"I've got a plan on hand," whispered Bob to Bert, just before dinner was served. "I've been wondering if your father will let us carry it out." "What is it?" questioned Bert. "You are not to drive home until late this afternoon. I wonder if your father won't let you go down to Long Lake with me after dinner, to see the hockey match." "Is it far from here?" "About two miles. We can drive down in our cutter. Father will let me have the cutter and old Rusher, I'm sure." "I'll see about it," said Bert. "I'd like to see the hockey match very much." As soon as he got the chance Bert questioned his parent about going. "I don't know about this," said Mr. Bobbsey slowly. "Do you think you two boys can be trusted alone with the horse?" "Oh, yes, papa. Bob has driven old Rusher many times." "You must remember, Rusher used to be a race horse. He may run away with Bob and you." "Oh, but that was years ago, papa. He is too old to run away now. Please say yes." Bert continued to plead, and in the end Mr. Bobbsey gave him permission to go to the hockey match. "But you must be back before five o'clock," said he. "We are going to start for home at that time." The dinner was a fine one and tasted especially good to the children after their long ride. But Bert and Bob were impatient to be off, and left the moment they had disposed of their pieces of pie. Old Rusher was a black steed which, in years gone by, had won many a race on the track. He had belonged to a brother to Mr. Ramdell, who had died rather suddenly two years before. He was, as Bert had said, rather old, but there was still a good deal of fire left in him, as the boys were soon to discover to their cost. The road to Long Lake was a winding one, up one hill and down another, and around a sharp turn where in years gone by there had been a sand pit. In the best of spirits the two boys started off, Bob handling the reins like a veteran driver. Bob loved horses, and his one ambition in life was to handle a "spanking team," as he called it. "Old Rusher can go yet," said Bert, who enjoyed the manner in which the black steed stepped out. "He must have been a famous race horse in his day." "He was," answered Bob. "He won ever so many prizes." The distance to Long Lake was covered almost before Bert knew it. As the hockey game was not yet begun they spent half an hour in driving over the road that led around the lake. Quite a crowd had gathered, some in sleighs and some on foot, and the surface of the lake was covered with skaters. When the hockey game started the crowd watched every move with interest. It was a "hot" game, according to Bert, and when a clever play was made he applauded as loudly as the rest. When the game was at an end he was sorry to discover that it was after four o'clock. "We must get home," said he to Bob. "I promised to be back by five." "Oh, we'll get back in no time," said Bob. "Remember, Rusher has had a good rest."