The other boys and girls had gone and they were left alone. To please Bert, Nan consented, and their course was changed so that the _Ice Bird_ might move down the lake instead of across. It had grown dark and the stars which might have shone in the sky were hidden by heavy clouds. "Not too far now, remember," said Nan. The wind had veered around and was blowing directly down the lake, so, almost before they knew it, the _Ice Bird_ was flying along at a tremendous rate of speed. Nan had to hold on tight for fear of falling off, and had to hold her hat, too, for fear that would be blown away. "Oh, Bert, this is too fast!" she gasped, catching her breath. "It's just glorious, Nan!" he cried. "Just hold on, it won't hurt you." "But--but how are we to get back?" Bert had not thought of that, and at the question his face fell a little. "Oh, we'll get back somehow," he said evasively. "You had better turn around now." "Let us go just a little bit further, Nan," he pleaded. When at last he started to turn back he found himself unable to do so. The wind was blowing fiercely and the _Ice Bird_ swept on before it in spite of all he could do. "Bert! Bert! Oh, why don't you turn around?" screamed Nan. She had to scream in order to make herself heard. "I--I can't," he faltered. "She won't come around." Nan was very much frightened, and it must be confessed that Bert was frightened too. He hauled on the sail and on the steering gear, and at last the _Ice Bird_ swung partly around. But instead of returning up the lake the craft headed for the western shore, and in a few minutes they struck some lumpy ice and some snow and dirt, and both were thrown out at full length, while the _Ice Bird_ was tipped up on one side. Bert picked himself up without difficulty and then went to Nan's aid. She lay deep in the snow, but fortunately was not hurt. Both gazed at the tipped-up ice boat in very great dismay. "Bert, whatever shall we do now?" asked Nan, after a spell of silence. "We'll never get home at all!" "Oh, yes, we shall," he said, bravely enough, but with a sinking heart. "We've got to get home, you know." "But the ice boat is upset, and it's so dark I can't see a thing." "I think I can right the ice boat. Anyway, I can try." Doing his best to appear brave, Bert tried to shove the _Ice Bird_ over to her original position. But the craft was too heavy for him, and twice she fell back, the second time coming close to smashing his toes. "Look out, or you'll hurt your foot," cried Nan. "Let me help you." Between them they presently got the craft right side up. But now the wind was blowing directly from the lake, so to get the _Ice Bird_ out on the ice again was beyond them. Every time they shoved the craft out the wind drove her back. "Oh, dear, I guess we have got to stay here after all!" sighed Bert, at last. "Not stay here all night, I hope!" gasped Nan. "That would be worse than to stay in the store, as Freddie did."