"
Nan took the seat mentioned, and her twin brother began to hoist the
mainsail of the _Ice Bird_. It ran up easily, and caught by the wind the
craft began to skim over the surface of the lake like a thing of life.
"Oh, but this is lovely!" cried Nan gleefully. "How fast the boat spins
along!"
"I wish there were more ice boats around," answered Bert. "We might then
have a race."
"Oh, it is pleasure enough just to sail around," said Nan.
Many other boys and girls wished a ride on the ice boat, and in the end
Bert carried a dozen or more across the lake and back. It was rather
hard work tacking against the wind, but the old sailor had taught him
how it might be done, and he got along fairly well. When the ice boat
got stuck all the boys and girls got off and helped push the craft
along.
"It is 'most supper time," said Nan, as the whistle at the saw-mill blew
for six o'clock. "We'll have to go home soon, Bert."
"Oh, let us take one more trip," pleaded her twin brother.
The other boys and girls had gone and they were left alone. To please
Bert, Nan consented, and their course was changed so that the _Ice Bird_
might move down the lake instead of across.
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