“Here is where I live!” ejaculated Pepper, as he skated along. “Come on, fellows, and snap for keeps this time.”
“Not too fast!” cried out Stuffer, who chanced to be on the end at the time. “I—I—can’t keep up, you—know!” And then down he went on the smooth ice and rolled over and over. Several other skaters went down likewise, and a general laugh arose. Then up the cadets leaped, to form a new “whip.”
“Only five minutes more!” said Dale, consulting a watch he carried. “We won’t dare to be late to-day.”
“Not much, with old Crabtree on guard,” answered Pepper. “If we are he’ll be certain to keep us in to-morrow for it.”
“How I wish I had him out here on the ice,” was Dale’s comment.
“Sure an’ we’d be after teachin’ him some foin points,” said Hogan. “We’d make him spread th’ eagle on his head, so we would!”
“Crabtree knows enough to keep off the ice,” said Jack. “Perhaps he can’t skate.”
“Mr. Strong is a beautiful skater,” said Pepper. “I saw him out day before yesterday. He cut some very fancy figures.”
“What a difference between those two men,” said Andy. “Just as much difference as between Baxter and—and Joe Nelson,” he added, naming a quiet and steady pupil, well liked by all of the cadets.
“Now, boys, for the last swing!” cried Jack. “Pepper, your turn on the end this time.”
“All right, but please don’t snap me into the middle of next week,” answered the fun-loving youth.
“We’ll snap you into the middle of next year!” cried Andy, gleefully. He wanted to square up with somebody for a tumble he had taken.
Away went the boys, in a long line, across the lake. All were shouting and cheering, the hills beyond the lake echoing with their glee. They did not attempt to make a sweep until all had gained good headway.
“Now then, all together!” came from Dale. “Let her go!”
“Whoop!” shrieked Andy. “Good-bye, Pepper!”
The long line began to sweep around. It was fairly close to the lake shore, at a spot where there was a point upon which grew a number of low bushes, all thickly covered with snow.
“Pepper is going into the snow this trip!” cried Dale, as the line broke, and Pepper was hurled forward, flat on the smooth ice. But he was mistaken. The boy turned over and over, and then disappeared around the point like a flash. The next instant there came a strange crash, an exclamation of alarm, and then a babel of voices raised in anger.