It was a rather cloudy Saturday half-holiday when the boys placed the ice-boat on rollers and rolled it down to the lake front. All of the other cadets watched the proceedings with interest, and were sorry they could not go on the proposed trip. But Frank promised that all should have their turns later on. A fair breeze was blowing, and no sooner was the mainsail raised than the Fiver, moved off in such a lively fashion that Tom, who had lingered behind, had all he could do to run and get on board. "We're off! Hurrah!" yelled Sam, and the others took up the cry, and both those on board and those left behind waved hats and caps in the air and set up a cheer. "And now where shall we go?" asked Frank, as they whizzed along. "That will depend upon the wind," came from Tom. "Remember, we must get back before seven o'clock." "Yah, der vint is eferydings," put in Hans. "Supposin' ve git far avay und der vint sthops plowing, vot den?" "Then we'll set you on the rear seat to blow the sail yourself," replied Frank. "This wind is good for all day, and I know it," he added emphatically. "Let us follow the shore for the present," said Tom. "Perhaps the Pornell students are skating below here and we can show them what we are up to." So on they went along the shore, until the wind began to change and carry them out into the lake. Here the ice was, however, far from safe, and they began to tack back. "It's snowing!" cried Sam presently. He was right, and ere long the flakes were coming down thickly. With the coming of the snow the wind died out utterly. "Here's a pickle," muttered Tom, in disgust. "Frank, I thought you said this wind was good for all day?" "Frank must haf had his schleepin' cap on ven he said dot," put in Hans, and the others set up a laugh. "Well, I did think the wind would hold out," replied Frank, with a wry face. "This is going to spoil everything. Did anybody bring his skates?" Nobody had, although all had calculated to do so. In the excitement every pair had been forgotten. "Now we can't even skate home," said Dick. "And I rather think it will be a long walk--at least three miles." "That's not the worst of it," came from his youngest brother. "Look how heavily it is snowing." "Poch! who's afraid of a little snow?" blustered Tom. "Nobody, but if we can't see our way--" "By Jove! I never thought of that!" groaned Frank. "Just look around, boys. It's awful, isn't it?" Much startled, all looked around. On every hand the snow was coming down so thickly that they could not see a distance of two rods in any direction. "We seem to be cut off," observed Dick soberly. "I reckon the best thing we can do is to make for shore." "And leave the Fiver behind?" "No. Let us lower the sail and push her in front of us." This was considered good advice, and much put out over the sudden termination of their sport, the five cadets lowered the sail and tied it up, and then leaped to the ice.