ldren. You never used to dispute this way."

"I guess the long train ride is tiring them," said Papa Bobbsey, looking
up from the paper he was reading.

"Anyhow, half of Snoop, our black cat, is mine then," said Freddie.
"Isn't she, Mother?"

"Yes. And now please don't talk like that any more. Look out of the
window and watch the trees shoot past."

"Oh, I'm going to see Snoop!" exclaimed Flossie, suddenly.

"So'm I," added Freddie. And in a moment the two children were bending
over a basket which was in the seat with Dinah. In the basket was Snoop,
the big black cat. She always traveled that way with the Bobbseys. And
she seemed very comfortable, for she was curled up on the blanket in the
bottom of the basket. Snoop opened her eyes as Freddie and Flossie put
their fingers through cracks and stroked her as well as they could.

"I wish Snap was in here with us," said Freddie, after a bit. "I hope he
gets a drink of water."

"Oh, I want a drink of water!" exclaimed Flossie, suddenly. "I forgot I
was thirsty. Mother, can't I have a drink?" she went on.

"Oh, yes, dear. I suppose so. I'll get it for you."

"No, let Dinah get it so she'll upset," begged Flossie.

"I'll get it for you, Flossie," offered Freddie. "Dinah might get hurt."

"Dat's de li'l gen'man," said the fat cook, smiling. "He lubs ole
Dinah."

"I love you too, Dinah," said Flossie, patting the black hand that had
done many kind acts for the twins. "But I _do_ want a drink, and you
know you _would_ look funny if you upset here in the car."

"Yes, I spects I would, chile," laughed Dinah.

"May I get Flossie a drink?" asked Freddie.

"You may both go down to the end of the car where the water-cooler is,"
said Mrs. Bobbsey. "The train is slowing down now, and going to stop, I
think, so you won't fall. But be careful."

Flossie and Freddie started toward the end of the long car, but their
sister Nan, who with her brother Bert was a few seats away, went with
them, to make sure nothing would happen.

"I'm not thirsty any more," Flossie said, after having had two cups of
cold water.

"No, but you will be in half an hour, I'm sure," laughed Nan. "Every
one seems to get thirsty on a railroad journey. I do myself," and she
took some water after Freddie had had enough.

The train now came to a stop, and Flossie and Freddie hurried back to
their seat to look out at the station. Hardly were they both crowded
close to the window before there was the