“Yes, he is a regular woodsman.  He was a hunter and trapper once, I believe, though he has spent most of his life working for farmers.  He loves now to live by himself in a sort of camp.”

“I love camping myself,” said Mr. Whipple, “and that is why I am so interested in selling things for campers.  I love anybody who loves the woods, and, while I do not know this Uncle Jack, I’d like to help look after him.”

“I shall be very glad to have you join me,” said Mr. Bobbsey; and the twins, listening to this talk, though they did not understand all of it, knew that their old woodsman friend was going to be cured if it were found to be possible.

“We’ll join each other in looking after him,” went on Mr. Whipple.  “You must let me pay half.”  And to this the children’s father agreed.  He said he would write back at once to his office, and tell some one there to look after the old woodchopper.

“Is there any other news from Lakeport?” Mrs. Bobbsey asked her husband at the restaurant dinner table, while the children were busy talking among themselves.

“No, not much.  Everything is all right, I believe.  I have some news for you, though, Bert,” he went on, as his older son glanced across the table.

“What is it?” Bert questioned.  “Did Tommy Todd go through the ice in the Bird?”

“No, but it has to do with the ice-boat.  He went in a race in her on Lake Metoka, and, what is better, he won.”

“Hurray for Tommy Todd!” cried Bert, so loudly that persons at other tables in the store dining room looked over and smiled, at which Bert’s ears became very red.

“Did you hear anything of my friends?” asked Nan.

“No, my dear,” answered her father.  “And the reason I happened to have news for Bert was because Tommy’s father wrote to me about some business matters, and Tommy slipped in a little note himself.  Here it is, Bert.”

It was just a little letter telling about the ice-boat, and Tommy expressed the wish that Bert would soon come home to help sail it in other races.

“I’d like to be back in Lakeport,” said Bert, “but we’re having such a good time here in New York I don’t want to leave.  Guess I’ll write and tell Tommy so.”

After dinner Mr. Whipple showed the Bobbseys and Laddie about the big store, and each of the children was allowed to pick out a simple gift to take away.  Nan took a pretty ribbon; Bert a book he had long wanted; Flossie a piece of silk to make a dress for her doll, and Freddie saw in the toy department a little hose cart which, he said, was just what he wanted to go with his engine.  Mr. Whipple gave it to Freddie, who was very much pleased.  For his present from his uncle, Laddie picked out a little gun, which shot a cork.

“I can’t break any of the hotel windows with this,” he said to his aunt.

“Did you ever break any windows?” asked Flossie, rather surprised.