Bruce had put on his skates for a little turn while he waited, and the others were racing up and down. Tom and Jack were working over the auxiliary sail, standing a short distance away from the iceboat, when there came a sudden puff of wind. The main sheet became caught, the big sail filled, and a moment later the empty iceboat was racing over the smooth, frozen river at dangerous speed!
[CHAPTER XIII]
THE SKATING RACE
“Look at that!” cried Jack.
“See it go!” shouted Bert.
“How did it happen to get away?” the ever-questioning George wanted to know.
“By Jove!” murmured Bruce. “He’d ask questions if it was the end of the world. He’d want to know why it hadn’t happened before.”
“Wow!” came from Tom, as he started after the disappearing iceboat. “That’s bad! I’m responsible for it.” He started off on a run, as though he could catch the skimming craft.
“You’ll never get her!” yelled Bruce to him. He had taken off his skates, and hurried up beside Tom.