The occurrence, however, was too slight to cause a second thought.

They were now fairly under way, 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.