Part 26 (2/2)
”I don't see why not,” replied Mollie ”I can run a e a motor boat, and this is sort of between theo slow?” asked Areed Betty ”Anyhow the ice is so soft that we can't get as much speed out of it as the boys did the other day”
The outdoor girls were grouped about the auto ice boat at the little dock near their cabin The boys had gone off on a hunt, a ru to the the advisability of going out for a little trip in the queer craft that Will and his chums had made For a week past the boys had run it at various ti how the irls had even run it for short distances thee of the boys
A week has passed since it was first run and, though it was voted ”great sport,” the boys had rather tired of it, especially when the rumor of the bear reached them
”Will said we could take it whenever anted to,” spoke Grace, as she arranged sos in the cockpit ”But are you sure you can run it, Mollie--or Betty?”
”It's simple,” replied Betty noncommittally ”It will do no harm to try”
”And it's easy to stop,” said Mollie ”Even if we forget to shut off the engine, by pushi+ng down on this handle, the wheel will be raised, and won't cut into the ice Then it will stop”
”Just as when you throw out the clutch on your auto,” suggested Betty
”Exactly Co else to do in camp”
The week had been rather a monotonous one, for the weather had turned war It was aliven it up But the girls wanted to do so, and the auto ice craft offered them a chance
They had visited a hunters' caame was not as plentiful as the hunters had wished
”Well, if we're going--let's go!” cried Betty in a jolly voice, as she buttoned her sweater ly
”You et some speed out of it,” returned Ao slow”
”We can't dothe toe of her shoe into the surface of the ice
”Well--let's ot some chocolates, so that if the wind does out----”
”Wind! You forget we don't use a sail,” cried Betty with a laugh ”We can get ho chocolates----”
”We asoline,” Grace interrupted ”I'll take theel child!” murmured Mollie, ”and I'll help you eat them,” and she calmly appropriated the box Grace had produced, and selected soirls were about to leave, having shoved the ice boat out away froood start, Mr Franklin, the camp care-taker, who had been over to a distant section, ca down to the dock
”Do you think your father is back from his Western trip yet, Miss Ford?”
he asked
”Yes, I had a letter froht
Why?”