Dave had proposed the ride just before lunch, and the young people living at the Wadsworth mansion had telephoned over to the Basswood home, asking if Ben Basswood would accompany them. "Sure I'll go--be glad to!" Dave's former school chum had answered over the wire. "I haven't a thing to do this afternoon, and a first sleigh-ride of the season will tickle me to death." "Oh, I don't want it to kill you, Ben," Dave had answered gaily. "Just the same, you be ready for us when we come over;" and to this Ben had agreed. Although it was still early in the winter, there had been a heavy fall of snow two days before and now the roads in and around Crumville were in excellent condition for sleighing. The musical sound of sleigh-bells could be heard in all directions, and this had made Dave anxious to get out on the road, even though he had to spend most of his time indoors studying, as we shall learn later. Dave had already given orders to the hostler connected with the Wadsworth estate, and now this man brought to the front of the mansion a fine, big sleigh drawn by a pair of sleek-looking, high-stepping steeds. The sleigh was well provided with heavy robes to protect its occupants from the cold. "Oh, Dave, I'm so glad to go sleighing!" burst out Jessie Wadsworth, as she came bounding down the broad stairway of the mansion to meet him. "Isn't it just glorious weather?" "It sure is," he answered, as he gave her a warm glance. To Dave, Jessie was the most beautiful girl in the world, and just now, clad as she was in her dainty sealskin coat and her jaunty sealskin hat, she looked more bewitching to him than ever. "Going for a ride, eh?" came from Dave's uncle, Dunston Porter, who had just finished a belated lunch. "Well, have a good time, and don't let that pair of grays run away with you. John was telling me they are feeling quite mettlesome lately. I guess they don't get exercise enough." "Oh, don't worry, Uncle Dunston. I'm sure I can manage them," answered Dave. "Sure you can!" returned his uncle, heartily. "Too bad you couldn't have asked an old fellow like me to go along," he continued, making a wry face. "Why, you can come along if you want to. Can't he, Dave?" burst out Jessie. "We'd be very glad to have you." "He's only fooling, Jessie," answered Dave. "You couldn't hire Uncle Dunston to go sleighing to-day. I saw him cleaning up his shotgun right after breakfast. And I'll wager he has just come in from hunting and expects to go out again this afternoon. How about it, Uncle--am I right?" "You've got me, Davy," answered the man, with a grin. "You see, I can't get over my old habit of going hunting when I get the chance. And now that this snow is on the ground, it's just fine for tracking rabbits." "Did you get any this morning?"