Snap. So far no one had claimed the trick dog, and it
seemed likely that the children could keep him. They were very glad
about this.

"Oh dear!" exclaimed Bert, one afternoon a few days following the fun
with the hose, "school begins Monday. Only three more days of
vacation!"

"I think you have had a long vacation," returned Mrs. Bobbsey, "and if
Freddie and Flossie are going to do such tricks as they did the other
day, with the hose, I, for one, shall be glad that you are in school."

"I like school," said Nan. "There are lot of new girls coming this
term, I hear."

"Any new fellows?" asked Bert, more interested.

"I don't know. There is a new teacher in the kindergarten, though,
where Flossie and Freddie will go. Nellie Parks has met her, and says
she's awfully nice."

"That's good," spoke Flossie. "I like nice teachers."

"Well, I hope you and Freddie will get along well," said Mamma Bobbsey.

"You are getting older you know, and you must soon begin to study hard."

"We will," they promised.

The school bell, next Monday morning, called to many rather unwilling
children. The long vacation was over and class days had begun once
more. The four Bobbseys went off together to the building, which was
only a few blocks from their home. Mr. Tetlow was the principal, and
there were half a dozen lady teachers.

"Hello, Nan," greeted Grace Lavine. "May I sit with you this term?"

"Oh, I was going to ask her," said Nellie Parks.

"Well, I was first," spoke Grace, with a pout.

"We'll be in the room where there are three seated desks," said Nan
with a smile. "Maybe we three can be together."

"Oh, we'll ask teacher!" cried Nellie. "That will be lovely!"

"I'm going to sit with Freddie," declared Flossie. "We're to be
together--mamma said so."

"Of course, dear," agreed Nan. "I'll speak to your teacher about it."

Bert was walking in the rear with Charley Mason, when Danny Rugg came
around a corner.

"I know what I'm going to do to you after school, Bert Bobbsey!" called
the bully. "You just wait and see."

"All right--I'll wait," spoke Bert quietly. "I'm not afraid."

By this time they were at the school, and it was nearly time for the
last bell to ring. Danny went off to join some of his particular
chums, shaking his fist at Bert as he went.

CHAPTER VIII

BERT SEES SOMETHING

LESSONS were not very well learned that first day in school, but this
is generally the case when the