"Stop that right away!" demanded Grace, "or I'll tell papa, and make him take you home."
"One more shot!" Will exclaimed, and he delivered a large snowball with such good aim that it nearly covered the whole of Jake's face. Kittie's brother staggered about, and when he could get his breath he cried:
"I'm through—I've had enough!"
"Battle's over—cease firing!" laughed Allen. "Well, girls, what's the trouble?" he asked as he and his two friends advanced to meet Grace and Mollie, while Jake and Sam moved off in the direction of their cabin.
"Oh, Will, there's a big express package for you at the cabin!" Grace exclaimed. "You owe me three dollars on it."
"Good!" cried the lad. "I'll give you the money out of my next allowance. It's the motor boat, fellows," he added.
"A motor boat!" cried Betty. "What good is a motor boat up here, with the river frozen?"
"Oh, it's something new—a little idea of my own," said Will. "It's a converted motor-cycle gasoline engine, that can be attached to our ice boat. We're tired of having to depend on the wind. Now fellows, we'll have some fun. Hurry home, and we'll see if we can get it working to-day."
"First you ought to do something to that eye," said Grace. "It will be black and blue; and you'll look disgraceful."
"No one will see it up here," said Will calmly. "It doesn't matter."