Page:Girls of Central High on the Stage.djvu/129

Rh The boat was driven by a propeller similar to those on aeroplanes; and this propeller was fastened to the crossbeam on which were the two forward runners—somewhat similar to the mast on the ordinary lake iceboat. The body and rudder plank, at right angles to this crossbeam, supported the two-cylinder gasoline engine, which Chet bought at the motor repair shop of Mr. Purcell.

It was a fourteen-horse-power engine, water-cooled, and geared with a chain to the propeller.

"We tried a belt first," said Lance; "but the blamed thing slipped so that old Chet evolved the chain-gear idea. Great, eh?"

"How can we tell till we see it work?" demanded Laura.

"And you don't have to lie down for 'low bridge' when the boom goes over on this iceyacht!" cried Jess, enthusiastically. "We can sit up."

"All the time," agreed Lance.

"I think it's simply great!" declared Laura.

"All because you, Mother Wit, suggested using the kite for motive power that day," said her brother, admiringly. "That gave us the idea. If a kite would give motive power to a man skating, why not use a more up-to-date air-power scheme on the ice?"