There were two men in it, each of whom was plying an oar.

They called out to the boys not to be frightened, and in a few minutes they were alongside the fugitive ice-cake, whose living freight was safely transferred to the boat.

The boatmen then pulled for the wharf from which they came, and the rescued party had the pleasure of standing once more upon firm ground.

They were so overjoyed at their escape that they forgot to thank the men who had taken so much trouble to rescue them.

They were not ungrateful however; though it would have been better if their words as well as their looks had expressed the sentiment they felt.