Thus talking, the two crowds made their way to the top of the hill. Here they found an excited group of boys waiting for them. “Did the _Whistler_ win?” cried several. “Certainly we won!” replied Sully. “It was no race,” explained Jack. “They struck a snag, and we ran into them while they were on our side of the course.” “Somebody said that Dixon boy tied a rope under your toboggan,” remarked the gentleman who held the two pocket-knives, to Harry. “Did you find anything wrong?” “We did!” cried the boy. “Here is the rope. Who saw Dixon do it?” The question was passed around, and it finally leaked out that three boys in the crowd had seen the sneaking action performed. Dixon had taken the rope from Longman’s sled, and this Longman was finally forced to admit. “No race,” said the stakeholder, promptly. “I will give both boys their pocket-knives. Dixon, you ought to be ruled off the slide,” he added to the bully’s toady. “I don’t care, I claim that race,” said Sully, loudly. “I don’t care a rap about the pocket-knife. It’s not half as good as my own.” Harry wanted to try again, but the bully declined, saying it was getting late, and he was expected home. In reality, Sully was afraid to race fairly. “We’ll try our good points at the skating races day after to-morrow,” he said to Harry. “You mustn’t forget that I am in the five-mile race against you and Jack Bascoe, and Milne and the rest.” “I have a good memory,” returned Harry, pointedly. “And you can rest assured that we’ll look out for any more rope tricks,” and with this parting shot he walked off with his toboggan, accompanied by Jack and the others. “Dat dere Sully makes me mos’ drefful sick,” said Pickles. “He t’inks de hull town must bow to him. It would be de best t’ing in de world if da would jess git togedder and run him off de co’s.” “One of us must beat him in that race,” said Jack, decidedly. “If he wins, he won’t stop crowing for a month.” “You can do it, Jack,” said Andy, who had great confidence in his older brother’s abilities. “He hasn’t near the wind you have.” “That may be, but he’s got everlastingly long legs, Andy; don’t forget that.” “I’ll bank on Harry,” put in Boxy, who was Harry’s most intimate friend, having lived next door to him for years. “His legs are pretty long, and his wind is right there every time.” “Well, I don’t care if I do lose, if Harry wins,” said Jack. “So long as we keep the first prize away from the Sully crowd.” “I’m going to do my best to win that race,” put in Harry. “Not only for the honor, but because I want the money.” “Has Mr. Grimes decided to put up a purse?” asked Jack, quickly. “He told me he would put up a gold medal, but if any one wanted it, he would buy the medal back for fifteen dollars. And if I had fifteen dollars I wouldn’t have to ask father for a cent of spending money for a year.” “And you could go on that tour with us, couldn’t you?” put in Boxy, quickly. “That is, if we go.”