"Before he knows it he won't have a friend in the world.
As it is, about the only fellow who is really friendly with him is Coulter.

Paxton doesn't have much to do with him, and Mumps merely toadies to him the same as he toadies to Dan Baxter and some of the rest." "Where shall we go now ?" asked Fred.
"Anywhere you please," came from the others.
"Shall we take a run up to Point View ?" and Fred looked quizzically at first one and then another of his friends.
"Might do that," answered Jack.

"But the Lodge is shut up, you know; the Fords are at their city home for the winter." "Well, we can run up that way anyway," said Pepper.

"One place is as good as another." The course of the iceboat was slightly changed, and in less than a quarter of an hour they swept up to the dock attached to Point View Lodge.

The sails were lowered and they went ashore to stretch their legs, for sitting on the iceboat rather cramped them.
"Might as well take a look around the Lodge while we are here," suggested Jack.
"Is there a caretaker here ?" asked Andy.
"I don't think so, but there may be." The four youths walked through the snow in the direction of the mansion, which was set among some heavy trees.
"Hello, what is that, an animal track ?" asked Jack, pointing to a trail among the trees.
"Looks more like human footprints to me," replied Pepper.
"Then somebody must be here." "Funny the trail leads from the side fence," came from Andy.