"I 'clar t' goodness I neber knows what dat ar' chile will be up to
next!" exclaimed Dinah with a laugh. "But if he am plannin' to squirt
any mo' fire injun water on me I's gwine t' run away, dat's what I
is!"

They all laughed at this, Dinah joining in, and then Freddie explained
what he had said.

"No, sah! Yo' don't cotch me on no ice-cream boat!" declared Dinah.
"I'll go in a sled, but I ain't gwine t' fall down no hole in de ice
and be bit by a fish! No, sah!"

There was more laughter, and then the plum pudding was served. Freddie
begged that Snoop and Snap be given an extra good dinner, on account
of it being Christmas, and Dinah promised to see to this.

Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey discussed the plans for going to Snow Lodge. They
agreed that Bert and Nan, if they wished, might each ask a friend, for
the old farmhouse in the woods on the edge of the lake contained many
rooms. It was completely furnished, all that was needed being food.

"So if you young folks want to skate or ice-boat up the lake I see no
objection," said Mr. Bobbsey. "The rest of us will go in a big sled."

"Couldn't I go in the ice-boat?" asked Freddie. "I'm getting big. I'm
almost in the first reader book."

"We're going so fast your fire engine might be lost overboard," said
Bert with a smile, and that was enough for his little brother. He