“What’s the matter, little fairy?” asked her mother, as she came up on deck.
“Oh, Mother, my nice rubber doll is gone, and Freddie took her and now he’s gone,” said Flossie.
“Freddie gone!” cried Mrs. Bobbsey. “What do you mean, Flossie? Where could Freddie go?”
“I don’t know where he went. I guess he didn’t go to look at any colored ladies with baskets on their heads, ’cause there aren’t any here. But he went downstairs, where the engine is, and he took my doll with him. I saw him, and I hollered at him, but he wouldn’t bring her back to me. Oh, I want my doll—my nice rubber doll!” and Flossie cried real tears.
“I must find Freddie,” said Mrs. Bobbsey. “I wonder where that boy could have gone this time?”
[CHAPTER XIV—FREDDIE’S FISH]
Although she was a little worried about Freddie, Mrs. Bobbsey felt quite sure nothing very serious could happen to him. He would not go near enough the railing of the deck to fall over, for he and Flossie, as well as Bert and Nan, had promised not to do this while they were on the Swallow. And if the little boy had gone “downstairs,” as Flossie said, he could be in no danger there.
“Even if he went to the motor room,” thought Mrs. Bobbsey, “he could come to no harm, for there is a man there all the while looking after the engine. But I must find him.”
Flossie was still sobbing a little, and looking about the deck as if, by some chance, her doll might still be there.
“Tell me how it happened, Flossie,” said Mrs. Bobbsey.