"Oh, did that happen?" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey.

"No, but almost," Bert went on.

"Well, it seems to me that everything 'almost' happened," said Mrs.
Bobbsey. "Flossie _almost_ saw a snake, Freddie _almost_ fell overboard
and the truck _almost_ broke the bridge."

"Oh, the bridge really _is_ broken," Nan said. And she told about that
accident. Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey had come to the picnic grounds by another
road, and so had not seen the bridge that sagged in the middle.

"Well, all's well that ends well, so they say," remarked Mr. Bobbsey,
"and we're glad you are having a good time. Yes, Mr. Blake, what is it?"
he asked, for Mr. Blake, had come to where Mr. Bobbsey was talking to
the children, and had called aloud.

"Do you want to help the ladies dish out the ice cream?" asked Mr.
Blake.

"Surely!" answered the twins' father. "Wait until I take off my coat.
Dishing out ice cream is rather messy work."

He removed his coat, hanging it on the limb of a tree near the shed
where the ice cream freezers had been placed. Mrs. Bobbsey also offered
to help, and when it became known that it was time for the ice cream and
cake treat the picnic children began gathering at the rustic shed.

Before the dainties could be served, however, there came from down the
road, in the opposite direction from the broken bridge, a low, rumbling