“It is one that has a motor in it, like a motor in an automobile, instead of a steam engine,” said Mr. Bobbsey. “Big boats and ships, except those that sail, are moved by steam engines. But a motor boat has a gasolene motor, or engine, in it.”
“And are we going to ride in one?” asked Flossie.
“Well, we’ll see what Cousin Jasper wants us to do, and hear what his strange news is,” answered her father.
“Are we going from here to Florida in a motor boat?” Freddie demanded.
“Well, not exactly, little fireman,” his father replied with a laugh. "We’ll go from here to New York in a train, and from New York to Florida in a steamboat.
“After that we’ll see what Cousin Jasper wants us to do. Maybe he will have another boat ready to take us on a nice voyage.”
“That’ll be fun!” cried Freddie. “I hope we see a whale.”
“Well, I hope it doesn’t bump into us,” said Flossie. “Whales are awful big, aren’t they, Daddy?”
“Yes, they are quite large. But I hardly think we shall see any between here and Florida, though once in a while whales are sighted along the coast.”
“Are there any sharks?” Bert asked.