"And then what?" demanded Jennie, turning toward him. "Why not keep on to Boston and call on my folks?" "If you will furnish the ice we will do so." "I couldn't guarantee ice all the way, but we can travel by other means between the points, using our skates as the chance offers." "Or do as that explorer who is to set out in search of the north pole--have a combination skate and boat, so when fairly going we can keep straight on." "I will consent to that arrangement on one condition," interposed the mother, so seriously that all eyes were turned wonderingly upon her. "What is that?" "That you return before the morrow." The countenances became grave, and turning to Sterry, on her right, Jennie asked, in a low voice: "Is it safe to promise that?" "Hardly. Let us leave the scheme until we have time in which fully to consider it." "You will start, as I understand, at eight," remarked the mother, speaking now in earnest. "You can readily reach Wolf Glen within a couple of hours. There you will rest a while and return as you choose. So I will expect you at midnight." "Unless something happens to prevent." The words of Monteith Sterry were uttered jestingly, but they caused a pang to the affectionate parent as she asked: "What could happen, Monteith?" Fred took it upon himself to reply promptly: "Nothing at all." "Is the ice firm and strong?" "It will bear a locomotive; I never saw it finer; the winter has not been so severe as some we have known, but it has got there all the same; Maine can furnish the Union with all the ice she will want next summer." "There may be air-holes." "None that we cannot see; they are few and do not amount to anything." Here Sterry spoke with mock gravity. "The name, Wolf Glen, is ominous." "We have wolves and bears and other big game in this part of the State, but not nearly as many as formerly. It hardly pays to hunt them." "I hope we shall meet a few bears or wolves," said Jennie, with her light laugh. "And why?" demanded the shocked mother. "I would like a race with them; wouldn't it be fun!" "Yes," replied Sterry, "provided we could outskate them." "I never knew that wild animals skate." "They can travel fast when they take it into their heads to turn hunter. I suppose many of the bears are hibernating, but the wolves--if there are any waiting for us--will be wide awake and may give us the roughest kind of sport." Fred Whitney knew his mother better than did his friend and understood the expression on her face. So did Jennie, and the couple had such sport of their Boston visitor that the cloud quickly vanished and Monteith felt a trifle humiliated at his exhibition of what might be considered timidity. Nevertheless he quietly slipped his loaded revolver in the outer pocket of his heavy coat just before starting and when no one was watching him.