"Well, here comes your brother Will, for one, and I think Allen Washburn and Frank Haley are with him," spoke Betty, shading her eyes with her hands, and gazing off across the sparkling surface of the frozen Argono River. "Can't you see Percy Falconer?" asked Mollie mischievously, referring to a certain foppish lad, who seemed to have a great fondness for the Little Captain. "If there was any snow here I'd wash your face!" cried Betty, her cheeks flaming more than before--for, be it known, she did not reciprocate the feeling that "burned in Percy's manly bosom," to quote the rather jeering remarks of Grace. "I'd rather Allen would do it," murmured Mollie. "That is, if you will let him, Betty." "Let him? Why shouldn't I?" demanded Betty rather sharply, but she turned her head away, and bit her lips. "Oh, nothing, only the other night, when you and he went on such a long walk down the road, I thought perhaps you might have come to some understanding----" "Mollie Billette, if you don't stop----!" began Betty, and then the approach of three young men on their ringing skates forced her to conclude rather quickly. "Hello, girls," greeted Will Ford, the brother of the willowy Grace, "what's doing?" Will was just the opposite of his sister, being rather short and chunky. "We're going to have a race," said Betty quickly, perhaps to forestall any resumption of the embarrassing conversation, now that the subject of it was present. "A race!" exclaimed Allen, a rising young lawyer. "May we join in?" "This is strictly a ladies' relay race," explained Mollie. "You may be judges, or starters and offer the prizes, though, if you like." "And the prizes----?" suggested Frank, who was Will's special chum. "Hot chocolates when we go back to town," said Betty quickly. "I know Grace will agree." "Indeed I will," the latter said. "I don't care how much fun you make of me, but I am cold, and--and----" "Us 'ikes tandy--don't us!" interrupted Will, mimicking the little twin brother and sister of Mollie, whose penchant for sweets was only equalled by the longing of Grace. "Easy," said Betty softly. "Well, if we're going to race, let's do it. Boys, you see fair play. It's to be down to the bend and back." "No, not back!" declared Amy. "I can't do as much as that at top speed." "Well, then, just to the bend," agreed Betty, indicating a spot where the river made a turn, about a mile away. "We'll skate along," suggested Allen. "It is a bit chilly, and the exercise will be good for us. Get ready girls. I'm sorry we haven't a pistol to fire." "This will do!" exclaimed Will, producing a paper bag. "It _had_ chocolates in," he added with a sly look at his sister. "Oh!" she cried. "Nothing doing!" he added quickly if slangily. "Nothing but crumbs," and he proceeded to empty them into his mouth, and then blew up the bag. "When I burst it--go!" he called.