to see a number of their friends, but not having succeeded in getting
any of them to promise to make the trip to Snow Lodge, the two older
Bobbsey twins were quite discouraged.

"I'll need another fellow to help me sail the ice-boat," spoke Bert.
"Of course I know you'll do all you can, Nan, but we can't tell what
might happen. I don't see what's the matter with all the fellows,
anyhow, that they can't go."

"And the girls, too," added Nan. "I couldn't get one of them to
promise. And I don't know whether mamma and papa will let you and me
go in the ice-boat by ourselves."

And, when they heard of this plan, both Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey objected
to it.

"It would be too risky," decided Mr. Bobbsey. "Your ice-boat is a
small one. I know, Bert, but in a stiff wind it might capsize if you
did not have some other boy along to help you manage it. I guess you
and Nan had better come with us in the big sled."

"I think so, too," added Mrs. Bobbsey.

There seemed to be no other way out of it, and Nan and Bert felt quite
badly. Not even the tricks of Snap and Snoop, when Freddie and Flossie
put the dog and cat through them before going to bed, would cause
their older brother and sister to look happy.

"Never mind," said Mamma Bobbsey, "when we get to Snow Lodge you'll
have such a good time that you won't mind not having made the trip on