The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-02
CRUISE OF THE ICICLE.
BY JULIA X.

eugene, come down to Mr.. Turn
er's boat-house. He has just fastened
his ice-boat up, and l want to sec how
it is made"
"Do you mean that queer looking
thing we saw flying over the ice ycster-
day, Steve?'
eyes: did you ever see anything 60
so fast2 l wish l had one"
$50 do I. How splendid it would be
to go Swimming over the ice before the
wind like that"
Eugene Bently and Stephen Hules
lived in the little village of Mossbank,
on the Hudson. The winter had set in
very early that year, and already the
river was frozen hard for miles.
The boys had enjoyed themselves
greatly skating near the shore, until one
day MIR. Turner, Il gentleman who owned
a handsome house close to the bank,
purchased a strengthening craft, half
sled, half boat.
1t moved over the ice with such ease
and swiftness that Eugene and Stephen,
who had never seen an ice-boat before,
became quite disguised with their slower
mode of progress, and Stephen secretly
determined to have one like it if posi-
BILE.
When the boys reached Mr.. Turner's
boat-house there was no one in sight, so
they felt free to examine and comment
on the boat at their leisure.
"Why it is nothing but a thrce-corn-
cred framc on runners" said Stephen
Hules, after he had walked around the
ice-boat several times.
"And the sail is exactly like your
fathers yacht-sail, only smaller" ex-
claimed Eugene.
Il tell you what I mean to do, Eu-
gene" cried Stephen, excitcdly. 81
mean to ask father to let me use the
spar, boom and sail of the yacht, then
we can make an icc-boat for ourselves"
'"'Do you think 500" said Eugene.
doubtfully. ''See here, Steve, the run.
ner in the stern moves on a pivot, and
is guided by the helm"
II see," replied Stephen, admiringly.
In less than an hour the boys were
busy selecting materials for their ice
boat, as Stephen had received permits
sion to use the yacht-sail, providing he
cid not in any way spoil it for the
Yacht.
1t was not until five o'clock the next
day that theirs was completed; then
when they hauled the frame out of the
shed to step the mast and put a few fin
lshing touches here and there, Eugene
brought out u small pot of red paint and
q brush.
"Wcll now, Steve" said he, "what
are you going to call it,"
GIVE got it," cried Stephen. "Call
her the Icicle."
''First-rate," exclaimed Eugene,
kneeling down, and proceeding to form
the letters across the bow.
When this was finished it was quite
dark, and the boys were obliged to de-
fer their trial-trip until the next day.
The next day as soon as they had
finished breakfast, Eugene and Stephen
made haste to pull their icc-boat down
to the river. The wind was fresh, the
sky cloudless, and the ice as solid as
stone.
The boat proved a grand success,
and flow over the surface of tho frozen
: water of the Hudson River with aston
ishing velocity. Eugene managed the
tiller, while Stephen took charge of the
sail and sheet line. The 1ciclc could
sail before the wind, tack, and come
about just like a sail-boat, only with
much more ense and swiftness.
They had been out less than an hour
when Mr.. Turner appeared OF the
shore. After looking at the Icicle
earnestly for a moment, he climbed into
his W boat and drew rapidly toward
them.
When he was within a few yards he
called out:
"Why, boys, who made your Ice.
boat2"
eve made it ourselves, Mr.. Turner,
replied Scephen. sit is only a rough
looking affair, but it seems to work oil
right"
y i : little rough Y is true, but