ossie. "We're having a make-believe ride, and
you can ride too. Can't she, Freddie?"

"Yep. An' I'm going to drive--make-believe. Come on, Helen. When Bert
comes I'll ask him to take us to help find the gypsies and get back your
doll."

Helen hurried in and took her place in the wagon, and the three children
had lots of fun pretending they were going on a long trip. They did not
really go, for the goat was tied to a post.

"I wish Bert would hurry back," said Flossie, after a bit. "I'm tired of
staying in one place so long."

"So'm I," said Freddie. Then he got out of the wagon and began loosening
the strap by which the goat was fastened to the post.

"What're you doing?" Flossie asked.

"I--I just want to see what Whisker'll do," answered the little boy.
"Maybe he's tired of standing still."

Indeed, the goat seemed to be, for no sooner had Freddie got into the
wagon again than off Whisker started, walking slowly toward the back of
the yard, where there was a gate to a rear street which led to the
woods.

"Whoa!" cried Freddie, but he did not say it very loudly. "Whoa,
Whisker! Where you going?"

"Oh, he's runnin' away!" cried Helen. "Let me out! He's runnin' away!"

"No, he's only walking," said Freddie. "It's all right. As long as he
walks, you won't get hurt. I guess I'd better drive him, though."

"Can't you stop him?" asked Flossie. "Bert won't like it to have us take
him away."

"We aren't taking him away; he's taking _us_ away," said Freddie. "I
can't make him stop. Look!" Again he called: "Whoa!" but the goat did
not obey.

On and on went Whisker, slowly at first, then walking a little faster
and pulling after him the wagon with the children in it.

"Oh, he's going to the woods!" cried Flossie, as she saw the goat
heading for the patch of trees at the end of the back street. "Stop him,
Freddie!"

"Maybe he wants to go there," said Freddie. "He won't stop for me."

"But it--it's such a bumpy road," said Helen, the words being fairly
jarred out of her. "It's all--all bu-bu-bumps and hu-hu-humps."

"That's 'cause we're in the woods," said Freddie, for by this time the
goat had drawn the wagon into the shade of the woods, not far from the
Bobbsey home. It was indeed a bumpy place, Whisker pulling the children
over tree roots and bits of broken wood. But the wagon was stout, and
the goat was strong. Then, suddenly, Freddie had an idea.

"Oh, Helen!" he cried, "I guess Whisker is taking us to f