"Well, we might go up to the island, and see the wild hermit, anyhow," suggested Frank. "That would give us something to do when we get a day or so of vacation."
"The only trouble is that the lake will soon be frozen over," put in Bob.
"We could skate over," suggested Sammy.
"That's right, we could!" cried Frank. "We'll do it!"
"What do you s'pose the hermit lives on the island for?" asked Bob. "And why didn't we see him when we were wrecked there?"
"I don't know," replied Sammy. "Maybe he likes to be lonesome, or else maybe no one wants him to live near them. He may be sort of wild."
"I should think he was, if he drove Benny's uncle away," came from Frank. "We'll have to be careful if we meet him."
"That's right," agreed Sammy Brown.
The boys kept on toward their homes, meeting with many of their friends on the way. There were several snowballs thrown, all in good fun, and some of the boys proposed to make a snow fort, and have a regular snowball fight.
The next day, after school, the fort was built in a vacant lot. Then the boys divided into sides, one party getting inside the fort, and the other, outside, trying to capture it.
The three chums decided it would be more fun to storm the fort, so they joined the outside forces. The battle lasted for some time, and many snowballs were thrown back and forth.
"Come on, now! Charge on the enemy!" cried Frank, when he thought he saw a good chance to take the fort.
He led the charge, and with such good effect that the fort was captured, and he and his chums left in possession. Then
