“Come on out on the river,” urged Dutch. “It’s early yet, and I guess Zane won’t make a fuss if we ask him for a little time off. We’re all standing well in classes, thank fortune.”
“The river!” yawned Frank. “I’ve had enough of skating for to-day.”
“It isn’t skating,” declared Dutch. “Come on. I’ll guarantee you a surprise and some fun, or you need never trust me again. It’s a fine moonlight night—as nice as when we went coasting that time. Come on!”
“What’s up?” demanded Tom. “No skylarking with the Spring exams so near.”
“Nothing worse than usual,” guaranteed Dutch. “Be sports, and come on before the wind dies out.”
“Wind! Are you going to fly kites?” asked Sid.
“Something like it. Listen. A fellow up the river has built a home-made ice boat. I saw him at it when he started, and gave him a pointer or two.”
“That’s the first I knew you were an expert on ice boats,” chimed in Phil.
“I’m not,” admitted Dutch frankly, “but he thought I was, and it was all the same. He adopted my ideas, and the fun of it is that the boat goes like a charm. He said I could take it any night I wanted to, and I’m going to borrow it now. We’ll have a sail under the moon, and blow some of the cobwebs out of our brain.”