But Elsie on her sled was exactly even with Janet.
"Well, if Teddy or your brother don't go farther than we did then we win the race—a half of it to each of us," said Janet.
And that's just what happened. Teddy's sled went a little farther than did Wilson's, but neither of the boys could come up to the girls, so Jan and Elsie won, and they were proud of it. Then they started another race.
They were having grand fun, shouting and laughing, when suddenly a strange dog, which none of the children remembered having seen before, ran along and began barking at Nicknack.
The goat, who was used to the gentle barking of Skyrocket, did not like this strange, savage dog, which seemed ready to bite him.
"Baa-a-a-a!" bleated the goat.
"Bow-w-w!" barked the dog, and he snapped at Nicknack's legs.
This was more than the goat could stand. With another frightened leap he gave a jump that broke the strap by which he was tied to the tree. Then Nicknack jumped again, and this time, strangely enough, he landed right inside the sled which, a little while before, he had pulled along the snow to the hill.
Right into the sled leaped Nicknack, and then another funny thing happened.
The sled was on the edge of the hill, and when the goat jumped into it he gave it such a sudden push that it began sliding downhill. Right down the hill slid the sled and Nicknack was in it.