"I don't know, Dinah!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, wanting to laugh, and
yet not wishing to hurt Dinah's feelings. "The children said it was a
circus, I believe. Here, Snap!" she called, as the dog rushed on after
Snoop.

Just then Downy, the duck, sailed back across the room, and lighted
squarely on Dinah's black and kinky head, where the fowl perched
"honking" loudly,

"Good land ob massy!" murmured Dinah over and over again. "Mo'
trouble!"

Flossie and Freddie were so surprised at the sudden ending of their
circus that they did not know what to do. Then they both raced to
capture the duck.

"One of the dining-room windows is open!" called Freddie. "If Downy
flies out he'll freeze. Grab him, Dinah!"

"Chile!" cried the colored cook slowly, "I ain't got bref enough lef
to ketch eben a mosquito. But yo'-all don't need to worry none about
dish yeah duck gittin loose. His feet am all tangled up in mah wool,
an' I guess you'l hab t' help git 'em loose, chilluns!"

It was indeed so. Downy's webbed feet were fast in Dinah's kinky hair,
and it took some time to disentangle them. Then the cook could get up,
which she did with many a sigh and groan.

"Are you hurt, Dinah?" asked Flossie. "If you are you can come to