"Go out to the barn and play that's a ship like the one we went on to
Florida. It'll be cooler in the barn than it is here, anyhow."

"That's so," admitted Bert. "And oh! I know how we can have packs of
fun!"

"How?" This time it was Nan who eagerly asked.

"Why we can swing on some of the ropes that are in the haymow. I guess
the ropes are there to tie things up on in the winter. But we can swing
on 'em now, and make believe we're sailors, just as we did when we found
that boy in the cave where we went with Cousin Jasper."

"Oh, so we can!" cried Nan. "Come on!"

"I'll be a fireman on the ship!" declared fat Freddie, as he got slowly
to his feet from the floor where he had been sitting near Bert. I'll be
a fireman and squirt water."

"Not real--only make believe" cried Bert. "Water spoils hay, you know,
Freddie. You can't splash any water on daddy's hay in the barn."

"No, I'll only make believe," agreed the light-haired little boy. "Come
on Flossie!" he called to his sister, who had slipped down off the porch
to run after a big black cat that marched along with his tail in the
air, "like a fishing pole," Bert said. "Come on, Flossie!" called
Freddie. "We'll go out to the barn and play ship and sailors, and I'll
be a fireman and you can be----"