or, The Silver Skates 249

“ Don’t quarrel! ” mocked Carl, looking back at Jacob as
he skated. ‘Who’s quarrelling? Poot, you ’re a goose ! ”

“I can’t help that,” was Jacob’s meek reply. “See! they
are nearing the turn of the canal.”

“‘ Now we can see!” cried Ludwig, in great excitement.

“ Peter will make it first, I know.’

“ He can’t; for Ben is ahead!” insisted Carl. “ Gunst !
‘That ice-boat will run over him. No, he is clear! They ’re
a couple of geese, anyhow. Hurrah, they are at the turn!
Now who’s ahead?”

“ Peter!” cried Ludwig, joyfully.

‘“‘Good for the captain! ”? shouted Lambert and Jacob.

And Carl condescended to mutter, —

“Tt is Peter, after all. I thought, all the time, that head
fellow was Ben.”

This turn in the canal had evidently been their goal; for
the two racers came to a sudden halt after passing it.

Carl said something about being “glad that they had sense
” and the four boys skated on in
silence to overtake their companions.

enough to stop and rest;

All the while, Carl was secretly wishing that he had kept on
with Peter and Ben, as he felt sure he could easily have come
out winner. He was a very rapid, though by no means a
graceful skater.

Ben was looking at Peter with mingled vexation, admiration
and surprise, as the boys drew near.

They heard him saying in English, —

“ You’re a perfect bird on the ice, Peter van Holp. The
first fellow that ever beat me in a fair race, I can tell you!”

Peter, who understood the language better than he could
speak it, returned a laughing bow at Ben’s compliment, but