"Children--children--I don't know what I'll do with you if you
don't stop that constant bickering," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "You must
not dispute so."

"Well, mamma, but isn't chasing your tail a trick?" asked Flossie.
"Freddie says it isn't."

"Well, it isn't a circus trick, anyhow," declared her brother. "I
meant a circus trick."

"Well, Snoop is a good cat, anyhow," went on Flossie, "and I wish
we had him back."

"Oh, so do I!" exclaimed Freddie, and thus that little dispute
ended.

They were walking along through a little patch of woods now, when
Bert, who was the last one in line, suddenly called out:

"Something is coming after us!"

"Coming after us? What do you mean?" asked Nan quickly, as she
hurried to her father's side.

"I mean I've been listening for two or three minutes now, to some
animal following after us along the path. Some big animal, too."

Flossie and Freddie both ran back and took hold of their mother's
hands.