THE ROAD OF ICE
The surface was smooth and icy, and the efforts of the boys to stay their progress were in vain. Huge masses of snow swept with them down the hill. Bob Somers felt the cold air rush past his face. He had a confused vision of bushes flying swiftly by, then he shot over the edge of a hillock, and dropped with a thud upon the other side.
Breathless and excited, he made another effort to stop his downward plunge. For a moment, it was partially checked, but the tumbling snow almost instantly tore him away from his hold.
Long John Hackett and Dick Travers were considerably in advance. Their startled cries had been silenced, and like Bob Somers, they were helpless upon the smooth, slippery surface of the hill.
A long line of bushes stretched across just below.
John Hackett escaped them by a few feet, but Dick Travers crashed into their midst and came to an abrupt halt.
A moment later, Bob brought up against him with an impact that made both wince.
"I say, Dick, are you hurt?" he gasped, excitedly, as soon as he could find his voice.
"Whew, I'm too dizzy to know. You nearly knocked the last bit of breath out of me. My face is scratched to pieces."
"And—wow—how my ear stings. I'm sore all over."