boat with straight runners will not move in light winds and slides sideways in a blow.

While the runners are rather slow work they are not as difficult to make as they appear. Any good blacksmith can make tiller and rudder post like those in the drawings. There must be two quarter-inch plates to fit post snugly that are to be screwed permanently to upper and under side of backbone to form bearings.

Handle of tiller may be wound with cord and shellacked or painted. Make four chocks in pairs from the 2" x 3" oak, each one foot long, and bore one-half inch holes corresponding with those in runners, using care that shoe bolt heads do not project above chocks. Also bore a vertical threeeighths inch hole, two inches from each end of each chock. Now find and mark center of the spruce plank, and on one edge cut "A" with a chisel for aft. This edge is always to be toward stern of boat. From the center measure five feet each way and mark. This is to be center of runners. Bolt one inside chock with two of the carriage bolts in such position, it will be one inch inside the runner mark, and absolutely square both ways.

Place runner in position with forward. end pointing opposite to "A" on plank, push bolt through chock, runner, a piece of cardboard shoe box and the second chock. Set nut up snug, but don't draw down tight, and bolt outside chock in place. When the cardboard is removed, runner must swing freely up and down. Find position of inner chock at opposite end, but only fasten with one bolt, then attach runner, cardboard, and second chock as before. If the runners are not parallel the boat will not be speedy, therefore proceed as follows: Take any straight batten or board edge, cut a "V" shaped notch. near one end and place it over heel of the first runner, mark where heel of opposite

runner touches batten, and slide it to forward end of both runners. If the runners do not correspond with mark keep shifting until they register exactly the same both ends, clamp chock to plank and bolt. Before removing runners, mark the left hand. one "P" for port, and always use it on this side. Saw off ends of plank and round up. Put runners away in safe place where nothing can injure the edges.

Your boat is now completed, ready for finishing. To make a shipshape job, all parts should be varnished, two coats, but a light colored paint makes a neat finish. Never paint spars or runners. If not varnished, soak in all the boiled oil the wood will take up. The sails can be made at home, while the finish is drying, although the boat with sail-maker's sails will be much faster. Unbleached muslin may be used, but the goods known as "A A Drill" is far better.

If you wish cushions, make them to suit yourself, and your outfit is complete, ready for assembling, which should be done before putting on the ice.

Bore a one-half inch hole vertically through backbone eight feet from rudder post hole, and through center of runner plank, fasten together with large carriage bolt, setting nut up with fingers. Place the rudder post in position, and with a piece of light wire looped around it, measure to nearest corner of a chock, then to corre sponding opposite corner, swinging plank on center bolt until measurements are equal, bore and fasten ends of side rails to plank with the eyebolts, putting a washer under the eye.

Now rig your boat and you are ready for the first sail-if the ice is four inches thick. As your boat is to give you more real fun than anything you ever owned, use the greatest care in making and finishing each part.

H

ELLO, 'Knots'-hear the news?"

The sandy-haired Scout with the spectacles looked up, but his fingers kept busy with the rope-ends, tying and untying them in a dozen different ways. "Nope, what is it?"

"About Larry Gill-he robbed Rowan's candy store last night.'

"So? How do you know?" The fingers kept on forming loops, thrusting ends through them, drawing them tight and then loosening them again.

"Dropped his jack-knife on the way out-Sergeant Stinson found it. You wouldn't think it of Larry, would you!" "Why not? Always cheats in baseball, doesn't he?"

"Well-yes, he he isn't always just square."

"Always holds in the line and slugs, too, when he thinks he can get away with it."

"Ye-es!"

"Never turns in any money for the tickets he sells."

"Say, Knots, what have you got against Larry, anyway? You know yourself he's won every baseball and football game and athletic meet for us the past two seasons.

you weren't so nutty over ropes maybe you'd be some use to the school yourself." "Maybe I would. What did they do with Larry?"

"Nothing-he beat it, of course."

At home, Knots packed his haversack with grub and started out. To his mother's inquiry he replied that he was going to follow a trail.

A brisk hike, and he was at the old copper mine a mile up Red Run. Picking his way through the inky darkness by the aid of his pocket flashlight, he reached the "bottomless pool," as the boys called it, which apparently prevented further progress. He poked about with a stick until he located the narrow ledge just under the surface of the black water which he knew would carry him to the other side.

Reaching the "haunted chamber" he put down his haversack and flashed his light into a narrow passage which led off to the right.

"Come on out, Larry," he shouted. "How did you know I was here, kid?" gruffly returned Larry shuffling out. "Didn't know-just guessed at it." "I s'pose you heard about me?" "Yep, that's why I came."

"It'll be a long time before you go out of this cave again," and Larry, with a determined air, blocked the only way of escape.

"Ain't hungry, are you, Larry?" The voice of Knots was calm and unruffled. "Gee! I should think I was-I could eat raw dog!"

"Start a fire and we'll eat some hot ones instead."

Larry ate ravenously, while the fingers. of Knots were busy with the ropes, as usual.

"Say, you sure are the nuttiest kid I ever saw. What're you always tying knots for?"

"For fun! Learned a new one the other

day-see?" A twist, a pull and he held up something which resembled a double bow knot.

"What's that good for?" queried Larry, admiring the deftness with which it was tied.

"I'll show you." Knots slipped his hands through the loops. "The dickens!" he added a moment later, "can't work it alone I wish I had four hands."

"Here," said Larry, "try it on my fists."

"All right! There! You pull it up like this, and tie a square knot like this, then you throw the end of the rope over something," and he lassoed the end of a timber well out of reach in the air shaft leading up from the chamber.

"Then what?" So well had Knots played his game that even then Larry did. not realize that he was caught.

"Then you find out what you want to know or you call the police!"

"Let me go, you measly kid or I'll fix you!" yelled Larry, purple with rage.

"They call it the Tom Fool's knot-another name for it is the handcuff knot, calmly explained Knots, ignoring Larry's threat as well as his struggles.

"Where's the stuff you stole last night?"

"Then you'll squeal!"

"I promise you I won't."
"Then what's the game?"

"South Side High needs an athlete, but a crook won't do!"

"When do I get loose?"

"Within an hour if you'll promise to be on the level."

"All right, it's a go!"

Sergeant Stinson listened incredulously

"All right, kid, I promise-where is it?" "Here!" Sergeant Stinson's eyes bulged as he opened the haversack and counted the coin.

"By ginger, kid, you're all right-you'll get the reward!"

"No! Remember your promise." "H'm-that's so well, have it your own way."

"Much obliged, Sergeant. Good day!" "Heard the news, Knots?" "Nope, what about?"

"Larry Gill's workin' in Rowan's nights and Saturdays. The boss says the burglary story was a joke."

"That's good!"

"And what do you think-Larry asked Mr. Rowan while I was there if he wouldn't give me his first week's wages, because I'm the treasurer of the A. A., and he owes us for some tickets."

"Larry's all right, ain't he?"

"You bet! And say-Sergeant Stinson says we won't have to pay for the extra cops at the Thanksgiving Day game if we'll let him bring the Scouts along to help keep the crowd back-that's what I came to see you about."

"Guess they'll be glad to go all righta quarter's more than some of 'em can spend."