Then came a pretty exhibition. Even at first with her rival, the _Petrel_ soon forged ahead, and then Mr. Brown let the boys take turns at the tiller.
They did well, too, and at the finish line the _Petrel_ was several lengths in advance.
“Well, you had the edge on me this time!” called Mr. Carson good-naturedly, as he came up in the wind. “But I’ll beat you next.”
“We’ll take you up!” called Jerry. “It’s going to be our boat from now on.”
“Sure!” Jerry answered, his chums echoing an assent.
The arrangements were completed the following day, and the motor boys became possessed of a new craft. Though once, years before, they had made an ice-boat for use on the river at home, which was not much of a success, however.
In the days that followed Ned, Bob and Jerry spent as much time as they could on the ice, either in the boat or on skates. But the ease of gliding along without any exertion, the swiftness of the motion and the sport of it caused them to use the _Petrel_ oftener than they did their skates.
There had been a thaw, a rain and a freeze, and there were indications that an early spring was on the way.
“Which, being the case,” remarked Ned, as he and his chums sat in Jerry’s room one day, “I think I will get out my baseball glove, and see if it needs sewing.”
“It’s too soon to do that,” remarked Jerry. “Come on down to the ice. Let’s take out the _Petrel_. We may not have another chance.”
On the way to the lake the three chums met Frank, Bart and Bill.
“Where are you going?” asked Bart, who, with Bill, was becoming more and more friendly with our heroes.
“Out in the ice-boat,” answered Jerry, and then, seeing an eager look on Bart’s face, the tall lad added: “Come along. It may be the last ride of the winter.”
“I’m with you!” Bart exclaimed. “Do you mean all of us?”
Jerry did not hesitate a moment in answering:
Frank, with a sneer on his face, turned aside.
“You freshmen with your boats and things make me tired!” he complained as he walked away.
“Don’t be a chump,” advised Bart in a low voice.
“You mind your own business!” snapped Frank.
His two friends paused a moment, as though undecided, and then walked along with Jerry and the others.
“He’s as pig-headed as they make ’em,” commented Bart. “I never saw his beat!”