“I sure do!”
“I’m in for it, too,” added Ned. “Show me how to steer and manage the sail.”
Mr. Brown proved to be an adept instructor, and the boys soon caught on to the knack of handling the swift craft, though they needed practice.
“Here comes the Jack Frost,” said Mr. Brown, nodding toward another ice-boat down the lake. “We’ll have a little race with her. Mr. Carson owns her, and he beat me the last time, though I think I can win now, for my boat is better in a light wind than his.”
A friendly challenge was at once accepted by Mr. Carson, and the two graceful craft lined up for a race. They were on a part of the lake where there were no skaters and no other boats.
Then came a pretty exhibition. Even at first with her rival, the Petrel soon forged ahead, and then Mr. Brown let the boys take turns at the tiller.
They did well, too, and at the finish line the Petrel was several lengths in advance.
“Well, you had the edge on me this time!” called Mr. Carson good-naturedly, as he came up in the wind. “But I’ll beat you next.”
“We’ll take you up!” called Jerry. “It’s going to be our boat from now on.”