Coming down the dock were Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey,
with Nan, Flossie and Freddie. Snap, the big dog, was bounding on ahead
through the snow, barking joyously. He enjoyed fun as much as any one.
"All aboard! Please hurry up!" cried Bert.
"Why, I thought this was a _special_ trip you were giving us, and we
didn't have to hurry," laughed his mother.
"It is," Bert said. "But you see you can't sail an ice-boat if you haven't
any wind, and I want you to have a ride before the wind dies away, as it
might. So come on, get on board!"
"I want to steer!" cried Freddie.
"No, you must not," said Nan.
"Yes, I must. I know how to steer a motor boat, and I can steer an
ice-boat, I guess," and Freddie was very sure about it.
"After a while, maybe," agreed Bert. "But an ice-boat is different to
steer from a motor boat. I'll show you how, though."
Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey got on the little platform which Bert had built as a
sort of open cabin. It had old carpets and rugs on it, and there were
blankets and robes to keep the passengers warm. After some failures Bert
and Tommy had finally managed to finish the ice-boat. It was not as easy
to build as they had expected, but Mr. Bobbsey's carpenter had helped
them.
The boat had been tried out on the ice, and had sailed well. Mr. Bobbsey
had Mr. Watson look at it, and that gentleman had said it was safe to ride
in. Then Bert had finally gotten his father and mother to promise to take
a trip in the boat, bringing Nan, Flossie and Freddie with them.
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