Part 17 (1/2)

And then, with a crash, the top of the lumber pile slid over, carrying Freddie with it. A cloud of dust arose and the little Bobbsey chap could see nothing for a few seconds. And when he did open his eyes, after feeling himself come down with a hard b.u.mp, he found himself in a queer little house.

It really was a sort of house in which Freddie found himself--a little play-house, almost. The lumber had fallen about him in such a way that Freddie had not been hurt or squeezed by it in the least. The boards had piled up over his head, in a peak, like the peaked roof of a real house.

Other boards were on the sides and in front, and there Freddie was, in a queer play-house that had made itself when the lumber slid over.

”Well!” thought Freddie, ”this is funny! But I wonder how I can get out.”

It was not dark in the queer play-house, for light came in between the cracks among the boards and planks. But though the cracks and openings were large enough to let in the light, they were not large enough to let Freddie get out.

The little boy pushed here and there, but the lumber was too heavy for him to move. Then he happened to think that if he did move one board it might loosen others which would fall down on his head.

”I'm in a little house,” thought Freddie, ”and I guess I'd better call my father to come and get me out. He'll know how to lift off the boards.

I'll call daddy or James.”

Freddie began to call. But as several lumber wagons were rattling up and down the yard just then, the little boy's voice was not heard. James, having finished helping the man load his wagon, came back to where he had left Freddie.

”Well, shall we start to make a little s.h.i.+p now?” asked the watchman.

But no Freddie was in sight near the s.h.i.+ngle pile.

”Humph! He got tired of waiting, I guess,” thought James, ”and went back to his father's office. Well, if he comes back I'll help him. He's a queer little chap, wanting to build a s.h.i.+p. A queer little chap.”

And James never thought of going to look for Freddie, for the lumber pile, which had fallen and made itself into a sort of play-house was some distance away from the bundle of s.h.i.+ngles. So James sat there in the sun, waiting, and, far off, Freddie was calling for help. For he wanted to get out, very much.

CHAPTER XII

TOMMY IS REWARDED

Freddie Bobbsey was a wise little chap, even if he was only about five years old, and when he found that he was shut up in the queer play-house, and could not get out, he did not cry. He stopped calling for help, when he found no one answered him, and sat down to think what was best to do.

”It would be nice in here, if Flossie could be with me to play,” he said to himself. ”But she couldn't get in unless some way was opened, or unless one of the cracks was made bigger. There ought to be a door and some windows to this place. Then we could go in and out, and have fun.

And we ought to have something to eat, too,” Freddie went on.

But there was nothing to eat under the pile of lumber, and Freddie had not thought to put a piece of cake or an apple in his pocket as he sometimes did when he went to visit his father.

That morning he had thought of nothing much but about making a s.h.i.+p to go sailing with Tommy Todd to look for Tommy's father. And all Freddie had put in his pockets were the nails and bits of string. He could not eat them, and, anyhow, they were back by the pile of s.h.i.+ngles where he had been talking to James.

”Maybe James will come and find me after a bit,” Freddie thought. ”I'll just stay here and wait.”

He called as loudly as he could once or twice more, but no one answered him. Freddie made himself as easy as he could in the queer little lumber play-house, and, as it was warm with the sun s.h.i.+ning down, pretty soon he felt sleepy. How long he slept Freddie did not know, but, all of a sudden he was awakened by hearing a scratching sound near his ear. Some one was scratching away at the lumber.

”Who is there?” Freddie cried, sitting up.

No one answered but Freddie again heard the scratching.

”Oh--oh!” he exclaimed, shrinking back in one corner. ”I wonder if that is a big rat? Rats scratch and gnaw.”

Once more came the funny sound, and then Freddie heard:

Mew! Mew!