Once she almost got it. She saw the brass ring gleaming at the end of the arm. A boy two horses ahead of her made a grab for it and missed. So did the girl directly in front of Nan. When Nan reached for the ring she did not put out her arm far enough, and she, too, missed it. A girl riding on a camel behind Nan got it.
"Oh, dear!" sighed Nan.
"Never mind," said a voice at her side, and she saw Bob Guess. "Here's a brass ring for you. Take it and have the next ride free!"
"Oh, will that be right?" asked Nan.
"Sure it will! I'm in charge of taking the tickets when Blipper is away. Some one grabbed this ring and dropped it. I picked it up. It's good for a ride. Take it. I don't know who dropped it or I'd give it to 'em. You take it!"
And Nan did. It was not to be dreamed of that Flossie and Freddie would be content with one ride. They had to stay on for the second. Mr. Bobbsey got off to buy more tickets.
"I don't need a ticket!" Nan called to him. "I have the brass ring, Daddy!"
"Oh, you were very lucky!"
"Bob gave it to me," she explained, telling how it came about.
"Well, I suppose it is all right to take it," her father said. "Bob knows what he is doing."