"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."