Steering with the utmost skill, Frank sent his bob as close as he dared to the other. It was on his right, while on his left, dipping down with dizzying suddenness, was the turning slope that might lead to danger, or even death.
Frank thrust out his foot, and planted it firmly on the foremost sled of the new bob. At the same time he twisted his steering wheel to the right, so as to gain all the leverage he could toward forcing Burton’s bob away from the turn.
For a moment matters hung in the balance. An inch or two to the left would send both bobs crashing down the dangerous slope. There was a shower of ice splinters in the moonlight, a chorus of frightened gasps from the girls, and sharp breathing by the boys. Then the weight, and true steering qualities, of the Randall bob told. Slowly but surely she forced the other away, and, a moment later, as the defective steering gear on Burton’s sled gave way, there was a mix-up, and both craft overturned, while there came shrieks of dismay from all the girls.
[Illustration: FOR A MOMENT MATTERS HUNG IN THE BALANCE.]
But the upset had occurred in a soft bank of snow, and, aside from the discomfort, no one was hurt.
“If it had happened ten feet back though--well, there’d been a different story to tell,” mused Tom, as he and his companions helped the girls out of the conglomeration of sleds and drifts.
“What did you want to try anything like that for?” asked Phil of Burton, when there was some semblance of calmness.
“Well, a fellow dared me to coast into the hollow, and I said I would.”
“You won’t do it again--with _my_ sister aboard,” growled Phil.
“No, indeed!” cried Madge Tyler. “If we’d known he was going to do that we wouldn’t have ridden with him.”
“Oh, no harm’s done,” spoke Burton with a laugh. “I can soon fix that steering gear, and we’ll have some fun yet.”
“No, thank you,” replied Miss Harrison. “I think we have had enough for one night.”
“Come on our bob,” invited Tom eagerly. “It’s early yet.”
“Shall we?” asked Ruth, a sparkle of mischief in her eyes. “We’re not really hurt, you know, and--well----”
“Oh, yes, let’s do it,” begged Miss Newton, and so, leaving Burton to his damaged bob, the girls went with Tom and his chums. They had several glorious coasts, under the silver moon, which shone with undiminished splendor.