The Ritter children did not tell their mother of this plan until they came home from school toward evening. Much to their surprise she was not at all enthusiastic over what they considered such a capital idea. She spoke of the intense cold of the evening, the danger, especially to Miezi, in the uncertain light, and the likelihood of the younger ones being frightened in the shadows. In spite of these objections they wished to carry out their plan, and Otto promised not to let Miezi out of his sight if she might go with him. Their request was finally granted, and they started off as happy as birds on the wing. It was great sport. The track had been worn as smooth as ice, and the fear of the timid ones in the dark places gave zest to the undertaking. Nearly all the children from the neighborhood were there, and the best of humor prevailed. Otto let them all precede him with their sleds, permitting only Miezi to follow him, so that there would be no danger of any one's running into her from behind, and he looked back every moment to see that she was coming safely. After several rides in this fashion some one proposed that they ride "tandem fashion," that is, with all the sleds tied together. The idea was immediately accepted, and they began tying their sleds together in joyful anticipation. Otto, however, considered the sport too dangerous for Miezi, as the sleds sometimes became tangled and the whole company was piled up in a mass. He tied his sled last, letting his sister follow with hers untied. In this way it was expected that they would go as usual, except that Otto would not be free to stop in case Miezi did not keep up with them. Soon the children were off and went down the slippery hill with the speed of the wind. They had gone but halfway down, when Otto heard a scream behind him in which he recognized his sister's voice, but he was powerless to stop, and he was going too fast to dare to roll himself from his sled until their speed diminished near the foot of the hill. He found Miezi halfway down the hill crying with all her might. Almost breathless, Otto gathered her in his arms, saying, "What happened, Miezchen? Tell me, what is the matter?" "He wanted to--he wanted to--he was going to--" sobbed Miezi. "What did he want to do? Who? Where?" asked Otto. "The big man over there, he wanted to--he was going to kill me--and he said things." "Never mind, Miezchen; be quiet now; he didn't kill you. Did he even hit you?" asked Otto, somewhat puzzled by the occurrence, for he knew Miezi to be a rather fearless child. "No," sobbed Miezi, "but he had a big stick and he raised it like this and was going to strike and he said, 'You look out!' and he called me dreadful names." "So he really didn't hurt you at all," said Otto, much relieved to find it true, although Miezi was of a different opinion. "Yes, he did--he was going to--and you were all gone ahead and I was all alone," and from sheer self-pity came a fresh burst of tears.