The Outdoor Girls in a Winter Camp | Page 2

say the right thing, Amy."
"Oh, well, if nothing but a race will satisfy you, I suppose I must," and Grace gave in "gracefully." "I'm nearly perished standing still, anyhow, and skating can't make me much worse."
"It will be all the better," insisted Betty. "Now we'll race in this fashion--team work to count. Amy and I in one team, you and Grace in the other, Mollie. Whichever member of the team gets to the bend first will win. You see," Betty explained, "one of a team might fall, or turn her ankle, or get tired, and then the other could keep on. It's like a relay race."
"Oh, well, if I have to--I suppose I have to," and Grace said this with such a doleful sigh that the others laughed heartily, even quiet Amy joining.
"On your marks!" cried Betty. "Let's show that we are worthy of our names--true Outdoor Girls."
"Show who?" asked Grace looking around.
"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.
The sharp report of the exploding bag echoed on the keen, wintry air, and the four girls glided off on their skates. Mollie and Betty, the two best skaters, rather hung back, letting the more unskillful Amy and Grace lead the way. The boys skated together in the rear.
"When are you going to spurt?" called Will, as he saw that the pace was not increasing much.
"Time enough," replied Betty, narrowly watching her rival, Mollie.
"That isn't skating!" declared Frank with a laugh. "You girls are only creeping."
But at that instant Grace, at a signal from Mollie, darted ahead, and then the race began in earnest, for Amy, at a nod from the Little Captain did likewise, and then Mollie and Betty, holding themselves in readiness for the burst of speed that would take place at the finish, came after.
"Now they're off!" cried Will. "A pound of chocolates to the winner!"
Three-quarters of the way to the bend Amy showed signs of fatigue. Betty, noting it, called to her:
"I'll