THAT afternoon a small fire broke out in Mr.Bobbsey's lumber yard.The alarm bell rang, and Mrs.Bobbsey, hearing it, and knowing by the number that the blaze must be near her husband's place of business, camehurrying down stairs.
"Oh, I must go and see how dangerous it is," she said to Dinah."It is too bad to have it happen just after Mr.Bobbsey comes back from his summer vacation.""'Deed it am!" cried the fat, colored cook."But maybe it am only a little fire, Mrs.Bobbsey.""I'm sure I hope so," was the answer.
As Mrs.Bobbsey was hurrying down the front walk Flossie and Freddie saw her.
"Where are you going, mamma?" they called.
"Down to papa's office," she answered."There's a fire near his place, and - ""Oh, a fire! Then I'm going!" cried Freddie."Fire! Fire! Ding, dong"! Turn on the water!" and he raced about quite excitedly.
"Oh, I don't know," said Mrs.Bobbsey, in doubt."Where are Nan and Bert?" she asked.
"They went down to the lake," said Flossie."Oh, mamma, do take us to the fire with you.We'll bring Snap along.""Sure," said Freddie."Hi, Snap!" he called.
The trick dog came rushing from the stable, barking and wagging his tail.
"Well, I suppose I might as well take you," said Mrs.Bobbsey."But youmust stay near me.We'll leave Snap home, though.""Oh, no!" cried Freddie.
"He might get lost," said Mrs.Bobbsey.
That was enough for Freddie.He did not want the new pet to get lost, so he did not make a fuss when Sam came hurrying up to lock Snap in thestable.Poor Snap howled, for he wanted very much to go with the children.
The fire was, as I have said, a small one, in part of the planing mill.But the engines puffed away, and spurted water, and this pleased Freddie.Flossie stayed close to her mother, and Mrs.Bobbsey, once she found out that the main lumber yard was not in danger, was ready to come back home.But Freddie wanted to stay until the fire was wholly out.
Mr.Bobbsey came from his office to give some directions to the firemen, and saw his wife and the two twins.Then he took charge of them, and led them as close to the blaze as was safe.
"It will soon be out," he said."It was only some sawdust that got on fire.""I wish I could squirt some water!" sighed Freddie.
"What's that? Do you want to be a fireman?" asked one of the men in a rubber coat and a big helmet.He smiled at Mr.Bobbsey, whom he knew quite well.
"Yes, I do," said Freddie.
"Then come with me, and I'll let you help hold the hose," said the fireman."I'll look after him," he went on, to Mrs.Bobbsey, and she nodded to show that Freddie could go.
What a good time the little fellow had, standing beside a real fireman, and helping throw real water on a real fire! Freddie never forgot that.Of course the fire was almost out, and it was only one of the small hose lines that the fireman let the little fellow help hold, but, for all that, Freddie was very happy.
"Did you write to the circus people today about our silver cup, and that trick dog?" asked Mrs.Bobbsey of her husband, that night.
"I declare, I didn't!" he exclaimed."The fire upset me so that it slipped my mind.I'll do it the first thing tomorrow.There is no special hurry.How is the dog, by the way?""Oh, he's just lovely!" cried Flossie.
"And I do hope we can keep him forever!" exclaimed Freddie."'Specially since Snoop is gone.""Did you hear anything about our cat?" asked Nan, of her father.
"No.I sent a man to the railroad company, but no stray cat had been found.I am afraid Snoop is lost, children.""Oh dear!" cried Flossie.
