ew seconds before they jumped up to gaze all about
them. Bert and Nan, too, though older than their brother and sister, were
much astonished at what they saw.

"Why--why!" gasped Freddie, "it's bigger than our armory at home!" for in
Lakeport there was a big hall where the soldiers drilled.

"It's three times as big," said Flossie.

"Four!" declared Freddie. "Come on!" he called to his sister, "let's see
how long it takes to walk around it."

"Don't go too far away," said Mrs. Bobbsey, who, for the moment, did not
realize how really large the station was. "Don't get lost!" she went on.

"No'm, we won't!" promised Flossie and Freddie.

They started off to walk around the large depot, which, as you who have
seen it know, takes up a whole New York City block, or "square," as you
will say if you live near Philadelphia.

Mr. Bobbsey's business took him a little longer than he expected, but as
Bert and Nan begged to be allowed to buy a little candy at the newspaper
stand near them, and as Mrs. Bobbsey wanted a magazine, the getting of
these things took a little time, so the three did not notice how long Mr.
Bobbsey was away from them.

When he came back, having sent his message and found out what he wanted to
know, the twins' father asked:

"Where are Flossie and Freddie?"

"They're walking around, just seeing how big the station is," said Nan.

"Trying to find out how much larger it is than our armory at home," added
Bert with a laugh.

"Well, I hope they don't get lost," said Mr. Bobbsey, "This place is a
good deal larger than our armory. I'd better go to look for them," he went
on as a glance around, near the news stand, did not show the two little
ones anywhere in sight.

"I'll come with you," offered Bert.

"No, you'd better stay here with your mother," said his father. "I don't
want you getting lost, too." And he smiled at his son. "Stay right here.
I'll not be long."

But if Mr. Bobbsey thought he was going to find Flossie and Freddie soon
he was disappointed. He wandered about under the big glass roof, which at
first the two younger twins had taken for the sky; but he did not see
Flossie or Freddie.

"Has yo'all done lost suffin, boss?" inquired one of the colored porters.

"I'm looking for my two little children," explained Mr. Bobbsey. "They
wandered away from their mother."

"Oh, don't yo'all worry 'bout _dat_, boss! Chilluns gits lost heah ebery
day, an' we all easy find 'em ag'in."

"Oh, I