"But what about our secret?" asked Hal. "Is it cold enough for you to
tell us about it?"

"I think so," answered Daddy Blake, with a queer little twinkle in his
eyes. "As long as the water in the bottle was frozen, the pond will
soon be covered with ice," he said. "And we need ice to make use of
the secret."

"Oh, I just wonder what it is?" cried Mab, clapping her hands.

"I think I can guess," spoke Hal.

Daddy Blake went out in the hall, and came back with two paper
bundles. He placed one at Mab's place, and gave the other to Hal.

"I want something, so I can cut the string!" Hal cried, and he laid
his package down on the floor, while he searched through his pockets
for his knife.

Just then Roly-Poly came into the breakfast room, barking. He saw
Hal's package on the floor, and, thinking, I suppose, that it must be
meant for him to play with, the little poodle dog at once began to
drag it away. Though, as the ground was frozen, I don't know how he
was going to bury it, if that was what he intended to do.

"Hi there, Roly!" cried Hal. "Come back with that, if you please,
sir!"

"Bow-wow!" barked the little poodle dog, and I suppose he was saying: