Sam carried Bert to shore, and Nan helped Freddie push the raft to the edge of the pond. And then along came Mr. Bobbsey from his lumberyard.
“Well, well!” exclaimed the father of the Bobbsey twins. “What has happened?”
“We had a raft,” explained Freddie.
“And I had to toot the whistle when I wanted it to stop,” added Flossie.
“We were having a nice ride,” said Nan.
“Yes, but what happened to Bert?” asked his father, looking at his muddy son, who truly was a “sight.”
“Well, the raft got stuck,” Bert answered, “and I got off to push it loose. Then I got stuck. It was awful sticky mud. I didn’t know there was any so sticky in the whole world! First I thought it was quicksand. But I held on and then Sam came and got me out. I—I guess I got my pants a little muddy,” he said.
“I guess you did,” agreed his father, and his eyes twinkled as they always did when he wanted to laugh but did not feel that it would be just the right thing to do. “You are wet and muddy. But get up to the house and put on dry things. Then I have something to tell you.”
“Something to tell us?” echoed Nan. “Oh, Daddy! are we going away again?”
“Well, I’m not sure about that part—yet,” replied Mr. Bobbsey. “But I have strange news for you.”