Part 26 (1/2)
Flossie and Freddie each had sleds of their own, and they rode down on them alone, on one side of the hill where the smaller boys and girls kept by themselves.
”For,” said Alice Boyd, ”we don't want to get run over by the big bob.”
”I guess not!” cried Johnnie Wilson. ”Some day we'll make a bob ourselves, Freddie.”
”That's what we will.”
The Bobbsey twins were coasting one day after school, when Freddie saw, walking up the hill, Tommy Todd, the fresh air boy. Tommy looked tired, for he had just been doing some errands for Mr. Bobbsey.
”h.e.l.lo, Tommy!” called Freddie. ”Why don't you get your sled and have a coast? It's lots of fun.”
”Yes, I guess it is,” said Tommy, with a smile.
”Then go and get your sled,” said Freddie again.
”No, I don't believe I will,” Tommy said. And he said it in such a queer way that Nan Bobbsey whispered to Bert:
”I don't believe he has a sled, and he doesn't want to say so.”
”I guess that's right,” Bert replied. ”I'll offer him a ride on our bob.”
”That will be nice,” Nan said. ”He can have my place,” for she had been coasting with her brother.
”Wouldn't you like to ride down with us?” asked Bert, of Tommy.
”Wouldn't I though?” cried Tommy, his eyes s.h.i.+ning. ”Well, I guess I would!”
”Come on, then,” cried Bert.
”He can ride on my sled, too,” said Freddie.
”And on mine!” added Flossie.
”I guess your sleds are too small,” Bert said, with a smile, for Tommy was even bigger than Bert, and Bert could not fit on the sleds of his younger brother and sister any more.
”Thank you, just the same,” said Tommy to the little Bobbsey twins.
”I'll go down on the big bob. But I'll pull your sleds up the hill for you.”
”That will be nice,” declared Flossie. ”I like riding down hill, but I don't like walking up, and pulling my sled.”
Room was made for Tommy on the big bob-sled and he was soon gliding down the long hill, Bert steering. Once or twice the smaller boys or girls, on their little sleds, would edge over toward that part of the hill where the big boys and girls, with their sleds or bob-sleds, were coasting.
”Keep out of the way, little folks!” warned Bert. ”There's room enough for you on your own side, and you might be hurt.”
”And you two be careful,” said Nan to Flossie and Freddie. ”Stay on your own side.”
The two small twins said they would do so.
”Now for a last coast!” cried Bert, when Tommy had been given a number of rides on the bob-sled. ”It's time to go home to supper.”