CHAPTER XIII 

LOST IN THE SNOW 

"The ice-boat's gone!" 

"Get back, boys, or we'll all be in the water!" 

Ca-a-ac-ck! A long warning sound rang through the snow-laden air and the party of five felt the surface of the ice parting beneath them. They turned and sped away from the water with all the speed at their command, and soon the dangerous spot was left behind, but not before poor Hans had lost his cap and Sam had gotten his left foot wet to the ankle. 

"By jinks! but that was a narrow shave!" gasped Dick, when they were safe. "A little more and all of us would have been under the ice." 

"And that would have cost us our lives!" said Frank solemnly. "Boys, I don't believe I'll ever want to go ice-boating again." 

"Mine cap vos gone," growled the German cadet dismally. "How vos I going to keep mine head from freezing, tole me dot, vill you?" 

"That's rough on you," said Tom. "Here, take my tippet and tie that around your head and ears." And he took the article in question and handed it over. 

"Dank you, Tom, you vos a goot feller. But vot you vos do to keep your neck varm, hey?" 

"Here's a silk handkerchief, he can wear that," said Dick. "But I say, fellows," he went on. "I think we are mixed up now and no mistake." 

"I am sure I am," answered Frank. "I haven't the least idea where the shore is." 

"Nor I," came from Tom. "We'll have to go at it in a hit-or-miss fashion." 
What did the men do when they heard the sound?
 They turned and sped away