The pumpkin won the race.  I suppose you had already guessed that it would.  For the pumpkin, being almost perfectly round, could roll down the hill faster than Freddie could.

So the pumpkin was the first to reach the bottom of the little grassy hill on which stood the tent where the prize fruits and vegetables were on exhibition.  And Freddie came tumbling after, like Jack and Jill, you know.

And I believe it is a good thing the pumpkin reached the bottom of the hill first, for if Freddie had been first the big, heavy pumpkin would have rolled up against him with a bump, and might have hurt him.  But Freddie, bumping into the pumpkin, as he did, was not hurt at all.

“Oh, you funny little boy!” cried the little girl who had laughed, as she ran up to Freddie, who was now sitting on the grass.  “The pumpkin beat you in the rolling race down hill.  But maybe you’ll win next time.”

“There isn’t going to be any next time,” laughed Mother Bobbsey, as she ran to pick Freddie up.  “He didn’t do that on purpose, little girl.”

“Oh, I thought he did.  Anyhow, it was funny!” and she laughed again.

“Yes, it was funny,” agreed Bert.  “And here comes a man after the pumpkin, I guess.”

“Be careful that he doesn’t take you and put you on exhibition in the tent,” said Nan to her little brother.

“Will he, Mother?” asked Flossie.

“No, of course not.  Nan is only joking.”

“The pumpkin isn’t hurt any,” said Harry, helping the man lift it up on his shoulder.

“I’m glad of it,” the man said.  “It has won the prize, and the farmer who owns it wouldn’t like it if it should be broken.”

“Let’s go over to the merry-go-round,” suggested Freddie, who did not like so many people looking at him, for quite a crowd had gathered when word of the funny pumpkin race spread.  “I want a ride on the merry-go-round.”

“So do I,” added Flossie.

“And then it will be time for the balloon to go up,” added Bert.  “Do you think the wind is too strong?” he asked his father.

“Well, it is blowing pretty hard, and it’s getting worse.  I think there is going to be a storm.  But I see men working around the balloon, and I think they are going to send it up.  Perhaps they think they can send it up and let it come down again before the storm.”

“Oh, let’s hurry and see it!” cried Nan, who was as much interested in the big gas bag as were the boys.

“First we’ll give Flossie and Freddie a ride on the merry-go-round, I think,” suggested Mrs. Bobbsey.  So they all voted to have a ride, as Mr. Bobbsey wanted a chance to speak to Mr. Blipper.

But, just as had happened the other time, Mr. Blipper was not there.  Bob Guess was taking tickets, and when he saw Nan he smiled.

“I’ll get you the brass ring,” he promised, and he did.

The children liked the lively music, and also the whirling ride on the backs of the wooden animals.  Even Mrs. Bobbsey took one ride, but she said that was enough.  Nan had a special ride, because Bob Guess had saved for her the brass ring, and when the other children learned that Nan was to ride for nothing, of course they wanted an extra ride, for which Mr. Bobbsey had to pay.