I struck out for all that I was worth. As I had surmised, the ice was in perfect condition as regards its surface. Sufficiently elastic to enable the blade of one's skates to bite on to it, smooth enough to offer no impediment to their onward glide. One skimmed over it almost without conscious effort. The ecstasy of doing something; the sense of freedom which it gave; the delight of tearing through the keen, clear atmosphere; of feeling it upon one's cheeks--ruffling one's hair--exhilarating one's whole being--breathing it in great gulps into one's lungs--these were the things I needed. And I had hardly been enjoying them half a dozen seconds when the bonds which had seemed to bind me parted, proving themselves to be but the phantasmal creations of a crooked mood. And I laughed, in my turn. "Isn't it glorious?" "While it lasts." "Why the reservation? Isn't it glorious, now?" We had gone right across the lake. We swung round at a right angle. "I thought it wasn't safe!" "What's that?" Just my luck! Scarcely were the words out of my lips than there was an ominous sound. "That's nothing. I thought everybody knew that virgin ice make eccentric noises; we're the first to test its quality. That shows how safe it is." "Does it? I think there may be something in your theory about the middle being best. Suppose we cross to the other side again." The sound did go on. "It's because we're skirting the shore. If you'll admit that I am right for once in a way I'll concede that you may be." "I'll concede anything if you'll come away from this." "Then I'll race you to our starting-point!" We had been keeping within perhaps a dozen feet of the land. Sharply turning I made for the centre. I had not taken half a dozen strides when the cracking noise increased to a distinctly uncomfortable degree. I felt the ice heaving beneath my feet. He was at my side; it was preposterous to talk about racing him level. He could have given me seventy-five yards out of a hundred. "We have struck a bad place. Don't stop; go as fast as you can." "I'm going as fast as I can. I shall be all right. You go in front." "Give me your hand!" "No!" "Give me your hand!" I did not give him my hand--he snatched it. As he did so, something went. We did not stop to see what. How he managed I did not, and do not, understand. But I know he gripped my hand as in an iron vice, started off at about seventy miles an hour, and made me keep up with him. "Don't!" I cried; as well as I could while I gasped for breath. "Come!" he said. And I had to come. And before I knew it we were standing on the shore, and I was half beside myself with rage. "How dare you? Do you suppose that I'm an idiot, and that you can haul me about as if you were my keeper? What did you do it for?" "I fancy I saved your life."