"Where is your ice-boat?" asked Harry of Bert, as they kept on along the path that led to the lake.
"Over in the next cove. I had her out the other day, and the wind died out, leaving me there. Since then we've been so busy getting ready to go to Snow Lodge that I haven't had time to bring her back to the dock."
"Will she be safe over there?"
"I guess so—hardly anybody goes there in winter."
The two cousins—Harry from the country and Dorothy from the seashore,—in each of which places the Bobbseys had spent part of the preceding summer,—had followed soon after their letters, and had been warmly welcomed by Nan, Bert, Flossie and Freddie. The visitors were rather surprised to learn that the Bobbsey family was preparing to go away for a winter vacation in the woods, but they were only too glad to accept an invitation to go along.
So it was arranged, and in another day the start to Mr. Carford's former home would be made. Mr. Bobbsey had a big sled gotten ready, there were boxes, barrels and packages of provisions, Snow Lodge had been opened by a farmer living near there, who remained in it all night, keeping up the fires so that the long-deserted house would not be chilly, and all was in readiness.
The plans of Nan and Bert to go to Snow Lodge by means of skates and on the ice-boat had been agreed to.
Dorothy and Nan thought they would rather skate than go all the way on the ice-boat, but Bert and Harry decided to keep to the ice craft all the way.
"And when you girls get tired of skating just wave your handkerchiefs, and we'll wait for you," said Bert.
Now they were going to take a little trial sail on the Ice Bird before starting off on the longer cruise.