that is it necessary to smoke?" Mr. Rugg asked sharply. + +"We - we aren't smoking," answered Danny. + +"Not now, but you have been. I can smell it plainly. Go into the +house, Danny, and these other boys must go home. If I find them smoking +in my barn again I shall punish them. You might have set it on fire." + +Danny had nothing to say, indeed, there was little he could say. He had +been caught in the act. + +The other boys slunk off, and Danny went into the house, his father +following. + +"Danny, I am very sorry to learn this," said Mr. Rugg. "I did not know +that you smoked - a boy of your age!" + +"Well, I never smoked much. Lots of the fellows smoke more than I do." + +"That is no excuse. It is a bad habit for a boy. You may go to your +room. I will consider your case later." + +From then on Mr. Rugg did some hard thinking. He began "putting two and +two together" as the old saying has it. He remembered the Bobbsey +boathouse fire. On that occasion Danny had come in late, and there had +been the smell of smoke on his clothes. + +Mr. Rugg went to his son's room. A search showed a number of empty +cigarette boxes, and cigarette pictures, and the boxes were all of the +same kind - the kind that had been found in the halfburned boathouse. + +Danny was accused by his father of having been smoking in the boathouse +just before the fire, and Danny was so miserable, and so surprised at +being caught in the barn, that he made a full confession. Tearfully he +told the story, how he and some other boys, finding the boat house +unlocked, for some unknown reason, had gone in, and smoked to their +heart's content. + +They did not mean to cause the fire, and had no idea that they were to +blame. One of the boys was made ill by too much smoking, and they all +hurried away. + +But they must have left a smouldering stump of cigarette in some corner, +or a carelessly thrown match, that started the blaze. Then, when the +fire bells sounded, and they learned what had happened, Danny and all +the boys promised each other that they would keep the secret. + +"Well, Danny, I can't tell you how sorry I am," said Mr. Rugg, when the +confession was over. "Sorry not only that Mr. Bobbsey's boathouse was +burned, but because you have deceived me, and your good mother, and +smoked in secret. I feel very badly about it." + +Danny did, too, for though he was not a very good boy, his heart was in +the right place, and with a little more care he might have been a +different character. There was, however, hope for him. + +"You must be punished for this," went on Mr. Rugg, "and this punishment +will be that you are not to have the motor boat I promised you for next +Summer. Perhaps it will be a lesson to you. + +Danny wept bitterly, for he had counted very much on having this boat. +But it was a good lesson to him. Mr. Rugg also told the fathers of the +other boys whom he caught with his son, and these boys were punished in +different ways. + +Mr. Rugg also informed Mr. Bobbsey how the boathouse had been set afire, +and expressed his sorrow. And so the mystery was cleared up. + +CHAPIER XXI +THE FAT LADY'S LETTER + +"WELL," remarked Nan Bobbsey, a few days after it had become known that +Danny Rugg was to blame for the fire in the boathouse, "I wish we could +find out, as easily as we found out about Danny, who has our cat Snoop." + +"So do I," added Flossie. "Poor Snoop! I do miss him so much." + +"So do I!" exclaimed Freddie. "But Snap is a nice dog, and I guess I +like dogs better than cats, anyhow." + +"Why, Freddie Bobbsey!" cried Nan. + +"Don't you love Snoop any more?" + +"Oh, yes, 'course I do, but then he isn't here to be loved, and Snap +is." + +"Yes, I guess that does make a difference," admitted Nan. "I wonder if +papa wouldn't let us go down to the railroad office and inquire once +more about him? Maybe, as it's getting cold weather now, Snoop will +come in from the fields where he may have been staying ever since the +railroad wreck." + +"Let's ask," cried Freddie, always ready for action. + +It was Saturday, and there was no school. Bert had gone off coasting on +his new bob, but Nan did not want to go, her mother having asked her to +stay and help with the dusting. But now the little bit of housework was +over, and Nan was free. + +"We'll go down to papa's office," she said to Flossie and Freddie, "and +ask him if we can go to the railroad. I know one of the ticket agents +and he can tell us of whom to ask about our cat." + +Mrs. Bobbsey had no objections, and soon, with F1ossie and Freddie at +her side, Nan set off for her father's office in the lumber yard. The +smaller twins were delighted. + +"And maybe we can find our silver cup, too," suggested Freddie, as they +trudged along in the snow, now and then stopping to make a white ball, +which he threw at the fence or telegraph pole. + +"The fat lady has our cup - I'm sure of that," said Flossie. + +"Well, we can ask papa if he has heard from the circus people," +suggested Nan. + +Mr. Bobbsey was rather surprised to see his three children come into the +office, but he was glad to meet them, for it made a break in his day's +work. After a little thought he said they might go to the railroad +office to inquire about Snoop. Nan and her brother and sister went in a +trolley car, and were soon at the depot. + +But to their disappointment there was no news of Snoop. The fat, black +cat seemed to have completely disappeared. + +"I've had the switchmen and trackmen keep a lookout for some time past," +the agent told Nan, for Mr. Bobbsey did a large business in shipping +lumber over the railroad, and many of the men were his friends. "One of +the switchmen near where the wreck was, caught a lot of cats, that must +have been living out in the fields all Summer," went on the agent, "but +they were all sorts of colors. None was pure black, so I knew they could +not be yours. I'm sorry." + +"Yes, so are we," replied Nan. "Well, I guess Snoop is lost for good. +He has been away a long time now." + +On the way back to Mr. Bobbsey's office, the trolley car got off the +track, on account of so much snow on the rails, and the children spent +some time watching the men get it back, the electricity from the wire +and rails making pretty flashes of blue fire. + +"What luck?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, as the three came in his private office, +their faces shining and red with the glow of winter. + +"None," said Nan sadly. "Snoop is gone." + +"Have you heard from the circus fat lady yet, papa?" asked Flossie. + +"Yes, we want our cup back," added her brother. + +"No word yet," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "That circus is traveling all over +Cuba, and the letters I sent never seem to catch up to them. However, I +am sending one on ahead now, to a city where they will soon give a show. +The fat lady will find it there waiting for her, and she may answer +then." + +And with this the children had to be content. Getting back home, +Flossie and Freddie took out their sleds and went for a coast on a small +hill, not far from their home. This was where the smaller children had +their fun, leaving the larger hill for the bigger girls and boys. + +"Well, after this I think we all need something to cheer us up," said +Papa Bobbsey, who came home from the office early that day. + +"Oh, have you got something good?" asked Nan, for she saw a queer little +twinkle in her father's eyes, and she knew that this generally meant a +treat of some kind. + +"I have some good news, if you would like to hear it," he said, as he +drew a letter from his pocket. + +"Is it to tell that some of our friends are coming to see us?" asked +Bert. + +"Well, yes, I think you will call it a visit from a friend - at least +part of it," said Papa Bobbsey. "Now listen. This is a letter from the +fat lady in the circus." + +"What!" cried Flossie -the one who has our cup?" + +"The same," said Mr. Bobbsey with a smile. And she has more than your +cup. Listen," and he read the letter. + +It was too long to put it all in here, but it went on to say how the fat +lady really had the valuable silver cup belonging to the twins. + +"They loaned it to me to drink from," she wrote, "and when the train +stopped so suddenly, there was so much confusion that I put it in my +valise by mistake. I have had it ever since and have been wondering how +I could send it back to you. The circus went to Cuba soon after that, +and has been traveling around that island ever since. I have only just +received your last letter asking me about the cup, or I would have +answered before. If you will send me directions how to ship the cup to +you I shall be very glad to return it." + +"Oh goodie!" cried Freddie. "We'll have our nice cup again!" + +"Is that all in the letter, papa,?" asked Flossie. + +"No, not quite," he said. "I'll read a little more," and be read: + +"When our circus was wrecked we lost a valuable trick dog. He could +play soldier, say his prayers, turn somersaults, and do a number of +tricks. The ringmaster feels very badly about losing him, and has tried +to locate him, but without success. If you should hear of anyone near +you having such a dog we would be much obliged if you would send him to +us as he belongs to the circus." + +There was a moment of silence after Mr. Bobbsey read this, and then +Freddie said: + +"Why that must be Snap - our pet dog! Oh, papa you won't give him back +to the circus; will you?" + +CHAPTER XXII +SNAP AND SNOOP + +ALL of the Bobbsey twins - Nan, Bert, Flossie and Freddie - looked so +serious over the prospect of losing Snap that Mr. Bobbsey had to laugh. +He just couldn't help it. + +"Well, I don't see anything to make fun over," said Nan, with a little +pout. + +"Why, you all act as though you had lost your best friend - or were +going to." + +"Well, Snap is one of our best friends, aren't you Snap?" said Freddie. + +"Still, if he belongs to the circus I don't see but what I'll have to +send him back," went on Mr. Bobbsey, slowly. + +At this Flossie burst into tears, and Mrs. Bobbsey, putting her arms +about the little girl, said to her husband: + +"Are you in earnest Richard? Don't tease the child." + +"I'm not, Mary. The fat lady wrote just that. I believe the dog we +have does belong to the circus." + +"Then we'll have to give him up I suppose," and Mrs. Bobbsey sighed, for +she had grown very much attached to the fine animal. + +"Well, we won't have to send him back right away," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I +will have to get more particulars. But I did not finish the fat lady's +letter." + +"What! Is there more news in it?" asked Nan. + +"Listen," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he went on reading: + +"We are sorry about losing our trick dog," the fat lady wrote, "but I +picked up a big black cat when I walked out of the train. I brought him +to Cuba with me, and I am teaching him tricks. He may be as valuable as +our dog was." + +"A black cat!" cried Nan. + +"It's our Snoop!" shouted Freddie, "yes, that's it! The fat lady has +our cat as well as our cup. Oh, papa, make her give back our Snoop!" + +Mr. Bobbsey laughed. + +"You see how it is," he said. "She has our cat, and we have their dog. +We'll have to give up our dog to get our cat." + +The Bobbsey twins had not thought of this before. They looked strangely +at one another. + +"Papa!" cried Freddie, jumping up and down in his excitement, "can't we +keep both - the circus dog and our cat? Oh, do please, let us." + +"But maybe Snap would fight Snoop," said Flossie. "We wouldn't want +that." + +Freddie thought for a moment. + +"I don't believe he would," he said at last. + +"Well," said Papa Bobbsey, after a bit, "I'11 see what I can do. I'll +write to the fat lady, telling her how to ship your silver cup, and also +how to send Snoop. And I'll ask if we can buy Snap. How will that do?" + +"Fine!" cried all the Bobbsey twins at once, and they made a rush for +Mr. Bobbsey, hugging and kissing him. + +The letter was sent to the fat lady, and then came a time of anxious +waiting. Never before had the children seemed to care so much for Snap. + +One day a letter came, saying that the silver cup had been sent, and +also Snoop, the cat. + +"But what about Snap, papa? " asked Nan. + +"Does she say the circus will sell him?" + +"No, the man who owns him is away for a few days. When he comes back he +will let me know. But, anyhow, you will have your cup and cat back." + +"But we want Snap, too!" said Flossie. + +Several more days passed. They lengthened into a week, and still no +news came from where the circus was: All the Bobbsey twins could hope +was that their cat and cup were on the way, and that the man who owned +Snap would consent to sell him. + +The twins did not feel much like having fun. There was a warm spell, +and all the snow had melted. + +One day an express wagon stopped in front of the Bobbsey house. + +It was a Saturday, and there was no school, and, as it happened, all +four of the twins were in. + +"Two boxes for you, Mrs. Bobbsey," said the driver, as he opened his +receipt book. "I'll bring them in while you sign." + +The man came up the walk with two boxes. One was small, and the other +larger, with slats on one end. And from this box came a peculiar noise. + +"Listen!" cried Bert. + +"It's a cat!" shouted Freddie. + +"It's Snoop - our Snoop!" cried Flossie. + +Quickly the boxes were carried into the house. Bert got a hammer and +screw driver and soon had opened the one containing the black cat. +Snap, the dog, walked slowly into the room. + +"Oh dear!" cried Flossie as she saw him, "now maybe they'll fight!" + +"I'll hold Snap," volunteered Freddie. + +"Come on, Snoop! Come out!" cried Bert, as he pried off the last slat. + +"Meouw!" cried Snoop, as he came slowly out of the box in which he had +ridden from Cuba. + +Out walked the black cat. He looked about him strangely for a moment, +and then began to purr, and rubbed up against Flossie's legs. + +They all looked anxiously at Snap. The dog glanced at the cat, +stretched lazily and wagged his tail. Snoop came over to him, and the +two animals sniffed at each other, Mrs. Bobbsey holding Snap by the +collar. Then, to the surprise of all, Snoop rubbed against the legs of +the dog, and, on his part, Snap, wagging his tail in friendly, welcoming +fashion, put out his red tongue and licked Snoop's fur. + +"He's kissing Snoop! He's kissing Snoop!" cried Freddie. + +"Yes, they love each other!" exclaimed Flossie. "They are not going to +fight! Oh, how glad I am!" and she danced in delight. + +"Oh, if only we can keep Snap now," said Nan, while Mrs. Bobbsey, +satisfied that the two animals would be friends, had opened the other +express box. It contained the twins' silver cup, so long missing. + +Mr. Bobbsey came home soon after that his face was smiling. + +"Oh, papa!" Flossie greeted him, "Snoop came, and Snap kissed him!" + +"May we keep Snap, papa?" asked Freddie. + +"Yes," was Mr. Bobbsey's answer. "I have a letter from the circus man, +and he will sell Snap to me. I have already sent the money. And there +is another letter from the fat lady, telling about some of the new +tricks she taught Snoop, so you can make him do them." + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" cried the Bobbsey twins in firelight, as they looked at +their two pets. + +"What lots of things have happened since we came back from the +seashore," said Nan, little later. "I wonder if the rest of the Winter +will be as lively as this first part has been?" + +"Maybe," said Bert with a smile. + +And whether it was or not you may learn by reading the next volume of +this series, to be called: "The Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge," in which +we will once more hear of the doings of Flossie, Freddie Nan and Bert. + +After reading the fat lady's second letter the twins got Snoop to do +some of the tricks the cat had learned. He was not as smart at them as +Snap was at his, but then cats never do learn to do tricks as well as do +dogs. + +Still everyone agreed that the fat lady had done her training well. As +for Snap, he and Snoop became firmer friends every day, and often the +cat went to sleep on Snap's back, or between his forepaws as he lay +stretched out in front of the fire. + +And the silver cup, which, with Snoop, had gone on such a long journey, +was put back in its place on the mantle, to be admired by all. + +Now my little story has come to an end, but I hope you children who have +read it will care to hear more of the Bobbsey twins and the things they +did. So I will say goodbye for a while, trusting to meet you all again. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Bobbsey Twins at School + diff --git a/old/tbtas10.zip b/old/tbtas10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5bebebe --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tbtas10.zip diff --git a/old/tbtas11.txt b/old/tbtas11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb6f1fc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tbtas11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5284 @@ +***The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Bobbsey Twins at School*** +#2 in our series by Laura Lee Hope + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association / Benedictine + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Benedictine University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +[ Prepared by Diane and Don Nafis, dnafis@nazlo.com ] + + + + + +The Bobbsey Twins at School + +LAURA LEE HOPE + + + + +CONTENTS + +chapter page +I. A CIRCUS TRAIN . . . . . . . . 1 +II. SNOOP IS GONE . . . . . . . . 16 +III. A QUEER DOG . . . . . . . . 27 +IV. HOME IN AN AUTO . . . . . . . 36 +V. SNAP DOES TRICKS . . . . . . 48 +VI. DANNY RUGG IS MEAN . . . . . 57 +VII. AT SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . 66 +VIII. BERT SEES SOMETHING . . . . 78 +IX. OFF TO THE WOODS . . . . . . 87 +X. A SCARE . . . . . . . . . . . 99 +XI. DANNY'S TRICK . . . . . . . .109 +XII. THE CHILDREN'S PARTY . . . .121 +XIII. AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE . . 129 +XIV. A COAT BUTTON . . . . . . . 138 +XV. THANKSGIVING . . . . . . . . 152 +XVI. MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS. .161 +XVII. THE FIRST SNOW . . . . . . 169 +XVIII. A NIGHT ALARM . . . . . . 178 +XIX. WHO WAS SMOKING? . 187 +XX. A CONFESSION . . . . . . . 195 +XXI. THE FAT LADY'S LETTER . . . 202 +XXII. SNAP AND SNOOP . . . . . . . 209 + + + + +THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL + + + + +CHAPTER I +A CIRCUS TRAIN + + +"MAMMA, how much longer have we got to ride?" asked Nan Bobbsey, turning +in her seat in the railroad car, to look at her parents, who sat behind +her. + +"Are you getting tired?" asked Nan's brother Bert. "If you are I'll sit +next to the window, and watch the telegraph poles and trees go by. +Maybe that's what tires you, Nan," he added, and his father smiled, for +he saw that Bert had two thoughts for himself, and one for his sister. + +"No, I'm not tired of the scenery," answered the brownhaired and +browneyed girl, "but you may sit next the window, Bert, if you like." + +"Thanks!" he exclaimed as he scrambled over to the place his sister gave +up. + +"Are you tired, dearie?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey, leaning forward and +smoothing out her daughter's hair with her hand. "If you would like to +sit with me and put your head in my lap, papa can go to another seat and +-" + +"Oh, no, mamma, I'm not as tired as that," and Nan laughed. "I was just +wondering how soon we'd be home." + +"I'd rather be back at the seashore," said Bert, not turning his gaze +from the window, for the train was passing along some fields just then, +and in one a boy was driving home some cows to be milked, as evening was +coming on. Bert was wondering if one of the cows might not chase the +boy. Bert didn't really want to see the boy hurt by a cow, of course, +but he thought that if the cow was going to take after the boy, anyhow, +he might just as well see it. But the cows were very well-behaved, and +went along slowly. + +"Yes, the seashore was nice," murmured Nan, as she leaned her head back +on the cushioned seat, "but I'm glad to be going home again. I want to +see some of the girls, and -" + +"Yes, and I'll be looking for some of the boys, too," put in Bert. "But +school will soon begin, and that's no fun!" + +Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey smiled at each other, and Mr. Bobbsey, taking out a +timetable, looked to see how much longer they would be on the train. + +"It's about an hour yet," he said to Nan, and she sighed. Really she +was more tired than she cared to let her mother know. + +Just ahead of the two Bobbsey children were another set of them. I say +"set" for the Bobbsey children came "in sets." + +There were two pairs of twins, Bert and Nan, nearly nine years of age, +and Flossie and Freddie, almost five. And, whereas the two older +children were rather tall and slim, with dark brown hair and eyes, the +littler twins were short and fat, and had light hair and blue eyes. The +two pairs of twins were quite a contrast, and many persons stopped to +look at them as they passed along the street together. + +"No, sir," went on Bert musingly, "school's no fun, and it starts about +a week after we get home. No chance to have a good time!" + +"We've had fun all summer," replied his sister. "I rather like school." + +"Mamma, are we going to school this year?" asked Flossie, as she looked +back with a quick turning of her head that set her yellow curls to +dancing. + +"If we are, I'm going to sit with Flossie - can't I?" asked Freddie, +kneeling in the seat so that he could face back to his father and +mother. + +Indeed his request was not strange, since the two younger twins were +always together even more so than their brother and sister. + +"Yes, I think you and Freddie will start school regularly this term," +said Mrs. Bobbsey, "and, if it can be arranged, you may sit together. +We'll see about that. Be careful, Freddie, don't put your head out of +the window," she cautioned quickly, for the little chap had turned in +his seat again, and was leaning forward to see a horse galloping about a +field, kicking up its heels at the sound of the puffing engine. + +"It's my turn to sit by the window, anyhow," said Flossie. + +"It is not! We haven't passed a station yet," disputed Freddie. + +"Oh, we have so!" cried his little sister. "Freddie Bobbsey!" and she +pointed her finger at him. + +"Children - children," said Mrs. Bobbsey, reprovingly. + +"Are you two taking turns?" asked Bert, smiling with an older brother's +superior wisdom. + +"Yes," answered Flossie, "he was to have the seat next to the window +until we came to a station, and then it's to be my turn until we pass +another station, and we have passed one, but he won't change over." + +"Well, it was only a little station, anyhow," asserted Freddie, "and it +came awful quick after the last one. It isn't fair!" + +"There's a seat up ahead for you, Bert," suggested Mr. Bobbsey, as a +gentleman got up, when the train approached a station. "You can sit +there, and let Flossie or Freddie take your place." + +"All right," answered Bert goodnaturedly, as he got up. + +The train rolled on, the two younger twins each having a window now, and +Nan occupying the seat with her little brother. For a time there was +quietness, until Mrs. Bobbsey said to her husband: + +"Hadn't you better get some of the satchels together, Richard, and tell +Dinah what she is to carry?" + +"I think I will," he answered, as he went up the car aisle a little way +to where a very fat colored woman sat. She was Dinah, the Bobbsey cook, +and they took her with them always when going away for the summer. Now +they were on their way to their city house, and of course Dinah came +back, too. + +"Mamma, I'm thirsty," said Flossie, after a bit. "Please may I get a +drink?" + +"I want one, too," said Freddie quicky. "Come on, Flossie, we'll both +go down to the end of the car where the water cooler is." + +"There's no cup," Nan said. "I went a little while ago, but a lady let +me take her glass." + +"And if there was a cup, I would rather they didn't use it," said Mrs. +Bobbsey. "One never knows who has last handled a public cup." + +"But I want a drink," insisted Flossie, a bit fretfully, for she was +tired from the long journey. + +"I know it, dear," said her mamma gently, "and I'm getting out the +silver cup for you. Only you must be very careful of it, and not drop +it, for it is solid silver and will dent, or mar, easily." She was +searching in her bag, and presently took out a very valuable drinking +cup, gold lined and with much engraving on it. The cup had been +presented to Flossie and Freddie on their first birthday, and bore each +of their names. They were very proud of it. + +"Now be careful," warned Mrs. Bobbsey, as she held out the cup. "Hold +on to the seats as you walk along." + +"I'll carry the cup," said Freddie. "I'm the biggest." + +"You are not!" declared his sister quickly. "I'm just as big." + +"Well, anyhow, I'm a boy," went on Freddie, and Flossie could not deny +this. "And boys always carries things," her brother went on. "I'll +carry the cup." + +"Very well, but be careful of it," said his mother with a smile, as she +handed it to him. The two children went down the aisle of the car. +They stopped for a moment at the seat where Dinah was. + +"Is Snoop all right?" asked Freddie, peering into a box that was made of +slats, with spaces between them for air. + +"'Deed an' he am, honey," said Dinah with a smile, laughing so that she +shook all over her big, fleshy body. + +"I 'specs he's lonesome; aren't you, Snoop?" asked Flossie, poking her +finger in one of the cracks, to caress, as well as she could, a fat, +black cat. The cat, like Dinah the cook, went with the Bobbseys on all +their summer outings. + +"Well, maybe he am lonesome," admitted Dinah, with another laugh, "but +he's been real good. He hadn't yowled once - not once!" + +"He'll soon be out of his cage; won't you, Snoop?" said Freddie, and +then he and his sister went on to the water cooler. Near it they saw +something else to look at. This was the sight of a very, very fat lady +who occupied nearly all of one seat in the end of the car. She was so +large that only a very little baby could have found room beside her. + +"Look - look at her," whispered Flossie to Freddie, as they paused. The +fat woman's back was toward them, and she seemed to be much interested +in looking out of the window. + +"She is fat," admitted Freddie. "Did you ever see one so big before?" + +"Only in a circus," said Flossie. + +"She'd make make two of Dinah," went on her brother. + +"She would not," contradicted Flossie quickly. "'Cause Dinah's black, +and this lady is white." + +"That's so," admitted Freddie, with smile. "I didn't think of that." + +A sway of the train nearly made Flossie fall, and she caught quickly at +her brother. + +"Look out!" he cried. "You 'mos knocked the cup down." + +"I didn't mean to," spoke Flossie. "Oh, there goes my hat! Get it, +Freddie, before someone steps on it!" + +Her brother managed to get the hat just as