"This will do!" exclaimed Will, producing a paper bag. "It had chocolates in," he added with a sly look at his sister.
"Oh!" she cried.
"Nothing doing!" he added quickly if slangily. "Nothing but crumbs," and he proceeded to empty them into his mouth, and then blew up the bag. "When I burst it—go!" he called.
The sharp report of the exploding bag echoed on the keen, wintry air, and the four girls glided off on their skates. Mollie and Betty, the two best skaters, rather hung back, letting the more unskillful Amy and Grace lead the way. The boys skated together in the rear.
"When are you going to spurt?" called Will, as he saw that the pace was not increasing much.
"Time enough," replied Betty, narrowly watching her rival, Mollie.
"That isn't skating!" declared Frank with a laugh. "You girls are only creeping."
But at that instant Grace, at a signal from Mollie, darted ahead, and then the race began in earnest, for Amy, at a nod from the Little Captain did likewise, and then Mollie and Betty, holding themselves in readiness for the burst of speed that would take place at the finish, came after.
"Now they're off!" cried Will. "A pound of chocolates to the winner!"
Three-quarters of the way to the bend Amy showed signs of fatigue. Betty, noting it, called to her: