"Gee-dap!" shrieked the little maiden. "Gee-dap!" and moved back and forth on the sled, to make it go faster. Away went Freddie and Bert, as fast as the legs of the little fellow could travel. They went down a long hill and through a nice side street, and it was a good half hour before they reached home,--just in time for a good hot supper.
CHAPTER V
BERT'S GHOST
BERT felt relieved to learn that Mr. Ringley did not know who had broken the store window, but he was still fearful that the offense might be laid at his door. He was afraid to trust Danny Rugg, and did not know what the big boy might do about the matter.
"He may say I did it, just to clear himself," thought Bert. "And if Mr. Ringley comes after me, he'll remember me sure."
But his anxiety was forgotten that evening, when some of the neighbors dropped in for a call. There was music on the piano and some singing, and almost before Bert and Nan knew it, it was time to go to bed. Freddie and Flossie had already retired, worn out by their play.
But after Bert had said his prayers and found himself alone in the small chamber he occupied, he could not sleep. The talk of the folks below kept him awake at first, and even after they had gone to bed he could not forget the happening of the day, and he could still hear the crash of that glass as the chunk of ice went sailing through it.
At last he fell into a troubled doze, with the bright light of the moon shining across the rug at the foot of the bed. But the doze did not last long, and soon some kind of a noise awoke him with a start.
He opened his eyes and his gaze wandered across the moon-lit room. Was he dreaming, or was that really a figure in white standing at the foot of his bed? With a shiver he ducked down and covered his head with the blankets.
For two or three minutes he lay quiet, expecting every instant to have something unusual happen. Then, with great caution, he pushed the blankets back and took another look.
There was nothing there!
"But I saw something," he told himself. "I am sure I saw something. What could it have been?"
Ah, that was the question. For over an hour he continued to lie awake, watching and listening. Nan was in the next little chamber and he was half of a mind to call her, but he was afraid she would call him a "'fraid-cat!" something he had always despised.
Bert had heard of ghosts and now he thought of all the ghost stories he could remember. Had the thing in white been a ghost? If so, where had it come from?
After a while he tried to dismiss the thing from his mind, but it was almost morning before he fell asleep again. This time he slept so soundly, however, that he did not rouse up until his mother came and shook him.
"Why, Bert, what makes you sleep so soundly this morning?" said Mrs. Bobbsey.
"I--I didn't get to sleep until late," he stammered. And then he added: "Mamma, do you believe in ghosts?"
"Why, of course not, Bert. What put that into your head?"
"I--I thought I saw a ghost last night."
"You must have been mistaken. There are no ghosts."
"But I saw something," insisted the boy.
"Where?"
"Right at the foot of the bed. It was all white."
"When was this?"
"Right in the middle of the night."
"Did you see it come in, or go out?"
"No, mamma. When I woke up it was standing there, and when I took a second look at it, it was gone."
"You must have been suffering from a nightmare, Bert," said Mrs. Bobbsey kindly. "You should not have eaten those nuts before going to bed."
"No, it wasn't a nightmare," said the boy.
He had but little to say while eating breakfast, but on the way to school he told Nan, while Freddie and Flossie listened also.
"Oh, Bert, supposing it was a real ghost?" cried Nan, taking a deep breath. "Why, I'd be scared out of my wits--I know I'd be!"
"Mamma says there are no ghosts. But I saw something--I am sure of that."
"I don't want to see any ghostses," came from Flossie.
"Nor I," added Freddie. "Sam told about a ghost once that was as high as a tree an' had six heads, to eat bad boys and girls up. Did this have six heads, Bert?"
"No."
"How many heads did it have?"
"I don't know--one, I guess."
"And was it as high as a tree?" went on the inquisitive little fellow.
"Oh, it couldn't stand up in the room if it was as high as a tree," burst out Flossie.
"Could if it was a tiny baby tree," expostulated Freddie.
"It was about as high as that," said Bert, putting out his hand on a level with his shoulder. "I can't say how it looked, only it was white."
"Perhaps it was moonshine," suggested Nan, but at this Bert shook his head. He felt certain it had been more substantial than moonshine.
