CHAPTER IX
FUN ON THE SANDS

"How many shells did you get in your hunt?" Bert asked the girls, when
the excitement over the pond lilies had died away.

"We never went," replied Dorothy. "First, Freddie fell down and had
to cry awhile, then he had to stop to see the gutter band, next he had
a ride on the five-cent donkey, and by that time there were so many
people out, mother said there would not be a pretty shell left, so we
decided to go to-morrow morning."

"Then Hal and I will go along," said Bert. "I want to look for nets,
to put in my den at home."

"We are going for a swim now," went on Dorothy; "we only came back for
our suits."

"There seems so much to do down here, it will take a week to have a
try at everything," said Bert. "I've only been in the water once, but
I'm going for a good swim now. Come along, Hal."

"Yes, we always go before lunch," said Hal starting off for his suit.

Soon Dorothy, Nan, Nellie, and Flossie appeared with their suits done
up in the neat little rubber bags that Aunt Emily had bought at a
hospital fair. Then Freddie came with Mrs. Bobbsey, and Dorothy, with
her bag on a stick over her shoulder, led the procession to the beach.

As Dorothy told Nan, they had a comfortable bathhouse rented for the