ce Boating on Castle Lake

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

Ice skating on Castle Lake was a very popular sport during the winter months in Lilliland when the ice was very thick.

A group of sportsmen from Northern Europe brought an iceboat to try out on Castle Lake. It was the first time that most of the citizens ever saw such a craft move so quickly over the ice. It had a single sail mounted on a t-shaped frame with skates and a rudder. It was something like sailing except for being on skates. The people were very impressed with the speed at which it traveled.

The Baron was asked if an iceboat association could be formed. He was reluctant at first. The Baron was concerned for the safety of the skaters because they may get run over by the iceboat because they move so fast. The Baron needed some time to review the matter.

Then one day a young inexperienced skater wandered far out on the lake where the ice was still very thin. The ice cracked under the skater’s weight and he fell into the water. A quick rescue was needed in the emergency situation. A man with a rope skated out toward the skater who had fallen into the lake but he could not get close enough without falling through the ice himself. Someone on the iceboat saw the problem and quickly turned the iceboat in the direction of the accident. He had a rope ready to attach to the young skater in the water. The driver and his iceboat finally pulled the young man to safety.

The Baron was told of the heroic deed by the ice boater and decided to grant the people an opportunity to have an iceboat association on Castle Lake for the people of Lilliland and the tourists. Everyone in Lilliland enjoyed the iceboats.