it was sliding under the seat +where the fat lady sat. + +After some confusion the hat was placed on Flossie's head, and once more +she and her brother moved on toward the water cooler. It was getting +dusk now, and some of the lamps in the car had been lighted. + +Freddie, carrying the cup, filled it with water at the little faucet, +and, very politely, offered it to his sister first. Freddie was no +better than most boys of his age, but he did not forget some of the +little polite ways his mamma was continually teaching him. One of these +was "ladies first," though Freddie did not always carry it out, +especially when he was in a hurry. + +"Do you want any more?" he asked, before he would get himself a drink. + +"Just a little," said Flossie. "The silver cup doesn't hold much." + +"No, I guess it's 'cause there's so much silver in it," replied her +brother. "It's worth a lot of money, mamma said." + +"Yes, and it's all ours. When I grow up I'm going to have my half made +into a bracelet." + +"You are?" said Freddie slowly. "If you do there won't be enough left +for me to drink out of." + +"Well, you can have your share of it made into a watch, and drink out of +a glass." + +"That's so," agreed Freddie, his face brightening. He gave his sister +more water, and then took some himself. As he drank his eyes were +constantly looking at the very fat lady who filled so much of her seat. +She turned from the window and looked at the two children, smiling +broadly. Freddie was somewhat confused, and looked down quickly. Just +then the train gave another lurch and Freddie suddenly spilled some of +the water on his coat. + +"Oh, look what you did!" cried Flossie. "And that's your best coat!" + +"I - I couldn't help it," stammered Freddie. + +"Never mind, little boy," said the fat lady. "It's only clean water. +Come here and I'll wipe it off with my handkerchief. I'd come to you, +only I'm so stout it's hard enough for me to walk anyhow, and when the +train is moving I simply can't do it." + +Freddie and Flossie went to her seat, and with a handkerchief, that +Flossie said afterward was almost as big as a table cloth, the fat lady +wiped the water off Freddie's coat. + +The little boy held the silver cup in his hand, and feeling, somehow, +that he ought to repay the fat lady's kindness in some way, after +thanking her, he asked: + +"Would you like a drink of water? I can bring it to you if you would." + +"Thank you," she answered. "What a kind little boy you are! I saw you +give your sister a drink first, too. Yes, I would like a drink. I've +been wanting one some time, but I didn't dare get up to go after it." + +"I'll get it!" cried Freddie, eager to show what a little man he was. +He made his way to the cooler without accident, and then, moving slowly, +taking hold of the seat on the way back, so as not to spill the water, +he brought the silver cup brimful to the fat lady. + +"Oh, what a beautiful cup," she said, as she took it. + +"And it cost a lot of money, too," said Flossie. "It's ours - our +birthday cup, and when I grow up I'm going to have a bracelet made from +my half." + +"That will be nice," said the fat lady, as she prepared to drink. + +But she never got more than a sip of the water Freddie had so kindly +brought her, for, no sooner did her lips touch the cup than there was a +grinding, shrieking sound, a jar to the railway coach, and the train +came to such a sudden stop that many passengers were thrown from their +seats. + +Flossie and Freddie sat down suddenly in the aisle, but they were so fat +that they did not mind it in the least. As surprised as he was, Freddie +noticed that the fat lady was so large that she could not be thrown out +of her seat, no matter how suddenly the train stopped. The little +Bobbsey boy saw the water from the cup spill all over the fat lady, and +she held the silver vessel in her big, pudgy hand, looking curiously at +it, as though wondering what had so quickly become of the water. + +"It's a wreck - the train's off the track!" a man exclaimed. + +"We've hit something!" cried another. + +"It's an accident, anyhow," said still a third, and then every one +seemed to be talking at once. + +Mr. Bobbsey came running down the aisle to where Flossie and Freddie +still sat, dazed. + +"Are you hurt?" he cried, picking them both up together, which was +rather hard to do. + +"No - no," said Freddie slowly. + +"Oh, papa, what is it?" asked Flossie, wondering whether she was going +to cry. + +"I don't know, my dear. Nothing serious, I guess. The engineer must +have put the brakes on too quickly. I'll look out and see." + +Knowing that his children were safe, Mr. Bobbsey put them down and led +them back to where his wife was anxiously waiting. + +"They're all right," he called. "No one seems to be hurt." + +Bert Bobbsey looked out of the window. Though darkness had fallen there +seemed to be many lights up ahead of the stopped train. And in the +light Bert could see some camels, an elephant or two, a number of +horses, and cages containing lions and tigers strung out along the +track. + +"Why - why, what's this - a circus?" he asked. "Look, Nan! See +those monkeys!" + +"Why, it is a circus - and the train must have been wrecked!" +exclaimed his sister. "Oh mamma, what can it be?" + +A brakeman came into the car where the Bobbseys were. + +"There's no danger," he said. "Please keep your seats. A circus train +that was running ahead of us got off the track, and some of the animals +are loose. Our train nearly ran into an elephant, and that's why the +engineer had to stop so suddenly. We will go on I soon." + +"A circus, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, well! This is an adventure, +children. We've run into a circus train! Let's watch them catch the +animals." + + + + +CHAPTER II +SNOOP IS GONE + + +"PAPA, do you think a tiger would come in here?" asked Freddie, +remembering all the stories of wild animals he had heard in his four +years. + +"Or a lion?" asked Flossie. + +"Of course not!" exclaimed Nan. "Can't you see that all the wild +animals are still in their cages?" + +"Maybe some of 'em are loose," suggested Freddie, and he almost hoped +so, as long as his father was there to protect him. + +"I guess the circus men can look after them," said Bert. "May I get +off, father, and look around?" + +"I'd rather you wouldn't, son. You can't tell what may happen." + +"Oh, look at that man after the monkey!" cried Nan. + +"Yes, and the monkey's gone up on top of the tiger's cage," added Bert. + +"Say, this is as good as a circus, anyhow!" + +Some of the big, flaring lights, used in the tents at night, had been +set going so the circus and railroad men could see to work, and this +glare gave the Bobbseys and other passengers on the train a chance to +see what was going on. + +"There's a big elephant!" cried Freddie. "See him push the lion's cage +around. Elephants are awful strong!" + +"They couldn't push a railroad train," said Flossie. + +"They could too!" cried her little brother, quickly. + +"They could not. Could they, papa?" + +"What?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, absentmindedly. + +"Could an elephant push a railroad train?" asked Flossie. + +"I know they could," declared Freddie. "Couldn't they, papa?" + +"Now, children, don't argue. Look out of the windows," advised their +mother. + +And while the circus men are trying to catch the escaped animals I will +tell you something more about the Bobbseys, and about the other books, +before this one, relating to their doings. + +Mr. Richard Bobbsey, and his wife Mary, the parents of the Bobbsey +twins, lived in an Eastern city called Lakeport, on Lake Metoka. Mr. +Bobbsey was in the lumber business, and the yard, with its great piles +of logs and boards, was near the lake, on which the twins often went in +boats. There was also a river running into the lake, not far from the +saw mill. + +Their house was about a quarter of a mile away from the lumber yard, on +a fashionable street, and about it was a large lawn, while in the back +Sam Johnson, the colored man of all work, and the husband of Dinah, had +a fine garden. The Bobbseys had many vegetables from this garden. + +There was also a barn near the house, and in this the children had many +good times. Flossie and Freddie played there more than did Nan and +Bert, who were growing too old for games of that sort. + +As I have said, Bert and Nan were rather tall and thin, while Flossie +and Freddie were short and fat. Mr. Bobbsey used often to call Flossie +his "Fat Fairy," which always made her laugh. And Freddie had a pet +name, too. It was "Fat Fireman," for he often played that he was a +fireman; putting out makebelieve fires, and pretending he was a fire +engine. Once or twice his father had taken him to see a real one, and +this pleased Freddie very much. + +In the first book of this series, called "The Bobbsey Twins," I told you +something of the fun the four children had in their home town. They had +troubles, too, and Danny Rugg, one of the few bad boys in Lakeport, was +the cause of some. Also about a certain broken window; what happened +when the twins went coasting, how they had a good time in an ice boat, +and how they did many other things. + +Snoop, the fat, black kitten, played a part in the story also. The +Bobbsey twins were very fond of Snoop, and had kept him so many years +that I suppose he ought to be called cat, instead of a kitten, now. + +After the first winter's fun, told of in the book that began an account +of the doings of the Bobbseys, the twins and their parents went to the +home of Uncle Daniel Bobbsey, and his wife, Aunt Sarah, in Meadow Brook. + +In the book called "The Bobbsey Twins in the Country," I wrote down many +of the things that happened during the summer. + +If they had fun going off to the country, taking Snoop with them, of +course, they had many more good times on arriving at the farm. There +was a picnic, jolly times in the woods, a Fourth of July celebration, +and though a midnight scare alarmed them for a time, still they did not +mind that. + +But, though the twins liked the country very much, they soon had a +chance to see something of the ocean, and in the third book of the +series, called "The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore," my readers will find +out what happened there. + +There was fun on the sand, and more fun in the water, and once the +little ones got lost on an island. A great storm came up, and a ship +was wrecked, and this gave the twins a chance to see the life savers, +those brave men who risk their lives to help others. + +Then came closing days at Ocean Cliff, the home of Uncle William and +Aunt Emily Minturn at Sunset Beach. School was soon to open, and Mr. +and Mrs. Bobbsey were anxious to get back to their town home, for +Flossie and Freddie were to start regular lessons now, even though it +was but in the kindergarten class. + +So goodbyes were said to the ocean, and though Dorothy Minturn cried a +little when her cousins Nan and Flossie, and Bert and Freddie, had to +leave, still she said she hoped they would come again. And so the +Bobbseys were on their way home in the train when the circus accident +happened that brought them to a stop. + +"And so we nearly ran into an elephant, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey to the +brakeman, who had brought in the news. + +"Yes, sir. Our engineer stopped just in time." + +"If we had hit him we'd gone off the track," said Freddy. + +"No, we wouldn't," declared Flossie, who seemed bound to start a +dispute. Perhaps she was so tired that she was fretful. + +"Say, can't you two stop disputing all the while?" asked Bert, in a low +voice. "You make papa and mamma nervous." + +"Well, an elephant is big, anyhow," said Freddie. + +"So he is, little Fat Fireman," said Nan, "Come and sit with me, and we +can see the men catch the monkeys." + +The work of getting the escaped animals back into their cages was going +on rapidly. Some of the passengers went out to watch, but the Bobbseys +stayed in their seats, Mr. Bobbsey thinking this best. The catching of +the monkeys was the hardest work, but soon even this was accomplished. + +The wait seemed very tiresome when there was nothing more to watch, and +Mr. Bobbsey looked about for some railroad man of whom he could inquire +how much longer delay there would be. The conductor came through the +car. + +"When will we start?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. + +"Not for some time, I'm afraid," spoke the tickettaker. "The wreck is a +worse one than I thought at first, and some of the cars of the circus +train are across the track so we can't get by. We may be here two hours +yet." + +"That's too bad. Where are we?" + +"Just outside of Whitewood." + +"Oh, that's near home!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why can't we get out, +Richard, walk across the fields to the trolley line, and take that home? +It won't be far, and we'll be there ever so much quicker." + +"Well, we could do that, I suppose," said her husband, slowly. + +"That's what a number of passengers did," said the conductor. "There's +no danger in going out now - all the animals are back in their cages." + +"Then that's what we'll do, children," said their father. "Gather up +your things, and we'll take the trolley home. The moon is coming up, +and it will soon be light." + +"I'm hungry," said Freddie, fretfully. + +"So am I," added his twin sister. + +"Well, I have some crackers and cookies in my bag," replied Mrs. +Bobbsey. "You can eat those on the way. Nan, go tell Dinah that we're +going to take a trolley. We can each carry something." + +"I'll carry Snoop," exclaimed Freddie. He hurried down the aisle to +where the cook was now standing, intending to get the box containing his +pet cat. + +"Where's Snoop, Dinah?" he asked. + +"Heah he am!" she said, lifting up the slatbox. "He ain't made a sound +in all dis confusion, nuther." + +The next moment Freddie gave a cry of dismay: + +"Snoop's gone!" he wailed. "He broke open the box and he's gone! Oh, +where is Snoop?" + +"Ma sakes alive!" cried Dinah. The box was empty! + +A hurried search of the car did not bring forth the black pet. Mr. and +Mrs. Bobbsey, and some of the passengers, joined in the hunt. But there +was no Snoop, and a slat that had pulled loose from one side of the box +showed how he had gotten out. + +"Most likely Snoop got frightened when the train stopped so suddenly, +and broke loose," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We may find him outside." + +"I - I hope an elephant didn't step on him" said Flossie, with a catch +in her breath. + +"Ohooo! Maybe a tiger or a lion has him!" wailed Freddie. "Oh, Snoop!" + +"Be quiet, dear, we'll find him for you," said Mrs. Bobbsey, as she +opened her satchel to get out some cookies. Then she remembered +something. + +"Freddie, where is that silver cup?" she asked. "You had it to get a +drink. Did you give it back to me?" + +"No, mamma, I - I" + +"He gave the fat lady a drink from it," spoke Flossie, "and she didn't +give it back." + +"The train stopped just as she was drinking," went on Freddie. "I sat +down on the floor - hard, and I saw the water spill on her. The fat +lady has our silver cup! Oh, dear!" + +"And she's gone - and Snoop is gone!" cried Flossie. "Oh! oh!" + +"Is that so - did you let her take your cup, Freddie?" asked his papa. + +Freddie only nodded. He could not speak. + +"That fat lady was with the circus," said one of the men passengers. +"Maybe you can see her outside." + +"I'll look," said Mr. Bobbsey, quickly. "That cup is too valuable to +lose. Come, children, we'll see if we can't find Snoop also, and then +we'll take a trolley car for home." + + + + +CHAPTER III +A QUEER DOG + + +PAPA BOBBSEY first looked for some of the circus men of whom he might +inquire about the fat lady. There was much confusion, for a circus +wreck is about as bad a kind as can happen, and for some time Mr. +Bobbsey could find no one who could tell him what he wanted to know. + +Meanwhile Mrs. Bobbsey kept the four children and Dinah with her, +surrounding their little pile of baggage off to one side of The tracks. + +Some of the big torches were still burning, and the full moon was coming +up, so that there was plenty of light, even if it was night. + +"Oh, but if we could only find Snoop!" cried Freddie. "Here, Snoop! +Snoop!" he called. + +"I had much rather find the fat lady, and get back your lovely silver +cup," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "I hope she hasn't taken it away with her." + +"She had it in her hand when the train, stopped with such a jerk," +explained Flossie. "Oh, but mamma, don't you want us to find Snoop - +dear Snoop?" + +"Of course I do. But I want that silver cup very much, too. I hope +your father finds it." + +"But there never could be another Snoop," cried Flossie. "Could there, +Freddie? And we could get another silver cup." + +"Don't be silly," advised Bert, rather shortly. + +"Oh, don't talk that way to them," said Nan. "They do love that cat so. +Never mind, Flossie and Freddie. I'm sure we'll find him soon. Here +comes papa." + +Mr. Bobbsey came back, looking somewhat worried. + +"Did you find her?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey anxiously. + +"No," he replied, with a shake of his head. "She was the circus fat +lady all right. It seems she missed the showtrain, and came on in ours. +And, when we stopped she got out, and went up ahead. Part of the circus +train, carrying the performers, was not damaged and that has gone on. +The fat lady is with that, so one of the men said." + +"And, very likely, she has carried off our silver cup," exclaimed Mrs. +Bobbsey. "Oh dear! Can you find her later, Richard?" + +"I think so. But it will take some time. The circus is going to +Danville - that's a hundred miles from here. But I will write to the +managers there, and ask them to get our cup from the fat lady." + +"But where is Snoop?" asked Freddie, with much anxiety. + +"I don't know, my dear," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "I asked the circus men +if they had seen him, but they were too busy to remember. He may be +running around some where. But we can't wait any longer. We must get +home. I'll speak to one of the switchmen, who stay around here, and if +they see Snoop I'll have them keep him for us. We'll come back tomorrow +and inquire." + +"But we want Snoop now!" exclaimed Freddie, fretfully. + +"I'm afraid we can't get him," said Mrs. Bobbsey, gently. "Come, +children, let's go home now, and leave it to papa. Oh, to think of your +lovely silver cup being gone!" + +"Snoop is worse," said Flossie, almost crying. + +"I - I'm sorry I let the fat lady take the cup," spoke Freddie. + +"Oh, you meant all right, my dear," said his mamma, "and it was very +kind of you. But we really ought to start. We may miss a trolley. +Come, Dinah, can you carry all you have?" + +"'Deed an' I can, Mrs. Bobbsey. But I suah am sorry 'bout dat ar' +Snoop." + +"Oh, it wasn't your fault, Dinah," said Nan quickly. "He is getting to +be such a big cat that he can easily push the slats off his box, now. +We must make it stronger next time." + +Flossie and Freddie wondered if there would be a "next time," for they +feared Snoop was gone forever. They did not worry so much about the +silver cup, valuable as it was. + +With everyone in the little party carrying something, the Bobbsey family +set off across, the fields toward the distant trolley line that would +take them nearly home. The moon was well up now, and there was a good +path across the fields. Nan and Bert were talking about the wreck, and +recalling some of the funny incidents of catching the circus animals. + +Flossie and Freddie were wondering whether they would ever see their pet +cat again. They had had him so long that he seemed like one of the +family. + +"Maybe he ran off and joined the circus," said Flossie. + +"Maybe," spoke her brother. "But he can't do any tricks, so they won't +want him in a show." + +"He can so do tricks! He can chase his tail and almost grab it." + +"That isn't a trick." + +"It is so - as much as standing on your head." + +"Children - children - I don't know what I'll do with you if you +don't stop that constant bickering," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "You must not +dispute so." + +"Well, mamma, but isn't chasing your tail a trick?" asked Flossie. +"Freddie says it isn't." + +"Well, it isn't a circus trick, anyhow," declared her brother. "I meant +a circus trick." + +"Well, Snoop is a good cat, anyhow," went on Flossie, "and I wish we had +him back." + +"Oh, so do I!" exclaimed Freddie, and thus that little dispute ended. + +They were walking along through a little patch of woods now, when Bert, +who was the last one in line, suddenly called out: + +"Something is coming after us!" + +"Coming after us? What do you mean?" asked Nan quickly, as she hurried +to her father's side. + +"I mean I've been listening for two or three minutes now, to some animal +following after us along the path. Some big animal, too." + +Flossie and Freddie both ran back and took hold of their mother's hands. + +"Don't scare the children, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey, a bit sternly. "Did +you really hear something?" + +"Yes, father. It's some animal walking behind us. Listen and you can +hear it your self." + +They all listened. It was very quiet. Then from down the hard dirt +path they all heard the "pitpat, pitpat" of the footsteps of some +animal. It was coming on slowly. + +For a moment Mr. Bobbsey thought of the wild animals of the circus. In +spite of what the men had said perhaps one of the beasts might have +escaped from its cage. The others in the little party evidently thought +the same thing. Mrs. Bobbsey drew her children more closely about her. + +"'Deed an' if it's one ob dem elephants," said Dinah, "an' if he comes +fo' me I'll jab mah hat pin in his long nose - dat's what I will!" + +"It can't be an elephant," said Mr. Bobbsey. "One of the big beasts +would make more noise than that. It may be one of the monkeys - I +don't see how they could catch them all - they were so lively and full +of mischief." + +"Oh, if it's a monkey, may we keep it?" begged Flossie. "I just love a +monkey." + +"Mercy, child! What would we do with it around the house?" cried Mrs. +Bobbsey. "Richard, can you see what it is?" + +Mr. Bobbsey peered down the road. + +"I can see something," he said. "It's coming nearer." + +"Oh dear!" cried Nan, trembling with fear. + +Just then a bark sounded - a friendly bark. + +"It's a dog!" said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, I'm so glad it wasn't an +elephant," and she hugged Freddie and Flossie. + +"Pooh! I wasn't afraid!" cried Freddie. "If it had been an elephant I +- I'd give him a cookie, and maybe he'd let me ride home on his back." + +The animal barked louder now, and a moment later he came into sight on a +moonlit part of the path. The children could see that it was a big, +shaggy white dog, who wagged his tail in greeting as he walked up to +them. + +"Oh, what a lovely dog!" cried Nan. "I wonder where he belongs?" + +The fine animal came on. Bert snapped his fingers, boy-fashion. + +Instantly the dog stood up on his hind legs and began marching about in +a circle on the path. + +"Oh, what a queer dog!" cried Flossie. "Oh I wish he was ours!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV +HOME IN AN AUTO + + +DOWN on his four legs dropped the big white dog, and with another wag of +his fluffy tail he came straight for Flossie. + +"Be careful!" warned Mamma Bobbsey. + +"He won't hurt her!" declared Bert. "That's a good dog, anyone can tell +that. Here, doggie; come here!" he called. + +But the dog still advanced toward Flossie, who shrank back a bit +timidly. + +"You never can tell what dogs will do," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "It is best +to be careful." + +"I guess he knew what Flossie said to him," spoke up Freddie. "He knows +we like dogs." + +The dog barked a little, and, coming up to where Flossie was, again +stood on his hind legs. + +"That's a queer trick," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I guess this dog has been +trained. He probably belongs around here." + +"I wish he belonged to us," sighed Nan. Like Flossie and Freddie she, +too, loved animals. + +"Maybe we can keep him if we don't find Snoop?" suggested Freddie. "Oh, +papa, will you get Snoop back?" and Freddie's voice sounded as though he +was going to cry. + +"Yes, yes, of course I will," said Mr. Bobbsey quickly. He did not want +the children to fret now, with still quite a distance yet to go home, +and that in a trolley car. There were bundles to carry, weary children +to look after, and Mrs. Bobbsey was rather tired also. No wonder Papa +Bobbsey thought he had many things to do that night. + +"Come along, children," called Mrs. Bobbsey, "it is getting late, and we +are only about half way to the trolley. Oh dear! If that circus had to +be wrecked I wish it could have waited until our train passed." + +"Are you very tired?" asked her husband. "I can take that valise." + +"Indeed you'll not. You have enough." + +"Lemme have it, Massa Bobbsey," pleaded Dinah. "I ain't carryin' half +enough. I's pow'ful strong, I is." + +"Nonsense, Dinah!" said Mr. Bobbsey. "I can manage, and your arms are +full." + +"I - I wish she had Snoop," said Freddie, but he was so interested in +watching the queer dog that he half forgot his sorrow over the lost cat. + +The dog seemed to have made great friends with Flossie. She was patting +him on the head now, for the animal, after marching about on his hind +legs, was down on all fours again. + +"Oh, mamma, he's awful nice!" exclaimed Flossie. "He's just as gentle, +and he's soft, like the little toy lamb I used to have." + +"Indeed he does seem to be a gentle dog," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "But come +along now. Don't pet him any more, or he may follow us. Flossie, and +whoever owns him would not like it. Come on." + +"Forward - march!" called Freddie, strutting along the moonlit path as +much like a soldier as he could imitate, tired as he was. + +The Bobbseys and their faithful Dinah started off again toward the +distant trolley that would take them to their home. The dog sat down +and looked after them. + +"I - I wish he was ours," said Flossie wistfully, waving her hand to the +dog. + +The Bobbseys had not gone on very far before Nan, looking back, called +out: + +"Oh, papa, that dog is following us!" + +"He is?" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "That's queer. He must have taken a +sudden liking to us. But I guess he'll go back where he belongs pretty +soon. Are you getting tired, little Fat Fireman? And you, my Fat +Fairy?" + +"Oh, no, papa," laughed Flossie. "I sat down so much in the train that +I'm glad to stand up now." + +"So am I," said Freddie, who made up his mind that he would not say he +was tired if his little sister did not. And yet, truth to tell, the +little Fat Fireman was very weary. + +On and on went the Bobbsey family, and soon Bert happened to look back, +and gave a whistle of surprise. + +"That dog isn't going home, papa," he said. "He's still after us, and +look! now he's running." + +They all glanced back on hearing this. Surely enough the big white dog +was running after them, wagging his tail joyfully, and barking from time +to time. + +"This will never do!