Sometimes Freddie, and Flossie too, used to get queer ideas about what
they wanted to do, and once or twice they had run away together. Once it
was to go to the circus, away on the other side of the city, and again
it was to follow a hand-organ man and a monkey. Freddie's father,
hearing him talk so much about getting a ship in which to search for Mr.
Todd, thought the little boy might be too much in earnest and would
really go off where he ought not.

"So don't start off on any voyage without telling us," said Mr. Bobbsey.

"I won't," promised Freddie. "First I must see how much money I have
saved up."

His bank was a kind that could be opened and closed, and for some time
Freddie and Flossie were busy counting the pennies.

"Well, how much have you?" asked Bert.

"Flossie says there are only fifty-six cents," Freddie answered, "but I
counted seventy. Flossie can't count as high as I can, anyhow."

"I can so!" cried the fat little girl.

"Now children, be nice," begged Mother Bobbsey.

"I'll count the money for you," offered Bert.

"Seventy-nine cents," he told Freddie, after he had finished. "And
here's a penny of mine I'll give you. That makes eighty cents."

"Is that 'most enough to buy a ship, Daddy?" asked the little fellow.

"Oh no, my dear boy. You'll need lots more money than that. So keep on
saving, and don't go off without letting us know."

"All right," Freddie said with a sigh. "Do you think I'll have enough
saved in a week?"

"I can tell you better when the week is up," laughed Mr. Bobbsey.

"School begins in a week," said Nan. "You can't go off on a ship when
you have to go to school, Freddie."

"That's so. Well, I'll keep on saving, and when school is out again
Tommy and I will go off in the ship to find his father."

The Bobbsey twins had as much fun as they could in the week of vacation
that remained. They and their playmates met together and went on little
walks in the woods, or rowed on the river. Bert and Nan were allowed to
go out in a safe boat, near their father's lumber dock, and Flossie and
Freddie were allowed to go also, for they sat very still, and never
tried to change seats when the boat was out in the water. This is very
dangerous to do, and often boats are upset that way.

Then, one morning, as Freddie awoke in his little bed, he heard his
mother calling:

"Come on, little fireman. Time to get up!"

"Is there a fire?" asked Freddie, eagerly.

"No, but school begi