“Is they—are there oranges and bananas there?” asked Freddie.
“Where?” his father asked.
“On the island where the boy is?”
“Well, I don’t know,” answered Mr. Bobbsey. “Perhaps bananas may grow there, though I doubt it. It is hardly warm enough for them.”
“Well, let’s go anyhow,” said Freddie. “We can have some fun!”
“Yes,” said Flossie, who always wanted to do whatever her small brother did, “we can have some fun!”
“But we are not going for fun—first of all,” said Mr. Bobbsey. "We are going to try to rescue this poor boy, who may be sick and alone on the island. After we get him off, or find that he has been taken care of by some one else, then we will think about good times.
“And now, my dear,” said Mr. Bobbsey to his wife, “the question is, would you like to go?”
“Will it be dangerous?” she asked.
“No, I think not. No more so than coming down on the big ship. It is now summer, and there are not many storms here then. And we shall be in a big motor boat with a good captain and crew. Cousin Jasper told me to tell you that. We shall sail for a good part of the time—or, rather, motor—around among islands, so each day we shall not be very far from some land. Would you like to go?”