"I'll take you back to town in my sleigh," said Farmer Sandborn. "I was going to town for some groceries to-morrow morning, but I might just as well go now, while the roads are open. They'll be all closed up ag'in by daylight, if this storm keeps up." He led the way down the road to his house and they were glad enough to follow. By Nan's side walked Tige and he licked her hand, just to show that he wanted to make friends with her. "I guess you are a good dog after all," said she, patting his head. "But you did give me _such_ a scare!" Both of the twins were very cold and glad enough to warm themselves by the kitchen fire while the farmer hitched up his horse. The farmer's wife wished to give them supper, but this they declined, saying they would get supper at home. But she made each eat a big cookie, which tasted exceedingly good. Soon Farmer Sandborn drove around to the door with his sleigh and in they piled, on the soft straw, with several robes to keep them warm. Then the horse set off on a brisk trot for town. "It's a nice enough sleigh ride for anybody," declared Bert. And yet they did not enjoy it very much, for fear of what would happen to them when they got home. "Where in the world have you been?" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey as she ran to the door to let them in. "We have been looking all over for you. Your papa was afraid you had been drowned in the lake." An evening dinner was in waiting for them, and sitting down to satisfy their hunger, they told their story, to which all of the others listened with much interest. "You can be thankful you weren't blown clear to the other end of the lake," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I think after this you had better leave ice-boating alone." "I know I shall!" declared Nan. "Oh, I'll be more careful, papa, after this," pleaded Bert. "You know I promised to go out again with Charley." "Well then, don't go when the wind is strong," and Bert promised. "I'm so glad the dog didn't bite you," said little Flossie. "He might have given you hy--hy_dro_pics." "Flossie means hydrophobics," put in Freddie. "Ain't no hy_dro_pics, is there, Bert?" "Oh, Freddie, you mean hydrophobia!" burst out Nan, with a laugh. "No, I mean hydrophobics," insisted the little fellow. "That's what Dinah calls them anyway." After the adventure on the ice boat matters ran smoothly with the Bobbsey twins for two weeks and more. There was a great deal of snow and as a consequence Freddie and Flossie stayed home from school most of the time. Nan and Bert also remained home two separate days, and during those days all of the children had great fun in the attic, where there was a large storeroom, filled with all sort of things. "Let us play theater," said Nan, who had been to several exhibitions while at home and while visiting. "All right," said Bert, falling in with the plan at once. "Let us play Rip Van Winkle. I can be Rip and you can be the loving wife, and Flossie and Freddie can be the children."