"Let us follow the shore for the present," said Tom. "Perhaps the Pornell students are skating below here and we can show them what we are up to."
So on they went along the shore, until the wind began to change and carry them out into the lake. Here the ice was, however, far from safe, and they began to tack back.
"It's snowing!" cried Sam presently. He was right, and ere long the flakes were coming down thickly. With the coming of the snow the wind died out utterly.
"Here's a pickle," muttered Tom, in disgust. "Frank, I thought you said this wind was good for all day?"
"Frank must haf had his schleepin' cap on ven he said dot," put in
Hans, and the others set up a laugh.
"Well, I did think the wind would hold out," replied Frank, with a wry face. "This is going to spoil everything. Did anybody bring his skates?"
Nobody had, although all had calculated to do so. In the excitement every pair had been forgotten.
"Now we can't even skate home," said Dick.
"And I rather think it will be a long walk—at least three miles."
"That's not the worst of it," came from his youngest brother.
"Look how heavily it is snowing."