"That's the place the convict escaped from, isn't it?" asked Ralph, quickly.
"Yes, but we needn't think anything about that," laughed the other.
"Well, all the same, somebody's coming along like hot cakes. I can hear skates cutting the ice to beat the band. There, I had a glimpse of him through the bushes just then," went on Ralph.
"So did I," laughed Frank; "and do you know who it is? Just wait till he rounds that point below, and be ready to shout. There he comes! Now, what do you think?"
CHAPTER XIII
WHAT THE SMOKE MEANT
"Lanky!"
"Ahoy! there, you sprinters, I began to think you were headed for the Arctic regions. Let me get my breath, will you?" and the almost exhausted skater sank on the bent tree trunk, panting heavily.
"This is sure an unexpected treat, old top," said Frank, mimicking Lanky in his method of speech; "and to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"
"Found that my people had changed their plans at the last minute, and meant to stay home and have Christmas dinner at night. Thought of you two ducks immediately, and what a bully good time I was missing. So I grabbed up my skates, and put for the drink at full speed. Found you were half an hour and more on the way; so I started in pursuit. I've been keeping it up all this time."