“No, I hardly think so. They are too slow. If we go we will, very likely, go on a steamer,” Mr. Bobbsey said.
“Oh, goody!” cried Freddie, while Mrs. Bobbsey smiled her consent.
“Well, then, I’ll call it settled,” went on the twins’ father, “and I’ll write Cousin Jasper that we’re coming to hear his strange news, though why he couldn’t put it in his letter I can’t see. But maybe he had a good reason. Now I’ll go back to the office and see about getting ready for a trip on the deep, blue sea. And I wonder—-”
Just then, out in the yard, a loud noise sounded.
Snap, the big dog, could be heard barking, and a child’s voice cried:
“No, you can’t have it! You can’t have it! Oh, Nan! Bert! Make your dog go ’way!”
Mr. Bobbsey, pushing back his chair so hard that it fell over, rushed from the room.
[CHAPTER IV—GETTING READY]
“Oh, dear!” cried Mrs. Bobbsey, “I wonder what has happened now!”
“Maybe Snap is barking at a tramp,” suggested Bert. “I’ll go and see.”