"We'll see," said Ernest quietly. "And now, as we have so grand a kite,
let us go and see old Hobson about the carriage which we must make it
drag. Any shape and any plan is allowable, remember, provided it can
carry two. Now I have a design in my head which I think will answer
capitally. You see old gentlemen and ladies steering themselves, with a
person pushing behind, in an arm-chair. I propose having a sort of a
skeleton of a chair, with two big wheels and one small one in front,
with a very long front part,--one seat behind for the person who manages
the kite, and one in front for the steerer. There must be a bar in
front with a block to it, through which the line must pass, and then I
would have a light pole with a hook at one end, while the butt-end
should be secured to the centre of the carriage. Suppose you were to
sit in front and steer; I would sit behind and have a reel to haul in or
let out the line, and with the pole and hook I could bring the kite on
one side of the carriage or the other, as might be required to assist
you to guide it. It is my opinion that we can make the carriage go on a
wind, as yachtsmen say. That is to say, if the wind is from the north
or south, we may make the carriage go east or west. Now, if other
fellows have not thought of that, and the wind should change a few
points, we may be able to go on in our proper course while they may be
obliged to stop, and so we shall win the prize."

"Capital!" repeated Ellis, clapping his hands and hugging himself in his
delight in a peculiarly grotesque way which always made his friend
smile, though he determined some day quietly to tell him of the habit,
and to advise him to get over it. "Capital!" repeated Ellis. "I've
heard of something of the sort in Canada, where, on the lakes and
rivers, what are called ice-boats are used. They are, however, placed
on great skates or iron runners, and have sails just like any other
boats, only the sails are stretched quite flat, like boards. They have
a long pole out astern with an iron at the end of it, which cuts into
the ice and serves as a rudder. They sail very fast, and go, I
understand, close on a wind."

"What fun to sail in them!" cried Ernest. "I've often thought I should
like to go to Canada, and that would be another reason. But, I say,
Ellis, I fancy from the way you talk you know something about yachting.
I'm very fond of it; you and I will have some sailing together one of