Ned, puffing, turned and rejoined his comrades, to receive congratulations—and his clipper.
The next Monday it was rumored at school, on good authority, that Big Mike had an ear on him looking like an over-ripe pear. Ned, hearing, was pleased. He felt that his black eye had been avenged.
[ CHAPTER XII]
THE LONG SKATE
Like the ill wind that nevertheless blows some good, the thaw, although spoiling the coasting, opened the way for two weeks of the finest skating that Beaufort had ever known. The snow had become water, but the water now became ice.
For in the north Winter heard how his sovereignty was thus being intruded upon by an o’er-anxious Spring, and in haste dispatched to the scene General Bitter-Cold. With his force General Bitter-Cold arrived, amid a flourish of trumpets, late one night. So well did he work that by morning Beaufort and the country round-about was Winter’s again.
He sealed each pond and stream with the seal of empire, and then proceeded to fetter anew the mighty river.
Beaufort had a system of weather flags; and when, for some hours preceding General Bitter-Cold’s arrival, the cold-wave signal was flown from the staff upon the town hall cupola, it was received by Ned and his cronies, save Bob, with much delight. Bob, being rather thin-skinned, much preferred spring, no matter how early it might come.