"The house is on fire!" shouted Freddie. "I must get my fire engine that squirts real water!" and he raced on ahead.
The Bobbsey twins saw their mother coming quickly toward them. She held out her arms and cried:
"Oh, I'm so glad you're safe!"
"Why, what's the matter?" asked Flossie.
"I can't just say," answered her mother; "but Helen Porter can't be found. Her mother has looked everywhere for her, but can't find her."
"She's been carried off by the gypsies!" exclaimed John Marsh, an excited boy about Bert's age. "The gypsies took her! I saw 'em!"
"You did?" asked Bert.
"Sure I did! A man! Dark, with a red sash on, and gold rings in his ears! He picked Helen up in his arms and went off with her! She's in one of the gypsy wagons now!"
When John told this Flossie and Freddie huddled closer to their mother.