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "Whoever owns him may +think we are trying to take him away. I'll drive him back. Go home! +Go back, sir!" exclaimed Papa Bobbsey in stern tones. + +The dog stopped wagging his tail. Then he sat down on the path, and +calmly waited. Mr. Bobbsey walked toward him. + +"Oh, don't - don't whip him, papa!" exclaimed Flossie. + +"I don't intend to," said Mr. Bobbsey. "But I must be stern with him or +he will think I'm only playing. Go back!" he cried. + +The dog stretched out on the path, his head down between his fore paws. + +"He - he looks - sad," said Freddie. "Maybe he hasn't any home, +papa." + +"Oh, of course a valuable dog like that has a home," declared Bert. + +"But maybe they didn't treat him kindly, and he is looking for a new +one," suggested Nan, hopefully. + +"He doesn't seem illtreated," spoke Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, I do wish he'd +go back, so we could go on." + +Mr. Bobbsey pretended to pick up a stone and throw it at the dog, as +masters sometimes do when they do not want their dogs to follow them. +This dog only wagged his tail, as though he thought it the best joke he +had ever known. + +"Go back! Go back, I say!" cried Papa Bobbsey in a loud voice. The dog +did not move. + +"I guess he won't follow us any more," went on Mr. Bobbsey. "Hurry +along now, children. We are almost at the trolley." He turned away +from the dog, who seemed to be asleep now, and the family went on. For +a minute or two, as Nan could tell by looking back, the dog did not +follow, but just as the Bobbseys were about to make a turn in the path, +up jumped the animal and came trotting on after the children and their +parents, wagging his tail so fast that it seemed as if it would come +loose. + +"Is he coming?" asked Flossie. + +"He certainly is," answered Bert, who was in the rear. "I guess he +wants us to take him home with us." + +"Oh, let's do it!" begged Flossie. + +"Please, papa," pleaded Freddie. "We haven't got Snoop now, so let us +have a dog. And I'm sure we could teach him to do tricks - he's so +smart." + +"And so he's coming after us still!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, +well, I don't know what to do," and he came to a stop on the path. + +"Couldn't we take him home just for tonight?" asked Nan, "and then in +the morning we could find out who owns him and return him." + +"Oh, please do," begged Freddie and Flossie, impulsively. + +"But how can we take him on a trolley car?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "The +conductor would not let us." + +"Maybe he would - if he was a kind man," suggested Freddie. "We could +tell him how it was, and how we lost our cat." + +"And our silver cup," added Flossie. + +"Well, certainly the dog doesn't seem to want to go home," said Mr. +Bobbsey, after he had tried two or three times more to drive the animal +back. But it would not go. + +"Go on a little farther," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey. "By the time we get +to the trolley he may get tired, and go back. And if we want to lose +him I think we can, by getting on the car quickly." + +"But we don't want to lose him!" cried Freddie. + +"No, no!" said Flossie. "We want to keep him. He can run along behind +the trolley car. I'll ask the motorman to go slow, papa." + +"My! This has been a mixedup day!" sighed Mr. Bobbsey. "I really don't +know what to do." + +The dog seemed to think that he was one of the family, now. He came up +to Flossie and Freddie and let them pat him. His tail kept wagging all +the while. + +"Well, we'll see what happens where we get to the trolley," decided Mr. +Bobbsey, thinking that there would be the best and only place to get rid +of the dog. "Come along, children." + +Freddie and Flossie came on, the dog between them, and this seemed to +suit the fine animal. He had found friends, now, he evidently thought. +Mr. Bobbsey wondered why so valuable a dog would leave its home. And he +was very much puzzled as to what he should do if the children insisted +on keeping the animal, and if it came aboard the trolley car. + +"There's the car!" exclaimed Bert, as they went around another turn in +the path and came to a road. Down it could be seen the headlight of an +approaching trolley, and also the twin lamps of an oncoming automobile. + +"Look out for the auto, children!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey. + +They stood at the side of the road, and as the auto came up the man in +it slowed down his machine. It was a big car and he was alone in it. + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the autoist, as his engine stopped. "If it +isn't the Bobbsey family - twins and all! What are you doing here, Mr. +Bobbsey?" + +"Why, it's Mr. Blake!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey, seeing that the autoist +was a neighbor, and a business friend of his. "Oh, our train was held +back by a circus wreck, so we walked across the lots to the car. We're +homeward bound from the seashore." + +"Well, well! A circus wreck, eh? Where did you get the dog?" + +"Oh, he followed us," said Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"And we're going to keep him, too!" exclaimed Flossie. + +"And take him in the trolley with us," added her little brother. + +"Well, well!" exclaimed Mr. Blake. "Say, now, I have a better plan than +that," he went on. "Why should you folks go home in a trolley, when I +have this big empty auto here? Pile in, all of you, and I'll get you +there in a jiffy. Come, Dinah, I see you, too." + +"Yes, sah, Massa Blake, I'se heah! Can't lose ole Dinah!" + +"But we lost our cat, Snoop!" said Flossie regretfully. + +"And we nearly ran over an elephant," added Freddie, bound that his +sister should not tell all the news. + +"Well, get in the auto," invited Mr. Blake. + +"Do you really mean it?" asked Mr. Bobbsey. "Perhaps we are keeping you +from going somewhere." + +"Indeed not. Pile in, and you'll soon be home." + +"Can we bring the dog, too?" asked Flossie. + +"Yes, there's plenty of room for the dog," laughed Mr. Blake. "Lift him +in." + +But the strange dog did not need lifting. He sprang into the tonneau of +the auto as soon as the door was opened. Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey lifted in +Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert followed. Then in got Papa and +Mamma Bobbsey and Mr. Blake started off. + +"This is lovely," said Mrs. Bobbsey with a sigh of relief. She was more +tired than she had thought. + +"It certainly is kind of you, Mr. Blake," said Papa Bobbsey. + +"I'm only too glad I happened to meet you. Are you children +comfortable?" + +"Yep!" chorused Freddie and Flossie. + +"And the dog?" + +"We're holding him so he won't fall out," explained Flossie. She and +her little brother had the dog between them. + +On went the auto, and with the telling of the adventures of the day the +journey seemed very short. Soon the Bobbsey home was reached. There +were lights in it, for Sam, the colored man, had been telephoned to, to +have the place opened for the family. Sam came out on the stoop to +greet them and his wife Dinah. + +"Here we are!" cried Papa Bobbsey. "Come, Flossie Freddie we're home." + +Flossie and Freddie did not answer. They were fast asleep, their heads +on the shaggy back of the big dog. + + + + +CHAPTER V +SNAP DOES TRICKS + + +"WE'LL have to carry them in," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked in the +rear of the auto, and saw his two little twins fast asleep on the dog's +back. + +"I'll take 'em," said Sam kindly. "Many a time I'se carried 'em in +offen de porch when dey falled asleep. I'll carry 'em in." + +And he did, first taking Flossie, and then Freddie. Then he and Dinah +brought in the bundles and valises, while Nan and Bert and Mr. and Mrs. +Bobbsey followed, having bidden goodnight to Mr. Blake, and thanking him +for the ride. + +"Where - where are we?" asked Flossie, rubbing her eyes and looking +around the room which she had not seen in some months. + +"An' - an' where's our dog?" demanded Freddie. + +"Oh, bless your hearts - that dog!" cried Mamma Bobbsey. "Sam took him +out in the barn. You may see him in the morning, if he doesn't run away +in the night." + +The twins looked worried over this suggestion, until Sam said: + +"Oh, I locked him up good an' proper in a box stall; 'deed an' I did, +Mrs. Bobbsey. He won't get away tonight." + +"That's - good," murmured Freddie, and then he fell asleep again. + +Soon the little twins were undressed and put to bed; Nan and Bert soon +followed, but Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey stayed up a little later to talk over +certain matters. + +"It's good to be home again," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked about the +rooms of the town house. + +"Yes, but we had a delightful summer," spoke his wife, "and the children +are so well. The country was delightful, and so was the seashore. But +I think I, too, am glad to be back. It will be quite a task, though, to +get the children ready for school. Flossie and Freddie will go +regularly now, I suppose, and with Nan and Bert in a higher class, it +means plenty of work." + +"I suppose so," said her husband. + +"But Dinah is a great help," went on Mrs. Bobbsey, for she did not mean +to complain. Flossie and Freddie had tried a few days in the +kindergarten class at school, but Flossie said she did not like it, and, +as Freddie would not go without her, their parents had taken them both +out in the Spring. + +"There will be plenty of time to start them in the Fall," said Mrs. +Bobbsey, and so it had been arranged. And now the four twins were all +to attend the same school, which would open in about a week. + +Flossie and Freddie were both up early the next morning, and, scarcely +halfdressed, they hurried out to the barn. + +"Whar yo' chillers gwine?" demanded Dinah, as she prepared to get +breakfast. + +"Out to see our dog," answered Freddie. "Is Sam around?" + +"Yes, he's out dere somewheres, washin' de carriage. But don't yo' let +dat dog bite yo'." + +"We won't," said Freddie. + +"He wouldn't bite anyhow," declared Flossie. + +Sam opened the box stall for them, and out bounced the big white dog, +barking in delight, and almost knocking down the twins, so glad was he +to see them. + +"What shall we call him?" asked Freddie. "Maybe we'd better name him +Snoop, like our cat. I guess Snoop is gone forever." + +"No, we mustn't call him Snoop," said Flossie, "for some day our cat +might come back, and he'd want his own name again. We'll call our dog +Snap, 'cause see how bright his eyes snap. Then if our cat comes back +we'll have Snoop and Snap." + +"That's a good name," decided Freddie, after thinking it over. "Snoop +and Snap. I wonder how we can make this dog stand on his hind legs like +he did before?" + +"Bert snapped his fingers and he did it," suggested Flossie. "But maybe +he'll do it now if you just ask him to." + +Freddie tried to snap his fingers, but they were too short and fat. +Then he patted the dog an the head and said: + +"Stand up!" + +At once the dog, with a bark, did so. He sat up on his hind legs and +then walked around. Both the children laughed. + +"I wonder if he can do any other tricks?" asked Flossie. + +"I'm going to try," said her brother. "What trick do you want him to +do?" + +"Make him lie down and roll over." + +"All right," spoke Freddie. "Now, Snap, lie down and roll over!" he +called. At once the fine animal did so, and then sprang up with a bark, +and a wag of his tail, as much as to ask: + +"What shall I do next?" + +"Oh, isn't he a fine dog!" cried Flossie. "I wonder who taught him +those tricks?" + +"Let's see if he can do any more," said Freddie. "There's a barrel hoop +over there. Maybe he'll jump through it if we hold it up." + +"Oh, let's do it!" cried Flossie, as she ran to get the hoop. Snap +barked at the sight of it, and capered about as though he knew just what +it was for, and was pleased at the chance to do more of his tricks. The +hoop was a large one, and Freddie alone could not hold it very steady. +So Flossie took hold of one side. As soon as they were in position, +Freddie called: + +"Come on now, Snap. Jump!" + +Snap barked, ran back a little way, turned around and came racing +straight for the twins. At that moment Sam Johnson came up running, a +stick in his hand. + +"Heah! heah!" shouted the colored man, "You let dem chillers alone, dog! +Go 'way, I tells yo'!" + +"That's all right, Sam," said Freddie. "Don't scare him. He's our new +dog Snap, and he's going to do a trick," for the colored gardener had +supposed the dog was running at Flossie and Freddie to bite them. + +Snap paid no attention to Sam, but raced on. When a short distance from +where Flossie and Freddie held the hoop, Snap jumped up into the air, +and shot straight through the wooden circle, landing quite a way off. + +"Mah gracious sakes alive!" gasped Sam. "Dat's a reg'lar circus trick`- +at's what it am!" + +He scratched his head in surprise, and the stick he had picked up, +intending to drive away the dog with, stuck straight out. In a moment +Snap raced up, and jumped over the stick. + +"Oh, look!" cried Flossie. + +"Another trick!" exclaimed Freddie. + +"Mah gracious goodness!" cried Sam. "Dat suah am wonderful!" + +Snap ran about barking in delight. He seemed happy to be doing tricks. + +"Let's go tell papa," said Freddie. "He'll want to know about this." + +"Oh, I do hope he lets us keep him," said Flossie. + +Mr. Bobbsey had not yet gone to his lumber office. He listened to what +the little twins had to tell them about Snap, who lay on the lawn, +seeming to listen to his own praises. + +"A trick dog; eh?" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder who owns him?" + +"Maybe he escaped from the circus," suggested Bert, who came out just +then to see how his pigeons were getting along. + +"That's it!" cried Mr. Bobbsey. "I wonder I did not think of it before. +The dog must have escaped from the wrecked circus train, and he followed +us, not knowing what else to do. That accounts for his tricks." + +"But we can keep him; can't we?" begged Flossie. + +"Hum! I'll have to see about that," said Mr. Bobbsey slowly. "I +suppose the circus people will want him back, for he must be valuable. +Perhaps some clown trained him." + +"But if we can't have Snoop, our cat, we ought to have a dog," asserted +Freddie. + +"I'll try to get Snoop back," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I'll have one of my +men go down to the place where the wreck was, today, and inquire of the +railroad men. He may be wandering about there." + +"Poor Snoop!" said Nan, coming out to feed some of her pet chickens, +that Sam had looked after all summer. + +"And while you are about it," suggested Mrs. Bobbsey, who was on the +front porch, "I wish, Richard, that you would see if you can locate that +fat lady, and get back the children's silver cup." + +"I will," replied Mr. Bobbsey. "I will have to write to them anyhow, +about the dog, and at the same time I'll ask about the cup. Though I +don't believe the fat lady meant to keep it." + +"Oh, no," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Probably she just held it, in the +excitement over the wreck, and she may have left it in the car. But +please write about it." + +"I will," promised Mr. Bobbsey, as he started for the office, while the +twins gathered about the new dog, who seemed ready to do more tricks. + + + + +CHAPTER VI +DANNY RUGG IS MEAN + + +THAT afternoon a small fire broke out in Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard. The +alarm bell rang, and Mrs. Bobbsey, hearing it, and knowing by the number +that the blaze must be near her husband's place of business, came +hurrying down stairs. + +"Oh, I must go and see how dangerous it is," she said to Dinah. "It is +too bad to have it happen just after Mr. Bobbsey comes back from his +summer vacation." + +"'Deed it am!" cried the fat, colored cook. "But maybe it am only a +little fire, Mrs. Bobbsey." + +"I'm sure I hope so," was the answer. + +As Mrs. Bobbsey was hurrying down the front walk Flossie and Freddie saw +her. + +"Where are you going, mamma?" they called. + +"Down to papa's office," she answered. "There's a fire near his place, +and - " + +"Oh, a fire! Then I'm going!" cried Freddie. "Fire! Fire! Ding, dong! +Turn on the water!" and he raced about quite excitedly. + +"Oh, I don't know," said Mrs. Bobbsey, in doubt. "Where are Nan and +Bert?" she asked. + +"They went down to the lake," said Flossie. "Oh, mamma, do take us to +the fire with you. We'll bring Snap along." + +"Sure," said Freddie. "Hi, Snap!" he called. + +The trick dog came rushing from the stable, barking and wagging his +tail. + +"Well, I suppose I might as well take you," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "But you +must stay near me. We'll leave Snap home, though." + +"Oh, no!" cried Freddie. + +"He might get lost," said Mrs. Bobbsey. + +That was enough for Freddie. He did not want the new pet to get lost, +so he did not make a fuss when Sam came hurrying up to lock Snap in the +stable. Poor Snap howled, for he wanted very much to go with the +children. + +The fire was, as I have said, a small one, in part of the planing mill. +But the engines puffed away, and spurted water, and this pleased +Freddie. Flossie stayed close to her mother, and Mrs. Bobbsey, once she +found out that the main lumber yard was not in danger, was ready to come +back home. But Freddie wanted to stay until the fire was wholly out. + +Mr. Bobbsey came from his office to give some directions to the firemen, +and saw his wife and the two twins. Then he took charge of them, and +led them as close to the blaze as was safe. + +"It will soon be out," he said. "It was only some sawdust that got on +fire." + +"I wish I could squirt some water!" sighed Freddie. + +"What's that? Do you want to be a fireman?" asked one of the men in a +rubber coat and a big helmet. He smiled at Mr. Bobbsey, whom he knew +quite well. + +"Yes, I do," said Freddie. + +"Then come with me, and I'll let you help hold the hose," said the +fireman. "I'll look after him," he went on, to Mrs. Bobbsey, and she +nodded to show that Freddie could go. + +What a good time the little fellow had, standing beside a real fireman, +and helping throw real water on a real fire! Freddie never forgot that. +Of course the fire was almost out, and it was only one of the small hose +lines that the fireman let the little fellow help hold, but, for all +that, Freddie was very happy. + +"Did you write to the circus people today about our silver cup, and that +trick dog?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband, that night. + +"I declare, I didn't!" he exclaimed. "The fire upset me so that it +slipped my mind. I'll do it the first thing tomorrow. There is no +special hurry. How is the dog, by the way?" + +"Oh, he's just lovely!" cried Flossie. + +"And I do hope we can keep him forever!" exclaimed Freddie. "'Specially +since Snoop is gone." + +"Did you hear anything about our cat?" asked Nan, of her father. + +"No. I sent a man to the railroad company, but no stray cat had been +found. I am afraid Snoop is lost, children." + +"Oh dear!" cried Flossie. + +The next day, having learned from the railroad company where the circus +had gone after the wreck, Mr. Bobbsey sent a letter to the manager, +explaining about the lost silver cup, and the found circus dog. He +asked that the fat lady be requested to write to him, to let him know if +she had taken the cup by accident, and Mr. Bobbsey also wanted to know +if the circus had lost a trick dog. + +"There!" he exclaimed as he sent the letter to be mailed, "now we'll +just have to wait for an answer." + +Nan and Bert, and Flossie and Freddie were soon having almost as much +fun as they had had at the seashore and in the country. Their town +playmates, who had come back from their vacations, called at the Bobbsey +home, and made up games and all sorts of sports. + +"For," said Grace Lavine, with whom Nan sometimes played, "school will +soon begin, and we want to have all the fun we can until then." + +"Let's jump rope," proposed Nan. + +"All right," agreed Grace. "Here comes Nellie Parks, and we'll see who +can jump the most." + +"No, you mustn't do that," said Nan. "Don't you remember how you once +tried to jump a hundred, and you fainted?" + +"Indeed I do," said Grace. "I'm not going to be so silly as to try that +again. We'll only jump a little." + +Soon Nan and her chums were having good time in the yard. + +Charley Mason, with whom Bert sometimes played, came over, and the two +boys went for a row on the lake, in Bert's boat. Some little friends of +Flossie and Freddie came over, and they had fun watching Snap do tricks. + +For the circus dog, as he had come to be called, seemed to be able to do +some new trick each day. He could "play dead," and "say his prayers," +besides turning a back somersault. The little twins, who seemed to +claim more share in Snap than did Nan and Bert, did not really know how +many tricks their pet could do. + +"Maybe you'll have to give him back to the circus," said Willie Flood, +one of Freddie's chums. + +"Well, if we do, papa may buy him, or get another dog like him," spoke +Flossie. + +A few days after this, when Bert was out in the front yard, watering the +grass with a hose, along came Danny Rugg. Now Danny went to the same +school that Bert did, but few of the boys and none of the girls, liked +Danny, because he was often rough, and would hit them or want to fight, +or would play mean tricks on them. Still, sometimes Danny behaved +himself, and then the boys were glad to have him on their baseball nine +as he was a good hitter and thrower, and he could run fast. + +"Hello, Bert!" exclaimed Danny, leaning on the fence. "I hear you have a +trick circus dog here." + +"Who told you?" asked Bert, wondering what Danny would say next. + +"Oh, Jack Parker. He says you found him." + +"I didn't," spoke Bert, spraying a bed of geranium flowers. "He +followed us the night of the circus wreck." + +"Well, you took him all the same. I know who owns him, too; and I'm +going to tell that you've got him." + +"Oh, are you?" asked Bert. "Well, we think he belongs to the circus, +and my father has written about it, so you needn't trouble yourself." + +"He doesn't belong to any circus," went on Danny. "That dog belongs to +Mr. Peterson, who lives over in Millville. He lost a trick dog, and he +adverstised for it. He's going to give a reward. I'm going to tell +him, and get the money." + +"You can't take our dog away!" cried Freddie, coming up just then. +"Don't you dare do it, Danny Rugg." + +"Yes, I will!" exclaimed the mean boy, who often teased the smaller +Bobbsey twins. "You won't have that dog after today." + +"Don't mind him, Freddie," said Bert in a low voice. "He's trying to +scare you." + +"Oh, I am eh?" cried Danny. "I'll show you what I'm trying to do. I'll +tell on you for keeping a dog that don't belong to you, and you'll be +arrested - all of you." + +Freddie looked worried, and tears came into his eyes. Bert saw this, +and was angry at Danny for being so mean. + +"Don't be afraid, Freddie," said Bert, "Look, I'll let you squirt the +hose, and you can pretend to be a fireman." + +"Oh, fine!" cried Freddie, in delight, as he took the nozzle from his +older brother. + +Just how it happened neither of them could tell, but the stream of water +shot right at Danny Rugg, and wet him all over in a second. + +"Hi there!" he cried. "Stop that! I'll pay you back for that, Fred +Bobbsey," and he jumped over the fence and ran toward the little fellow. + + + + +CHAPTER VII +AT SCHOOL + + +FREDDIE saw Danny coming, and did the most natural thing in the world. +He dropped the hose and ran. And you know what a hose, with water +bursting from the nozzle will sometimes do if you don't hold it just +right. Well, this hose did that. It seemed to aim itself straight at +Danny, and again the rough boy received a charge of water full in the +face. + +"Ha! ha! here! You quit that!" he gasped. "I'll fix you for that!" + +The water got in his eyes and mouth, and for a moment he could not see. +But with his handkerchief he soon had his eyes cleared, and then he came +running toward Bert. + +Danny Rugg was larger than Bert, and stronger, and, in addition, was a +bullying sort of chap, almost always ready to fight some one smaller +than himself. + +But what Bert lacked in size and strength he made up in a bold Spirit. +He was not at all afraid of Danny, even when the bully came rushing at +him. Bert stood his ground manfully. He had taken up the hose where +Freddie had dropped it, and the water was spurting out in a solid +stream. Freddie, having gotten a safe distance away, now turned and +stood looking at Danny. + +Danny, too, had halted and was fairly glaring at Bert, who looked at him +a bit anxiously. More than once he and the bully had come to blows, and +sometimes Bert had gotten the best of it. Still he did not like a +fight. + +"I'll get you yet, Freddie Bobbsey!" cried Danny, shaking his fist at +the little fellow. Whereupon Freddie turned and ran toward the house. +Danny saw that he could not catch him in time, and so he turned to Bert. + +"You put him up to do that - to douse me with water!" cried Danny +angrily. + +"I did not," said Bert quietly. "It was just an accident. I'm sorry." + +"You are not! I say you did that on purpose or you told Freddie to, and +I'm going to pay you back!" + +"I tell you it was an accident," insisted Bert. "But if you want to +think Freddie did it on purpose I can't stop you." + +"Well, I'm going to hit you just the same," growled Danny, and he +stepped toward Bert. + +"You'd better look out," said Bert, with just a little smile. "There's +still a lot of water in this hose," and he brought the nozzle around in +front, ready to squirt on Danny if the bad boy should come too near. + +Danny came to a stop. + +"Don't you dare put any more water on me!" cried the bully. "If you do, +I'll -" He doubled up his fists and glared at Bert. + +"Then don't you come any nearer if you don't want to get wet," said +Bert. "This hose might sprinkle you by accident, the same as it did +when Freddie had it," he added. + +"Huh! I know what kind of an accident that was!" spoke Danny, with a +sneer. + +"You'd better get out of the way," went on Bert quietly. "I want to +sprinkle that flower bed near where you are, and if you're there you +might get wet, and it wouldn't my fault." + +"I'll fix you!" growled Danny, springing forward. Bert got ready with +the hose, and there might have been more trouble, except that Sam, the +colored man, came out on the lawn. He saw that something out of the +ordinary was going on, and breaking into a run he called out: + +"Am anything de mattah, Massa Bert? Am yo' habin' trouble wif anybody?" + +"Well, I guess it's all over now," said Bert, as he saw Danny