That day Danny Rugg came to school as usual. When questioned about his absence he said he had had a toothache. When Bert looked at him the big boy merely scowled, and no more words passed between the pair.
Directly back of Lakeport was a long hill, used during the winter by all the boys and girls for coasting. After school Nan and Bert were allowed to go to this hill, in company with a number of their friends. They were admonished to come back before dark and promised faithfully to do so. It was a much larger hill than they had been on before and with a larger crowd.
Among the boys there was a great rivalry as to who could go down the hill the fastest, and who could make his sled go the farthest after the bottom was reached.
"I'll try my sled against yours!" cried Charley Mason to Bert.
"Done!" returned Bert. "Are you going down alone, or are you going to carry somebody?"
"You must carry me down," insisted Nan.
"Then I'll take Nellie Parks," went on Charley.
Nellie was close at hand and soon the two sleds were side by side, with a girl on each. Bert and Charley stood behind.
"Are you ready?" asked Charley.
"Yes."
"Then go!"
Away went both lads, giving each sled a lively shove down the hill. Then each hopped aboard, and took hold of the rope with which to steer.
"A race! A race!" shouted those standing near.
"I think Charley will win!" said some.
"I think Bert will win!" said others.
"Oh, let us win if we can!" whispered Nan to her twin brother.
"I'll do my best, Nan," was the answer.
Down the long hill swept the two sleds, almost side by side. Each was rushing along at a lively rate of speed, and those aboard had to hold on tightly for fear of being jounced off.
"Whoop!" roared Charley, "Clear the track, for I am coming!"
"Make room for me!" sang out Bert. "We are bound to win!"
The bottom of the hill was almost reached when Charley's sled began to crawl a bit ahead.
"Oh, Bert, they are going to beat us after all," cried Nan disappointedly.
"I knew we'd beat you," cried Nellie Parks. "Charley's is the best sled on the hill."
"The race isn't over yet," said Bert.
His sled had been running in rather soft snow. Now he turned to where the coasting was better, and in a twinkling his sled shot forward until he was once more beside Charley and Nellie.
"Here we come!" shouted Bert. "Make room, I say! Make room."
On and on they went, and now the bottom of the hill was reached and they ran along a level stretch. Charley's sled began to slow up, but Bert's kept on and on until he had covered a hundred feet beyond where Charley had come to a stop.
"We've won!" cried Nan excitedly. "Oh, Bert, your sled is a wonder."
"So it is," he answered, with pride. "But it was a close race, wasn't it?"
When they same back to where Charley and Nellie stood they found Charley rather sulky.
"Nellie is heavier than Nan," said he. "It wasn't a fair race. Let us try it alone next time."
"I'm willing," answered Bert.
CHAPTER VI
COASTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT
IT was a long walk back to the top of the hill, but Nan and Bert did not mind it just then.
"So you won, did you?" said one of the boys to Bert. "Good enough."
"We are going to try it over again," put in Charley. "Come on."
In the crowd was Danny Rugg, who had a brand-new sled.
"I guess I can beat anybody!" cried Danny boastfully. "This new sled of mine is bang-up."
"What slang!" whispered Nan, to Bert. "If I were you I shouldn't race with such a boy."
"I'm going to race with Charley," answered her twin brother, and took no notice of Danny's challenge.
Bert and Charley were soon ready for the test, and away they went amid a cheer from their friends.
"I think Charley will win this time," said Nellie.
"And I think that Bert will win," answered Nan.
"Oh, you think your brother is wonderful," sniffed Nellie, with a shrug of her shoulders.
"He is just as good as any boy," said Nan quickly.
Down the hill swept the two sleds, keeping side by side as before. They were but a foot apart, for each owner wished to keep on the hardest part of the slide.
"Keep on your side, Bert Bobbsey!" shouted Charley warningly.
"And you keep on yours, Charley Mason!" returned Bert.
All of the others on the hill had stopped coasting to witness the contest, but now with a whoop Danny Rugg swept forward with his new sled and came down the hill at top speed.
The bottom of the hill was barely reached when Charley's sled made an unexpected turn and crashed into Bert's, throwing Bert over on his side in the snow.
