"Well, let's start!" called Mr. Bobbsey finally. "We'll see who will get there first, Bert, or us."
"All right—a race then!" cried Nan.
Down to the glittering, icy lake went the boys and girls, down to where the ice-boat awaited them. It had been put in good shape for the trip, but before starting Bert and Harry looked over all the ropes to make sure none were frayed, or had been cut. Nothing had been seen of Danny Rugg, and Charley Mason told Bert he thought the bully had gone to the wood camp with his father.
"Don't you girls want to come on the ice-boat for a ways first?" asked Bert of his sister and Dorothy. "Then, when you get tired of riding, you can skate."
"Shall we?" inquired Nan.
"I guess so," answered Dorothy, and so they did. The wind was not as strong as it had been the day before, but it was enough of a breeze to send the Ice Bird along at a good speed. Well wrapped in the robes and blankets, the young people enjoyed the trip very much.
"I'm sure we'll be there before papa and mamma are," said Nan as they glided along. "See how fast we are going."
"Yes, but this wind may not keep up all the way," spoke her brother.
"And it's a good ways to Snow Lodge."
"Oh, well, we'll have a good time, anyhow," said Dorothy.
"And we'll stop and build a fire and have lunch when we're hungry," added Harry, for they had brought some food with them, and could make chocolate over a little fire.