The Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge | Page 2

speaking more quietly. "It's
always just that way with Snap when he gets excited. Come here!" he
called to the dog, "and let me harness you. Come here Snap!"
The dog was well enough trained so that he knew when the time for fun
was over and when he had to settle down. Still wagging his tail
joyously, however, Snap came up to Freddie, who started over again
the work of harnessing the animal to the sled.
"I guess you'd better stand at his tail instead of at his head," said
Freddie. "So when he wags it you can grab it, Flossie, and hold it still.
Then it won't slap me in the face, and I can see what I'm doing. Hold
his tail, Flossie."
"Then he can't wag it," objected the little girl.
"I know he can't. I don't want him to."
"But it may make him angry."
"Snap never gets mad; do you, Snap?" asked Freddie, and the dog's
bark seemed to say "No, never!"
So Flossie held the dog's tail, while Freddie put on the harness again.
This time he succeeded in getting it all arranged to suit him, and the
frisky Snap was soon made fast to the sled.
"Now get on, Flossie," called her brother, "and we'll see how fast Snap
can pull us."
"But don't make him go too fast, Freddie," begged the little girl. "For

it's hard pulling in the snow."
"No, I'll let him go slow," promised Freddie. "But it won't be hard work
pulling us. My sled goes awfully easy, anyhow."
Freddie tucked Flossie in amid the robes and rugs which the children
had taken from the house, near which they had started to harness the
dog. Then Freddie took his place in front of his sister, holding to two
reins that were fastened to the dog's head. Freddie had made no bit,
such as is used for horses and goats, but he thought by making straps
fast to a sort of muzzle by which he could guide Snap, by pulling his
head to one side or the other.
"All ready, Flossie?" called Freddie, when he himself was comfortable
on the sled.
"All ready," she answered.
"Giddap, Snap!" cried Freddie, and, with a bark, off the dog started,
pulling the sled and the two children after him.
"Oh, he's going! He's giving us a ride! It's as real as anything!" cried
Flossie in delight, holding fast to the sled. "Oh, Freddie!"
"Of course it's real!" said Freddie. "Bert and Nan said Snap wouldn't
pull us. but I knew he would. I just wish they could see us now."
As if in answer to this wish a little later, when the two smaller twins
had turned a corner, they saw coming toward them their brother and
sister Nan and Bert, also twins, but four years older.
"Look, look!" cried Flossie to Nan. "See what a nice ride we're having."
"Oh, look, Bert!" exclaimed Nan, "Snap really is pulling them," and she
grasped her brother's arm. Bert was pulling his own sled and that of his
twin sister.
"Yes, he'll pull them a little way," admitted Bert, as if he knew all about
it, "and then, the first thing they know, Snap will turn around short and

tip them into a snowdrift. He hasn't been trained to pull a sled, no
matter how many other tricks he can do."
"I trained him myself!" declared Freddie, as he pulled on the lines to
bring the dog to a stop. But Snap, seeing Nan and Bert, was eager to
reach them to be patted and made much of, so he did not obey the
command given by the reins, but kept on.
"Whoa there!" cried Freddie, holding back with all his little strength.
"See, I told you he wouldn't mind," said Bert, with a laugh.
"Oh, but isn't it cute!" exclaimed Nan, flapping her hands. "I didn't
think they'd get any ride at all."
"We'll show you! We'll have a fine ride!" panted Freddie, vainly trying
to make Snap halt.
Then just what Bert said would happen seemed about to take place. The
dog leaped around, and turned short to get nearer to the older Bobbsey
twins.
"Look out!" cried Bert, but his warning came too late.
Over went the sled, and Flossie and Freddie were pitched from it into a
big, fluffy bank of snow, falling into it deeply, but with no more harm
to them than if they had landed on a bed of feathers.
"Oh dear!" cried Flossie, as she felt herself shooting toward the snow.
"Whoa there! Whoa! Don't you run away, Snap!" shouted Freddie.
Then his mouth was filled with snow and he could say nothing more.
"Oh, Bert! They'll be smothered!" cried Nan. "Help me get them out!"
Bert was laughing,