Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/288



" Dave, the ice is six inches thick on the river, and Dr. Clay says we can go skating as much as we please during off hours!"

It was Roger who brought in the good news, as he entered the general library of Oak Hall, where Dave, Ben, and a number of others were reading. It was a clear, sunshiny day, but nipping cold.

"Good!" answered Dave, throwing down his book. "I'm going to see if my skates are O. K. They are rather old, but I've had lots of fun out of them."

"I've got a new pair," said Roger. "Got them for a birthday present."

The boys soon had their skates, and a crowd of a dozen or more started for the river. It was three days after the snowballing, and though Job Haskers had tried his best to find out who had attacked him, nothing had come of the investigation.

When they arrived on the ice, they found Gus Plum and Nat Poole already there. Each of the rich lads had a pair of silver-plated skates of which he was very proud. Dave's skates were of the Rh