"Keep on your side, Bert Bobbsey!" shouted Charley warningly.
"And you keep on yours, Charley Mason!" returned Bert.
All of the others on the hill had stopped coasting to witness the contest, but now with a whoop Danny Rugg swept forward with his new sled and came down the hill at top speed.
The bottom of the hill was barely reached when Charley's sled made an unexpected turn and crashed into Bert's, throwing Bert over on his side in the snow.
"What did you do that for?" demanded Bert angrily.
"I—I—didn't do it," stammered Charley. "I guess you turned into me."
"No, I didn't."
Bert arose and began to brush the snow from his clothes. As he did so he heard a rushing sound behind him and then came a crash as Danny Rugg ran into him. Down he went again and his sled had a runner completely broken off. Bert was hit in the ankle and badly bruised.
"Why didn't you get out of the way!" roared Danny Rugg roughly. "I yelled loud enough."
"Oh, my ankle!" groaned Bert. For the moment the wrecked sled was forgotten.