Part 34 (1/2)

”Yes, sir, this is the meadows,” said Freddy.

”We know we're on the meadows but we don't know where our house is,”

said Flossie. ”We live in Lakeport, and we're the Bobbsey twins.”

”The Bobbsey twins; eh?” returned the man. ”Well, that's a nice name, I'm sure.”

”And there are two more twins at home,” went on Freddie. ”They are Nan and Bert, and they're older than we are.”

”They aren't lost,” explained Flossie, carefully.

”I'm glad of that,” the man said. ”And I don't believe you'll be lost much longer.”

”Do you know where our house is?” asked Freddie.

”No, not exactly,” the man answered.

”Didn't you say you were lost, too?” asked Flossie.

”Yes, I did, little girl. I was lost. But now that you have told me where I am, I think I am found. And I think, too, that I can help you find your home. So you live in Lakeport. That's where I'm going.”

”How did you come to get out on these meadows?” asked Freddie.

”Well, this is how it happened,” the man said. ”I was on my way to Lakeport, but, by mistake, I got off the train at Belleville. That's the station just below here. I did not want to wait for the next train so I hired a man with an automobile to take me on to Lakeport. But about a mile from here one of the tires of the automobile burst so the man could not take me any farther. Then I said I'd walk, as I thought I knew the road. I used to live in Lakeport about five years ago. I started off, but the storm came up, and I lost my way. The first I knew I found myself out in this big field which you say is the meadows.”

”That's what they call it,” Freddie said.

”Well then, now I know where I am and I know what to do. Do you think you can walk along with me?”

”Oh, we're not tired now,” said Freddie. ”We've had a nice rest in here.

But do you know the way to our house?”

”I know the way to Lakeport. I had forgotten about these meadows. You see it was a good many years ago and I did not live in Lakeport long before I went away. But now I know where I am. When I lived in your city I used to come out here to hunt muskrats. If I am not mistaken this shed is near a path that leads to a road by which we can get to a trolley car. I don't know whether or not the trolleys are running, but maybe we can find an automobile.”

”If you could find a telephone and telephone to my father's lumber yard office he would come in his automobile to get us,” said Flossie.

”Well, perhaps I can do that,” the man said. ”Come along now, we'll start.”

Out into the storm again went the Bobbsey twins. It was snowing as hard as ever, but they were not afraid now, for they each had hold of the man's hands, and they felt sure he Would get them safely home.

”Are you all right now?” asked the man, as he walked along in the snow, kicking away the flakes in a cloud such as a plow might throw on either side.

”Yes, we're all right now,” Freddie said. ”But we'll be righter when we get home.”

”So mamma won't worry,” added Flossie. ”Mothers worry when their children are lost.”

”That's too bad,” said the man. ”It isn't good for mothers to worry. But I'll get you home as soon as I can. You two youngsters have had quite a time of it, but I am glad to see you are brave and did not cry.”

”Flossie's got some tears on her face,” reported Freddie, looking over at his sister.

”I have not!” cried Flossie. ”Those are melted snowflakes. I wanted to get some in my ear, so they'd make a funny, tickly feeling,” she went on, ”but there wouldn't any fall in. Some sat on my cheeks, though, and melted, and it's those what you see, Freddie Bobbsey, and not tears at all! I hardly ever cry, so there!”