This was at once agreed to, and nine names went into Andy’s cap. Harry fumbled around, and finally drew a slip out and read it aloud.
“The Icicle! That suits me. Who wrote it down?”
“I did,” said Jack.
“It’s a good name for an iceboat,” put in Boxy. “Hurrah for the Zero Club and the Icicle!” he shouted.
And three cheers were given with a will.
Directly after dinner the four boys shoved the clumsy craft down to the ice, and made a trial trip on her across the river and back and two miles up the shore. The Icicle behaved very well, and Jack declared that they would have no trouble in reaching their destination on her.
As soon as the trial trip was over they separated to get their various things, for they were determined that all should be in readiness for the start Monday morning at sunrise, and that nothing was to be done on the Sabbath.
Blankets, skates, and other things were taken down to the meeting-room in the Bascoe barn. Andy and Jack had shotguns of their own, and Boxy had a rifle. Harry had no firearms, but borrowed from his father a small shotgun. Each of the boys also provided himself with fishing lines, and Jack took along a spear for spearing through a hole in the ice.
“The sled will be pretty well heaped up, I’m thinking,” remarked Boxy, who was doing the packing.
“Won’t it tip over if it’s too highly packed?” asked Andy.