u'll find papa home. Oh, I wish this was all
settled. I wonder why there are such people as the Jallows, anyhow?"

"Probably for the same reason that there are mosquitoes," said Betty.
"It's so we will appreciate nice people all the more. But don't worry,
Grace."

"Are you girls going out in that boat?" asked Mr. Franklin as he started
back toward his cabin.

"Yes. Why shouldn't we?" inquired Mollie, for she saw a look of concern
on his face.

"Well, you'll be all right if you stay around here, but the ice is
breaking up below and above you, on account of the thaw. It won't be
safe to go too far, or you'll meet open water. Be on the lookout."

"We will," promised Betty. "We're only just going out for a practice
spin by ourselves. It will surprise the boys."

She did not realize what a surprise she and her chums were to get before
long.

After one or two ineffectual attempts the girls got the motor running.
Then, looking to see that all was clear, Betty, who was at the helm,
gave the word for Mollie to lower the toothed wheel, which engaging on
the ice, would move the craft.

At first there was only a shower of soft and rather watery ice. The
surface was too "mushy" to enable the teeth to "bite."

"Harder! Push down harder!" directed Betty.

Mollie did so, and then, after hesitating a second as if uncertain
whether or not to go, the _Spider_ moved off, gradually acquiring speed.

"Oh, this is glorious!" cried Grace as she sat well forward and breathed
in deep of the fresh air. "Betty--Mollie--you are wonderful!"

"Oh, it's easy to run," said Mollie, calmly. "I understand it now.
Really, it's very simple."

The girls took turns steering, for the boat was not going very fast, on
account of the condition of the ice. Once or twice there were booming
noises, like the sound of distant cannon.

"What are those?" asked Amy, with a start.

"The ice cracking," explained Betty. "It isn't anything. It often
happens on a big surface, and we're on a wide part of the river now."

They went on for a mile or so, until Mollie suddenly clutched the arm of
Betty, and cried:

"Look--there's open water ahead!"

"That's right," agreed Betty, as she quickly shifted the helm. "We don't
want to plunge into that," for the water looked black and treacherous in
contrast with the white ice about it.

They headed for their camp. The sound of the cracking ice became
oftener, and more than once Betty looked a bit apprehensively a