"Good! In about an hour we'll start."
Sitting around the fire was so pleasant that the hour lengthened into two.
Finally Hackett jumped to his feet. "My eye!" he exclaimed; "it's getting late. Come ahead, 'Mushroom'—clap on your skates."
Billy Musgrove winked. It was an expressive wink, and seemed to be a fitting counterpart to his expansive grin.
"All right, Wackett," he said. "I'm ready—for the championship of Lake Wolverine," and his speech ended with a loud laugh.
"He won't smile so much after the race," whispered Hackett to Nat Wingate. "This is where he gets taken down the first peg."
"You can do it, Hacky, if any one can," returned Nat, in equally cautious tones. "Make him think he's standing still."
Bob Somers presently scratched a long line on the ice, and five contestants eagerly toed the mark.
"Bully sport—skatin'," grinned Musgrove.
"Only your legs ain't very long," chuckled Hackett.