"What did you do that for?" demanded Bert angrily.
"I--I--didn't do it," stammered Charley. "I guess you turned into me."
"No, I didn't."
Bert arose and began to brush the snow from his clothes. As he did so he heard a rushing sound behind him and then came a crash as Danny Rugg ran into him. Down he went again and his sled had a runner completely broken off. Bert was hit in the ankle and badly bruised.
"Why didn't you get out of the way!" roared Danny Rugg roughly. "I yelled loud enough."
"Oh, my ankle!" groaned Bert. For the moment the wrecked sled was completely forgotten.
"I didn't touch your ankle," went on the big boy.
"You did so, Danny--at least, the point of your sled did," answered Bert.
"You ran into me in the first place," came from Charley.
"Oh, Charley, you know better than that." Bert tried to stand, but had to sit down. "Oh, my ankle!"
"It wasn't my fault," said Danny Rugg, and began to haul his sled away. Charley started to follow.
"Don't leave me, Charley," called out Bert. "I--I guess I can't walk."
Charley hesitated. Then, feeling in his heart that he was really responsible for running into Bert in the first place, he came back and helped Bert to his feet.
"The sled is broken," said Bert, surveying the wreck dismally.
"That was Danny's fault."
"Well, then, he ought to pay for having it fixed."
"He never pays for anything he breaks, Bert,--you know that."
Slowly and painfully Bert dragged himself and his broken sled to the top of the hill. Sharp, hot flashes of pain were shooting through his bruised ankle. Nan ran to meet him.
"Oh, Bert, what is the matter? Are you hurt?" she asked.
"Yes,--Danny ran into me, and broke the sled."
"It wasn't my fault, I say!" blustered the big boy. "You had a right to get out of the way."
"It was your fault, Danny Rugg, and you will have to have my sled mended," cried Bert.
Throwing down the rope of his own sled, Danny advanced and doubled up his fists as if to fight.
"Don't you talk like that to me," he said surlily. "I don't like it."
Bert's ankle hurt too much for him to continue the quarrel. He felt himself growing dizzy and he fell back.
"Let us go home," whispered Nan.
"I'll ride you home if you can't walk," put in Charley, who was now growing alarmed.
In the end Bert had to accept the offer, and home he went, with Charley and Nan pulling him and with the broken sled dragging on behind.
It was all he could do to get into the house, and as a consequence Mrs. Bobbsey was much alarmed. She took off his shoe and stocking and found the ankle scratched and swollen, and bathed it with hot water and bound it up.
"You must lie down on the sofa," she said. "Never mind the broken sled. Perhaps your papa can fix it when he comes home."
Bert detested playing the part of an invalid, but he soon discovered that keeping the ankle quiet felt much better than trying to walk around upon it. That night Mr. Bobbsey carried him up to bed, and he remained home for three days, when the ankle became as well as ever. The broken sled was sent to a nearby cabinet maker, and came back practically as good as new.
"You must not have anything to do with Danny Rugg," said Mrs. Bobbsey to her son. "He is very rough and ungentlemanly."
"I'll leave him alone, mamma, if he'll leave me alone," answered Bert.
During those days spent at home, Nan did her best to amuse her brother. As soon as she was out of school she came straight home, and read to him and played games. Nan was also learning to play on the piano and she played a number of tunes that he liked to hear. They were so much attached to each other that it did not seem natural for Nan to go out unless her twin brother could go out too.
The first snow storm had been followed by another, so that in the garden the snow lay deeper than ever. This was a great delight to Freddie and Flossie, who worked hard to build themselves a snow house. They enlisted the services of Sam, the stableman, who speedily piled up for them a heap of snow much higher than their heads.
"Now, chillun, dar am de house," said the colored man. "All yo' hab got to do is to clear out de insides." And then he went off to his work, after starting the hole for them.
Flossie wanted to divide the house into three rooms, "dining room, kitchen, and bedroom," as she said, but Freddie objected.
"'Tain't big enough," said the little boy. "Make one big room and call it ev'rything."
"But we haven't got an ev'rything," said Flossie.
"Well, then, call it the parlor," said Freddie. "When it's done we can put in a carpet and two chairs for us to sit on."
