othy, I know what I can do."

"What?" she asked.

"I can make one. My papa has lots of boards in his lumber yard. I'll go
down there and make a ship for Tommy and me."

The next day Freddie asked his mother if he might not go down to his
father's yard. As the way was safe, and as he had often gone before,
Mrs. Bobbsey said he might go this time. Off trudged Freddie, with some
nails in one pocket and pieces of string in another.

"I can use a stone for a hammer," he said, "and nail some boards
together to make a ship. That's what I'll do."

Freddie first went to his father's office, which he always did, so Mr.
Bobbsey would know his son was at the yard. This time it happened that
Mr. Bobbsey was very busy. He looked at Freddie for a moment, and then
said:

"Now Freddie, do you see where James is sitting by that pile of
shingles?" and he pointed across the yard.

"Yes, I see," Freddie answered. He knew James very well. He was the day
watchman in the lumber yard, and he walked around here and there, seeing
that everything was all right.

"Well, you go over to James and tell him I said he was to look after
you," went on Mr. Bobbsey. "You may play about, but keep near James, and
you'll be all right. When you get tired come back here."

"All right," said Freddie.

He and the other Bobbsey children often came to their father's yard to
have good times, and James, or some of the men, was always told to look
after the twins, if Mr. Bobbsey happened to be busy.

"Hello, James," called Freddie, as he walked over to the watchman.

"Hello!" answered the man cheerfully. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to have some fun and play with you."

"All right," answered James. "What shall we play first?"

CHAPTER XI

A QUEER PLAY-HOUSE

Freddie Bobbsey thought for a minute. He and James had played numbers of
games on other days when Freddie was allowed to come to his father's
lumber yard. This time Freddie wanted to think of something new.

"Do you want me to tell you a story?" asked the watchman, for this was
one of the "games." James knew many fine stories, for he had used to
live in the woods, and had chopped down big trees, which were afterward
sawed into boards, such as were now piled about the lumber yard.

Freddie always liked to have the old watchman tell tales of what had
happened in the woods, but this time the little chap said:

"Thank you, no, James. I want to do some thing else."

"All right