Before the boys could say any more the horses had run out on the ice of the river, near the chums. Fortunately it was thick enough to bear the weight of the animals or it might have proved a disastrous runaway. As it was, Sandy, in trying to stop the horses, lost one rein. He pulled sharply on the other and the steeds, obeying it, turned quickly to the left. In an instant the sleigh, with its load of feed, in bags, was overturned on the ice and Sandy was spilled out. "Quick! Grab the horses!" cried Bart, and the chums were soon at the bridles. But the animals appeared satisfied with the damage they had done, and stood still. Sandy picked himself up, for he was not hurt, and came to the heads of the horses. He looked at the overturned sleigh, with the bags of feed scattered on the ice, and murmured: "I'll catch it for this." "I rather guess he will," said Bart in a low tone, as the temper of Silas Weatherby, for whom Sandy worked, was well known in that locality. For a few moments Sandy stood surveying the scene. It looked as if it would take several men to set matters right, even if the sleigh was not broken. Then Sandy, with a sigh, set to work unhitching the horses. He led them from the ice and tied them to a tree on shore. Then he began moving the bags of feed so as to get a clear place around the vehicle. The chums watched him for a few minutes. They were thinking, as no doubt Sandy was, of that day when he had refused them a lift. "It's a good chance to get square," murmured Bart to his companions. "We could sit down and watch him sweat over this, and laugh--but we won't!" he added quickly. "That isn't our way. We'll get square with Sandy by helping him out in his trouble. That'll make him feel just as badly as if we sat and laughed at him." It was an application of the Biblical injunction of heaping coals of fire, but it is doubtful if the boys thought of it in that light. "Come on!" cried Bart. He began to take off his skates, and his chums followed his example. Then, to the great surprise of Sandy, they began to help him move the bags away so they could get at the sled. "Say--say--fellows--" began Sandy, as the thought of his own mean conduct, that day on the road, came to him. "Say--I don't deserve this. I'm--" "You dry up!" commanded Bart. CHAPTER IX SANTA CLAUS IN SCHOOL The four chums pitched in with a will and helped Sandy. They did not talk much, for, take it all in all, it was rather an embarrassing situation. Sandy did not know what to say, and the boys did not feel like entering into friendly conversation. They did not care to be sociable with Sandy after what he had done, not only in regard to refusing them a ride, but in the matter of the oil barge. But they could not see anyone in such a plight as Sandy was, through no fault of his own, and not render assistance.