turn and +walk toward the gate. + +"If yo' need any help, jest remembah dat I'm around," spoke Sam, with a +wide grin that showed his white teeth in his black, but kindly face. +"I'll be right handy by, Massa Bert, yes, I will!" + +"All right," said Bert, as he went on watering the flowers. + +"Huh! You needn't think I'm afraid of you!" boasted Danny, but he kept +on out of the gate just the same. Sam went back to his work, of weeding +the vegetable garden and Bert watered the flowers. Pretty soon Freddie +came back. + +"Did - did Danny do anything to you?" the little fellow wanted to know. + +"No, Freddie, but the hose did something to him," said Bert. + +"Oh, did it wet him again?" + +"That's what it did." + +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Freddie. "I wish I'd been here to see it, Bert." + +"Well, why did you run?" + +"Oh, I - I thought maybe - mamma might want me," answered Freddie, but +Bert understood, and smiled. Then he let Freddie finish watering the +flowers, after which Freddie played he was a fireman, saving houses from +burning by means of the hose. + +Snap, the trick dog came running out, followed by Flossie, who had just +been washed and combed, her mother having put a clean dress on her. + +"Oh, Freddie," said the little girl, "let's make Snap do some tricks. +See if he will jump over the stream of water from the hose." + +"All right," agreed her little brother. "I'll squirt the water out +straight, and you stand on one side of it and call Snap over. Then +he'll jump." + +Flossie tried this, but at first the dog did not seem to want to do this +particular trick. He played soldier, said his prayers, stood on his +hind legs, and turned a somersault. But he would not jump over the +water. + +"Come, Snap, Snap!" called Flossie. "Jump!" + +Snap raced about and barked, and seemed to be having all sorts of fun, +but jump he would not until he got ready. Then, when he did Freddie +accidentally lowered the nozzle and Snap was soaked. + +But the dog did not mind the water in the least. In fact he seemed to +like it, for the day was warm, and he stood still and let Freddie wet +him all over. Then Snap rolled about on the lawn, Freddie and Flossie +taking turns sprinkling. + +And, as might be expected, considerable water got on the two children, +and when Snap shook himself, as he often did, to get some of the drops +off his shaggy coat, he gave Flossie and her clean dress a regular +shower bath. + +Nan, coming from the house saw this. She ran up to Flossie, who had the +hose just then, crying: + +"Flossie Bobbsey! Oh, you'll get it when mamma sees you! She cleaned +you all up and now look at yourself!" + +"She can't see - there's no looking glass here," said Freddie, with a +laugh. + +"And you're just as bad!" cried Nan. "You'd both better go in the house +right away, and stop playing with the hose." + +"We're through, anyhow," said Freddie. "You ought to see Snap jump over +the water." + +"Oh, you children!" cried Nan, with a shake of her head. She seemed +like a little mother to them at times, though she was only four years +older. + +Mrs. Bobbsey was very sorry to see Flossie so wet and bedraggled, and +said: + +"You should have known better than to play with water with a clean dress +on, Flossie. Now I must punish you. You will have to stay in the house +for an hour, and so will Freddie." + +Poor little Bobbsey twins! But then it was not a very severe +punishment, and really some was needed. It was hard when two of their +little playmates came and called for them to come out. But Mrs. Bobbsey +insisted on the two remaining in until the hour was at an end. + +Then, when they had on dry garments, and could go out, there was no one +with whom to play. + +"I'm not going to squirt the hose ever again," said Freddie. + +"Neither am I," said his sister. "Never, never!" + +Snap didn't say anything. He lay on the porch asleep, being cooled off +after his sport with the water. + +"I - I wish we had our cat, Snoop, back," said Flossie. "Then we +wouldn't have played in the water." + +"That's so," agreed Freddie. "I wonder where he can be?" + +They asked their father that night if any of the railroad men had seen +their pet, but he said none had, and added: + +"I'm afraid you'll have to get along without Snoop. He seems to have +disappeared. But, anyhow, you have Snap." + +"But some one may come along and claim him," said Freddie. "That Danny +Rugg says he belongs to Mr. Peterson in Millville, father," said Bert. + +"Well, I'll call Mr. Peterson up on the telephone tomorrow, and find +out," spoke Mr. Bobbsey. "That much will be settled, at any rate." + +"Did you hear anything from the circus people about the fat lady?" asked +Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"Yes, but no news," was her husband's answer. "The circus has gone to +Cuba and Porto Rico for the winter, and I will have to write there. It +will be some time before we can expect an answer, though, as I suppose +the show will be traveling from place to place and mail down there is +not like it is up here. But we may find the fat lady and the cup some +day." + +"And Snoop, too," put in Nan. + +"Yes, Snoop too." + +One fact consoled the Bobbseys in their trouble over their lost pet and +cup. This was the answer received by Mr. Bobbsey from Mr. Peterson. +That gentleman had lost a valuable dog, but it was a small poodle, and +unlike big Snap. So far no one had claimed the trick dog, and it seemed +likely that the children could keep him. They were very glad about +this. + +"Oh dear!" exclaimed Bert, one afternoon a few days following the fun +with the hose, "school begins Monday. Only three more days of +vacation!" + +"I think you have had a long vacation," returned Mrs. Bobbsey, "and if +Freddie and Flossie are going to do such tricks as they did the other +day, with the hose, I, for one, shall be glad that you are in school." + +"I like school," said Nan. "There are lot of new girls coming this +term, I hear." + +"Any new fellows?" asked Bert, more interested. + +"I don't know. There is a new teacher in the kindergarten, though, +where Flossie and Freddie will go. Nellie Parks has met her, and says +she's awfully nice." + +"That's good," spoke Flossie. "I like nice teachers." + +"Well, I hope you and Freddie will get along well," said Mamma Bobbsey. + +"You are getting older you know, and you must soon begin to study hard." + +"We will," they promised. + +The school bell, next Monday morning, called to many rather unwilling +children. The long vacation was over and class days had begun once +more. The four Bobbseys went off together to the building, which was +only a few blocks from their home. Mr. Tetlow was the principal, and +there were half a dozen lady teachers. + +"Hello, Nan," greeted Grace Lavine. "May I sit with you this term?" + +"Oh, I was going to ask her," said Nellie Parks. + +"Well, I was first," spoke Grace, with a pout. + +"We'll be in the room where there are three seated desks," said Nan with +a smile. "Maybe we three can be together." + +"Oh, we'll ask teacher!" cried Nellie. "That will be lovely!" + +"I'm going to sit with Freddie," declared Flossie. "We're to be +together - mamma said so." + +"Of course, dear," agreed Nan. "I'll speak to your teacher about it." + +Bert was walking in the rear with Charley Mason, when Danny Rugg came +around a corner. + +"I know what I'm going to do to you after school, Bert Bobbsey!" called +the bully. "You just wait and see." + +"All right - I'll wait" spoke Bert quietly. "I'm not afraid." + +By this time they were at the school, and it was nearly time for the +last bell to ring. Danny went off to join some of his particular chums, +shaking his fist at Bert as he went. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII +BERT SEES SOMETHING + + +LESSONS were not very well learned that first day in school, but this is +generally the case when the Fall term opens after the Summer vacation. + +Just as were the Bobbsey twins, nearly all the other pupils were +thinking of what good times they had had in the country, or at the +seashore, and in consequence little attention was paid to reading, +spelling, arithmetic and geography. + +But Principal Tetlow and his teachers were prepared for this, and they +were sure that, in another day or so, the boys and girls would settle +down and do good work. Many of the children were in new rooms and +different classes, and this did not make them feel so much "at home" as +before vacation. + +Nan Bobbsey's first duty, after reporting to her new teacher, was to go +to the kindergarten room, and ask the teacher there if Flossie and +Freddie might sit together. + +"You see," Nan explained, "this is really their first real school work. +They attended a few times before, but did not stay long." + +"I see," spoke the pretty kindergarten instructor with a laugh, "and we +must make it as pleasant for them this time as we can, so they will want +to stay. Yes, my dear, Flossie and Freddie may sit together, and I'll +look after them as much as I can. But, oh, there are such a lot of +little tots!" and she looked about the room that seemed overflowing with +small boys and girls. + +Some were playing and talking, telling of their summer experiences. +Others seemed frightened, and stood against the wall bashfully, little +girls holding to the hands of their little brothers. + +Nan looked for Freddie and Flossie. She saw her little sister trying to +comfort a small girl who was almost ready to cry, while Freddie, like +the manly little fellow he was, had taken charge of a small chap in +whose eyes were two large tears, just ready to fall. It was his first +day at school. + +"Oh, I am sure your little twin brother and sister will get along all +right," said the kindergarten teacher, with a smile to Nan, as she saw +what Flossie and Freddie were doing. "They are too cute for anything - +the little dears!" + +"And they are very good," said Nan, "only of course they do - things - +sometimes." + +"They wouldn't be real children if they didn't," answered the teacher. + +This was during a recess that had come after the classes were first +formed. On her way back to her room, to see if she could arrange to sit +with Grace and Nellie at one of the new big desks, Nan saw her brother +Bert. He looked a little worried, and Nan asked at once: + +"What is the matter, Bert? Haven't you got a nice teacher?" + +"Oh, yes, she's fine!" exclaimed Bert "There's nothing the matter at +all." + +"Yes there is," insisted Nan. "I can tell by your face. It's that +Danny Rugg; I'm sure. Oh, Bert, is he bothering you again?" + +"Well, he said he was going to." + +"Then why don't you go straight and tell Mr. Tetlow? He'll make Danny +behave. I'll go tell him myself!" + +"Don't you are [sic], Nan!" cried Bert. "All the fellows would call me +'sissy,' if I let you do that. Never mind, I can look out for my self. +I'm not afraid of Danny." + +"Oh, Bert, I hope you don't get into fight." + +"I won't, Nan - if I can help it. At least I won't hit first, but if he +hits me - " + +Bert looked as though he knew what he would do in that case. + +"Oh dear!" cried Nan, "aren't you boys just awful!" + +However, she made up her mind that if Danny got too bad she would speak +to the principal about him, whether her brother wanted her to or not. + +"He won't know it," thought Nan. + +She had no trouble in getting permission from her teacher for herself +and her two friends to sit together, and soon they had moved their books +and other things to one of the long desks that had room for three +pupils. + +Meanwhile Flossie and Freddie got along very well in the kindergarten. +At first, just as the others did, they gave very little attention to +what the teacher wanted them to learn, but she was very patient, and +soon all the class was gathered about the sand table, in the little low +chairs, making fairy cities, caves, and even makebelieve seashore +places. + +"This is like the one where we were this Summer," said Flossie, as she +made a hole in her sand pile to take the place of the ocean. "If I had +water and a piece of wood I could show you where there was a shipwreck," +she said to the girl next to her. + +"That isn't the way it was," spoke Freddie, from the other side of the +room. "There was more sand at the seashore than on this whole table - +yes, on ten tables like this." + +"There was not!" cried Flossie. + +"There was too!" insisted her brother. + +"Children - children!" called the teacher. "You must not argue like +that - ever - in school, or out of it. Now we will sing our worksong, +and after that we will march with the flags," and she went to the piano +to play. All the little ones liked this, and the dispute of Flossie and +Freddie was soon forgotten. + +Bert kept thinking of what might happen between himself and Danny Rugg +when school was out, and when his teacher asked him what the Pilgrim +Fathers did when they first came to settle in New England Bert looked up +in surprise, and said: + +"They fought." + +"Fought!" exclaimed the teacher. "The book says they gave thanks." + +"Well, I meant they fought the - er - the Indians," stammered Bert. + +Poor Bert was thinking of what might take place between himself and the +bully. + +"Well, yes, they did fight the Indians," admitted the teacher, "but that +wasn't what I was thinking of. I will ask you another question in +history." + +But I am not going to tire you with an account of what went on in the +classrooms. There were mostly lessons there, such as you have +yourselves, and I know you don't care to read about them. + +Bert did not see Danny Rugg at the noon recess, when the Bobbsey twins +and the other children went home for lunch. But when school was let out +in the afternoon, and when Bert was talking to Charley Mason about a new +way of making a kite, Danny Rugg, accompanied by several of his chums, +walked up to Bert. It was in a field some distance from the school, and +no houses were near. + +"Now I've got you, Bert Bobbsey!" taunted Danny, as he advanced with +doubledup fists. "What did you want to squirt the hose on me that time +for?" + +"I told you it was an accident," said Bert quietly. + +"And I say you did it on purpose. I said I'd get even with you, and now +I'm going to." + +"I don't want to fight, Danny," said Bert quietly. + +"Huh! he's afraid!" sneered Jack Westly, one of Danny's friends. + +"Yes, he's a coward!" taunted Danny. + +"I'm not!" cried Bert stoutly. + +"Then take that!" exclaimed Danny, and he gave Bert a push that nearly +knocked him down. Bert put out a hand to save himself and struck Danny, +not really meaning to. + +"There! He hit you back!" cried one boy. + +"Yes, go on in, now, Dan, and beat him!" said another. + +"Oh, I'll fix him now," boasted Danny, circling around Bert. Bert was +carefully watching. He did not mean to let Danny get the best of him if +he could help it, much as he did not like to fight. + +Danny struck Bert on the chest, and Bert hit the bully on the cheek. +Then Danny jumped forward swiftly and tried to give Bert a blow on the +head. But Bert stepped to one side, and Danny slipped down to the +ground. + +As he did so a white box fell from his pocket. Bert knew what kind of a +box it was, and what was in it, and he knew now, what had stained +Danny's fingers so yellow, and what made his clothes have such a queer +smell. For the box had in it cigarettes. + +Danny saw where it had fallen, and picked it up quickly. Then he came +running at Bert again, but a boy called: + +"Look out! Here comes Mr. Tetlow, the principal!" + +This was a signal for all the boys, even Bert, to run, for, though +school was out, they still did not want to be caught at a fight by one +of the teachers, or Mr. Tetlow. + +"Anyhow, you knocked him down, Bert," said Charley Mason, as he ran on +with Bert. "You beat!" + +"He did not - I slipped," said Danny. "I can fight him, and I will, +too, some day." + +"I'm not afraid of you," answered Bert. + +Mr. Tetlow did not appear to have seen the fight that amounted to so +little. Perhaps he pretended not to. + + + + +CHAPTER IX +OFF TO THE WOODS + + +WHETHER Danny Rugg was afraid the principal had seen him trying to force +a fight on Bert, or whether the unexpected fall that came to him, caused +it, no one knew, but certainly, for the next few days, Danny let Bert +alone. When he passed him he scowled, or shook his fist, or muttered +something about "getting even," but this was all. + +Perhaps it was the thought of what Bert had seen fall from Danny's +pocket that made the bully less anxious to keep up the quarrel. At any +rate, Bert was left alone and he was glad of it. He was not afraid, but +he liked peace. + +The school days went on, and the classes settled down to their work for +the long Winter term. And the thought of the snow and ice that would +comparatively soon be with them, made the Bobbsey twins rejoice. + +"Charley Mason and I are going to make a dandy big bob this year," said +Bert one day. "It's going to carry ten fellows." + +"And no girls?" asked Nan with a smile. She was walking along behind +her brother, with Grace and Nellie. + +"Sure, we'll let you girls ride once in a while," said Charley, as he +caught up to his chum. "But you can't steer." + +"I steered a bob once," said Grace, who was quite athletic for her age. +"It was Danny Rugg's, too." + +"Pooh! His is a little one alongside the one Charley and I are going to +make!" exclaimed Bert. "Ours will be hard to steer, and it's going to +have a gong on it to tell folks to get out of the way." + +"That's right," agreed Charley. "And we'd better start it right away, +Bert. It may soon snow." + +"It doesn't feel so now," spoke Nan. "It is very warm. It feels more +like ice cream cones." + +"And if you'll come with me I'll treat you all to some," exclaimed +Nellie Parks, whose father was quite well off. "I have some of my +birthday money left." + +"Oh, but there are five of us!" cried Nan, counting. "That is too much +- twenty-five cents, Nellie." + +"I've got fifty, and really it is very hot today." + +It was warm, being the end of September, with Indian Summer near at +hand. + +"Well, let's go to Johnson's," suggested Nellie. "They have the best +cream." + +"Oh, here comes Flossie and Freddie!" exclaimed Nan. "We don't want to +take them, Nellie. That means -" + +"Of course I'll take them!" exclaimed Nellie, generously. "I've got +fifty cents, I told you." + +"I'll give them each a penny and let them run along home," offered Bert. + +"No, I'm going to treat them, too," insisted Nellie. "Come on!" she +called to the little twins, "we're going to get ice cream cones, it's so +warm." + +"Oh, goodie!" cried Flossie. "I was just wishing for one." + +"So was I," added her brother. + +"And I'll ask you to my party next week," the little girl went on. "I'm +going to have one on my birthday." + +"Oh, are you really, Flossie?" asked Nan. "I hadn't heard about it." + +"Yep - I am. Mamma said I could, but she told me not to tell. I don't +care, I wanted Nellie to know, as she's going to treat us to cones." + +"And it's half my party, 'cause my birthday's the same day," explained +Freddie. "So you can come to my party at the same time, Nellie." + +"Thank you, dear, I shall. Now let's hurry to the store, for it's +getting warmer all the while." + +The ice cream in the funny little cones was much enjoyed by all. Bert +and Charley walked on together eating, and talking of the bob sled they +were going to make. They passed Danny Rugg, who looked rather enviously +at them. + +"Hey, Charley," called Danny, "come here, I want to speak to you." + +"I'm busy now," answered Charley. "Bert and I have something to do." + +"So have I. I've got a dandy plan." + +"Well, I'll see you later," spoke Charley. + +He had once been quite friendly with Danny, but he grew not to like his +ways, and so became more chummy with Bert, who was very glad, for he +liked Charley. + +The two boys went on to Bert's barn, where they were going to build the +bob sled. The girls, with Flossie and Freddie, went on the Bobbsey +lawn, where there were some easy chairs. They sat in the shade of the +trees, and Freddie had Snap do some of his tricks for the visitors. + +"Can he jump through a hoop, covered with paper as they do in the +circus?" asked Nellie. + +"Oh, we never thought to try that," said Freddie. "I'm going to make +one," and, filled with this new idea, he hurried into the house. + +"Dinah," he said, "I want some paper and paste." + +"Land sakes, chile! what yo' gwine t' do now?" asked the colored cook. + +"Make a kite, an' take Snoop up in de air laik yo' brother Bert done +once?" + +"No, we're not going to do that," answered the little boy. "We're +going to cover a hoop with paper, and make Snap jump through it, like in +a circus." + +"Mah goodness mustard pot!" cried Dinah. "What will yo' all be up to +next?" + +"I don't know," answered Freddie. "But will you make me some paste, +Dinah? And you know we haven't got Snoop, anyhow, so we couldn't send +him up on a kite tail," added Freddie. + +"Deah me! Yo' chilluns done make me do de mostest wuk!" complained +Dinah, but she laughed, which showed that she did not really mean it, +and set at mixing some flour and water for the paste. + +Flossie and Freddie insisted on making the paper covered hoop +themselves. They started, but they got so much of the sticky stuff on +their hands and faces that Nan feared they would soil their clothes, so +she insisted on being allowed to do the pasting for them. + +"But we can help, can't we?" asked Freddie. + +"Yes," said Nan. + +Even for Nan covering a hoop with paper was not as easy as she thought +it would be. Grace and Nellie helped, but sometimes the wind would blow +the paper away just as they were ready to fold it around the rim of the +hoop. Then the paste would get on the girls' hands. + +"What are you doing?" asked Bert, as he and Charley came from the barn. +They had to stop work on their job, as they could not find a long enough +plank. The [sic] decided to get one from Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard, +later. + +"We're going to have Snap do the circus trick of jumping through a paper +hoop," explained Nan. "Only we can't seem to get the hoop made." + +"I'll do it," offered Bert, and as he and Charley had often pasted paper +on their kite frames they had better luck, and soon the hoop was ready. + +"Come, Snap!" called Freddie, it having been settled that he and Flossie +were to hold the hoop for the dog to leap through. Snap, always ready +for fun, jumped up from the grass where he had been sleeping, and +frisked about, barking loudly. + +"Now you hold him there, Charley," directed Bert, pointing to a spot +back of where Freddie and Flossie stood. "Then I'll go over here and +call him. He'll come running, and when he gets near enough, Freddie, +you and Flossie hold up the paper hoop. He'll go right through it." + +It worked out just as the children had planned. Snap raced away from +Charley, when he heard Bert calling. He ran right between Flossie and +Freddie, who raised the hoop just in time. + +"Rip! Tear!" burst the paper, and Snap sailed through the hoop just as +he probably had often done in the circus, perhaps from the back of a +horse. + +"Oh, that was fine!" cried Flossie. "Let's make another hoop!" + +"Let's make a lot of 'em, and have a circus with Snap, and charge money +to see him, and then we can buy a lot of ice cream for our party!" said +Freddie. + +"Oh, yes!" agreed his sister. + +Well, they did make more hoops, and Snap seemed to enjoy jumping through +them. But when Mrs. Bobbsey heard about the circus plans she decided it +would make too much confusion. + +"Besides, you have to help me get ready for your party," she said to the +two little twins. + +This took their mind off the proposed circus, but for several days after +that they had much fun making hoops for Snap to jump through. + +Bert and Charley got a long plank from the lumber yard, and spent much +time after school in the Bobbsey barn, working over their bob sled. It +was harder than they had thought it would be, and they had to call in +some other boys to help them. Mr. Bobbsey, too, gave his son some +advice about how to build it. + +Flossie and Freddie liked it very much in school. The kindergarten +teacher was very kind, and took an interest in all her pupils. "Oh, +mamma!" cried Flossie, coming in one day from school, "I've learned how +to make a house." + +"And I can make a lantern, and a chain to hang it on, and I can put it +in front of Flossie's house!" exclaimed Freddie. "And, please, mother, +may I have some bread and jam. I'm awful hungry." + +"Yes, dear, go ask Dinah," said Mrs. Bobbsey, with a smile. "And then +you may show me how you make houses and lanterns and a chain. Are they +real?" + +"No," said Flossie, "they're only paper, but they look nice." + +"I'm sure they must," said their mother. + +After each of the twins had been given a large slice of bread and butter +and jam, they showed the latest thing they had learned at school. +Flossie did manage to cut out a house, that had a chimney on it, and a +door, besides two windows. + +Freddie took several little narrow strips of paper, and pasting the ends +together, made a lot of rings. Each ring before being pasted, was +slipped into another, and soon he had A paper chain. To make the +lantern he used a piece of paper made into a roll, with slits all around +the middle of it where the light would have come out had there been a +candle in it. And the handle was a narrow slip of paper pasted over the +top of the lantern. + +"Very fine Indeed," said Mamma Bobbsey. "Run out now to play. If you +stay in the house too much you will soon lose all the lovely tan you got +in the country, and at the seashore." + +"Children," said the principal to the Bobbseys and all the others in +school the next day, "I have a little treat for you. Tomorrow will be a +holiday, and, as the weather is very warm, we will close the school at +noon, and go off in the woods for a little picnic." + +"Oh, good!" cried a number of the boys and girls, and, though it was +against the rules to speak aloud during the school hours, none of the +teachers objected. + +"But I expect you all to have perfect marks from now until Friday," Mr. +Tetlow went on. "You may bring your lunches to school with you Friday +morning, if your parents will let you, and we will leave here at noon, +and go to Ward's woods." + +It was rather hard work to study after such good news, but, somehow, the +pupils managed it. Finally Friday came, and nearly every boy and girl +came to school with a basket or bundle holding his or her lunch. Mrs. +Bobbsey put up two baskets for her children, Nan taking one and Bert the +other. + +"Oh, we'll have a lovely time!" cried Freddie, dancing about on his +little fat legs. + +Twelve o'clock came, and with each teacher at the head of her class, and +Mr. Tetlow marching in front of all, the whole school started off for +the woods. + + + + +CHAPTER X +A SCARE + + +THE way to the woods where the little school outing was to be held ran +close to the road on which the Bobbsey house stood. As Freddie and +Flossie, with Nan and Bert, marched along with the others, Freddie cried +out: + +"Oh, I hope we see mamma, and then we can wave to her." + +"Yes, and maybe she'll come with us," suggested Flossie. "Wouldn't that +be nice?" + +"Pooh!" exclaimed Bert. "Mamma's too busy to come to a picnic today. +She's expecting company." + +"Yes," added Nan, "the minister and his wife are coming, and mamma's +cooking a lot of things." + +"Why, does a minister eat more than other folks?" asked Freddie. "If +they does, I'm going to be a minister when I grow up." + +"I thought you were going to be a fireman," said Bert. + +"Well, I can be a fireman week days and a minister on Sundays," said the +little fellow, thus solving the problem. "But do they eat so much, +Nan?" + +"No, of course not, only mamma wants to be polite to them, so she has a +lot of things cooked up, so that if they don't like one thing they can +have another. Folks always give their best to the minister." + +"Then I'm surely going to be one, too," declared Flossie. "I like good +things to eat. I hope our minister isn't very hungry, 'cause then +there'll be some left for us when we come home from this picnic." + +"Why, Flossie!" cried Nan. "We have a lovely lunch with us; plenty, I'm +sure." + +"Well, I'm awful hungry, Nan," said the little girl. "Besides, Sammie +Jones, and his sister Julia, haven't any lunch at all. I saw them, and +they looked terrible hungry. Couldn't we give them some of ours; if we +have so much at home?" + +"Of course we could, and it is very kind of you to think of them," said +Nan, as she patted her little sister on her head. "I'll look after +Sammie and Julia when we get to the grove." + +In spite of what Nan and Bert had said about Mrs. Bobbsey being very +busy, Flossie and Freddie looked anxiously in the direction of their +house as they walked along. But no sight of their mother greeted them. +They did see a friend, however, and this was none other than Snap, their +new dog, who, with many barks and wags of his fluffy tail, ran out to +meet his little masters and mistresses. + +"Here, Snap! Snap!" called Freddie. "Come on, old fellow!" and the dog +leaped all about him. + +"Let's take him to the picnic with us," suggested Flossie. "We can have +lots of fun." + +"And he can eat the scraps," said Nan. "Shall we, Bert?" + +"I don't care. But maybe Mr. Tetlow wouldn't like it." + +"You ask him, Bert," pleaded Flossie. + +"Tell him Snap will do tricks to amuse us." + +Bert goodnaturedly started ahead to speak to the principal, who was +talking with some of the teachers, planning games for the little folk. +Flossie and Freddie were patting their pet, when Danny Rugg, and one of +his friends came along. + +"That dog can't come to our picnic!" said Danny, with a scowl. "He +might bite some of us." + +"Snap never bites!" cried Freddie. + +"Of course not," said Flossie. + +"Well, he can't come to this picnic!" spoke Danny, angrily. "Go on +home!" he cried, sharply, stooping to pick up a stone. Snap growled and +showed his teeth. + +"There!" cried Danny. "I told you he'd bite." + +"He will not, Danny Rugg!" exclaimed Nan, who had gone up front for a +minute to speak to some of the older girls. "He only growled because +you acted mean to him. Now you leave him alone, or I'll tell Mr. Tetlow +on you." + +"Pooh! Think I care? I say no dog can come to our picnic. Go on +home!" and with raised hand Danny approached Snap. Again the dog +growled angrily. He was not used to being treated in this way. + +"Look out, Danny Rugg," said Nan, severely, "or he may jump on you, and +knock you down. He wouldn't bite you, though, mean as you are, unless I +told him to do so." + +"I'm not afraid of you!" cried Danny, more angry than before. "I'll get +a stick and then we'll see what will happen," and he looked about for +one. + +"Don't let Danny beat Snap!" pleaded Flossie, tears coming into her +eyes. + +"I won't," said Nan, looking about anxiously for Bert. She saw him +coming back, and felt better. By this time Danny had found a club, and +was coming back to where Flossie, Freddie and Nan, with some of their +friends, were walking along, Snap in their midst. + +"I'll make that dog go home now!" cried Danny. "I'm not going to get +bitten, and have hyperfobia, or whatever you call it. I'll tell Mr. +Tetlow if you don't make him go home." + +"Oh, don't be so smart!" exclaimed Bert, stepping out from behind a +group of girls. "I've told Mr. Tetlow myself that Snap is following us, +and he said to let him come along. So you needn't take the trouble, +Danny Rugg. And if you try to hit our dog I'll have something more to +say," and Bert stepped boldly forth. + +"Huh! I'm not afraid of you," sneered Danny, but he let the club drop, +and walked off with his own particular chums. + +"Did Mr. Tetlow say Snap could come?" asked Freddie, anxiously. + +"Yes. He said he'd be good to drive away the cows if they bothered us," +answered Bert, with a smile. + +After this little trouble, the Bobbseys and their friends went on toward +the grove in the woods where the picnic was to be held. There was +laughing and shouting, and much fun on the way, in which Snap shared. + +Boys and girls would run to one side or the other of the path to gather +late flowers. Some would pick up odd stones, or pine cones, and others +would find curious little creeping or crawling things which they called +their friends to see. + +Each teacher had charge of her special class, but she did not look too +closely after them, for it was a day to be happy and free from care, +with no thought of school or lessons. + +"We'll make Snap do some tricks when we get to the grove," said Flossie. + +"Yes, we'll have a little circus," added her brother. + +"Can he stand on his head?" one girl wanted to know. + +"Well, he can turn a somersault, and he's on his head for a second while +he's doing that," explained Freddie, proudly. + +"Can he roll over and over?" a boy wanted to know. "We had a dog, once, +that could." + +"Snap can, too," said Flossie. "Roll over, Snap!" she ordered, and the +dog, with a bark, did so. The children laughed and some clapped their +hands. They thought Snap was about the best dog they had ever seen. + +No accidents happened on the way to the grove, except that one little +boy tried to cross a brook on some stones, instead of the plank which +the others used. He slipped in and got his feet wet, but as the day was +warm no one worried much. + +Finally the grove was reached. It was in a wooded valley, with hills on +either side, and a cold, clear spring of water at one end, where +everyone could get a drink. And that always seems to be what is most +wanted at a picnic - a drink of water. + +Mr. Tetlow called all the children together, before letting them go off +to play, and told them at what time the start for home would be made, so +that they would not be late in coming back to the meeting place. + +"And now," he said, "have the best fun you can. Play anything you wish +- school games if you like - but don't get too warm or excited. And +don't go too far away. You may eat your luncheon when you like." + +"Then let's eat ours now," suggested Flossie. "I'm awful hungry." + +"So am I," said Freddie. So Nan and Bert decided that the little ones +might at least have a sandwich and a piece of cake. Nor did they forget +the two little Jones children, who had no lunch. The Bobbseys were well +provided and soon Sammie and Julia were smiling and happy as they sat +beneath a tree, eating. + +Then came all sorts of games, from tag and jumping rope, to blindman's +bluff and hide-and-seek. Snap was made to do a number of tricks, much +to the amusement of the teachers and children. Danny Rugg, and some of +the older boys, got up a small baseball game, and then Danny, with one +or two chums, went off in a deeper part of the woods. Bert heard one of +the boys ask another if he had any matches. + +"I know what they're going to do," whispered Bert to Nan. + +"What?" she asked. + +"Smoke cigarettes. I saw Danny have a pack." + +Nan was much shocked, but she did not see anything. She was glad Bert +did not smoke. + +Bert went off with some boys to see if they could catch any fish in the +deeper part of the brook, about half a mile from the picnic grove, and +Nan, with one or two girls about her own age, took a little walk with +Flossie and Freddie to gather some late wild flowers that grew on the +side of one of the hills. + +They found a number of the blossoms, and were making pretty bouquets of +them, when Freddie, who had gone on a little ahead of the rest, came +running back so fast that he nearly rolled to the bottom of the hill, so +fat and chubby was he. + +"What's the matter? What is it?" asked Nan, catching her brother just +in time. + +"Up there!" he gasped. "It's up there! A great big black one!" + +"A big black what - bug?" asked Nan, ready to laugh. + +"No! a big black snake! I almost stepped on it." + +"A snake! Oh, dear!" screamed the girls. + +"Call Mr. Tetlow!" said Flossie. "He's got a book about snakes, and +he'll know what to do." + +"Come on!" cried Nellie Parks. "I'm going to run!" + +"So am I!" added Grace Lavine. "Oh, it may chase us!" + +In fright the children turned, Freddie looking back at the spot where he +thought he had seen the snake. + + + + +CHAPTER XI +DANNY'S TRICK + + +NAN BOBBSEY stood for a moment, she hardly knew why. Perhaps she wanted +to see the big snake of which Freddie spoke. It certainly was not +because she liked reptiles. + +Then she thought she saw something long and black wiggling toward her, +and, with a little exclamation of fright, she, too, turned to follow the +others. But, as she did so, she saw their dog Snap come running up the +hill, barking and wagging his tail. He seemed to have lost the children +for a moment and to be telling them how glad he was that he had found +them again. + +Straight up the hill, toward where Freddie had said the snake was, +rushed Snap. + +"Here! Come back! Don't go there!" cried Nan. + +"No, don't let him - he may be bitten!" added Flossie. "Come here, +Snap!" + +But Snap evidently did not want to mind. On up the hill he rushed, +pausing now and then to dig in the earth. Nearer and nearer he came to +where the little Bobbsey boy had said the snake was hiding in the grass +and bushes. + +"Oh, Snap! Snap!" cried Freddie. "Don't go there!" But Snap kept on, +and Freddie, afraid lest his pet dog be bitten, caught up a stone and +threw it at the place. His aim was pretty good, but instead of scaring +away the snake, or driving back Snap, the fall of the stone only made +Snap more eager to see what was there that his friends did not want him +to get. + +With a loud bark he rushed on, and the children, turning to look, saw +something long and black, and seemingly wiggling, come toward them. + +"Oh, the snake! The snake!" cried Nan. + +"Run! Run!" shouted Grace. + +"Come on!" exclaimed Nellie Parks, in loud tones. + +"Freddie! Freddie!" called Flossie, afraid lest her little brother be +bitten. + +Snap rushed at the black thing so fiercely that he turned a somersault +down the hill, and rolled over and over. But he did not mind this, and +in an instant was up again. Once more he rushed at the black object, +but the children did not watch to see what happened, for they were +running away as fast as they could. + +Then Freddie, anxious as to what would become of Snap if he fought a +snake, looked back. He saw a strange sight. The dog had in his mouth +the long, black thing, and was running with it toward the Bobbseys and +their friends. + +"Oh, Nan! Nan! Look! Look!" cried Freddie. "Snap has the snake! +He's bringing it to us!" + +"Oh, he mustn't do that!" shouted Nan. "It may bite him or us." + +"Run! Run faster!" shrieked Grace. + +But even though it was down hill the children could not run as fast as +Snap, and he soon caught up to them. Running on a little way ahead he +dropped the black thing. But instead of wiggling or trying to bite, it +was I very still. + +"It - it's dead," said Nan. "Snap has killed it." + +Freddie was braver now. He went closer. + +"Why - why!" he exclaimed. "It isn't a snake at all! It's only an old +black root of a tree, all twisted up like a snake! Look, Nan - +Flossie!" + +Taking courage, the girls went up to look. Snap stood over it, wagging +his tail as proudly as though he had captured a real snake. As Freddie +had said, it was only a tree root. + +"But it did look a lot like a snake in the grass," said the little +fellow. + +"It must have," agreed Nan. "It looked like one even when Snap had it. +But I'm glad it wasn't." + +"So am I," spoke Grace, and Nellie made like remark. + +Snap frisked about, barking as though to ask praise for what he had +done. + +"He is a good dog," observed Freddie, hearing which the animal almost +wagged his tail off. "And if it had been a real snake he'd have gotten +it; wouldn't you?" went on the little boy. + +If barks meant anything, Snap said, with all his heart, that he +certainly would - that not even a dozen snakes could frighten a big dog +like him. + +The children soon got over the little scare, and went back up the hill +again to gather more flowers. Snap went with them this time, running +about here and there. + +"If there are any real snakes," said Freddie, "he'll scare them away. +But I guess there aren't any." + +"I hope not," said Nan, but she and the others kept a sharp lookout. +However, there was no further fright for them, and soon, with their +hands filled with blossoms the Bobbseys and the others went back to the +main party. + +Some of the teachers were arranging games with their pupils, and Nan, +Flossie and Freddie joined in, having a good time. Then, when it was +almost time to start for home, Mr. Tetlow blew loudly on a whistle he +carried to call in the stragglers. + +"Where's Bert?" asked Flossie, looking about for her older brother. + +"I guess he hasn't come back from fishing yet," said Nan. "Come, +Flossie and Freddie, I have a little bit of lunch left, and you might as +well eat it, so you won't be hungry on the way home." + +The littler Bobbsey twins were glad enough to do this. Then they had to +have a drink, and Nan went with them to the spring, carrying a glass +tumbler she had brought. + +"This isn't like our nice silver cup that the fat lady took in the +train," said Freddie, as he passed the glass of water very carefully to +Flossie. + +"No," she said, after she had taken her drink. "I wonder if papa will +ever get that back?" + +"He said, the other day," remarked Nan, as she got some water for +Freddie, "that he hadn't heard from the circus yet. But I think he +will. It isn't like Snoop, our cat. We don't know where he is, but +we're pretty sure the fat lady has the cup." + +"Poor Snoop!" cried Freddie, as he thought of the fine black cat. +"Maybe some of the railroad men have him." + +"Maybe," agreed Flossie. + +When they got back to where the teachers and principal were, Bert and +the boys who bad gone fishing had returned. They had one or two small +fish. + +"I'm going to have mamma cook them for my supper," said Bert, proudly +holding up those he had caught. + +"They're too small - there won't be anything left of them after +they're cleaned," said Nan, who was quite a little housekeeper. + +"Oh, yes, there will," declared her brother. "I'm going fishing again +tomorrow and, catch more." + +Mr. Tetlow was going about among the teachers, asking if all their +pupils were on hand, ready for the march back. Danny Rugg and some of +his close friends were missing. + +"They ought not to have gone off so far," said Mr. Tetlow, as he blew +several times on the whistle. Soon Danny and the other boy, were seen +coming from a distant part of the grove. One of the boys, Harry White, +looked very pale, and not at all well. + +"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Tetlow, and he looked curiously at Danny +and the others, and sniffed the air as though he smelled something. + +"I - I guess I ate too many - apples," said Harry, in a faint voice. +"We found an orchard, and -" + +"I told you not to go into orchards, and take fruit," said Mr. Tetlow, +severely. + +"The man said we could," remarked Danny. "We asked him." + +"Then you should not have eaten so many," said Mr. Tetlow. "I can't see +how ripe apples, which are the only kind there are this time of year - +could make you ill unless you ate too many," and he looked at Danny and +Harry sharply. But they did not answer. + +The march home was not as joyful as the one to the grove had been, for +most of the children were tired. But they all had had a fine time, and +there were many requests of the teachers to have another picnic the next +week. + +"Oh, we can't have them every week, my dears," said Miss Franklin, who +had charge of Flossie, Freddie and some others in the kindergarten +class. "Besides, it will soon be too cool to go out in the woods. In a +little while we will have ice and snow, and Thanksgiving and Christmas." + +"That will be better than picnics," said Freddie. "I'm going to have a +new sled." + +"I'm going to get a new doll, that can walk," declared Flossie, and then +she and the others talked about the coming holidays. + +At school several days in the following week little was talked of except +the picnic, the snake scare from the old tree root, the catching of the +fish, and the illness of Harry White, for that boy was quite sick by the +time town was reached, and Mr. Tetlow called a carriage to send him +home. + +"And I can guess what made him sick too," said Bert to Nan, privately. + +"What?" she asked. + +"Smoking cigarettes." + +"How do you know?" + +"Because when I and some of the other fellows were fishing we saw Danny +and his crowd smoking in the woods. They offered us some, but we +wouldn't take any. Harry said he was sick then, but Danny only laughed +at him." + +"That Danny Rugg is a bad boy," said Nan, severely. But she was soon to +see how much meaner Danny could be. + +Workmen had recently finished putting some new water pipes, and a place +for the children to drink, in the school yard, and one morning, speaking +to the whole school, Mr. Tetlow made a little speech, warning the +children not to play with the faucets, and spray the water about, as +some had done, in fun. + +"Whoever is caught playing with the faucets in the yard after this will +be severely punished," he said. + +As it happened, Flossie and Freddie were not at school that day, Freddie +having a slight sore throat. His mother kept him home, and Flossie +would not go without him. So they did not hear the warning, and Bert +and Nan did not think to tell the smaller children of it. + +Two days later Freddie was well enough to go back to class, and Flossie +accompanied him. It was at the morning recess when, as Freddie went to +get a drink at one of the new faucets, Danny saw him. A gleam of +mischief came into the eyes of the school bully. + +"Want to see the water squirt, Freddie?" asked Danny. "That's a new +kind of faucet. It squirts awful far." + +"Does it?" asked Freddie, innocently. "How do you make it?" He had no +idea it was forbidden fun. + +"Just put your thumb over the hole, and turn the water on," directed +Danny. "You, too, Flossie. It won't hurt you." + +Danny looked all around, thinking he was unobserved as he gave this bad +advice. Naturally, Freddie and Flossie, being so young, suspected +nothing. They covered the opening of the faucet with their thumbs, and +turned on the water. It spurted in a fine spray, and they laughed in +glee. That they wet each other did not matter. + +Danny, seeing the success of his trick, walked off as he saw Mr. Tetlow +coming. The Bobbsey twins were so intent on spurting the water that +they did not observe the principal until he was close to them. Then +they started as he called out sharply: + +"Freddie! Flossie! Stop that! You know that it is forbidden! Go to +my office at once and I will come and see you later. You will be +punished for this!" + +With tears in their eyes the little twins obeyed. They could not +understand it. + + + + +CHAPTER XII +THE CHILDREN'S PARTY + + +WHEN Mr. Tetlow, a little later, entered his office he found Flossie and +Freddie standing by one of the windows, looking out on the other +children marching to their classrooms. They had cried a little, but had +stopped now. + +"I am very sorry to have to punish you two twins," said the principal, +"but I had given strict orders that no one was to play with that water. +Why did you do it?" + +"Because," answered Flossie. + +"Danny Rugg told us to," added Freddie. "He said it was a new kind of +faucet." + +"Now be careful," warned Mr. Tetlow. Often before he had heard pupils +say that someone else told them to break certain rules. "Are you sure +about this?" he asked. + +"Yes! sir," said Freddie, eagerly. "Danny told us to do it." + +"But didn't you know it was forbidden?" + +"No, sir," answered Flossie. + +"Why, I spoke of it in all the rooms." + +"We wasn't here yesterday or the day before," said Flossie. "Freddie +was sick." + +Mr. Tetlow began to understand. + +"I will look this up," he said, "and if find -" + +He was interrupted by a boy from one of the higher classes coming in +with a note from his teacher. She wanted a new box of chalk. + +"When you go back, George," said the principal to the boy, as he gave +him what the teacher had sent for, "go to Miss Hegan's class, and have +her send Danny Rugg to me. Flossie and Freddie say he told them to +spray water with one of the new faucets." + +"Yes, sir, he did!" exclaimed George. "I heard him, but I didn't think +they would do it. He did tell them." + +At this unexpected information Mr. Tetlow was much surprised. + +"If that is the case, Danny is the one to be punished," he said. "I am +sorry, Flossie and Freddie, that I suspected you. You may go back to +your class, and I will write your teacher a note, saying you may go out +half an hour ahead of the others to make up for coming to my office. +But, after this, no matter whether anyone tells you or not, don't spray +the water." + +"No, sir, we won't!" exclaimed the Bobbsey twins, now happy again. + +Danny Rugg was punished by being kept in after school for several days, +and Mr. Tetlow sent home a note to his father, explaining what a mean +trick the bully had played. + +"I wish I had heard Danny telling you that - just to get you in +trouble," said Bert, when he was told of what had happened. "I'd have +fixed him." + +"Oh, don't get into any more fights," begged Nan. + +Bert did not come to blows with Danny over this latest trouble, but he +did tell the bully, very plainly, what he thought of him, and said if +Danny ever did a thing like that again that he would not get off so +easily. + +"Oh, I'm not afraid of you," sneered Danny. + +Lessons and fun made up many school days for the Bobbsey twins. And, as +the Fall went on, lessons grew a little harder. Even Freddie and +Flossie, young as they were, had little tasks to do that kept them busy. +But they liked their school and the teacher, and many were the queer +stories they brought home of the happenings in the classroom. + +It was now toward the end of October, and the weather was getting +cooler, though during the day it was still very warm at times. The +twins, as did their friends, looked forward to the coming of Winter and +the Christmas holidays. + +Thanksgiving, too, would be a time of rejoicing and of good things to +eat, and this occasion was to be made more of than usual this time, for +some boys and girls the Bobbseys had met in the country and at the +seashore were to be invited to spend a few days in Lakeport. + +But before this there was another event down on the program. This was +to be a party for Flossie and Freddie, the occasion being their joint +birthdays. + +"And we're going to have candy!" cried Freddie, when the arrangements +were talked over. + +"And ice cream" - added Flossie - "a whole freezer full; aren't we, +mamma?" + +"Well, I guess a small freezer full won't be any too much," said Mrs. +Bobbsey, smiling. "But I hope none of you eat enough to make yourselves +ill." + +"We won't," promised Freddie and Flossie. + +There were busy times in the home of the twins the next few days, for +though Nan and Bert's birthdays were not to be observed, still they were +to have their part in the jolly celebration. + +Invitations were sent out, on little sheets of note paper, adorned with +flowers, and in cute little envelopes. Flossie and Freddie took them to +the post-office themselves. + +"My! what a lot of mail!" exclaimed the clerk at the stamp window, as he +saw the children dropping the invitations into the slot. "Uncle Sam +will have to get some extra men to carry that around, I guess. What's +it all about?" + +"We're going to have a party," said Flossie, proudly. + +Just then Danny Rugg came into the post-office. + +"A party; eh?" he sneered. "I'm coming to it, I am; and I'm going to +have two plates of ice cream." + +"You are not!" cried Freddie. "My mamma wouldn't let a boy like you +come to our party." + +"'Specially not after what you did - telling us to play in the water," +added Freddie. "You can't come!" + +"Yes, I can," insisted Danny, just to tease the children. + +For a moment Flossie and Freddie almost believed him, he seemed so much +in earnest about it. + +"You can't come you haven't any invitation," said Flossie, suddenly. + +"I'll take one of those you put in the box," went on the mean boy. + +"He won't dare - will he?" and Freddie appealed to the mail clerk. + +"I should say not!" said the man at the stamp window. "If he does Uncle +Sam will be after him." + +"Well, I'm coming to that party all the same!" insisted Danny, with a +grin on his freckled face. + +Flossie and Freddie were so worried about him that they told their +mother, but she assured them that Danny would not come to spoil their +fun. + +Finally the afternoon and evening of the party arrived, for the little +folks were to come just before supper, play some games, eat, and then +stay until about nine o'clock. + +Flossie and Freddie had been dressed in their prettiest clothes, and Nan +and Bert also attired for the affair. The ice cream had come from the +store, all packed in ice and salt, and Dinah had set it out on the back +stoop, where it would be cooler. + +Dinah was very busy that day. She hurried about here and there, helping +Mrs. Bobbsey. Sam, her husband, also had plenty to do. + +"I 'clar t' gracious goodness!" Dinah exclaimed, "I suah will get thin +ef dish yeah keeps up! I ain't set down a minute dis blessed day. My +feet'll drop off soon I 'specs." + +"Will they, really, Dinah?" asked Freddie. "And can we watch 'em fall?" + +"Bress yo' hearts, honeys!" exclaimed the colored cook, "I didn't mean +it jest dat way. But suffin's suah gwine t' happen - I feels it in +mah bones!" + +And something was to happen, though not exactly what Dinah expected. + +Finally all was in readiness for the guests. The good things to eat +were in the kitchen, all but the ice cream, which, as I have said, was +out on the back porch. Flossie and Freddie had gone to the front door +nearly a dozen times to see if any of the guests were in sight. Snap, +as a special favor, had been allowed to stay in the house that +afternoon, for the twins were going to make him do tricks for their +friends. + +There came a ring at the door bell. + +"Here they come! Here they come!" cried Flossie. + +"Let me answer, too," cried Freddie, and they both hurried through the +front hall to greet the first guest at their party. