Almost before the boys knew it winter was gone and spring was at hand. The ice on the lake disappeared like magic, and the hills back of Putnam Hall took on a fresh greenness pleasant to behold.
With the coming of warm weather the cadets spent a large part of their off time outdoors. Some took up rowing, and among the number were Sam and Tom. Larry Colby had become the owner of a fair-sized sloop, and he frequently took some of his chums out for a cruise up or down the lake.
"Do you know what I'd like to do?" said Dick one day. "I'd like to visit that old Sobber homestead and see how it looks."
"I've often thought of that," answered Sam. "Wonder how we can manage it?"
The matter was talked over in Larry's presence, and the cadet who owned the sloop said they might make the trip in that craft, provided the master of Putnam Hall would give them the desired permission.
"We'll ask Captain Putnam at once," declared Dick.
Permission was granted to leave Putnam Hall early on the following Saturday morning, provided the weather was clear, and it was arranged that the party should consist of the three Rover boys, Larry, Fred and Songbird. The captain said he preferred that they come back Saturday night, but they could remain away over Sunday if they found it necessary.
"Do you think we'll get any clew to Merrick and Tad Sobber?" asked Dick, with a faint smile.
"Possibly," answered Captain Putnam, smiling back. "You Rovers are great chaps for finding out things."
The sloop was provided with a tiny cuddy, or cabin, and in this the boys placed a small stock of provisions and also a shotgun and some fishing lines. They left the Hall after breakfast and were glad of the promise of a warm day, with the breeze in just the right direction.
"You fellows will have to tell me where to steer the sloop to," said Larry, after the mainsail had been run up. "I don't know where that old house is."
"We have a general idea where it is," answered Dick. "Of course we may have some trouble finding it. But if we get mixed up, we can go ashore and ask the folks living in that vicinity."
The distance to be covered along the lake shore was in the neighborhood of twelve miles, so the boys had quite a sail before them. They took turns at steering, and said they liked the sloop very much.
About four miles had been covered when the breeze began to die away. This was exasperating, but could not be helped, so the boys made the best of it. As the sloop drifted along they got out some fishing tackle, and it was not long before Sam brought up a fair-sized fish, of which he felt quite proud.
"At this rate it will take us till night to reach that old house," remarked Dick, after they had been fishing half an hour. "It is too bad! I thought we'd get there by noon when we started, even if the breeze did go down."
"Oh, I think the breeze will start up again before long," said Tom hopefully. "Let us enjoy this fishing while we have the chance," he added, having just pulled in a real piscatorial prize.
By noon they had a good mess of fish to their credit, and then Sam proposed that they go ashore and build a fire and cook some for dinner.
"There is no use of mourning over the wind," said he.
"If it wasn't for the sloop we might tramp to the old house," returned Dick.
"I shouldn't wish to leave my boat just anywhere," said Larry. "Somebody might run off with her,—and she cost quite some money."
"You might leave her in care of some farmer along here," suggested Songbird, and then he added softly:
"For what is a boat without a breeze?
It's like a forest minus its trees.
It's like a table without a leg,"
"Or a big blue top without its peg!"
finished Tom. "But I move we camp and cook fish," he continued. "We can have a dandy meal, along with the stuff we brought along."
The idea of going ashore prevailed, and soon they had tied up the sloop and lowered the mainsail. Brushwood was handy, and having started a fire they cleaned some of the fish and set it to broiling. They had a pot along in which they made coffee, and they also brought out some bread and crackers, cake, and some fruit. They had some meat with them, but left that for possible future use.
The cadets took their time over the meal, and it was not until two o'clock that they again boarded the Polly, as Larry had named his craft.
"I think the breeze is coming again," cried Dick, holding up his hand.
"Let it come!" was the cry, and as the wind freshened all felt much better. Soon the Polly was bowling over the lake as speedily as when they had first started.
"Do you know what I think?" said Songbird, who stood at the stern looking toward the distant hills. "I think we are going to have more wind than we'll want before night."
"Do you think a big blow is coming?" questioned Fred.
"It looks that way to me. Do you see those dark clouds just beginning to show themselves yonder?"
"Well, I shan't mind a little blow," said Dick. "In fact, I think I'd rather like the excitement." And the others said the same.
They were still about two miles from the spot where they supposed the old house was located, when it suddenly grew darker and the breeze freshened greatly. Then came a puff of air that sent the Polly far over on her side.
"Hi! this won't do!" cried Fred, in alarm. "We don't want to upset!"
"Maybe we had better take in some sail," added Songbird nervously.
He had scarcely spoken when there came another puff of wind that made all cling fast to the deck to keep from being pitched overboard. The sky was now very dark, and there were a few flakes of snow in the air.
"It's a spring snowsquall, that's what it is," announced Dick. "I don't think it will last over ten or fifteen minutes."
"It's too much for the Polly," came from Larry. "Put down the mainsail, will you?"
Several sprang to do as requested, and hardly had the sheet been lowered and stowed away when there came a fierce gust that drove them well in shore.
"There is a cove—we can go in there for shelter!" cried Sam, and the sloop was steered accordingly. The cove was well protected by trees and they came to anchor at a spot that looked particularly inviting.
The boys were afraid it would rain, and wondered what they would do to keep from getting wet, since the cuddy on the sloop was too small to hold more than two or three of the party. But no rain came, and soon the flurry of snow disappeared. The wind, however, instead of letting up, blew harder than ever.
"I am glad we are not out in the middle of the lake," observed Fred. "We'd be capsized sure!"
"This is certainly getting to be a regular gale," answered Dick. "And the worst of it is, there is no telling how long it is going to last."
There was nothing to do but to wait, and in order to keep warm the cadets put up a bit of sailcloth on the deck of the sloop and taking in the cuddy. There they crouched, and told stories and talked for over an hour.
"I move we go on," said Tom, at last. "The wind isn't quite as strong as it was."
Although doubtful of the wisdom of the proceedings, the others voted to proceed and they poled their way out of the cove. Only the jib of the Polly was hoisted and this sent them bowling along at a fair rate of speed.
Dick stood in the bow and at last called upon Larry to turn the sloop toward shore.
"I think we must be in the neighborhood of that house now," he said. "And just ahead is a fine cove where the sloop will be as well sheltered as it was at the other cove."
Accordingly Larry turned the Polly in, and the other lads lowered the sail. They came to anchor between a number of tall trees, where the sloop was almost screened from sight.
Having made certain the boat could not drift away, the six boys, led by Dick, made their way along the shore until they struck something of a path. Coming to a slight rise, Dick pointed with his hand.
"Isn't that a house, on the other side of the hill?" he asked.
"Yes!" cried Tom. "And by the appearance of it I should say it's the place we are looking for!"