Freddie, with his new toy fire engine, was pumping water on fat Dinah,
who was laughing so heartily that she could do nothing to stop him.
Mr. Bobbsey, too, was shouting with mirth, for the hose from the toy
engine was rather small, and threw only a thin, fine spray.

"I'm a fireman!" cried Freddie, "and I'm pretending Dinah is on fire.
See her red apron--that's the fire!" and the little fellow turned the
crank of his engine harder than ever, throwing the tiny stream of
water all over the kitchen.

"That's enough, Freddie," said Mr. Bobbsey, when he could stop
laughing. Dinah was still shaking with mirth, and Freddie, looking in
the tank of the engine, said:

"There's only a little more water left. Can't I squirt that?"

Without waiting for permission Freddie made the water spurt from the
nozzle of the hose. At that moment the door of the kitchen opened, to
let in Sam. With him came Snap, the trick dog, and the tiny stream of
water caught Sam full in the face.

"Hello! What am dat?" he demanded in surprise. "Am de house leakin'?"

"It's my new fire engine!" cried Freddie. "I didn't mean to wet you,
Sam, but I was playing Dinah was on fire!"

"Well, yo'-all didn't wet me so very much," replied Sam, with a grin
that showed his white teeth. "Dat suah am a fine fire engine!"