"He is not; is he, Sam?" demanded Flossie, who was taking one of her
dolls on the trip, and with the doll, and her big muff, little Flossie
had about all she could manage.

"Yes, I am too," declared Freddie. "You said I could, Sam; you know
you did!"

"Well I guess you kin drive, where the roads are easy," promised the
colored man, with a scratch of his black, kinky head.

Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey were now on their seat, with Flossie between
them. Dinah was on the seat behind, while in back of her were piled
the packages of food.

Snap, the trick dog, was to be taken along, but it had been decided to
leave Downy the duck, and Snoop, the fat, black cat at home. A
neighbor had promised to look after them and feed them.

"Well, I guess we're all ready," said Mr. Bobbsey, as he looked back
at the well-loaded sled. "Now be careful," he called to Nan and Bert,
who with their cousins were to go to Snow Lodge on the icy lake. The
girls would skate part of the way and ride on the ice-boat the
remainder of the distance.

"We'll be careful," said Bert.

The day was cold, and clouds overhead seemed to tell that it was going
to snow. But the young folks hoped the storm would hold off until
night, when they would be safe in the big, old-fashioned farmhouse.