Flossie. "I like
him. Maybe not so much as I like Snap and Snoop, but awfully well I like
him."

"Yes, he's a nice goat. Nicer'n Mike's goat that we 'most bought, but
didn't. I'm glad now that we didn't get Mike's goat, aren't you,
Flossie?"

"Yes, I am."

The Bobbseys had been camping on the island about a month, when one day
Mrs. Bobbsey went over to Lakeport to do some shopping, taking Nan and
Bert with her, and leaving Flossie and Freddie in charge of their
father. Of course Dinah and Sam stayed on the island also.

But you can easily imagine what happened. After Mr. Bobbsey had played a
number of games with the small twins he sat down in a shady place to
rest and read a book, thinking Flossie and Freddie would be all right
playing near the big tent.

The two little ones were making a sand city. They made a square wall of
sand, and inside this they built sand houses, railroads, a tunnel and
many other things, until Freddie suddenly said:

"Oh, if we only had some of the clam shells that are down by the lake we
could make a lot more things."

"So we could!" cried Flossie. "Let's go and get some!"

So, never thinking to ask their father, who was still reading, away
rushed the two twins, after "clam" shells. They were not really shells
of clams, but of fresh water mussels, but they were almost like the
shells of the soft clams one sees at the beach. The mussels are brought
up on shore by muskrats who eat the inside meat and leave the empty
shells. The small twins often used the shells in their play and games.

The place where the mussel shells were usually to be found was not far
from the tents, but like most children in going to one place Flossie and
Freddie took the longest way. They were in no hurry, the sun was shining
brightly, and it was such fun to wander along over the island. So,
before they knew it, they were a long distance from "home," as they
called Twin Camp.

"Maybe we oughtn't to've come," said Flossie, as she stopped to pick
some blueberries.

"We're not so far," said Freddie. "I know my way back. Oh, Flossie! look
at that butterfly!" he suddenly called, making a grab for the fluttering
creature. The butterfly flew on a little way and Freddie raced after it,
followed by Flossie.

"Now I'm goin' to get it!" the little boy cried. With his hat he made a
swoop for the butterfly, and then suddenly he and Flossie, who was
close behind him, tumbled down through a hole in the ground, which
see