Tom drew near and whispered something in Randolph’s ear.

“I’ll see about it,” said Randolph, nodding.

“Are you ready?” asked the teacher, once more.

“Aye, aye!” responded the boys.

“One—­two—­three—­go!”

The boys darted off like arrows from a bow.  Luke made a late start, but before they were half across the pond he was even with Randolph, and both were leading.  Randolph looked sidewise, and shut his mouth tight as he saw his hated rival on equal terms with him and threatening to pass him.  It would be humiliating in the extreme, he thought, to be beaten by such a boy.

But beaten he seemed likely to be, for Luke was soon a rod in advance and slowly gaining.  Slowly, for Randolph was really a fine skater and had no rival except Luke.  But Luke was his superior, as seemed likely to be proved.

Though only these two stood any chance of final success, all the boys kept up the contest.

A branch of a tree had been placed at the western end of the pond, and this was the mark around which the boys were to skate.  Luke made the circuit first, Randolph being about half a dozen rods behind.  After him came the rest of the boys in procession, with one exception.  This exception was Tom Harper, who apparently gave up the contest when half-way across, and began skating about, here and there, apparently waiting for his companions to return.

“Tom Harper has given up his chance,” said Linton to the teacher.

“So it seems,” replied Mr. Hooper, “but he probably had no expectation of succeeding.”

“I should think he would have kept on with the rest.  I would have done so, though my chance would have been no better than his.”

Indeed, it seemed strange that Tom should have given up so quickly.  It soon appeared that it was not caprice, but that he had an object in view, and that a very discreditable one.

He waited till the boys were on their way back.  By this time Luke was some eight rods in advance of his leading competitor.  Then Tom began to be on the alert.  As Luke came swinging on to victory he suddenly placed himself in his way.  Luke’s speed was so great that he could not check himself.  He came into collision with Tom, and in an instant both were prostrate.  Tom, however, got the worst of it.  He was thrown violently backward, falling on the back of his head, and lay stunned and motionless on the ice.  Luke fell over him, but was scarcely hurt at all.  He was up again in an instant, and might still have kept the lead, but instead he got down on his knees beside Tom and asked anxiously:  “Are you much hurt, Tom?”

Tom didn’t immediately answer, but lay breathing heavily, with his eyes still closed.

Meanwhile, Randolph, with a smile of triumph, swept on to his now assured victory.  Most of the boys, however, stopped and gathered round Luke and Tom.

This accident had been watched with interest and surprise from the starting-point.