The backyard rang with the cheers, and then, with caps waving, the four boys moved off, dragging the sled behind them. It certainly was a fine morning, the rising sun sending long glittering rays over the crust of the frozen snow. The wind was a trifle cold, but this the quartet did not mind. For them, just now, it was much better than no wind at all. “I calculate that we can reach Hammerstone by twelve o’clock,” said Jack. “And that will be half the journey up the river.” “And we can reach Rudd’s Landing by nightfall,” put in Boxy. “And start across country for the lake the first thing to-morrow. Did you send word to Barton Coils about taking care of the iceboat for us?” “Yes, and he said we could stay at his place all night if we wished. I reckon it will be better than trying to put up a hut just for one night.” Boxy demurred a little at this. He wished to go to camping just as quickly as possible. But the others overruled him. “We’ll get camping enough, never fear,” remarked Andy. “Remember, we’ll have to put in one night on this side of the lake shore before we strike a suitable place to camp.” As soon as they reached the vicinity of the river, Harry ran ahead to unfasten the iceboat, and get the craft in readiness for the start. A few seconds later the others heard him give a cry of wild alarm. He soon reappeared among them. “The _Icicle_ is gone!” was the startling intelligence he brought. CHAPTER VIII. THE STOLEN ICEBOAT. The other members of the Zero Club came to a dead halt. “Gone!” burst out Andy and Boxy in a breath, while Jack looked as if he had not heard aright. “Yes, gone!” repeated Harry. “But I locked it fast to the piling!” exclaimed Jack. “You have the key.” “I don’t care! she’s gone, and I can’t see anything of her.” Without another word, the quartet hurried down to the edge of the ice. It was just as Harry had announced, the iceboat was nowhere in sight. Each of the boys looked at his comrades. “What does it mean?” asked Boxy. “It means that the _Icicle_ has been stolen!” cried Jack. “Stolen?” “Yes. It was locked up tight enough. Somebody has come here and either broken the lock or else had a key to fit it. Boys, we are in a hole!” The faces of the Zero Club fell. Without their iceboat, with which to make the journey up the river, what was to be done? “Who would have taken her?” questioned Boxy, after running out on the frozen river and looking up and down anxiously. “Maybe some tramps,” suggested Andy. “I saw several of them hanging around yesterday.” “I saw those tramps, too,” returned Harry. “It would be just like them, if they wanted to go to some other place on the river.” “It’s a real shame!” muttered Jack. “Our trip spoiled at the very start.” “If we only knew in what direction the boat had gone we might go after her,” said Andy. “Our skates are on the sled, you know.”