me to anchor at a spot that looked particularly inviting.

The boys were afraid it would rain, and wondered what they would do to
keep from getting wet, since the cuddy on the sloop was too small to
hold more than two or three of the party. But no rain came, and soon the
flurry of snow disappeared. The wind, however, instead of letting up,
blew harder than ever.

"I am glad we are not out in the middle of the lake," observed Fred.
"We'd be capsized sure!"

"This is certainly getting to be a regular gale," answered Dick. "And
the worst of it is, there is no telling how long it is going to last."

There was nothing to do but to wait, and in order to keep warm the
cadets put up a bit of sailcloth on the deck of the sloop and taking in
the cuddy. There they crouched, and told stories and talked for over an
hour.

"I move we go on," said Tom, at last. "The wind isn't quite as strong as
it was."

Although doubtful of the wisdom of the proceedings, the others voted to
proceed and they poled their way out of the cove. Only the jib of the
_Polly_ was hoisted and this sent them bowling along at a fair rate of
speed.

Dick stood in the bow and at last called upon Larry to turn the sloop
toward shore.

"I think we must be in the neighborhood of that house now," he said.
"And just ahead is a fine cove where the sloop will be as well sheltered
as it was at the other cove."

Accordingly Larry turned the _Polly_ in, and the other lads lowered the
sail. They came to anchor between a number of tall trees, where the
sloop was almost screened from sight.

Having made certain the boat could not drift away, the six boys, led by
Dick, made their way along the shore until they struck something of a
path. Coming to a slight rise, Dick pointed with his hand.

"Isn't that a house, on the other side of the hill?" he asked.

"Yes!" cried Tom. "And by the appearance of it I should say it's the
place we are looking for!"

CHAPTER XXVIII

AT THE OLD HOUSE

The Rover boys and their chums approached the old house with a good deal
of interest. Dick led the way, setting a pace that made it hard for the
others to keep up.

"Don't hurry so, Dick," remonstrated Fred. "The house isn't going to run
away."

"Dick wants to make sure if that Merrick is around," responded Songbird.
"And I can't blame him."

The old Sobber homestead was surrounded by a grove of trees equally
aged. One of the trees had blown down, taking a corner of