It was a long hill, and when the boys reached the top there were explanations to be made to Billy Pierce and the curious boys and girls who wanted to know what had happened. Seated at last on their sleds, Joe made a start before the signal was given and had to be brought back. The next time he sulked and did not start at all, and it was Fred who had to turn around.
At last, though, they got off, and those at the foot of the hill saw the two dots swooping downward. There was one bad spot in the road—the depression Harry had mentioned—and Fred grimly swung his sled around, grazing the deep ditch and even trembling a fraction of a second on the edge before he threw his weight to the right and shot back to the center of the road.
Joe had decided to take the hole, changed his mind too late, and went into it sideways as a result of his effort to swing to the left as Fred had done. He almost upset his sled, but righted it in time and was out of the hole a half yard behind the flying Fred. As the boys had discovered, it was Fred’s quick judgment and willingness to “take a chance” that gave him the advantage. He had strong wrists, too, and could change his course as easily as Joe could change his mind.
That was Joe’s great drawback—this habit of changing his mind. It interfered seriously with his steering, for if there is one place where it is not wise to change your mind, it is on a steep hill. Having once decided on his course, the wise coaster sticks to it. Joe’s indecision was reflected in the wobbly movements of his sled, and this time he came in a yard behind Fred.
“No doubt about that,” said Harry, with relief. “You win, Fred.”
“I won the other—only you wouldn’t play fair,” said Joe, hardily.
“It’s getting dark, but there’s still time for another race if you want to call it a tie,” declared Harry, swiftly. “Is it a tie, Joe?”
“Oh, let Fred have it—I don’t care,” Joe mumbled.
“I’ll race again,” said Fred, after a moment’s silence.
“No, the others are coasting now,” decided Harry. “We can’t hold them up any longer, for it’s getting dark. Fred wins, and if I were you, Joe, I wouldn’t go around making any uncalled-for remarks.”