It was an easy matter to purchase the various articles at the general store, and the boys had the clerk pack them securely in several soap boxes. Then Jack, as the treasurer for the crowd, paid the bill.
By this time it was growing dark, and Uncle Barney told them they had better not waste their time.
"I may be mistaken, but it looks a good deal like another snowstorm to me," he explained. "And if it's going to snow, we might as well get to the island before it starts to come down too hard."
The old lumberman was right about the snow, and some early flakes came sifting down while they were still at the boathouse packing the bobsled. The old lumberman showed them how to secure the load so that there would be no danger of its falling off.
"Now then, on with your skates, and we'll be off," he announced. In the winter time he always made the journey between the island and the town on his steel runners.
"I suppose skating is a good deal easier than walking," remarked Fred, while the boys were putting on their skates.
"To be sure. And we can make so much better time."
"How far have we got to go?" questioned Andy.
"To the upper end of the island, where I've got my home, is about four miles."
"Oh, that isn't so far!" cried Fred. "We can skate that in no time."