Cowmen and Rustlers | Page 4

as may be said, being more than a
mile from their starting-point. They were proceeding swiftly but easily,
ready to decrease or increase their speed at a moment's notice.
Sometimes they were nigh enough to touch each other's hands, and
again they separated, one going far to the right, the other to the left,
while the third kept near the middle of the stream. Then two would
swerve toward shore, or perhaps it was all three, and again it was
Jennie who kept the farthest from land, or perhaps a fancy led her to
skim so close that some of the overhanging limbs brushed her face.
"Look out; there's an air-hole!" called the brother, at the moment the
three reunited after one of these excursions.
"What of it!" was her demand, and instead of shooting to the right or
left, she kept straight on toward the open space.
"Don't try to jump it!" cautioned Sterry, suspecting her purpose; "it's
too wide."
"No doubt it is for you."
The daring words were on her lips, when she rose slightly in the air and
skimmed as gracefully as a bird across the space of clear water. She
came down seemingly without jar, with the bright blades of steel
ringing over the crystal surface, and without having fallen a foot to the
rear of her companions.
"That was foolish," said her brother, reprovingly; "suppose the ice had
given away when you struck it again?"

"What's the use of supposing what could not take place?"
"The air-hole might have been wider than you suppose."
"How could that be when it was in plain sight? If it had been wider,
why I would have jumped further, or turned aside like my two gallant
escorts. Stick to me and I'll take care of you."
There was no dashing the spirits of the girl, and Sterry broke into
laughter, wondering how it would be with her if actual danger did
present itself.
Occasionally the happy ones indulged in snatches of song and fancy
skating, gliding around each other in bewildering and graceful curves.
The three were experts, as are nearly all people in that section of the
Union. Any one watching their exhibitions of skill and knowing the
anxiety of the mother at home would have wondered why she should
feel any misgiving concerning them.
True, there were wild animals in the forests, and at this season of the
year, when pressed by hunger, they would attack persons if opportunity
presented; but could the fleetest outspeed any one of those three, if he
or she chose to put forth the utmost strength and skill possessed?
"Look!"
It was Jennie who uttered the exclamation, and there was good cause
for it. She was slightly in advance, and was rounding another of the
turns of the stream, when she caught sight of a huge black bear, who,
instead of staying in some hollow tree or cave, sucking his paw the
winter through, was lumbering over the ice in the same direction with
themselves.
He was near the middle of the frozen current, so that it was prudent for
them to turn to the right or left, and was proceeding at an easy pace, as
if he was out for a midnight stroll, while he thought over matters.
Though one of the stupidest of animals, he was quick to hear the noise
behind him and looked back to learn what it meant.

CHAPTER II.
A WARNING FROM THE WOODS.
Monteith Sterry began drawing the mitten from his right hand with the
intention of using his revolver on the bear, when he checked himself
with the thought:
"Better to wait until I need it; the most of this excursion is still before
us."
The lumbering brute came to a stop, with his huge head turned, and
surveyed the approaching skaters. Had they attempted to flee, or had
they come to a halt, probably he would have started after them. As it
was he swung half-way round, so that his side was exposed. He offered
a fine target for Sterry's weapon, but the young man still refrained from
using it.
"It isn't well to go too near him," remarked Fred Whitney, seizing the
arm of his sister and drawing her toward the shore on the left.
"I don't mean to," replied the bright-witted girl, "but if we turn away
from him too soon he will be able to head us off; he mustn't suspect
what we intend to do."
"There's sense in that," remarked Sterry, "but don't wait too long."
The three were skating close together, with their eyes on the big
creature, who was watching them sharply.
"Now!" called Fred, in a low, quick voice.
He had not loosened his grip of his sister's arm, so that when he made
the turn she