finished Tom. "But I move we camp and cook fish," he continued. "We can
have a dandy meal, along with the stuff we brought along."

The idea of going ashore prevailed, and soon they had tied up the sloop
and lowered the mainsail. Brushwood was handy, and having started a fire
they cleaned some of the fish and set it to broiling. They had a pot
along in which they made coffee, and they also brought out some bread
and crackers, cake, and some fruit. They had some meat with them, but
left that for possible future use.

The cadets took their time over the meal, and it was not until two
o'clock that they again boarded the _Polly_, as Larry had named his
craft.

"I think the breeze is coming again," cried Dick, holding up his hand.

"Let it come!" was the cry, and as the wind freshened all felt much
better. Soon the _Polly_ was bowling over the lake as speedily as when
they had first started.

"Do you know what I think?" said Songbird, who stood at the stern
looking toward the distant hills. "I think we are going to have more
wind than we'll want before night."

"Do you think a big blow is coming?" questioned Fred.

"It looks that way to me. Do you see those dark clouds just beginning to
show themselves yonder?"

"Well, I shan't mind a little blow," said Dick. "In fact, I think I'd
rather like the excitement." And the others said the same.

They were still about two miles from the spot where they supposed the
old house was located, when it suddenly grew darker and the breeze
freshened greatly. Then came a puff of air that sent the _Polly_ far
over on her side.

"Hi! this won't do!" cried Fred, in alarm. "We don't want to upset!"

"Maybe we had better take in some sail," added Songbird nervously.

He had scarcely spoken when there came another puff of wind that made
all cling fast to the deck to keep from being pitched overboard. The sky
was now very dark, and there were a few flakes of snow in the air.

"It's a spring snowsquall, that's what it is," announced Dick. "I don't
think it will last over ten or fifteen minutes."

"It's too much for the _Polly_," came from Larry. "Put down the
mainsail, will you?"

Several sprang to do as requested, and hardly had the sheet been lowered
and stowed away when there came a fierce gust that drove them well in
shore.

"There is a cove--we can go in there for shelter!" cried Sam, and the
sloop was steered accordingly. The cove was well protected by trees and
they ca