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII +AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE + + +QUICKLY, after the first guests had arrived came the others. Nellie +Parks, Grace Lavine friends of Nan, and Willie Porter and his sister +Sadie, came first, and Freddie and Flossie let them in, the Porter +children being some of their bestliked playmates. + +All the children wore their best clothes, and for a time they were a bit +stiff and unnatural, standing shyly about in corners, against the walls, +or sitting on chairs. + +The boys seemed to all crowd together in one part of the room, and the +girls in another. Flossie and Freddie, Nan and Bert, were so busy +answering the door that they did not notice this at first. + +But Aunt Sarah, their mother's sister, who had come over to help Mrs. +Bobbsey, looking in the parlor and library, saw what the trouble was. + +"My!" she cried, with a goodnatured laugh, as she noticed how "stiff" +the children were. "This will never do. You're not that way at school, +I don't believe. Come, be lively. Mix up - play games. Pretend this +is recess at school, and make as much noise as you like." + +For a moment the boys and girls did not know what to think of this +invitation. But just then Snap, the circus dog, came in the room, and, +with a bark of welcome, he turned a somersault, and then marched around +on his hind legs, carrying a broomstick like a gun - pretending he was a +soldier. Bert had given it to him. + +Then how the children laughed and clapped their hands! And Snap barked +so loudly - for he liked applause that there was noise enough for even +jolly Aunt Sarah. After that there was no trouble. The boys and girls +talked together and soon they were playing games, and having the best +kind of fun. + +For some of the games simple prizes had been offered and it was quite +exciting toward the end to see who would win. Flossie and Freddie +thought they had never had such a good time in all their lives. Nan and +Bert were enjoying themselves, too, with their friends, who were +slightly older than those who had been asked for the younger Bobbsey +twins. + +"Going to Jerusalem," was one game that created lots of enjoyment. A +number of chairs were placed in the centre of the room, and the boys and +girls marched around them while Mrs. Bobbsey played the piano. But +there was one less chair than there were players, so that when the music +would suddenly stop, which was a signal for each one who could, to sit +down, someone was sure to be left. Then this one had to stay out of the +game. + +Then a chair would be taken away, so as always to have one less than the +number of players, and the game went on. It was great fun, scrambling +to see who would get a seat, and not be left without one, and finally +there was but one chair left, while Grace Lavine and John Blake marched +about. Mrs. Bobbsey kept playing quite some time, as the two went +around and around that one chair. Everyone was laughing, wondering who +would get a seat and so win the game, when, all at once, Mrs. Bobbsey +stopped the music. She had her back turned so it would be perfectly +fair. + +Grace and John made a rush for the one chair, but Grace got to it first, +and so she won. + +"Well, I'm glad you did, anyhow," said John, politely. + +Other games were "peanut races" and "potato scrambles." In the first +each player had a certain number of peanuts and they had to start at one +end of the room, and lay the nuts at equal distances apart across to the +other side, coming back each time to their pile of peanuts to get one. + +Sometimes a boy would slip, he was in such a hurry, or a girl would drop +her peanuts, and this made fun and confusion. + +Nan won this race easily. + +In the potato scramble several rows of potatoes were made across the +room. Each player was given a large spoon, and whoever first +took up all his or her potatoes in the spoons one at a time, and piled +them up at the far end of the room, won the game. In this Charley Mason +was successful, and won the prize - a pretty little pin for his tie. + +The afternoon wore on, and, almost before the children realized it the +hour for supper had arrived. They were not sorry, either, for they all +had good appetites. + +"Come into the dining room, children," invited Mrs. Bobbsey. + +And Oh! such gasps of pleased surprise as were heard when the children +saw what had been prepared for them! For Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey, while +not going to any great expense, and not making the children's party too +fanciful, had made it beautiful and simple. + +The long table was set with dishes and pretty glasses. There were +flowers in the centre, and at each end, and also blooms in vases about +the room. Then, from the centre chandelier to the four corners of the +table, were strings of green smilax in which had been entwined +carnations of various colors. + +The lights were softly glowing on the pretty scene, and there were +prettily shaded candles to add to the effect. But what caught the eyes +of all the children more than anything else were two large cakes - one +at either end of the table. + +On each cake burned five candles, and on one cake was the name +"Flossie," while the other was marked "Freddie." The names were in pink +icing on top of the white frosting that covered the birthday cakes. + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" could be heard all about the room. "Isn't that too +sweet for anything!" + +"I guess they are sweet!" piped up Freddie in his shrill little voice, +"'cause Dinah put lots of sugar in 'em; didn't you, Dinah?" and he +looked at Dinah, who had thrust her laughing, black, goodnatured face +into the dining room door. + +"Dat's what I did, honey! Dat's what I did!" she exclaimed. "If +anybody's got a toofache he'd better not eat any ob dem cakes, 'cause +dey suah am sweet." + +How the children laughed at that! + +"All ready, now, children, sit down," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Your names +are at your plates." + +There was a little confusion getting them all seated, as those on one +side of the table found that their name cards were on the other side. +But Flossie and Freddie, and Nan and Bert, helped the guests to find +their proper places and soon everyone was in his or her chair. + +"Can't Snap sit with us, too?" asked Freddie, looking about for his pet, +who had done all his tricks well that evening. + +"No, dear," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Snap is a good dog, but we don't want +him in the dining room when we are eating. It gives him bad habits." + +"Then can't I send him out some cakes?" asked Flossie, for Snap had +almost as large a "sweet tooth" as the children themselves. + +"Yes, as it is your birthday, I suppose you can give him some of your +good things," said Mamma Bobbsey. + +"Here, Dinah!" called Freddie to the cook, as he piled a plate full of +cakes. "Please give these to Snap." + +"Land sakes goodness me alive!" cried Dinah. "Dat suah am queer. +Feedin' a dog jest laik a human at a party. I can't bring mahself to +it, nohow." + +"I'll take 'em out to him," said her husband. + +Then the feast began, and such a feast as it was! Mrs. Bobbsey, knowing +how easily the delicate stomachs of children can be upset, had wisely +selected the food and sweets, and she saw to it that no one ate too +much, though she was gently suggestive about it instead of ordering. + +"Don't eat too much," advised Freddie to some of the friends who sat +near him. "We've got a lot of ice cream coming. Save room for that." + +"That's so - I almost forgot," spoke Jimmie Black. + +A little later Mrs. Bobbsey said to Dinah: + +"I think you may bring in the cream now, and I will help you serve it." + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Oh, goodie!" cried Freddie. "Ice cream's coming!" and he waved his +spoon above his head. + +"Freddie - Freddie!" said his mother, in gentle reproof. + +Dinah went out on the back stoop, looked around and came running back to +the dining room, where Mrs. Bobbsey was. Dinah's eyes were big with +wonder and surprise. + +"Mrs. Bobbsey! Mrs. Bobbsey!" she cried. "Suffin's done gone an' +happened!" + +"What is it?" asked Mamma Bobbsey, quickly. "Is anyone hurt?" + +"No'm, but dat ice cream freezer hate jest gone and walked right off de +back stoop, an' it ain't dere at all, nohow! De ice cream is all gone!" + +The children looked at one another with pained surprise showing on their +faces. + +The ice cream was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV +A COAT BUTTON + + +ASTONISHMENT, surprise and disappointment were so great for a few +seconds after the discovery that the best part of the party - the ice +cream - was gone, that no one knew, what to say. Then Flossie burst out +with: + +"Are you sure, Dinah? Maybe it fell off the porch." + +"Deed an' it didn't, honey gal. I done looked eberywhar fo' dat +freezer, an' it's jest gone complete." + +"Maybe Snap took it," suggested Freddie, as a last hope. "Once he took +my book and hid it. Snap, did you take the ice cream?" + +Snap barked and wagged his tail, looking rather pained at being asked +such a question. + +"No, indeedy, Snap couldn't take off a big freezer like dat," declared +Dinah. "It wasn't Snap." + +"Then who could it have been?" asked Nan. Everyone had stopped eating +while this talk went on. "Who could have taken our ice cream?" + +"Dat's what I don't know, honey," answered the colored cook. "Dat's why +I comed in heah to tell yo' mamma. I 'spects, Mrs. Bobbsey, dat we'd +better phonograph fo' de police." + +"Phonograph - I guess you mean telephone; don't you, Dinah?" asked Mrs. +Bobbsey, with a smile. + +"Yes'm, dat's what I done mean. Or else maybe we kin send mah man Sam +down to de station house fo' 'em." + +"No, I had better telephone, in case it is necessary. But perhaps I had +better take a look out there. Perhaps the man from the store may have +set the cream off to one side." + +"No'm, he didn't do dat. I took p'ticlar notice where he set it. +Dere's a wet ringmark on de porch where de freezer was, 'count of de +salty water leakin' out. An' dat wet ringmark am all dat's left ob de +cream, dar now!" and Dinah, standing with her hands on her hips, looked +at the startled children, whose mouths were just ready for the ice +cream. + +"Well, I'm going to have a look, anyhow," said Bert. "Come on, Charley. +Maybe, after all, that Danny Rugg is up to some of his tricks." + +"I'm with you, Bert!" cried Charley. "But we ought to have some sort of +a light. It's dark out." + +"I'll get my little pocket electric light," said Bert. He had one, and +it gave a good light. He went to his room for it. + +Flossie and Freddie did not know what to do. That their lovely party +should be spoiled by the missing ice cream seemed too bad to be true. + +"Mamma, if we can't find this ice cream, can't we buy more?" Flossie +wanted to know. "The girls just want some - so bad!" + +"And the boys, too," added Freddie. + +"Oh, I guess we'll manage to get some fo you, if we can't find this," +answered Mrs. Bobbsey. "We may have to wait a little while for it, +though." + +"Well, we'll have a look," said Bert, as he came down with his little +electric lamp. Some of his own particular chums, including Charley +Mason, followed him out to the back porch, Dinah was in her kitchen, +looking behind tables, under the sink, in the pantry and all about, +hoping that, somehow or other, the freezer might have gotten in there. +But it was not to be found. + +"Well, here's where it stood," said Bert, as he looked at the round, wet +mark on the porch where the freezer had set. He flashed his torch on +it, and then cried out: + +"And look, boys, here are some spots of water that must have leaked from +the wooden tub that holds the tin freezer. See, the water has dripped +down on each step! This is the way they carried off our ice cream." + +The others could see a trail of water drops leading from the stoop down +the steps and along the stone walk at the side of the Bobbsey house. + +"Now we can follow and see just where they took our cream!" cried Bert. +"This is the way Indians used to trail the white settlers." + +"Let me come!" cried Freddie, hearing this. "I want to help hunt +whoever took our ice cream." + +"No, you'd better stay back there," said Bert. + +"Why?" his little brother wanted to know. + +"Because it might be - tramps - who have it, and there'd be trouble," +said Bert. + +"Wait until I get my cap pistol!" cried Freddie. "I can scare a tramp +with that." + +"No, you go back there, and stay in the house," went on Bert. "If we +find tramps have it, we'll get a policeman." + +"It might be that a tramp did steal up on the steps, and lift off the +freezer," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Bert, be careful," she called to her son, +who set off in the darkness with his chums, flashing his electric light +from time to time. + +"I'll look out!" he called back. + +For some distance it was easy to see which way the ice cream freezer had +been carried, for there were the marks of the dripping water. Then +these stopped about the middle of the sidewalk, and seemed to go over in +the grass. + +"We can't see 'em now," spoke Charley. "That's too bad." + +"Well, we'll keep on this way in a straight line," suggested Bert. +"Maybe they took the freezer down back of our berry bushes to eat the +cream." + +"I hope they left some," said John Anderson, in a mournful sort of +voice. + +Hurrying on after Bert, the boys looked eagerly about in the darkness +for a sign of the missing ice cream. There were not many chances of +them finding it, for though Bert's electric torch gave a brilliant light +for a short distance, it was not very large. + +"What's over there?" asked Charley, pausing and pointing to a patch of +blackness. + +"An old barn, that we used to use before we had our new one built," +answered Bert. "Why?" + +"Well, maybe they took the ice cream in there to eat it," went on +Charley. "Is it open?" + +"Yes, it's never locked. Say, we'll take a look in there, anyhow!" +exclaimed Bert. "Come on, fellows!" + +He led the way, the others following. As they approached the big, +deserted barn Frank Black exclaimed in a whisper: + +"I see a light!" + +"So do I!" added Will Evans. + +"And it's moving around," spoke Charley Mason. + +"It's them, all right," decided Bert. "The tramps who took our ice +cream are in there, all right!" + +"What makes you think they are tramps?" asked Will. + +"Well, I'm not sure, of course," admitted Bert. "But we can soon tell. +Come on!" + +"Are you - are you going up there?" asked Charley. + +"Sure! Why not? I think we can scare em away." + +The other boys hesitated. Some of them were older than Bert, and when +they saw that he was determined to go on, they made up their minds that +they would not let him go alone. + +"All right - go ahead - we're with you," said Charley. + +Bert and the others advanced. As they walked on they could see the +light in the barn more plainly. And, as they stopped for a moment they +could hear voices talking in low tones. + +"More than one," whispered Charley. + +"Yes, three or four," said Bert. + +They walked ahead again, when suddenly Charley stepped on a stick that +broke with a loud snap. In an instant the light in the barn went out, +and then could be heard the footsteps of several persons running away. + +"There they are!" shouted Bert, dashing forward. "Come on, fellows! +We'll get 'em now!" + +"That's right!" cried Charley. "Come on, surround 'em!" + +Of course this was all said for effect, as the boys had no idea of +trying to capture the tramps, or whoever it was that had taken the ice +cream. But Bert thought that they could scare the thieves away, for the +latter could not tell, in the darkness, how many, nor who were after +them. + +Flashing his light, Bert dashed ahead, followed by the others. Into the +big barn they went, and, just as they entered the main part, they had a +glimpse of someone running out of a side door. + +"There they go!" cried Charley. "We can catch 'em!" + +"No, let 'em go," advised Bert. "Here's our ice cream. Let's see if +there's any left. If there is we'll take it back to the party. We +might get into trouble if we went after those fellows." + +By the gleam of the electric light they could all see the freezer of +cream in the middle of the barn floor, near some upturned boxes. A +hasty look showed that only a little had been taken out. + +"There's plenty left!" said Bert. "We surprised 'em just in time. Now +let's get beck to the house." + +It was rather a triumphant procession that went back to the home of the +Bobbsey twins, carrying the recovered ice cream freezer. And such a +shout of delight from Flossie, Freddie and the others as greeted the +boys! + +"Is there any left?" asked Freddie. + +"Plenty," said Bert. + +"And did you catch the bad tramps?" Flossie wanted to know. + +"They got away," her brother said. "But never mind, we scared them +before they had a chance to eat much." + +"I 'clar t' goodness sakes alive!" gasped Dinah, when she saw the ice +cream freezer carried into her kitchen, "yo' am suttinly a smart boy, +Massa Bert - dat's what yo' suah am!" + +"Oh, well, the others helped me find it," said Bert, modestly. + +As Dinah and Mrs. Bobbsey were dishing out the cream, the colored cook +uttered a cry. + +"Look out!" she exclaimed. "Dere's suffin black in dere, Mrs. Bobbsey. +Maybe it's a stone dem careless tramps put in. Wait 'till I gits it +out." + +With a longhandled spoon Dinah fished for the black thing, and got it. +She put it in a dish, with a small portion of the ice cream, and when +the latter had melted, Bert, who was inspecting the object, gave a cry +of surprise. + +"Why, it's a button - a coat button!" he exclaimed. + +"A button? How in the world could that get in there?" asked his mother. +"Unless you boys dropped it in when you were carrying the cream." + +Bert and the other boys quickly looked at their coats. There were no +buttons missing. + +"An' it suah wasn't in when de cream come heah," said Dinah. "I knows, +fo I took off de kiver an' looked in t' see how hard it were froze. Dat +button got in since!" + +"Yes, and I think I know how, too!" exclaimed Bert. + +"How?" asked Freddie. + +"It was dropped in by whoever took the freezer. They must have been +eating the cream right out of the can, and maybe they dropped the button +in. I'll save it." + +"What for?" asked Nan, wonderingly. + +"I may be able to find out by it, who took the freezer," went on Bert. +"I'm going to look at the coats of all the fellows in school next week, +and if I find one with the button like this missing, I'll know what to +think." + +"Be careful not to accuse anyone wrongly," cautioned his mother. + +Bert put the button carefully away, and the party guests were soon +eating their ice cream, and discussing the disappearance of the freezer +and the finding of it by the boys. Then with the playing of more games, +and the singing of songs, the affair came to a close, and goodnights +were said. + +"We've had a lovely time!" said the boys and girls to Flossie and +Freddie, as they left. "Glad you did - come again," invited the small +Bobbsey twins. + +Even Snap seemed to have enjoyed himself. + +And when the house was settling down to quietness for the night, and +when Dinah and Mrs. Bobbsey were picking up the dishes, the circus dog +marched around like a soldier, with a stick for a gun, and one of the +fancy caps, that came in the "surprise" packets, on his head. + +When Bert went to bed that night he laid the button found in the ice +cream where he would be sure to see it in the morning. + +"I'm going to find out whose coat that came off of," he said to himself. + +The little Bobbsey twins slept late the next morning, and so did Nan, +but Bert was up early. + +"I'm going over to the barn, and see if I can tell by looking around it, +how many were at our freezer," he said. + +But there was nothing there to help him in his search. Some old boxes, +placed in a sort of circle, showed where the ones who had taken the ice +cream, had rested to eat it. + +"They must have had spoons with them," said Bert to himself, as he +looked about, "That shows they came all prepared to take our ice cream. +So they must have known it was going to be here. Well, I'll see whose +coat has a button missing." + +It took Bert some days to look carefully at the coats of the various +boys in school, who might have been guilty of taking the cream. For a +time he had no luck, and then, one afternoon, as he noticed Danny Rugg +wearing a coat he seldom had on, Bert walked slowly up to him, clasping +the button, with his hand, in his pocket. + +His heart beat fast as he noticed that from the middle of Danny's coat a +button was gone. + +And a glance at the others showed Bert that they were just like the one +found in the ice cream freezer. + +"I see you've lost a button, Danny," said Bert, slowly. + +"Hey?" exclaimed the bully, with a start. + +"I see you've lost a button," repeated Bert. + +"Yes, I guess it dropped off. Maybe it's home somewhere," said Danny. + +"No, it isn't - it's here!" exclaimed Bert, suddenly holding the button +out to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XV +THANKSGIVING + + +FOR a moment Danny Rugg just stared at Bert. Then the bully swallowed a +sort of lump that came in his throat, and said: + +"That isn't my button." + +"Isn't it?" asked Bert, politely. "Why, it just matches the others on +your coat, and it's got a few threads in the holes, and there are some +threads in your coat, just where the button was pulled off. I guess +it's your button, all right, Danny." + +Danny did not say anything. He looked from the button to Bert, and then +at the space on his coat where a button should have been, but where one +was missing. + +"Well - well," he stammered. "Maybe it is off my coat, but - but how +did you get it, Bert Bobbsey?" + +"I found it," was the answer. "Don't you want it back?" + +He held it out to Danny, who took it slowly. + +"Well," went on Bert, with a queer little smile at his enemy, "why don't +you ask me where I found it, Danny?" + +"Huh! I don't care where you found it. I s'pose you picked it up +around the school yard, where I lost it, playing tag with the fellows." + +"No, you didn't lose it there," went on Bert, still smiling. "You have +another guess coming, Danny." + +"Pooh! I don't care where you found it," and Danny was about to turn +away. + +"Wait a minute," said Bert. "Suppose I say that this button was found +in our freezer of ice cream, that you and some other boys took off our +stoop the night of Flossie's and Freddie's party, Danny? What about +that?" + +"It isn't - I didn't - you can't prove anything about me, Bert Bobbsey, +and if you go around telling that I took your ice cream, I -" + +But Danny did not know what else to say. He was confused and his face +was white and red by turns, for he realized that Bert had good proof of +what he said. + +"Better go slow," advised Bert, calmly. "I don't intend to go around +telling what you did. I just want to let you know that I am sure you +took our ice cream. + +"I - I" began Danny. "You're only trying to fool me!" he exclaimed. +"That button wasn't in it at all!" + +"Wasn't it?" asked Bert, quietly. "Well, you just ask Charley Mason, or +any of the fellows who were at the party, what we found in the freezer, +and see what they say." + +Danny had nothing to reply to this. Thrusting the button in his pocket +he walked off. Bert was sure he had found the boy who had taken the ice +cream. + +Later, from a boy who had been friends with Danny for some time, but +whose father, afterward, decided that his son was getting into bad +company, and made him cease playing with the school bully, Bert learned +that Danny had planned to take the ice cream freezer off the porch. + +He and several boys did this, carrying it to the old barn. They had +provided themselves with large spoons, and were having a good time, +eating the cream, when they heard the approach of Bert and his friends, +and fled, leaving the cream behind. + +It was during a dispute as to who should have the right to first dip +into the freezer that Danny and a boy named Jake Harkness had a +struggle, and in this Danny lost a button which fell into the ice cream +without anyone knowing it. The coat Danny wore that night he did not +put on again for some time, but when he did Bert saw the missing button. + +Danny knew that he had been found out, and for a time he had little to +say. But Bert was boy enough not to be able to keep altogether quiet +over his discovery. From time to time he would ask Danny: + +"Lost any more buttons, lately?" + +"You let me alone!" Danny would reply, surlily. + +Of course this made talk, the boys wanting to know what it meant, and at +last the story came out. This made Danny so angry that he picked +several quarrels with Bert. On his part Bert tried to avoid them, but +at last he could stand it no longer, and he and Danny came to blows +again, Danny striking first. + +Bert had been brought up with the idea that fighting, unless it could +absolutely be avoided, was not gentlemanly, but in this case he could +not get out of it. + +He and Danny went at each other with their fists clenched, a crowd of +other boys looking on, and urging one or the other to do their best, for +both Danny and Bert had friends, though Bert was the best liked. + +Danny struck Bert several times, and Bert hit back, once hitting Danny +in the eye. Bert's lip was cut, and when the fight was over both boys +did not look very nice. But everyone said Bert had the best of it. + +"Oh, Bert!" exclaimed his mother, when he came home after the trouble +with Danny. "You've been fighting!" + +"Yes, mother, I have," he admitted. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it. +Danny Rugg hit me first. I couldn't run away, could I?" + +It was a hard question for a mother to answer. No mother likes to think +her son a coward, and that was what the boys would have called Bert had +he not stood up to Danny. + +"I - I just had to!" continued Bert. "And I beat him, anyhow, mother." + +Mrs. Bobbsey cried a little, and then she made the best of it, and +bathed Bert's cut lip and bruised forehead. She told his father about +it, too, and Mr. Bobbsey, after hearing the account, asked: + +"Who won?" + +"Well, Bert says he did?" + +"Um. Well, I've no doubt but what he did. He's getting quite strong." + +"Oh, Richard!