There were other races; between Beckwith and Browning, which Bruce won, between seniors and juniors, and between sophomores and freshmen; races of all kinds, from singles to team-races. Combined with all of this there were many exhibitions of fancy skating.
Some boys came down to the shore drawing their sleds.
“A sled-race!” said Inza.
Rosalind heard it. Inza was talking to Starbright, and Rosalind’s jealous heart was flaming.
“Starbright beat you before,” she whispered to Morgan. “Perhaps you can beat him in a sled-race.”
“How?” Dade asked.
“Why, don’t you know? When I went to school in our village the boys used to skate races, drawing girls on sleds. Every fellow was anxious to draw his sweet-heart in such a race, and to win, of course. You can do it!”
Something in Dade’s heart made him rebel against the proposition; but looking at Starbright, and feeling keenly the rankling sting of his recent defeat, he determined to offer the challenge. So he walked over to the big freshman and proposed the sled-race.
“If Miss Burrage doesn’t object,” said Dick, his fair face flushing. Inza did not object. She had seen and read the jealous look of Rosalind Thornton, understood its meaning, and was willing that the race should take place, believing firmly that Starbright could win.
“I think it would be delightful,” she said. “Only, if I should fall off while you are going so fast, your skates might run away with you, Mr. Starbright, and take you into the woods.”