s about two boys who sold suspension bridges for a living,"
cried Dave, merrily. "They sold as high as eighteen a day, and----"

"Say, if you want to hear this story, say so," demanded Shadow. "These
little boys got to bragging what each could do. Says one, 'I kin climb
our apple tree clear to the top.' Says the other, 'Huh! I can climb to
the roof of our house.' 'Hum,' says the first boy, 'I can climb to the
roof of our house, an' it's higher'n yours.' 'No, 'taint.' 'It is
so--it's got a cupola on top.' 'I don't care,' cried the other boy.
'Our's is higher. It's got a mortgage on it--I heard dad say so!'" And a
smile went the rounds.

Not having any other name, the boys had christened the place for which
they were bound, Robber Island. It was a lonely spot, rocky in some
places and covered with woods and underbrush in others. The shore was
fringed with bushes, through which the driven snow had sifted to a depth
of two feet and more.

"Here we are!" cried Dave, as they came in sight of one end of the
island. "Lower the sail, or we'll be sliding into the trees and rocks."

They made a safe landing, and then prepared to walk to the cabin, which
was some distance away. Henshaw looked doubtfully at the ice-boat.

"Think she'll be all right?" he asked, of Messmer.

"I think so."

"Oh, sure she'll be all right, with the sail down," added Roger.

"Wonder if there are any wild animals on this island?" questioned
Shadow.

"Might be an elephant or two," answered Dave, "or half a dozen royal
Bengal tigers."

"Quit your fooling, Dave. I reckon you wouldn't want to meet a bear or
a wildcat any more than myself."

"No bears around here," said the senator's son. "Might be a wildcat
though, or a fox. I'm going to get a good stick."

Each student provided himself with a stout stick, and then the whole
crowd moved forward in the direction of the cabin in the center of the
island, never dreaming of the astonishing adventure in store for them.

CHAPTER X

AN ADVENTURE ON ROBBER ISLAND

The way to the lonely cabin was not an easy one. There was no path, and
they had to scramble over rough rocks and across fallen trees and
through thick masses of brushwood. They forgot about the gully, and only
remembered it when they found themselves floundering in snow up to their
waists.

"For gracious' sake!" cried the senator's son, as he crawled out the
best way he could. "I fancied the bottom had dropped out of everything!"