more than a
quarter of the way to the lumber camp. They intended to stop at noon,
which would see them three-quarters there, and eat the lunch they had
brought along.

It did seem that Alice and the young fellow with her invited the
_Spider_ to a race, but Allen knew better than to accept. The other boat
was a light craft, built purposely for racing, whereas the larger boat
was not.

Gradually the boat containing the two occupants drew away up the river.
Our friends gave it little thought until, when they were discussing the
advisability of eating lunch, Frank called out:

"Here he comes back, tacking against the wind."

"Yes, and he doesn't know how to do it," said Allen in a low voice.
"He'll have trouble if he doesn't watch out."

The small boat came nearer and nearer, gliding from side to side of the
frozen river to make distance against a quartering wind.

"Look out where you're going!" suddenly cried Allen, as he saw the craft
headed directly for the Spider. "Luff there! Luff!"

Evidently in the emergency the other boy lost his head. He came straight
on, but Allen was not minded to suffer a collision. Quickly he shifted
his helm, and so quickly that the next moment the _Spider_ overturned,
spilling them all out.

There were hoarse shouts from the boys, and shrill screams from the
girls as Allen, who had managed to jump clear, raced after the still
moving boat to prevent it becoming damaged.

And, as he looked back to see the figures of his friends more or less
entangled in luggage and fur robes, scattered over the ice, he saw the
boat, the action of which had made it necessary for him to spill,
herself turn over, throwing out Alice and her friend.

"Anybody hurt?" asked Will, as he sat up, a robe around his shoulders.

"Guess not," answered Frank, taking a quick survey of the girls. They
were laughing now, and getting up.

CHAPTER IX

GETTING SETTLED

Only a glance was needed to show that none of the party of campers had
been more than bruised. They were all up now, getting rid of the
entangling rugs, and collecting the scattered baggage, which had slid
over the ice in various directions.

"Never mind that," advised Allen, who was busy with the ropes of the ice
boat. "Let's right this, fellows," he suggested, "and see if it's
damaged any. It doesn't look so; but we'd better make sure."

It was no easy task to get the boat on her runners again, but the girls
lent their strength, no sma