But they were on the qui vive all the time.  Bobby declared her heart was in her mouth so much that she could taste it.

There were places when the speed threatened disaster.  But when Uncle Dick shouted for “Brakes!” the twins broke through the crust with their peaveys and the hook broke up the thick ice and dragged back on the pung so that the latter was brought almost to a stop.  The handles of the peaveys were braced against the end staffs of the pung, and to keep them in position did not exceed the twins’ strength.

Once Ted’s peavey was dragged from his hands; but he jumped out and recovered it, and then, falling, slid flat on his back down the slippery way until he overtook the slowly moving pung again amid the delighted shouts of his chums.

Otherwise there were no casualties, and the pung flew past the Jaroth house a little before eleven to the great amazement of the whole family, who ran out to watch the coasting party.

“I don’t know how Jonathan Canary will recover his pung,” said Mr. Gordon when they alighted on the level ground.  “But I will leave it in Jaroth’s care, and when the winter breaks up, or before, it can be taken back to Mountain Camp.

“Now how do you feel, young folks?  All right?  No bones broken?”

“It was delightful,” they cried.  But Ida added something to this.  “I feel rather—­rather dazed, Mr. Gordon,” she said.  “But I am very thankful.  And I know whom I have most to thank.”

“Who is that; my dear?” asked Uncle Dick smiling.

“Betty.”

CHAPTER XXV

ON THE DECK OF THE SAN SALVADOR

Mr. Richard Gordon sent several telegrams before the train arrived, and they were all of importance.  One recovered Betty’s locket, for, informed of the circumstances by this telegram, the lawyer in Washington sent his clerk to Mrs. Staples and showed her in a very few words that she was coasting very close to the law by keeping the little platinum and diamond locket.

“So,” said Betty to Bobby, “if the lawyer gets it—­and Uncle Dick says he will—­I can wear the locket to parties at the school.”

“If Mrs. Eustice allows it,” said her chum grimly.  “You know, she’s down on jewelry.  Remember how she got after Ada Nansen and Ruth Gladys Royal for wearing so much junk?”

“My goodness!” giggled Betty, “what would she say to you if she heard you use such an expression?  Anyway, I am going to show her Uncle Dick’s present and ask her.  I know the beautiful diamond earrings Doctor and Mrs. Guerin sent me can’t be worn till I grow up a bit.  But my locket is just right.”

It was a noisy crowd that boarded the train; and it continued to be a noisy crowd to the junction where it broke up.  All the young folks would have been glad to go with Uncle Dick and Ida Bellethorne to New York; but he sent all but Betty and Bob on to school.  They would reach the Shadyside station soon after daybreak the next morning, and Mr. Gordon had telegraphed ahead for the school authorities to be on the look-out for them.