"And I want to come, too!" added Flossie. She seldom wanted to be left
behind, when her twin brother went anywhere.

"No, no! You children must stay here," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I will hurry
down to the lake, and come right back. I'll tell you all about it,
when I return."

"But what could have happened?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. "What would make
our boat go adrift?"

"Oh, some of the ropes might have come loose," replied her husband.
"Or the ropes might even have been cut through, rubbing against the
dock. The wind is blowing a little, and that is sending the boat out
into the lake. I'll get one of our steam tugs, and go after her. It
will not take long nor be hard work to bring her back."

A number of small steam tugs were owned by Mr. Bobbsey for use in
hauling lumber boats, and lumber rafts about Lake Metoka. Some of
these tugs were always at the dock, and one always had steam up, ready
for instant use.

"Well, I hope you get the Bluebird back all right," said Bert. "We
don't want to miss our trip, especially after we have asked Harry and
Dorothy."

"Oh, it would be too bad to disappoint them," put in Nan.

"Oh, I'll get the boat back all right," declared Mr. Bobbsey.

Flossie and Freddie breathed sighs of relief. They were not worried