Then Freddie decided he must be brave. Without waking Flossie, the little fellow slid from bed, and crossed to the window. The bear, if such it was, could not be in his room. He was sure of that, for the place was made bright by the moonlight that streamed in the window. Over to this window Freddie went. He looked out, and as he did so, he saw something shaggy and black walk under the lilac bush in front of the house. "There he is!" whispered Freddie to himself. Then in his shrill childish voice he called loud: "Mamma! Bert! Nan! It's come! The bear! He's out in front under the bush! Oh! Oh! Oh!" CHAPTER XIX IN SWIMMING Freddie's cries roused the whole house at Meadow Brook, for the little Bobbsey boy had a strong, ringing voice. His mother was suddenly awakened from her sleep in the next room. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Daniel heard him in their apartment. Nan, Bert and Harry also heard him. "Oh, Freddie!" cried Flossie, who slept in the same room with her little brother. "What is it? What is it, Freddie?" and she sat up in her crib. "It's a bear--out in front--under a bush. The circus bear!" answered Freddie. "I didn't see the lion or tiger, but they must be out there too, unless the bear ate them up!" "Oh! Oh!" cried Flossie. "Oh, dear!" "Mamma! Nan! Bert!" cried Nan. "Come, oh, come here! Dinah!" "I'se comin', honey lamb! I'se comin'!" cried the colored cook, as she heard Freddie's wild cry. "What am de mattah, honey lamb?" Others were asking this question now. "What's it all about?" called Bert. "A bear!" answered Freddie. "Lions and tigers," added Flossie, half sobbing. "Gracious! Freddie's been dreaming, or else he's talking in his sleep," said Bert to Harry, who was also awakened by the shouts of the little boy. By this time Mrs. Bobbsey was up, and had put on a dressing gown and slippers. She hurried out into the hall, to meet Aunt Sarah. "Oh, something dreadful must have happened," said Freddie's mother. But when she went in his room, she found him and Flossie safe, with the little boy standing in the moonlight, near the open window. "What is it, little man?" asked Aunt Sarah. "Hush! Not so loud!" cautioned Flossie. "It's bears and lions and tigers. Freddie saw 'em!" She was not so frightened now. "I did not see 'em!" cried Freddie. "I only saw a bear!" "Oh, yes, the bear ate the lion and tiger," went on Flossie, "and if Snap or Snoop would only eat the bear now, it would be all right." "What does it all mean?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. "Did you really see something, Freddie, or were you dreaming?" "I did see something, mamma, and it went: 'Wuff! Wuff!'" Freddie explained. "Then it went and hid under the lilac bush. I'll show you," and, taking his mother's hand, he led her to the window, out of which he pointed. Now Nan, Bert and Harry came into the small twins' room. "What is it?" they asked.