Two or three days later the Bobbseys were again out skating on the ice, Nan and Bert keeping close to Freddie and Flossie. They had not been long gliding about when Freddie suddenly called:
"Oh, here comes that ice-boat again!"
"Surely enough, it is!" added Nan. "Oh, we must skate toward shore! Come on!"
"No need to do that," replied Bert. "It isn't coming fast, and Mr. Watson sees us."
"He's waving his hand at us!" cried Flossie. "I guess he wants to give us a ride. Come on, Freddie!"
"Here! Wait a minute!" called Bert "Don't get into any more danger. But I believe he is going to stop," he went on, as the ice-boat came slowly up to them. Then, as it swung up into the wind, with the sail loosely flapping, Mr. Watson called:
"Come on, children, don't you want to go for a ride?"
"Oh, let's!" cried Flossie, clapping her hands.
"And I want to steer!" added Freddie.
"No, you can't do that!" exclaimed Nan. "Oh, Bert, do you think it would be all right for us to go?" she asked her older brother.