It was hard work for such little hands to dig out the inside of the heap of snow, but they kept at it, and at last the hole was big enough for Freddie to crawl into.
"Oh, it's jess beautiful!" he cried. "Try it, Flossie!" And Flossie did try it, and said the house was going to be perfect.
"Only we must have a bay window," she added. "And a curtain just like mamma."
They continued to shovel away, and soon Freddie said he could almost stand up in the house. He was inside, shoveling out the snow, while his twin sister packed what he threw out on the outside, as Sam had told them to do.
"Where shall I put the bay window?" asked the little boy, presently.
"On this side," answered Flossie, pointing with the shovel she held.
At once Freddie began to dig a hole through the side of the pile of snow.
"Be careful, or the house will come down!" cried Flossie, all at once, and hardly had she spoken when down came the whole top of the snow pile and poor Freddie was buried completely out of sight!
CHAPTER VII
FREDDIE AND FLOSSIE'S SNOW HOUSE
"FREDDIE! Freddie!" shrieked Flossie, when she saw her twin brother disappear. "Do come out!"
But Freddie could not come out, and when, after a few seconds, he did not show himself, she ran toward the kitchen door, screaming at the top of her breath.
"Oh, Dinah! Dinah! Freddie is buried! Freddie is buried!"
"Wot's dat yo' say, Flossie?" demanded the cook, coming to the door.
"Freddie is buried. The ceiling of the snow house came down on him!"
"Gra
cious sakes alive, chile!" burst out Dinah, and without waiting to put anything on her head she rushed forth into the garden. "Gib me dat shovel quick! He'll be stuffocated fo' yo' know it."
She began to dig away at the pile of snow, and presently uncovered one of Freddie's lower limbs. Then she dropped the shovel and tugged away at the limb and presently brought Freddie to view, just as Mrs. Bobbsey and Nan appeared on the scene.
"What in the world is the matter?" questioned Mrs. Bobbsey, in alarm.
"Dat chile dun gwine an' buried himself alive," responded the colored cook. "De roof of de snow house cabed in on him, pooh dear! He's most stuffocated!"
In the meantime Freddie was gasping for breath. Then he looked at the wreck of the snow house and set up a tremendous roar of dismay.
"Oh, Flossie, it's all spoilt! The bay window an' all!"
"Never mind, Freddie dear," said his mother, taking him. "Be thankful that you were not suffocated, as Dinah says."
"Yes, but Flossie and me were makin' an ev'rything house, with a parlor, an' a bay window, an' ev'rything. I didn't want it to fall down." Freddie was still gasping, but now he struggled to the ground. "Want to build it up again," he added.
"I am afraid you'll get into trouble again, Freddie."
"No, I won't, mamma. Do let us build it up again," pleaded the little fellow.
"I kin watch dem from de doah," suggested Dinah.
"Let me help them, mamma," put in Nan. "Bert is reading a book, so he won't want me for a while."
"Very well, Nan, you may stay with them. But all of you be careful," said Mrs. Bobbsey.
After that the building of the snow house was started all over again. The pile of snow was packed down as hard as possible, and Nan made Flossie and Freddie do the outside work while she crept inside, and cut around the ceiling and the bay window just as the others wanted. It was great sport, and when the snow house was finished it was large enough and strong enough for all of them to enter with safety.
"Tonight I'll poah some water ober dat house," said Sam. "Dat will make de snow as hard as ice." This was done, and the house remained in the garden until spring came. Later on Bert built an addition to it, which he called the library, and in this he put a bench and a shelf on which he placed some old magazines and story papers. In the main part of the snow house Freddie and Flossie at first placed an old rug and two blocks of wood for chairs, and a small bench for a table. Then, when Flossie grew tired of the house, Freddie turned it into a stable, in which he placed his rocking-horse. Then he brought out his iron fire engine, and used the place for a fire-house, tying an old dinner bell on a stick, stuck over the doorway. Dong! dong! would go the bell, and out he would rush with his little engine and up the garden path, looking for a fire.
The Bobbsey Twins; or, Merry Days Indoors and Out / by Laura Lee Hope Page 3