“He must have paid something to rent that,” observed Jack.  “I thought he didn’t have much money?”

“He says his father is in business again and is doing better,” answered Paxton, who was present.  “Hello, Reff!” he called out.  “Want another passenger?”

“I don’t want you!” answered the bully, briefly.

“All right, you don’t have to have me!” growled Paxton.

“Say, Century, do you want to race me?” asked Ritter, as he brought the Rosebud alongside the dock.

“I don’t know,” answered Fred, slowly.  “What do you say?” he whispered to the others.

“Do you think you can beat him?” asked Pepper.

“I can try.”

“Then go ahead,” said Jack.  “You don’t care, do you, Andy?”

“Not at all—­if Fred can beat him,” was the reply from the acrobatic youth.

“All right, I’ll race!” called out Fred.  “But you will have to carry four, the same as myself.”

“Humph!” growled Ritter.  “I don’t know about that.”

“I’ll go, Reff!” cried Mumps.

“So will I!” added a cadet named White.

“All right, jump aboard,” cried the bully, and Mumps and White lost no time in doing as bidden.

“Where do you want to race to?” asked Fred.

“Up to Dorsett’s Point and back.”

“All right.  Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then let her go!” yelled the owner of Skimmer; and in a moment the iceboat race had started.

CHAPTER XXV

THE MAN AT POINT VIEW LODGE

At first it was an even race.  Reff Ritter knew how to handle an iceboat to perfection and brought his craft up in the breeze in a manner that won considerable admiration.

“Take care that he doesn’t beat you, Fred,” said Pepper.  “If he does, he will never get done crowing over you.”

“This race isn’t over yet,” answered the owner of the Skimmer.  “Wait till we round the bend yonder.”

When the bend mentioned was gained the Rosebud was a good three lengths in the lead.

“Good-by!” shouted Coulter.  “Here is where we leave you behind!”

“Your iceboat isn’t in it with this,” added Mumps.

“We’ll tell them you are coming by-and-by!” came from Ritter.

“Don’t answer them,” whispered Jack.  “Fred, can we do anything to help the boat along?”

“Just shift a little more to the left—­that’s it,” was the reply.  “Now we’ll soon get the breeze and then we’ll do better.”

Fred’s words proved true.  As the Skimmer rounded the bend, a good, stiff blast struck her sails and away she started after the Rosebud.

“Now we are going some!” cried Andy, his face brightening.

“Make her hum!” cried Pepper.

Slowly but surely the Skimmer crept up on the Rosebud, until the bow of the second craft overlapped the stern of the first.