CHAPTER X
A SKATING MATCH
"I'm afraid he's badly hurt," wailed Tom Clifton, in the greatest alarm. "I told him not to do it."
"Come on, fellows!" cried Bob Somers, and with the others close at his heels, he dashed forward.
Hackett lay motionless on the snow.
It was with the greatest misgivings that the boys rushed up to him.
"Hacky, I say, Hacky—are you hurt?" panted Nat, anxiously.
Hackett raised himself on his elbow and looked around with a bewildered stare.
"Are you hurt, Hacky?" repeated Nat, as all surrounded the prostrate boy.
"Hurt!" echoed Hackett, with a glare in his eye. "Of course I'm hurt. Do you suppose I could scoop up about eighty-five feet of snow with my back and not get bumped to pieces? And something gave me a fearful clip on the back of the head, too. I tell you, I saw a lot of stars!"