MR.BOBBSEY laughed, though he was worried about the fire.It seemed so odd for Freddie to want to go out in the cold, dark night.
"Not this time, my Fat Fireman!" said Freddie's papa."It may be only a pile of rubbish on fire.I'll tell you about it when I come back.""Where does it seem to be?" asked Mrs.Bobbsey.
"Down near the lake," answered her husband."I'm afraid, he added in a lower voice, "that it may be our boathouse.It seems to be about there.""Oh, I hope not!" she exclaimed."Still, better that than our own house.""If it's near the lake, papa," said Flossie who heard part of what her father said, "it will be easy to put it out, for there is plenty of water.""Pooh! engines have their own water!" exclaimed Freddie, who had rather hazy notions as to how fire engines work.He was getting over his disappointment about not being allowed to go with his father, and had again cuddled down in his warm crib.
Another engine dashed by the Bobbsey house, and the ringing of the alarm bell increased.The voices and footsteps of many persons, as they rushed on to the blaze, could also be heard, and there resounded the cry of:
"Fire! Fire! Fire!"
Bert, who had been aroused with the others of the household, was dressing in his room.He felt that his father would let him go to the fire.At any rate he intended to be all ready when he made his request, so as not to cause delay.
"Are you going, Bert?" asked Nan, as from her room, next to that of her brother, she heard him moving around.
"I am, if father will take me," he said.
"It's too cold for me!" Nan exclaimed with a shiver, as she went back in bed again.She had gotten up to peer from the window at the redglarein the sky.
From the third floor, where Dinah slept, the colored cook now called down:
"Am anybody sick, Mrs.Bobbsey?What am de mattah down dere?" "It's a fire, Dinah!" answered her mistress.
"Oh good land a'massy! Don't tell me dat!" she cried."Sam ! Sam! Wake up.De house is on fire an' you'se got t' sabe me!""No, no, Dinah!" cried Mrs.Bobbsey, to calm the cook."It isn't this house.It's down by the lake.If you look out of your window you can see it."Dinah hurried across to her window, and evidently saw the reflection of the blaze, for she exclaimed:
"Thank goodness it ain't yeah! Mah goodness, but I suah was skarit fo'a minute!"By this time Mr.Bobbsey had dressed, and had started downstairs.Bert came out of his room, also ready for the street.
"May I come, father?" he asked.
"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Mr.Bobbsey, in surprise."So you got dressed too, did you?" "Yes, sir.May I come?"Mr.Bobbsey hesitated a moment, and then, with a smile, said:
"Well, I suppose so, since you are all ready.I'm taking Bert," he called to his wife."Freddie, you'll have to be the Fat Fireman while I'm gone, and look after the house.""That's what I will," said Freddie, "and if any sparks fly over here I'll throw the bath room sponge on 'em!""Good!" cried Mr.Bobbsey, and then, he and Bert hurried out.
The fire was now larger, as they could see when they got out in the street.There was no wind and the flames went straight up in the air.There were not many buildings down by the lake, only some boat shelters and places like that.The Bobbsey's boathouse was a fine large one, having recently been made bigger as Mr.Bobbsey was thinking of buying a new motor boat.
