easily," answered Shadow. "I am not going to look
for him any more," he added.

They were soon on their way back to the shore where they had left the
_Snowbird_. The short winter day was drawing to a close, and it was
getting colder. They walked briskly, for they feared the wind would be
against them on the return to Oak Hall, and they did not wish to be
late for supper, for that, at the very least, would mean a lecture from
Job Haskers.

Henshaw was in the lead, and presently he came out on the shore, looked
around in dazed fashion, and uttered a cry of dismay. And not without
good reason.

The ice-boat had disappeared.

CHAPTER XI

A HUNT FOR AN ICE-BOAT

"It's gone!"

"Where in the world could it have gone to?"

"It was too far on the shore to be blown away."

"Can anybody have stolen the craft?"

Such were some of the words uttered as the students stood on the shore
of the lonely island, gazing first in one direction and then in another.
Darkness had now settled down, and they could see but little at a
distance.

"I really believe somebody took the ice-boat," remarked Dave. "As the
sail was down I don't see how she could budge of herself."

"Exactly my way of thinking," answered Roger. "And I've got an idea who
took the craft, too."

"Those Rockville cadets?" queried Henshaw.

"Yes."

"They wouldn't be above such a piece of mischief," said Messmer. "They
feel mighty sore over the way we outsailed them that time we raced."

"They'll be likely to sail the boat to our dock and leave her there,"
said Shadow. "Puts me in mind of a story I once heard about----"

"I don't want to listen to any stories just now," grumbled Henshaw. "I
want to find that ice-boat. If we can't find her we'll have to walk
home."

"What a pity we didn't bring our skates!" cried Dave. "The wind is very
light, and if we had them we might catch up with whoever took the craft.
I am by no means certain the Rockville cadets are guilty. When we met
them they were going home, and they didn't know we were coming here."

"Nobody knew that," said Messmer.

"Who was the last person we met on the river before landing?" questioned
the senator's son.

All of the boys thought for a minute.

"I saw Link Merwell," said Shadow.

"Yes, and Nat Poole was with him," answered Henshaw. "Merwell has become
quite a crony of Nat Poole's since Gus Plum dropped out."

Link Merwell was a new student, who had come to Oak Hall from anot