"Well, I'm going back, anyhow!" decided Grace, as she paid the expressman. "I'll tell Will there is a big box for him, and that will be a good excuse for him coming back. They must not fight. Papa would not like it." "Well, perhaps that is a good plan," agreed Betty. "I'll keep on with Amy, and you and Mollie can go back to the boys." "I'll go tell papa, and have him stop Jake and Sam," said Alice, moving off with her chum. CHAPTER XVIII THE AUTO ICE BOAT Grace strode ahead so rapidly through the snow that Mollie was forced to ask her to moderate her pace. "This isn't a race!" was the objection. "But I want to stop them fighting!" insisted Grace. "Will gets so angry, sometimes, that he doesn't know what he is doing. Papa often said he'd do something desperate in his fits of temper some day. I'm really afraid." "He's like me," laughed Mollie, frankly. "Only I just flare up for a second, and then I'm sorry for it." "Oh, well, Will is too," admitted his sister, "but I don't want to give him a chance to be sorry. Come on!" "If I come any faster you'll have to carry me," panted Mollie. "Remember that I am not a Gibson girl like you." "Oh, do come!" begged Grace. "They may be rolling and tumbling about in the snow, biting each other----" "Boys don't fight that way, and you ought to know it," said Mollie. "I detest fighting myself, but I know that when it is done right--if ever there is such a time--there is no biting and scratching." "Well, I've seen some football games," spoke Grace, and she wondered why Mollie laughed. The girls were rather surprised, on coming to a point where they could look down on the boys, to see merely a snow battle in progress. The air seemed filled with the flying white missiles, and the four rivals were running back and forth, looking for vantage points. Allen hovered about, seeing that no unfair tactics were used. Finally, as the girls started forward again, Grace much relieved in mind, Sam Batty pulled out his handkerchief and waved it. "What's that for?" asked Grace. "Flag of truce, probably. Very likely he's had enough." "Oh, Will is down!" cried Grace a moment later, as her brother slipped and fell. Jake rushed forward to deliver a ball at close range, but Allen held up his hand. "No hitting when one is down!" he decided, and Jake drew back. Then, as Will scrambled to his feet again, the battle was renewed, only two being engaged, however. As Will vainly dodged a ball aimed at him, which struck him in the face, Grace screamed. Her brother turned quickly. "What is it?" cried Will, in some alarm. "Stop that right away!" demanded Grace, "or I'll tell papa, and make him take you home." "One more shot!" Will exclaimed, and he delivered a large snowball with such good aim that it nearly covered the whole of Jake's face. Kittie's brother staggered about, and when he could get his breath he cried: "I'm through--I've had enough!"