he crowd----" began Andy Rover. Then, of a
sudden, he stopped short because an ominous crack was heard, followed by
several other cracks.

"The ice is breaking!"

"Skate away, everybody, or we'll go down!"

Instantly there was a commotion, and all of the skaters tried to break
away from the spot where the crowd had congregated. The confusion was
tremendous, and in the mix-up six or eight persons, including Ruth
Stevenson and May Powell, were thrown down. Then came another crack, and
it looked as if in another instant the ice would give way completely and
precipitate the whole crowd into the cold waters of the lake.

CHAPTER II

SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS

It was a time of extreme peril, and it is doubtful if any one realized
that more than did Jack Rover. He, too, had been thrown down, and across
his legs was sprawled the heavy form of Fatty Hendry. It was the
toppling over of the fat youth which had caused one of the cracks which
were now so numerous in the ice.

"Hi! get off of me!" yelled Jack, and managed to pull one of his legs
free; and with this he pushed the fat youth to one side.

"Help! help! We're going down!" came in a scream from May Powell.

The ice had become depressed where she and Ruth Stevenson stood, and
both were already in a half inch of water.

"Scatter! Everybody scatter!" cried Professor Brice, and then rushed to
one side, to rescue several little boys and girls.

"Come on, Jack, we've got to help those girls!" cried Randy, and caught
his cousin by the arm, thus assisting him to his feet. Then off the
pair skated, with Andy and Fred behind them, all bent on going to the
assistance of the girls from Clearwater Hall.

Now, I know quite well that to the readers of the former volumes in
these two "Rover Boys Series," all of the Rovers, both old and young,
will need no introduction. But for the benefit of those who have not
perused any of the previous volumes in this line, a few words concerning
our characters will not be amiss.

In my first volume, entitled "The Rover Boys at School," I told how
three brothers, Dick, Tom and Sam Rover, had been sent off to Putnam
Hall Military Academy, where they made a host of friends, including a
manly and straightforward cadet, named Lawrence Colby. From Putnam Hall,
the Rovers were sent to Brill College, and after leaving that
institution of learning they went into business in Wall Street, New York
City, where they organized The Rover