"Come on," was Nell's answer.
The weakness left them in sheer excitement, and they raced ahead. Nell, thinking hard of ways and means, felt her mind haunted by the corner where the smaller river joined in. Should they make a stand by the willows? Perhaps pistol shots might be heard by someone and bring help. It was a very poor chance, though.
She looked round. Stenson gained very little. Their spurt had been useful. Now they were nearing the corner. Which should they do?
In the excitement of the race the condition of the ice had been almost forgotten, but at this point there was a loud crack, and then another. Nell had a feeling as though the ice beneath their snow road had swayed. Glancing at the bank nearest the willows she saw the whole ice line move and shift at the edges.
Robin was running with his nose to the ground as usual, but he checked now with a whine of anxiety, and sheered off from the side where the new stream opened up.
"Follow Robin," ordered Nell sharply. "Not too close together, Da--the higher we are the better."
There was another crack, and behind the flying snowshoes a thin line of water oozed up in one place, then all was quiet again.
Robin sped on, choosing his path, and the two followed. They were so intent that Nell forgot her feeling about the other stream, or rather she abandoned the idea in the excitement of getting over that dangerous place. The only thing to do seemed to be to go straight ahead.
David was talking excitedly, and she had not even listened, because of her anxiety. But when they were going on safely again she said, "What?"
"Why, Stenson, Nell! If he doesn't land and go by the banks, he'll smash through sure as----"