Christmas was complete. Frank and Joe had given their parents one of the newest and finest radio sets and to Aunt Gertrude they gave several volumes of poems, as that lady was very fond of reading. For once in her life, their aunt did not sniff.
“Just what I wanted!” she beamed. “I have always adored Longfellow!”
At that moment the telephone rang. Chet was calling.
“All set!” he reported. “Biff and I are down here waiting.”
“We’ll be with you in a minute,” said Frank.
So the Hardy boys set out on their vacation outing to Cabin Island. Little did they dream of the many strange happenings in store for them.
CHAPTER VII
The Other Ice-Boat
Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, it appeared, had not missed Christmas either. Their parents had surprised them just as Mr. and Mrs. Hardy had surprised Frank and Joe, and when the lads met at the boathouse half an hour later their preparations for an immediate departure were somewhat hindered by joyous discussion of the presents each boy had received. Among Biff’s gifts was an ice-boat from his father, over which the lad was ecstatic.
“Well, let’s go!” shouted Chet finally. “We can talk it all over when we get to Cabin Island.”
They clambered into the ice-boats, Chet getting into Biff’s new craft with the proud owner.