"Hold tight, everybody!" cried Henshaw, as he raised the sail. There was
a good, stiff breeze, and in a minute the _Snowbird_ was bowling along
in grand style, the students shrieking their delight as they passed
their numerous friends on skates.

"Come along and race!" cried Roger, to Sam Day.

"Give me a tow and I will," was the merry reply.

"Be sure to return when you get back!" called out Ben Basswood, and this
remark caused a general laugh.

"Do you remember the ice-boat race we had with the Rockville cadets?"
said Messmer.

"Yes, and the accident," replied Dave. "We don't want to run into
anything again."

"I say, fellows, let us visit that cabin on the island!" cried Roger.
"Maybe we'll find out something more about Pud Frodel and that other
fellow."

The senator's son referred to a cabin located on a lonely island some
distance from Oak Hall. Here it was that the lads had discovered the two
robbers with whom Nick Jasniff had been associated, and had given to the
authorities the information which had led to the rascals' capture.

"I'm willing to go," said Henshaw. "Only we can't stay on the island too
long, for we'll have to get back before it gets too dark."

As the ice-boat swept along they passed quite a number of boys on
skates. Presently they came to a crowd of six, all attired in neat
semi-military uniforms.

"Hello, Oak Hall!" was the cry.

"Hello, Rockville!"

"Where are you going with that tub?"

"Looking for another Rockville boat to beat!" sang out Henshaw. How he
had once won an ice-boat race against the military academy lads is
already known to my old readers.

"Go along, we're going to build a boat that will leave you away
behind," retorted one of the Rockville cadets.

"Brag is a good hoss, but Get-there takes the oats!" cried Dave, and
then the _Snowbird_ swept out of hearing of the military academy lads.

"They didn't like it at all, that we beat them," was Roger's comment.
"Wonder if they will try to build a swifter boat?"

"Let them come on," answered Dave. "We can build another boat, too, if
it's necessary."

"Say, their blowing puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow
Hamilton. "Two little boys----"

"Oh, Shadow, another?" groaned Messmer, reproachfully.

"Let him tell it, it will help to pass the time," remarked Henshaw. "I
know it's all about two poor lads who were caught in a snowstorm and had
to shovel their way out with nothing but toothpicks."

"No, it'