"But I could swim even if I did fall in," he said, for Mr. Bobbsey had taught all four twins how to keep afloat in water.
"Well, we don't want you falling in," his mother answered. "Now you sit by me."
This Freddie did for a short time. Then he got tired of sitting still and jumped down from his chair, at the same time calling to his little sister:
"Say, Flossie, let's go and watch the engine."
"All right," answered the little girl, ready, as always, to do anything her brother suggested.
As Flossie jumped from her chair to join her brother, she accidently kicked an umbrella belonging to a man who was sitting near by, and the umbrella fell to the floor and slipped out under the railing right into the water.
"Oh—oh—oh!" gasped Flossie.
But Freddie turned and ran as fast as he could to the stairs that led to the lower deck.
"Here! where are you going?" cried his father, and started after his son.
"Goin' after that umbrella!"