"Why?"
"Because, Fred has never been very nice to you, Dick."
That was direct enough, and Dick flushed with pleasure.
"Thank you, Laura; that's more handsome than what I said to you."
"I accept your apology," she laughed. "Look! There goes Fred
Ripley now! How foolish of him."
Fred was heading straight out of the cove toward the river. He was a fine skater, and now he was showing off at his best. He had adapted a "turn promenade" step from roller skating, and was whirling along, turning and half dancing as he sped along. It was a graceful, rhythmical performance. Despite the fact that young Ripley was not widely liked, his present work drew considerable applause from the spectators.
That applause acted like incense under the young man's nostrils. He determined to go farther out, maintaining his present step unbroken.
"Look out, Ripley!" warned Thomp. "The ice won't bear out there."
Fred didn't reply by as much as a look. He kept on out toward the thin ice.
Cra-a-ack! Splash! The thin ice had broken. Ripley, moving backwards, did not realize his fix until his feet; shot into the water. Down he came on his back, breaking more of the ice.