“Slow down, Penny!” pleaded her chum.
“Can’t,” shouted Penny cheerfully. “Oh, we’re going into a hike!”
As one runner raised off the ice, the boat tilted far over on its side. Louise shrieked with terror, and held tight to prevent being thrown out. Penny, hard pressed, sought to avert disaster by a snappy starting of the main sheet.
For a space the boat rushed on, runners roaring. Then as a sudden puff of wind struck the sail, the steering runner leaped off the ice. Instantly the Icicle went into a spin from which Penny could not straighten it.
“We’re going over!” screamed Louise, scrambling to free her feet.
The next moment the boat capsized. Both girls went sliding on their backs across the ice. Penny landed in a snowdrift at the river bank, her parka awry, goggles hanging on one ear.
“Are you hurt, Lou?” she called, jumping to her feet.
Louise sprawled on the ice some distance away. Slowly she pulled herself to a sitting position and rubbed the back of her head.
“Maybe this is your idea of fun!” she complained. “As for me, give me bronco busting! It would be a mild sport in comparison.”
Penny chuckled, dusting snow from her clothing. “Why, this is fun, Lou. We have to expect these little upsets while we’re learning.”