Bert's ankle hurt too much for him to continue the quarrel. He felt
himself growing dizzy and he fell back.

"Let us go home," whispered Nan.

"I'll ride you home if you can't walk," put in Charley, who was growing
alarmed.

In the end Bert had to accept the offer, and home he went, with Charley
and Nan pulling him and with the broken sled dragging on behind.

It was all he could do to get into the house, and as a consequence Mrs.
Bobbsey was much alarmed. She took off his shoe and stocking and found
the ankle scratched and swollen, and bathed it and bound it up.

"You must lie down on the sofa," she said. "Never mind the broken sled.
Perhaps your papa can fix it when he comes home."

Bert detested playing the part of an invalid, but he soon discovered
that keeping the ankle quiet felt much better than trying to walk around
upon it. That night Mr. Bobbsey carried him up to bed, and he remained
home for three days, when the ankle became as well as ever. The broken
sled was sent to a nearby cabinet maker, and came back practically as
good as new.

"You must not have anything to do with Danny Rugg," said Mrs. Bobbsey to
her son. "He is very rough and ungentlemanly."

"I'll leave him alone, mamma, if he'll leave me alone," answered Bert.