"Now then, all together!" cried Frank, but to his surprise Tom and Hans pushed in a different direction to the others. "Why, Tom, that's not the way!" cried Frank. "Isn't it?" burst out Tom. "Why not?" "Because it isn't." "Of course dot is der vay," cried Hans. "Der shore vos ofer dare." "Yes, the other shore. But not the one we left and the one we want to get back to." A long discussion followed, and it was soon realized that either Tom and Hans, or else the others, were sadly mixed up. "The majority rules," said Frank. "So let us go this way." "All right, I will," grumbled Tom. "But I still think you are wrong." "And I vos sure of him," added Hans. However, they took hold willingly enough, and soon the whole party were moving slowly through the snowstorm, shoving the Fiver in front of them. The snow had now become blinding, and absolutely nothing was to be seen around them. A half hour had passed, and they were wondering why the shore did not appear, when suddenly Dick uttered a warning cry. "Look out! We are going into the open water! Back all of you!" They leaped back, fairly tumbling over each other in their efforts to escape the water, which crept up to their feet without warning. As they pushed themselves back they naturally sent the Fiver flying forward, and an instant later they heard a crashing of ice and saw the ice-boat topple over into the water and disappear from view! CHAPTER XIII LOST IN THE SNOW "The ice-boat's gone!" "Get back, boys, or we'll all be in the water!" Ca-a-ac-ck! A long warning sound rang through the snow-laden air and the party of five felt the surface of the ice parting beneath them. They turned and sped away from the water with all the speed at their command, and soon the dangerous spot was left behind, but not before poor Hans had lost his cap and Sam had gotten his left foot wet to the ankle. "By jinks! but that was a narrow shave!" gasped Dick, when they were safe. "A little more and all of us would have been under the ice." "And that would have cost us our lives!" said Frank solemnly. "Boys, I don't believe I'll ever want to go ice-boating again." "Mine cap vos gone," growled the German cadet dismally. "How vos I going to keep mine head from freezing, tole me dot, vill you?" "That's rough on you," said Tom. "Here, take my tippet and tie that around your head and ears." And he took the article in question and handed it over. "Dank you, Tom, you vos a goot feller. But vot you vos do to keep your neck varm, hey?" "Here's a silk handkerchief, he can wear that," said Dick. "But I say, fellows," he went on. "I think we are mixed up now and no mistake." "I am sure I am," answered Frank. "I haven't the least idea where the shore is." "Nor I," came from Tom. "We'll have to go at it in a hit-or-miss fashion." "No miss for me," put in Sam. "I am not prepared for a watery grave just now."