Truly the ice boat was all that the boys had claimed for it. Roomy, as ice boats go, comfortable and speedy, it was really a prize. "You deserve a vote of thanks, boys," said Mollie, as the sharp wind brightened the roses in her cheeks. "Leave it to your Uncle Dudley," declared Will. "I told you that you'd like it." "Here!" cried Grace, tossing him a chocolate. "Oh!" he cried, as it hit him in the face, "whence this sudden flow of sisterly kindness." "As a reward for your thoughtfulness in providing the boat," said Grace. "That means I'll have to look out, or she'll be wanting me to do something more before night," spoke Will. "I hope Mr. Franklin has fires lighted in our cabin," remarked Grace after a bit. "It will be real chilly, I'm afraid," and she drew her very becoming furs closer about her. Her face was framed in them, and she looked, as Allen said, "like a picture on a magazine cover." "I don't know whether to feel complimented or not," she confessed with a laugh. "I only know I'm cold-d-d-d-d! Burrrrr!" and she shivered. "It isn't as warm as skating," said Allen. "But perhaps this may help," and with one hand he took from a box a long, round object. "It's a vacuum bottle of hot coffee," he explained. "I didn't think, until the last minute, or I'd have brought chocolate, Grace." "Oh, coffee will do just as well!" she hastened to assure him. "It is just what I want to drive the shivers away." "There are some cups there in that other box," said Allen to Frank. "If you'll get them out, and pass the refreshments around." "Happy to oblige!" exclaimed Frank. "There is sugar and milk already in the coffee," explained the young lawyer. "I hope none of you object." They did not, as it developed, and soon they were sipping the hot beverage while gliding along, the wind having died out somewhat. As they made the turn around the bend, a little later, they got the full force of the breeze, which, increasing in power, sent them along so suddenly that the ice boat tilted on two runners. "Oh, dear!" screamed Grace, clutching Mollie, and causing her to spill what remained of the cup of coffee. "There, look what you did!" snapped the French girl, quickly. "I--I didn't mean to," said Grace, contritely. "I thought we were going to spill." "This was the only 'spill' there was," laughed Betty, as she helped Grace wipe up the trickling beverage. "Oh, well, it doesn't matter," said Mollie--"mollified Mollie," as Will expressed it later. The little flash of temper died out almost as soon as it showed. "Steady all!" called Allen, for the girls were moving about, and he needed less motion in order to handle the boat easily. They were proceeding along at a fast pace when, from behind one of the boathouses along the shore of the frozen river, there shot out a small ice craft, containing two persons. It was so sudden, and cut so sharply across the path of the _Spider_, that Allen narrowly avoided a collision.