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, in dismay. + +"Well, boys will er - have their little troubles," said her husband. +"I'm sorry Bert had to fight, but I'm glad he wasn't a coward. But he +mustn't fight any more." + +Then Mr. Bobbsey sat down to read the evening paper. + +The weather was getting cooler. Several nights there had been heavy +frosts, and for some time the papers had been saying that it was going +to snow, but the white flakes did not sift down from the sky. + +Thanksgiving was approaching. It was the end of the Fall term of +school, and there were to be examinations to see who would pass into the +next higher classes for the Winter season. + +Of course in the case of Freddie and Flossie, who were still in the +kindergarten, the examinations were not very hard, but they were soon to +go into the regular primary class, where they would learn to read. And +both the twins were very anxious for this. Bert and Nan had somewhat +harder lessons to do, and they had to answer more difficult questions in +the examinations. + +But I am glad to say that all of the Bobbsey twins were promoted, and +Freddie and Flossie came home very proud to tell that when they went +back again, after the Thanksgiving holidays, they would be in the primer +reading book. + +And such preparations as went on for Thanksgiving! Dinah was busy from +morning until night, and when the little twins made inquiries about the +turkey they were to have Mr. Bobbsey said it would be the biggest he +could buy. + +"An' I'se gwine t' stuff him wif chestnuts an' oysters," said Dinah. "I +tells you what, chilluns, yo' all am suttinly gwine to hab one grand +feed." + +"I wish everybody was," said Flossie, a bit wistfully. "I hope our cat +Snoop, wherever he is, has plenty of milk, and some nice turkey bones." + +"I guess he will have," said Mamma Bobbsey, gently. + +"I hope all the poor children in our school have enough to eat," said +Freddie. "Mr. Tetlow said for us to bring what we could for them." + +"And you never told me!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why didn't you? I +would have sent something." + +Neither Bert nor Nan had thought to mention at home that a collection +would be taken at the school for the poor families in the town. But as +soon as Mrs. Bobbsey heard what Freddie said she telephoned to her +husband. Mr. Bobbsey went to see Mr. Tetlow, and from him learned that +there were a number of families who would not have a very happy +Thanksgiving. + +Then the lumber merchant gave certain orders to his grocer and butcher, +and if a number of poor people were not well supplied with food that +gladsome season, it was not the fault of Mr. Bobbsey. + +But I am getting a little ahead of my story. + +A few days before Thanksgiving Mrs. Bobbsey, with a letter in her hand, +came to where the four twins were in the sitting room, talking over what +they wanted for Christmas. + +"Guess who are coming to spend Thanksgiving with us!" cried Mamma +Bobbsey, as she waved the letter in the air. + +"Uncle Bobbsey!" guessed Nan. + +"Uncle Minturn," said Bert. + +The little twins guessed other friends and relatives, and finally Mrs. +Bobbsey said: + +"Yes, your Uncle Bobbsey and Uncle Minturn are coming, and so are your +aunts, and Cousin Harry, Cousin Dorothy and also Hal Bingham, whom you +met at the seashore." + +"Oh, what a jolly Thanksgiving it will be!" cried the Bobbsey twins. + + + + +CHAPIER XVI +MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS + + +THANKSGIVING was celebrated in the Bobbsey home as it never had been +before. I am afraid if I told you all that went on, of the big, +brownroasted turkey, of the piles of crisp turkey, of the pumpkin and +mince pies, of the nuts and candies, of the big dishes of cranberry +sauce, and the plum pudding that Dinah carried in high above her head - +I am afraid if I told you of all these things there would be trouble. + +For I am sure you would all be writing to me to ask where the Bobbseys +lived, so that you might go and see them, and perhaps spend Christmas +with them. Not that they would not be glad to have you, but they have +so many friends that their house is sure to be filled over the holidays. + +So I will simply say that there was the grandest time ever, and let it +go at that. + +Uncle and Aunt Bobbsey - Uncle and Aunt Minturn, from the country and +seashore, came, with Cousin Dorothy and Cousin Harry then, also, Hal +Bingham arrived, and the Bobbsey twins took great delight in showing +their former playmates about Lakeport. + +"Isn't it lonesome at the seashore now?" asked Nan of Dorothy, as she +walked with her cousin about the busy streets of the town. + +"Not at all," answered Dorothy. "The sea is never lonesome for me. It +always seems to be telling me something, Winter or Summer. + +"I love it in the Summer," said Nan, "but in the Winter it seems so cold +and cruel." + +"That is because you do not know it as well as I do," said Dorothy. + +Hal, Harry, and Bert had fine times together. There was no skating, and +the little flurry of snow there had been was not enough for coasting, +but they had other fun. + +"Do your ducks miss our duck Downy?" asked Freddie of his cousin Harry. + +"Well, I guess they do," was the laughing answer, for Freddie and +Flossie had a pet duck which they took about with them almost as +faithfully as they did Snoop. "How is Downy, anyhow?" asked Harry. + +"He's fine," answered the little fellow. "Want to see him?" and he took +his cousin out to the barn where Downy had a pen all to himself. + +"Snoop's gone," said Freddie, "and so is our silver cup, but maybe we'll +get that back. It's in a circus." + +"In a circus!" cried Harry. "I should think your cat might be in a +circus, but not a silver cup." + +"We don't know where Snoop is," went on Freddie, "'cause he got away at +the time of the circus wreck," and he explained about it. "But we are +almost sure the circus fat lady has our cup." + +The Thanksgiving holidays came to an end at last and, much to the regret +of the Bobbseys, their visitors, old and young, had to go back to their +homes. + +"But you'll come again at Christmas, won't you?" asked Flossie as she +said goodbye. + +"We'll try," said her Uncle Bobbsey. "But maybe there won't be room, +with Santa Claus and all his reindeers." + +"Oh, we'll make room for you," spoke Freddie. "Santa Claus won't stay +long." + +With a merry peal of laughter the visitors went off to the station, +waving farewells. Then came rather a quiet time at the Bobbsey house, +as there always is when visitors go. There seems to be a sort of +loneliness, when company leaves, no matter how many there are in the +family, nor what fun there is. But the feeling soon passes. + +"Well, we'll soon be at school again," said Bert, a day or so before the +opening of the Winter term. "I wish we'd get some snow. Then it would +be more fun." + +"Yes," said Freddie. "We could build snow forts and have snowball +fights. I wish it would snow hard." + +"So do I, so we could ride down hill," said Nan. "Is your big bob +nearly done, Bert?" + +"No, Charley and I have quite a lot of things to do on it yet, but we're +going to work every night after school now, and it will soon be +finished." + +"I'm going to have skates for Christmas," announced Freddie. "I hope +the lake will be frozen over by then." + +"I guess it will be," returned Bert. "It's getting colder every night." + +The Bobbseys were back at school. For a time Nan and Bert, who were in +a higher grade, did not like it so well, as they had a strange teacher, +and lessons, too, were more difficult. But they were not children who +gave up easily, and soon they were at the head of their class as usual. +Their teacher, too, was much nicer than they had thought at first. They +had considered her stern, but it was only her way, and soon wore off. + +As for Freddie and Flossie, they had advanced but little except in +reading, and this opened a new world to them. + +"We'll soon be reading books," boasted Freddie, on his way home one day. + +"And I'm going to read all about firemen, soldiers and Indians." + +"Oh, I'm not," said Flossie. "I'm going to read how to be a nurse, so I +can take care of you when you're hurt." + +"That will be nice," said Freddie. + +One day, at recess, Bert saw Jim Osborne motioning to him in a secret +sort of fashion. + +"Come on with us," said Jim, who was a new boy in school. "Danny Rugg +and some of the rest of us are going to have some sport." + +"What doing?" asked Bert. + +"Smoking cigarettes back of the coal house. I've got a whole pack." + +"No; I don't smoke," said Bert quietly. + +"Bah! You're afraid!" sneered Jim. + +"Cigarettes can't hurt you. It's only cigars and pipes that do." + +"Yes, I admit I am afraid," said Bert. "I'm afraid of getting sick. +Besides, I promised my mother I wouldn't smoke until I was twenty-one, +and I'm not going to tell a story. Anyhow, I've got an uncle who +smokes, and he says cigarettes are worse than a pipe or cigars, and he +ought to know." + +"Aw, come on!" urged Jim. + +"No," said Bert firmly, and he would not go. Jim went off with Danny +and some of the other boys, and they were laughing among themselves. +Bert felt that they were laughing at him, but he did not mind. + +There was to be an examination of the school by some of the members of +the Board of Education late that afternoon, and, directly after recess, +Mr. Tetlow went to each room to tell the pupils and teachers to get +ready for it, and to put certain work on the blackboards, so it could be +seen. + +When the principal got to the room where Danny Rugg and his particular +chums sat, Mr Tetlow, sniffing the air suspiciously, said: + +"I smell smoke!" + +"I have been noticing it, too," said the lady teacher. "Perhaps the +furnace does not work properly." + +"It isn't that kind of smoke," went on Mr. Tetlow. "It is tobacco +smoke. Have any of you boys been smoking during recess?" he asked +sternly, looking across the room. + +No one answered. Danny, Jim, and some of the others seemed to be +studying their geography lessons very hard. + +"I just want to say a word about cigarette smoking," went on Mr. Tetlow, +"for that is usually how a boy begins. Of smoking in general, when a +boy gets to be a man, I have nothing to say. Some say it is injurious, +and others not, in moderation. But there can be no doubt that for a +growing boy to smoke is very harmful. Again I ask if anyone here has +been smoking?" + +No one replied. The guilty boys bent deep over their books and did not +look up. + +"Well, I am sure someone here has," said Mr. Tetlow. "I can smell it +plainly." He walked down the aisles, looking sharply from one boy to +another. If he was sure who were the guilty ones he gave no sign. "And +I want to add," said Mr. Tetlow, "that not only is cigarette smoking +harmful to the smoker, but it is dangerous. Many fires have been caused +in that way. If I find out who of my pupils have been smoking around +the school they will be severely punished." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII +THE FIRST SNOW + + +THERE was considerable talk among the boys in Danny's room after Mr. +Tetlow departed. And it was noticed that Danny and some of his +particular friends looked around with rather frightened faces, over +their shoulders, as they talked among themselves. What they said could +not be heard, for they spoke in whispers. + +"I hope you weren't one of those boys, Bert," said Nan, as she passed +her brother on the way home from school that afternoon. "If you were -" + +"You needn't worry," he said, with a smile. "I'm not ready to smoke +yet." + +"Nor ever, I hope," said Nan, as she turned up her little nose. "It - +it smells so." + +Nothing more was heard of the smoking matter for several days, and it +was about forgotten, when something else came to claim the attention of +the Bobbsey twins and their friends. + +It was toward the close of school one afternoon, when all the pupils +were wishing the hands of the clock would point to letting-out time, +that Nan, looking from the window, and away from her arithmetic book, +saw a few white flakes of snow sifting lazily down. At once she was all +attention, and her lesson was forgotten. + +"Oh!" she thought, "it's snowing! And it looks as if it would be a big +storm. Oh, I'm so glad!" + +Nan did not know all the trouble and misery a big snow storm can cause, +so she may be forgiven for wishing for one. She only saw the side of it +that meant fun for her and her friends. + +The flakes were coming down faster now, and there was about them +something which seemed to tell that this storm would be more than a mere +flurry or squall, and that it would keep up for some time, making big +drifts. + +But now a number of other pupils in the room had noticed the storm, and +eyes were out of doors rather than on books. The teacher saw that she +was not getting the attention of her class, and she understood the +reason. + +"Now, boys and girls," she said gently, "you can have a good time in the +snow after you get out of here. So please give attention to your +lessons for a few minutes more. Then you will be finished. Nan +Bobbsey, you may go to the board and do the third example." + +But Nan was thinking so much of the fun she might have riding down hill, +or snowballing with her friends, that she got the example wrong, and had +to go to her seat. Nor was Bert any more successful. + +Bert was busy thinking about putting a bell and a steering wheel on the +new bob he and Charley had made, and when he was asked how many times +two and a half went into ten he answered: "Three." He was thinking how +many times he would ring the bell on the bob when he came to a street +crossing. + +When the Bobbsey twins, little and big, came out of school the snow was +coming down more thickly. The flakes were not so large, but there were +more of them, and they blew here and there in the wind, drifting into +piles that would make the shoveling off of walks hard the next day. + +There were just about enough of the white crystals on the ground, when +the school children came out to make a few snowballs, and this they at +once proceeded to do. + +Danny Rugg, who had not forgiven Bert for the many times the Bobbsey lad +had gotten the best of him, threw a ball at Freddie. But Bert was on +the watch, and managed to jump up and catch the white missile in his +hand. Then he threw it at Danny, striking him on the neck. + +"Here! Where you throwin'?" demanded Danny, in angry tones. + +"The same place you are," replied Bert, not a bit afraid. "Good weather +for ice cream, Danny," he added, and Danny went off in an angry fashion. + +Other boys and girls too, threw the snowballs, but it was in goodnatured +fun, and no one was hurt. Some rough boys did use hard snowballs, but +they were soon left to play among themselves, while the others amused +themselves with soft and fluffy missiles, which, breaking as they hit, +scattered the white stuff all over, harming no one. + +The girls, while they played at this sport, also indulged in washing the +faces of each other. With handsful of snow they rubbed the ears and +cheeks of their chums so that there came a healthy glow to the skin. + +One or two children, who lived near the school, ran in their yards as +soon as the classes were dismissed, and brought out their sleds. But +the snow was too thin to pack well and at best the coasting was not +good. + +"But it soon will be," declared Bert, as he and Charley walked along. +"We must finish our bob in a hurry." + +"All right. We'll work on it late tonight." + +And so the sound of hammer, plane and saw was heard in the old barn, +where the sled was being built, until nearly ten o'clock. + +"She ought to go very fast!" exclaimed Charley, as they paused to look +at their sled. + +"I'm sure she will," agreed Bert. "And we'll put some carpet on the top +of the main board, for a cushion for some of the girls." His chum +agreed that this would be a good plan, and so the bob was made very +attractive for the girls. + +Bert and Charley took the big sled out for a private trial on a little +hill behind the barn without telling anyone about it. They slid down +very swiftly, and as they were walking up again Bert said: + +"I think we have a fast one all right, Charley." + +"I'm sure we have," was the answer. + +"It will pass anything on the main hill," went on Bert, and his friend +believed him. + +The storm kept up all night, and in the morning there was snow enough to +suit anyone. Bert laughed as he looked out of the window and saw it. + +"There'll be coasting now all right!" he cried, as he saw the big +stretch of white over the fields and on the hills. "We can have bob +sled races, too." + +"Can't we come?" asked Flossie. + +"We like sled rides," added Freddie. + +"You may come part of the time," answered Bert. "But big sleds aren't +for little folks like you." + +Not far from the Bobbsey home was a long hill that was most excellent +for coasting. It was on this that Charley and Bert had decided to test +their new sled on a long stretch. + +As they hauled it from the barn where it had been made, and started to +pull it to the hill, there were many laughs at the odd homemade affair. +For Bert and Charley had done most of the work themselves, and it was +rather rough. + +"She'll never coast!" cried one boy, with a laugh. He was quite a +friend of Danny's. + +"Here comes the sled that can, though!" cried another, and Danny himself +came into view, pulling a fine, new, big bob after him. + +"That's the fastest one on the hill," boasted another lad who was +helping Danny pull his sled. + +"Well, I think ours is fast, too," said Bert calmly. + +"Do you want to race?" asked Danny with a sharp glance at Bert. + +"I don't mind," was the answer. It was after school, following the +first snow, and the hill was just right for coasting. + +"Come on! Come on!" cried a number of boys and girls, as they heard +what went on between Danny and Bert. "There's going to be a race on the +big hill between the big bobs." + +There was much excitement. The sleds were the two largest owned by +anyone in the neighborhood, and both were fine ones. Danny had bought +his, but Bert and Charley had made theirs, and so, though it was not so +fancy, it was stronger. Most eyes were on Danny's sled, for it was +painted in bright colors, and brightly varnished. It had a red cushion +of carpet on the top, and places at the side to rest one's feet. + +The bob of Bert and Charley was built just the same, but it was painted +in homemade fashion, and the carpet seat was an old and faded one. But +it had a new gong and a fine big steering wheel. + +"All ready for the race," cried Danny, as he got his sled in position. +"Who's going down with me?" + +A number of boys came forward. + +"Who's going with Bert and me?" asked Charley, and several others +stepped forward. + +"Go ahead, if you want to come in last!" sneered Danny, as he got his +sled in place. "I'll tell 'em you're coming, Bert." + +"All right," was the cool answer. "Get an, boys!" + +Soon both sleds were filled, and all was ready for the big race - the +first of the season. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII +A NIGHT ALARM + + +"ARE you all ready?" called Danny to Bert, looking over at the homemade +bob, and there was something like contempt in his tone. + +"All ready," answered Bert. "I'll start as soon as you give the word." + +"We ought to have someone to shove us off," suggested Danny. "It won't +be fair if one or the other gets a headstart." + +"Hi! He's afraid already!" cried Charley Mason. "He knows we're going +to beat!" + +"I am not!" retorted Danny. "It will be a walkover for me once I start. +But I don't want Bert Bobbsey saying I took advantage of him, after the +race is over." + +"You needn't be afraid - I won't say so - I won't have to," replied +Bert. "All the same I think it would be better if we each had a push. +I want to be fair, too." + +"Hey, Bert!" called a shrill voice, as the elder Bobbsey lad was looking +about for some on the hill to whom he might appeal. "Can't I ride down +with you, Bert?" + +It was Freddie who called, and he came running up, anxious to take +part in the exciting race. + +"No, Freddie, not this time," explained Bert kindly. "I want only large +boys with me in the race. I'll give you a ride afterward." + +"After I beat him, he means," sneered Danny. + +"Come on, let's race if we're going to," called some of the boys on +Danny's sled. + +"Yes; don't stay here all day." + +"Get a move on!" + +"We'll beat, anyhow, what's the use of racing?" + +There were only a few of things that those on the big new sled of +Danny's, called to those on Bert's bob. On their part Bert's friends +voiced such remarks as: + +"We're not so strong on looks, but we'll get there first!" + +"We're going to give Danny a tow to the bottom of the hill!" + +"He won't know he's moving, once Bert's sled gets started going!" + +"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Danny at last. "Shall we shove +off ourselves?" + +Just then there came along two large boys, Frank Cobb, and his +particular chum, Irving Knight. + +"What's going on here; a race?" asked Frank. + +"It looks that way," said Irving. + +"Oh, will you push us off?" begged Bert, appealing to Frank, whose +father worked in Mr. Bobbsey's lumber yard. + +"Sure we will," answered Frank goodnaturedly. "Take the other sled, +Irving," he said to his chum, "and we'll give 'em an even start. Then +we'll see which beats, and may the best sled win!" + +"That's what I say!" cried Irving. + +The two larger boys took their places behind the bobs. They slowly +shoved them to the edge of the hill, held them there a moment, and, at a +nod to each other, shoved them down evenly. + +"Hurray!" cried the crowd of other coasters. "There they go!" + +"And Danny's ahead!" said some of his friends. + +"No, Bert's sled is!" shouted his admirers. + +As a matter of fact, though, both sleds were even at the start. On and +on they went very swiftly, for the hill had been worn smooth. Then Bert +saw his bob getting ahead a little, and he felt that he was going to win +easily. + +But he was glad too soon, for, a little later, Danny's sled shot ahead, +and for some distance was in the lead. + +"Can't you beat him, Bert?" whispered Charley Mason, who sat just behind +his chum. + +"I hope so," was the answer. "But I can't really do anything. We just +have to depend on the sled, you know." + +"Steer a little more over to the left," suggested another boy. "It +looks smoother there." + +"I will," said Bert, and he turned the steering wheel of his bob while +Luke Morton, in the rear, pulled hard on the bell, making it clang out a +loud warning. + +"Look out where you're going, Bert Bobbsey!" warned Danny, looking back. + +"You're coming over on my side of the hill!" + +"No I'm not. I'm away from the middle even," said Bert. "Besides, I'm +behind you." + +"I know you are, and you're going to stay there; but I don't want you to +run into me." + +Bert thought of the time, the winter before, when Danny had run into +him, and broken his sled, but he said nothing. He did not want that +kind of an accident to be repeated if he could help it. + +On, on and on dashed the big bobs, with the crowd on the hill, and a +number of coasters scattered along the way, watching anxiously. As soon +as Bert had steered over to the left his sled began to go faster, as the +snow was packed better there. He was fast catching up to Danny, when +one of the boys on that bob, looking back, saw it, and warned the +steersman. + +"He's coming, Danny," he cried. + +"Oh, he is; eh? Well, he won't pass me," and Danny steered his sled +over directly in front of Bert's, almost causing Bert to collide with +him. + +"Shame!" cried some watchers. "That wasn't fair!" + +"Let him keep on his own side then," warned Danny. + +But this mean trick did Danny little good for, though Bert was forced to +go to the right, to avoid crashing into Danny, he, most unexpectedly, +found good coasting there, and he shot ahead until his sled was even +with that of the bully's. + +"Better look out, Danny," warned the boy sitting directly back of him. + +"He's crowding us fast." + +"Oh, it's only a spurt. We'll soon be at the bottom of the hill and +win." + +On and on came Bert's bob, the Flier. It was a little ahead of Danny's +now, and the latter, seeing this, steered over, thinking the going was +better there. + +"Look out!" warned Bert. "Who's crowding over now?" + +"Well, I've got a right here!" snarled Danny. + +But Bert knew his rights also, and would not give away. He held to his +place, and Danny dared not come too close. Then, as Bert found himself +on smooth, hardpacked snow, he steered as straight as he could. More +and more ahead of Danny he went, until he was fully in front of him. + +"We're going to win! We're going to win!" cried Bert's friends. "We're +going to win the race!" + +Danny was wild with anger. He steered his sled over sharply, hoping to +get on the same track as was Bert and so pass him. But it was not to +be. Danny took too sudden a turn, and the next instant his bob +overturned, spilling everyone off. + +There was a cry of surprise at the accident, and some of those on Bert's +sled looked back. Bert himself looked straight ahead as a steersman +always should. + +"Danny's upset!" cried Charley. + +"I'm sorry!" said Bert. "Now he'll claim the race wasn't fair." + +And that is what Danny did when he picked himself up, and walked down to +meet Bert, whose bob got safely to the foot of the hill, and so won the +race. + +"Aw, I'd have beaten if you hadn't gotten in my way so I had to steer +over," cried Danny. + +"Don't talk that way now," said Irving, who, with Frank Cobb had come to +the end of the hill. "Bert beat you fair and square." + +"Aw, well" grumbled Danny. + +"I'll race over again, if you like," offered Bert. + +"Yes, and do the same thing," grumbled Danny. "I will not. I know my +sled is the best." + +But few others, save those who hoped for a ride on it, agreed with the +bully, and Bert's homemade bob was held to be champion of the hill. + +Then came many more coasts, Bert giving Nan and Flossie and Freddie, and +a number of their little girl and boy friends, several rides. + +Until late that evening the coasting kept up, and Bert and Charley were +congratulated on all sides for the fine bob they had made. And what fun +Bert had home after supper, telling of how he had won the race! + +It was in the middle of the night, when the Bobbsey household was +awakened by the ringing of fire bells. They all heard the alarm, and as +Papa Bobbsey counted the number, he said to his wife: + +"That must be near here. Guess I'll look. It's a windy night and a +fire in my lumber yard would be very bad." + +As he went to the window he saw a glare on the sky in the direction of +the lake. + +"It is near here!" he said. "The engines are going past our house! I'd +better take a look." + +"Can I come?" asked the little "Fat Fireman" from his cot. "Take me, +papa!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX +WHO WAS SMOKING? + + +MR. BOBBSEY laughed, though he was worried about the fire. It seemed so +odd for Freddie to want to go out in the cold, dark night. + +"Not this time, my Fat Fireman!" said Freddie's papa. "It may be only a +pile of rubbish on fire. I'll tell you about it when I come back." + +"Where does it seem to be?