"Yes." "Then go!" Away went both lads, giving each sled a lively shove down the hill. Then each hopped aboard, and took hold of the rope with which to steer. "A race! A race!" shouted those standing near. "I think Charley will win!" said some. "I think Bert will win!" said others. "Oh, let us win if we can!" whispered Nan to her twin brother. "I'll do my best, Nan," was the answer. Down the long hill swept the two sleds, almost side by side. Each was rushing along at a lively rate of speed, and those aboard had to hold on tightly for fear of being jounced off. "Whoop!" roared Charley. "Clear the track, for I am coming!" "Make room for me!" sang out Bert. "We are bound to win!" The bottom of the hill was almost reached when Charley's sled began to crawl a bit ahead. "Oh, Bert, they are going to beat us after all," cried Nan disappointedly. "I knew we'd beat you," cried Nellie Parks. "Charley's is the best sled on the hill." "The race isn't over yet," said Bert. His sled had been running in rather soft snow. Now he turned to where the coasting was better, and in a twinkling his sled shot forward until he was once more beside Charley and Nellie. "Here we come!" shouted Bert. "Make room, I say! Make room." On and on they went, and now the bottom of the hill was reached and they ran along a level stretch. Charley's sled began to slow up, but Bert's kept on and on until he had covered a hundred feet beyond where Charley had come to a stop. "We've won!" cried Nan excitedly. "Oh, Bert, your sled is a wonder." "So it is," he answered, with pride. "But it was a close race, wasn't it?" When they came back to where Charley and Nellie stood they found Charley rather sulky. "Nellie is heavier than Nan," said he. "It wasn't a fair race. Let us try it alone next time." "I'm willing," answered Bert. CHAPTER VI COASTING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT It was a long walk back to the top of the hill, but Nan and Bert did not mind it. "So you won, did you?" said one of the boys to Bert. "Good enough." "We are going to try it over again," put in Charley. "Come on." In the crowd was Danny Rugg, who had a brand-new sled. "I guess I can beat anybody!" cried Danny boastfully. "This new sled of mine is bang-up." "What slang!" whispered Nan, to Bert. "If I were you I shouldn't race with him." "I'm going to race with Charley," answered her twin brother, and took no notice of Danny's challenge. Bert and Charley were soon ready for the test, and away they went amid a cheer from their friends. "I think Charley will win this time," said Nellie. "And I think that Bert will win," answered Nan. "Oh, you think your brother is wonderful," sniffed Nellie, with a shrug of her shoulders. "He is just as good as any boy," said Nan quickly. Down the hill swept the two sleds, keeping side by side as before. They were but a foot apart, for each owner wished to keep on the hardest part of the slide.