"All aboard!" cried Will, who was quite proud of his apparatus. "Come on, girls!"
"Wait until we see you try it," suggested Betty.
"Well, then, get in, fellows!"
Allen, Frank and Mr. Blackford took their places, Allen to steer while Will looked after the motor. Looking to see that all was running smoothly, the big notched wheel at the stern revolving swiftly, Will cautiously lowered it. There was a shower of icy particles as the teeth chipped into the frozen surface of the river, and then the Spider slowly forged ahead, under the influence of the motor instead of a sail.
"Oh, they're actually moving!" cried Grace.
"And how fast!" agreed Mollie.
"That's fine!" declared Betty.
"I—I'm going to ask them to give me a ride!" exclaimed Amy. "Oh, it must be glorious!"
"Well, if she's brave enough to risk it, I am!" said Grace positively. "Shall we go, girls?"
"Wait a bit and see what happens," suggested Mollie. But nothing seemed to be going to happen. On up the river went the auto ice boat at ever-increasing speed.