They were all in the house, after dinner, when Dick came in to ask Grandpa Ford about something that needed fixing in the barn. The hired man saw the children sitting about with nothing particular to do, and said:
"How would you like to come for a ride in my boat?"
"Where?" asked Russ eagerly.
"On the pond," answered Dick.
"The pond is covered with ice!" said Russ. "Is that a riddle? How can you sail a boat on a pond that is covered with ice?"
"I'm going to sail an ice boat," answered Dick. "Want to come down and see me, and have a ride?"
CHAPTER XX
ANOTHER NIGHT SCARE
You can easily imagine what the six little Bunkers said when Dick asked this question about his ice boat.