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. + +"Down near the lake," answered her husband. "I'm afraid, he added in a +lower voice, that it may be our boathouse. It seems to be about +there." + +"Oh, I hope not!" she exclaimed. "Still, better that than our own +house." + +"If it's near the lake, papa," said Flossie who heard part of what her +father said, "it will be easy to put it out, for there is plenty of +water." + +"Pooh! engines have their own water!" exclaimed Freddie, who had rather +hazy notions as to how fire engines work. He was getting over his +disappointment about not being allowed to go with his father, and had +again cuddled down in his warm crib. + +Another engine dashed by the Bobbsey house, and the ringing of the alarm +bell increased. The voices and footsteps of many persons, as they +rushed on to the blaze, could also be heard, and there resounded the cry +of: + +"Fire! Fire! Fire!" + +Bert, who had been aroused with the others of the household, was +dressing in his room. He felt that his father would let him go to the +fire. At any rate he intended to be all ready when he made his request, +so as not to cause delay. + +"Are you going, Bert?" asked Nan, as from her room, next to that of her +brother, she heard him moving around. + +"I am, if father will take me," he said. + +"It's too cold for me!" Nan exclaimed with a shiver, as she went back in +bed again. She had gotten up to peer from the window at the red glare +in the sky. + +From the third floor, where Dinah slept, the colored cook now called +down: + +"Am anybody sick, Mrs. Bobbsey? What am de mattah down dere?" + +"It's a fire, Dinah!" answered her mistress. + +"Oh good land a'massy! Don't tell me dat!" she cried. "Sam! Sam! Wake +up. De house is on fire an' you'se got t' sabe me!" + +"No, no, Dinah!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey, to calm the cook. "It isn't this +house. It's down by the lake. If you look out of your window you can +see it." + +Dinah hurried across to her window, and evidently saw the reflection of +the blaze, for she exclaimed: + +"Thank goodness it ain't yeah! Mah goodness, but I suah was skarit fo' +a minute!" + +By this time Mr. Bobbsey had dressed, and had started downstairs. Bert +came out of his room, also ready for the street. + +"May I come, father?" he asked. + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey, in surprise. "So you got +dressed too, did you?" + +"Yes, sir. May I come?" + +Mr. Bobbsey hesitated a moment, and then, with a smile, said: + +"Well, I suppose so, since you are all ready. I'm taking Bert," he +called to his wife. "Freddie, you'll have to be the Fat Fireman while +I'm gone, and look after the house." + +"That's what I will," said Freddie, "and if any sparks fly over here +I'll throw the bath room sponge on 'em!" + +"Good!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, and then, he and Bert hurried out. + +The fire was now larger, as they could see when they got out in the +street. There was no wind and the flames went straight up in the air. +There were not many buildings down by the lake, only some boat shelters +and places like that. The Bobbsey's boathouse was a fine large one, +having recently been made bigger as Mr. Bobbsey was thinking of buying a +new motor boat. + +Mr. Bobbsey and his son hurried on, following the crowd that filled the +street leading to the lake. Several gentlemen knew the lumber merchant, +and called to him. + +"I guess you're glad this isn't your lumber yard," said one. + +"Yes, indeed," was the answer. "I had a little fire there once, and I +don't want another. But I'm afraid this is some of my property just the +same." + +"Is that so?" + +"Yes, it looks to be my boathouse." + +"So it does!" cried another man. + +"Oh, father!" cried Bert. "Our nice boathouse!" + +"Well, the firemen may save it," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We will hope so, +anyhow," he added. + +They had not gone on much farther before Mr. Bobbsey and Bert could see +that it was indeed their boathouse on fire. One side was all ablaze, +and the flames were slowly, but surely, eating their way over the whole +place. But two engines were now pumping streams of water on the fire, +and they might put it out before too much damage was done. + +Mr. Bobbsey rushed forward, and, as the policemen and firemen knew him, +they let him get close to the boathouse. + +"You stay here, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey to his son. + +"Where are you going?" Bert wanted to know. + +"I'm going to see if we can save any of the boats." + +There was a sailing craft, a number of rowboats, and a small gasoline +launch in the boathouse. They had been stored away for the winter. + +"Come on, men!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, as he saw some of his workmen in the +crowd. "Help me save the boats!" + +All rushed forward willingly, and, as there was part of the place where +the flames had not yet reached, they could make their way into the +house. They began lowering the boats into the icy water, while the +firemen played the several lines of hose on the flames. + +The third engine was now working, and so much water was pumped that even +a larger fire could not have stood it for very long. The blaze began to +die down, and when Mr. Bobbsey and his men were about to lower the +gasoline launch into the icy water the chief ran up, saying: + +"You don't need to do that! We've got the fire under control now. It +will soon be out." + +"Are you sure?" asked the lumber merchant. + +"Yes. You can see for yourself. Leave the boat there. It will be all +right." + +Mr. Bobbsey looked, and was satisfied that the larger part of the +boathouse would be saved. So he and his men stopped their work; and +went outside to cool off. + +A little later the fire was practically out, but one engine continued to +throw water on the smouldering sparks. The crowd began to leave now, +for there was nothing more to see, and it was cold. + +"My!" exclaimed Bert as his father came back to where he had left his +son, "it didn't take long to settle that fire." + +"No, we have a good fire department," replied Mr. Bobbsey. + +The fire chief came up to Mr Bobbsey, who expressed his thanks for the +quick work of the firemen. + +"Have you any idea what started the fire, Mr. Bobbsey?" asked the chief. +"Was the boathouse in use?" + +"No," was the answer. "It had been closed for the winter some time ago +- in fact as soon as the carpenters finished making the changes. No one +was in it as far as I know." + +"Then how do you account for this?" asked the chief, as he held out a +box partly filled with cigarettes. "I picked these up in the living +room," he went on, for the boathouse had one room carpeted, and fitted +with chairs and tables, and electric lights where the family often spent +evenings during Summer. + +"You found those cigarettes in the living room of the boathouse?" asked +Mr. Bobbsey. + +"I did; and the question is who was smoking?" went on the chief. "In my +opinion the end of a cigarette thrown aside, or perhaps a lighted match +dropped in some corner, started this fire. Who was smoking?" + + + + +CHAPTER XX +A CONFESSION + + +THE chief handed Mr. Bobbsey the half-emptied cigarette box. Mr. +Bobbsey turned it over and over in his hand, as though trying to learn +to whom it belonged. + +"They are something I never use," he said. "I don't suppose we could +tell, from this, who had it?" + +"No," and the chief shook his head. "It's a common kind, and a good +many of the stores sell 'em. A good many of the boys smoke 'em, too - +that's the worst of it," and he looked at Bert a bit sharply. + +"Oh, you needn't be afraid for my boy!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey hastily. +"I have Bert's promise that he won't smoke until he's man, and perhaps +he won't want to then." + +"Good!" exclaimed the chief heartily; "That's what I like to hear. But +it's as certain as guns is, and nothing more certain than them, that +some one was smoking in your boathouse, and set fire to it. And I wish +we could find out who it was." + +"So do I!" exclaimed Mr. Bobbsey. "If only to teach them a lesson on +how dangerous it is to be careless. Well, I suppose we can't do +anything more," and he sighed, for half the beautiful boathouse was in +ruins. + +Mr. Bobbsey and Bert were soon at home, telling the news to the folks. + +Freddie's eyes opened wide in surprise as he listened to the account of +how the firemen had put out the fire. + +"Oh, I wish I could have been there!" he cried. "I could have helped." + +"What caused the fire?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of her husband, when the +children had gone to bed again. + +"Some boys - or some one else smoking cigarettes, the chief thinks. We +found a half-emptied box." + +In her room Nan heard the word "cigarettes" and she wondered if her +brother could be at fault, for she remembered he had told her how once +some boys had asked him to go off in secret and smoke. + +Mr. Bobbsey was up early, for he wanted to see by daylight what damage +the fire had done, and he also wanted to see the insurance company about +the loss. The beautiful boathouse looked worse in the daylight than it +had at night, and the neat living room, where some of the Bobbseys had +spent many happy hours, while others of them were out in the boats, was +in ruins. + +The fire chief came down while Mr. Bobbsey was there, and they talked +matters over. The chief said he would send one of his men around to the +different stores that sold cigarettes, to try and learn if boys had +purchased any that afternoon, for it was against the law to sell +cigarettes to anyone under sixteen years of age. + +One afternoon Danny's father, Mr. Rugg, came home unexpectedly, and, +wanting something that was out in his barn went to get it. As he +entered the place he heard a scramble of feet, some excited whispers, +and then silence. He was sure that some one was in the place and had +run to hide. + +"Who's there?" called Mr. Rugg sharply. There was no answer, but he +listened and was sure he heard some one in the little room where the +harness was kept. + +He walked over to the door, and tried to open it. Some one on the +inside was holding it, but Mr. Rugg gave a strong pull, and the door +flew open. To the surprise of Mr. Rugg he saw his son Danny, and a +number of boys, hiding there, and the smell of cigarette smoke was very +strong. + +"Danny!" exclaimed his father sternly, "what does this mean?" + +"We - were - playing!" stammered Danny. "Playing hide and seek." + +"And to play that is it necessary to smoke?" Mr. Rugg asked sharply. + +"We - we aren't smoking," answered Danny. + +"Not now, but you have been. I can smell it plainly. Go into the +house, Danny, and these other boys must go home. If I find them smoking +in my barn again I shall punish them. You might have set it on fire." + +Danny had nothing to say, indeed, there was little he could say. He had +been caught in the act. + +The other boys slunk off, and Danny went into the house, his father +following. + +"Danny, I am very sorry to learn this," said Mr. Rugg. "I did not know +that you smoked - a boy of your age!" + +"Well, I never smoked much. Lots of the fellows smoke more than I do." + +"That is no excuse. It is a bad habit for a boy. You may go to your +room. I will consider your case later." + +From then on Mr. Rugg did some hard thinking. He began "putting two and +two together" as the old saying has it. He remembered the Bobbsey +boathouse fire. On that occasion Danny had come in late, and there had +been the smell of smoke on his clothes. + +Mr. Rugg went to his son's room. A search showed a number of empty +cigarette boxes, and cigarette pictures, and the boxes were all of the +same kind - the kind that had been found in the halfburned boathouse. + +Danny was accused by his father of having been smoking in the boathouse +just before the fire, and Danny was so miserable, and so surprised at +being caught in the barn, that he made a full confession. Tearfully he +told the story, how he and some other boys, finding the boat house +unlocked, for some unknown reason, had gone in, and smoked to their +heart's content. + +They did not mean to cause the fire, and had no idea that they were to +blame. One of the boys was made ill by too much smoking, and they all +hurried away. + +But they must have left a smouldering stump of cigarette in some corner, +or a carelessly thrown match, that started the blaze. Then, when the +fire bells sounded, and they learned what had happened, Danny and all +the boys promised each other that they would keep the secret. + +"Well, Danny, I can't tell you how sorry I am," said Mr. Rugg, when the +confession was over. "Sorry not only that Mr. Bobbsey's boathouse was +burned, but because you have deceived me, and your good mother, and +smoked in secret. I feel very badly about it." + +Danny did, too, for though he was not a very good boy, his heart was in +the right place, and with a little more care he might have been a +different character. There was, however, hope for him. + +"You must be punished for this," went on Mr. Rugg, "and this punishment +will be that you are not to have the motor boat I promised you for next +Summer. Perhaps it will be a lesson to you." + +Danny wept bitterly, for he had counted very much on having this boat. +But it was a good lesson to him. Mr. Rugg also told the fathers of the +other boys whom he caught with his son, and these boys were punished in +different ways. + +Mr. Rugg also informed Mr. Bobbsey how the boathouse had been set afire, +and expressed his sorrow. And so the mystery was cleared up. + + + + +CHAPIER XXI +THE FAT LADY'S LETTER + + +"WELL," remarked Nan Bobbsey, a few days after it had become known that +Danny Rugg was to blame for the fire in the boathouse, "I wish we could +find out, as easily as we found out about Danny, who has our cat Snoop." + +"So do I," added Flossie. "Poor Snoop! I do miss him so much." + +"So do I!" exclaimed Freddie. "But Snap is a nice dog, and I guess I +like dogs better than cats, anyhow." + +"Why, Freddie Bobbsey!" cried Nan. + +"Don't you love Snoop any more?" + +"Oh, yes, 'course I do, but then he isn't here to be loved, and Snap +is." + +"Yes, I guess that does make a difference," admitted Nan. "I wonder if +papa wouldn't let us go down to the railroad office and inquire once +more about him? Maybe, as it's getting cold weather now, Snoop will +come in from the fields where he may have been staying ever since the +railroad wreck." + +"Let's ask," cried Freddie, always ready for action. + +It was Saturday, and there was no school. Bert had gone off coasting on +his new bob, but Nan did not want to go, her mother having asked her to +stay and help with the dusting. But now the little bit of housework was +over, and Nan was free. + +"We'll go down to papa's office," she said to Flossie and Freddie, "and +ask him if we can go to the railroad. I know one of the ticket agents +and he can tell us of whom to ask about our cat." + +Mrs. Bobbsey had no objections, and soon, with Flossie and Freddie at +her side, Nan set off for her father's office in the lumber yard. The +smaller twins were delighted. + +"And maybe we can find our silver cup, too," suggested Freddie, as they +trudged along in the snow, now and then stopping to make a white ball, +which he threw at the fence or telegraph pole. + +"The fat lady has our cup - I'm sure of that," said Flossie. + +"Well, we can ask papa if he has heard from the circus people," +suggested Nan. + +Mr. Bobbsey was rather surprised to see his three children come into the +office, but he was glad to meet them, for it made a break in his day's +work. After a little thought he said they might go to the railroad +office to inquire about Snoop. Nan and her brother and sister went in a +trolley car, and were soon at the depot. + +But to their disappointment there was no news of Snoop. The fat, black +cat seemed to have completely disappeared. + +"I've had the switchmen and trackmen keep a lookout for some time past," +the agent told Nan, for Mr. Bobbsey did a large business in shipping +lumber over the railroad, and many of the men were his friends. "One of +the switchmen near where the wreck was, caught a lot of cats, that must +have been living out in the fields all Summer," went on the agent, "but +they were all sorts of colors. None was pure black, so I knew they could +not be yours. I'm sorry." + +"Yes, so are we," replied Nan. "Well, I guess Snoop is lost for good. +He has been away a long time now." + +On the way back to Mr. Bobbsey's office, the trolley car got off the +track, on account of so much snow on the rails, and the children spent +some time watching the men get it back, the electricity from the wire +and rails making pretty flashes of blue fire. + +"What luck?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, as the three came in his private office, +their faces shining and red with the glow of winter. + +"None," said Nan sadly. "Snoop is gone." + +"Have you heard from the circus fat lady yet, papa?" asked Flossie. + +"Yes, we want our cup back," added her brother. + +"No word yet," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "That circus is traveling all over +Cuba, and the letters I sent never seem to catch up to them. However, I +am sending one on ahead now, to a city where they will soon give a show. +The fat lady will find it there waiting for her, and she may answer +then." + +And with this the children had to be content. Getting back home, +Flossie and Freddie took out their sleds and went for a coast on a small +hill, not far from their home. This was where the smaller children had +their fun, leaving the larger hill for the bigger girls and boys. + +"Well, after this I think we all need something to cheer us up," said +Papa Bobbsey, who came home from the office early that day. + +"Oh, have you got something good?" asked Nan, for she saw a queer little +twinkle in her father's eyes, and she knew that this generally meant a +treat of some kind. + +"I have some good news, if you would like to hear it," he said, as he +drew a letter from his pocket. + +"Is it to tell that some of our friends are coming to see us?" asked +Bert. + +"Well, yes, I think you will call it a visit from a friend - at least +part of it," said Papa Bobbsey. "Now listen. This is a letter from the +fat lady in the circus." + +"What!" cried Flossie "- the one who has our cup?" + +"The same," said Mr. Bobbsey with a smile. "And she has more than your +cup. Listen," and he read the letter. + +It was too long to put it all in here, but it went on to say how the fat +lady really had the valuable silver cup belonging to the twins. + +"They loaned it to me to drink from," she wrote, "and when the train +stopped so suddenly, there was so much confusion that I put it in my +valise by mistake. I have had it ever since and have been wondering how +I could send it back to you. The circus went to Cuba soon after that, +and has been traveling around that island ever since. I have only just +received your last letter asking me about the cup, or I would have +answered before. If you will send me directions how to ship the cup to +you I shall be very glad to return it." + +"Oh goodie!" cried Freddie. "We'll have our nice cup again!" + +"Is that all in the letter, papa?" asked Flossie. + +"No, not quite," he said. "I'll read a little more," and he read: + +"When our circus was wrecked we lost a valuable trick dog. He could +play soldier, say his prayers, turn somersaults, and do a number of +tricks. The ringmaster feels very badly about losing him, and has tried +to locate him, but without success. If you should hear of anyone near +you having such a dog we would be much obliged if you would send him to +us as he belongs to the circus." + +There was a moment of silence after Mr. Bobbsey read this, and then +Freddie said: + +"Why that must be Snap - our pet dog! Oh, papa you won't give him back +to the circus; will you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII +SNAP AND SNOOP + + +ALL of the Bobbsey twins - Nan, Bert, Flossie and Freddie - looked so +serious over the prospect of losing Snap that Mr. Bobbsey had to laugh. +He just couldn't help it. + +"Well, I don't see anything to make fun over," said Nan, with a little +pout. + +"Why, you all act as though you had lost your best friend - or were +going to." + +"Well, Snap is one of our best friends, aren't you Snap?" said Freddie. + +"Still, if he belongs to the circus I don't see but what I'll have to +send him back," went on Mr. Bobbsey, slowly. + +At this Flossie burst into tears, and Mrs. Bobbsey, putting her arms +about the little girl, said to her husband: + +"Are you in earnest Richard? Don't tease the child." + +"I'm not, Mary. The fat lady wrote just that. I believe the dog we +have does belong to the circus." + +"Then we'll have to give him up I suppose," and Mrs. Bobbsey sighed, for +she had grown very much attached to the fine animal. + +"Well, we won't have to send him back right away," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I +will have to get more particulars. But I did not finish the fat lady's +letter." + +"What! Is there more news in it?" asked Nan. + +"Listen," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he went on reading: + +"We are sorry about losing our trick dog," the fat lady wrote, "but I +picked up a big black cat when I walked out of the train. I brought him +to Cuba with me, and I am teaching him tricks. He may be as valuable as +our dog was." + +"A black cat!" cried Nan. + +"It's our Snoop!" shouted Freddie, "yes, that's it! The fat lady has +our cat as well as our cup. Oh, papa, make her give back our Snoop!" + +Mr. Bobbsey laughed. + +"You see how it is," he said. "She has our cat, and we have their dog. +We'll have to give up our dog to get our cat." + +The Bobbsey twins had not thought of this before. They looked strangely +at one another. + +"Papa!" cried Freddie, jumping up and down in his excitement, "can't we +keep both - the circus dog and our cat? Oh, do please, let us." + +"But maybe Snap would fight Snoop," said Flossie. "We wouldn't want +that." + +Freddie thought for a moment. + +"I don't believe he would," he said at last. + +"Well," said Papa Bobbsey, after a bit, "I'll see what I can do. I'll +write to the fat lady, telling her how to ship your silver cup, and also +how to send Snoop. And I'll ask if we can buy Snap. How will that do?" + +"Fine!" cried all the Bobbsey twins at once, and they made a rush for +Mr. Bobbsey, hugging and kissing him. + +The letter was sent to the fat lady, and then came a time of anxious +waiting. Never before had the children seemed to care so much for Snap. + +One day a letter came, saying that the silver cup had been sent, and +also Snoop, the cat. + +"But what about Snap, papa?" asked Nan. + +"Does she say the circus will sell him?" + +"No, the man who owns him is away for a few days. When he comes back he +will let me know. But, anyhow, you will have your cup and cat back." + +"But we want Snap, too!" said Flossie. + +Several more days passed. They lengthened into a week, and still no +news came from where the circus was: All the Bobbsey twins could hope +was that their cat and cup were on the way, and that the man who owned +Snap would consent to sell him. + +The twins did not feel much like having fun. There was a warm spell, +and all the snow had melted. + +One day an express wagon stopped in front of the Bobbsey house. + +It was a Saturday, and there was no school, and, as it happened, all +four of the twins were in. + +"Two boxes for you, Mrs. Bobbsey," said the driver, as he opened his +receipt book. "I'll bring them in while you sign." + +The man came up the walk with two boxes. One was small, and the other +larger, with slats on one end. And from this box came a peculiar noise. + +"Listen!" cried Bert. + +"It's a cat!" shouted Freddie. + +"It's Snoop - our Snoop!" cried Flossie. + +Quickly the boxes were carried into the house. Bert got a hammer and +screw driver and soon had opened the one containing the black cat. +Snap, the dog, walked slowly into the room. + +"Oh dear!" cried Flossie as she saw him, "now maybe they'll fight!" + +"I'll hold Snap," volunteered Freddie. + +"Come on, Snoop! Come out!" cried Bert, as he pried off the last slat. + +"Meouw!" cried Snoop, as he came slowly out of the box in which he had +ridden from Cuba. + +Out walked the black cat. He looked about him strangely for a moment, +and then began to purr, and rubbed up against Flossie's legs. + +They all looked anxiously at Snap. The dog glanced at the cat, +stretched lazily and wagged his tail. Snoop came over to him, and the +two animals sniffed at each other, Mrs. Bobbsey holding Snap by the +collar. Then, to the surprise of all, Snoop rubbed against the legs of +the dog, and, on his part, Snap, wagging his tail in friendly, welcoming +fashion, put out his red tongue and licked Snoop's fur. + +"He's kissing Snoop! He's kissing Snoop!" cried Freddie. + +"Yes, they love each other!" exclaimed Flossie. "They are not going to +fight! Oh, how glad I am!" and she danced in delight. + +"Oh, if only we can keep Snap now," said Nan, while Mrs. Bobbsey, +satisfied that the two animals would be friends, had opened the other +express box. It contained the twins' silver cup, so long missing. + +Mr. Bobbsey came home soon after that his face was smiling. + +"Oh, papa!" Flossie greeted him, "Snoop came, and Snap kissed him!" + +"May we keep Snap, papa?" asked Freddie. + +"Yes," was Mr. Bobbsey's answer. "I have a letter from the circus man, +and he will sell Snap to me. I have already sent the money. And there +is another letter from the fat lady, telling about some of the new +tricks she taught Snoop, so you can make him do them." + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" cried the Bobbsey twins in firelight, as they looked at +their two pets. + +"What lots of things have happened since we came back from the +seashore," said Nan, little later. "I wonder if the rest of the Winter +will be as lively as this first part has been?" + +"Maybe," said Bert with a smile. + +And whether it was or not you may learn by reading the next volume of +this series, to be called: "The Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge," in which +we will once more hear of the doings of Flossie, Freddie Nan and Bert. + +After reading the fat lady's second letter the twins got Snoop to do +some of the tricks the cat had learned. He was not as smart at them as +Snap was at his, but then cats never do learn to do tricks as well as do +dogs. + +Still everyone agreed that the fat lady had done her training well. As +for Snap, he and Snoop became firmer friends every day, and often the +cat went to sleep on Snap's back, or between his forepaws as he lay +stretched out in front of the fire. + +And the silver cup, which, with Snoop, had gone on such a long journey, +was put back in its place on the mantle, to be admired by all. + +Now my little story has come to an end, but I hope you children who have +read it will care to hear more of the Bobbsey twins and the things they +did. So I will say goodbye for a while, trusting to meet you all again. + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Bobbsey Twins at School + diff --git a/old/tbtas11.zip b/old/tbtas11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a39f94d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tbtas11.zip |