CHAPTER XVIII
DEAD WIRES
"We must have a chance yet," S. S. insisted weakly.
"About as much of a chance as a dish of ice cream at a Sunday-School picnic," grinned Specs.
Bunny cleared his throat. "I know how you fellows feel about this, and I know just what we are up against. Twenty minutes isn't much time for the distance we have to cover. Just the same, I've made up my mind that we are going to be at the ball park in Belden by three o'clock this afternoon, even if we have to build a toboggan and slide there. But we're not going to give up, not if I know anything about this patrol. We've never quit yet when something had to be done."
There was a general murmur of agreement. Little Prissler said primly, "That's the spirit that moves mountains!"
"And if it should turn out, at five minutes of three," added Bunny, "that we are still trying to cross this lake, I'd vote for keeping right on toward Belden till we reached there."
"That's what we all say!" shouted Bi enthusiastically; "that is, if some near-sighted laundry doesn't catch us and hang us up on a line to dry."
In the laughter that followed, the nine boys began to take stock of their soaked clothing, wringing and pressing out as much of the water as they could.
"The bullgine's picking up a little," said Roundy hopefully, squirting a little oil on the exposed running parts and tightening the grease cups. "If we don't touch shore ahead of time, I'm a tenderfoot."