When the Hall was reached they looked around for the bully, but found he had not returned.  They had now to go in for their studies, and for the time being the affair was dropped.

That afternoon found them on the lake, and while enjoying the skating Dick was informed of what had occurred.  “A bad crowd,” said the elder Rover.  “Yes, tackle Baxter, by all means.  But be cautious what you say, for you can’t prove much, remember.”

A race had been arranged between the boys, and Dick was one of the contestants.  The distance was from one end of the cove to the other a little over three-quarters of a mile.  There were ten starters, including Fred, Frank, Larry, and Mumps.  Mumps had a reputation as a skater gained at his home on the Hudson River.

“All ready?” shouted the starter.

There was a dead silence.

“Go!” came the word, and away went the ten, their skates flashing brightly in the setting sun.  Soon Larry Colby was in advance, with Mumps just over his shoulder.

“It is Larry’s race!”

“Mumps is a close second!”

“Shake ’em up, Fred!  What are you lagging about, Frank?  Go it, Leo!”

Skirk skirk skirk went the skate runners, and now a crowd of lads started in pursuit of the racers.  Soon the turning point was gained.  Larry was in advance still, but now Mumps overtook him, and suddenly the boy from the Hudson who had such a reputation as a racer shot fifteen feet in advance.  It looked as if the race was certainly his, and Larry and the others felt much downcast.

CHAPTER XIX

THE SKATING RACE—­DAN BAXTER IS CORNERED

The wind had been with the racers thus far, but as one after another of the skaters turned the mark they found the wind now full in their faces, and it was blowing freshly.

“Mumps will win beyond a doubt!” was the cry, as the lad from the Hudson River forged still further ahead.

“My skate is loose!” cried Larry, and second later the skate came off and flew fifty feet away.

By this time Dick and Fred were coming up, slowly but surely.  It seemed to be nip-and-tuck between them, and the friends of each cheered wildly.

“Go it, Dick; you can come in second anyway!”

“Make him follow you, Fred!  You can do it if you try!”

On and on went the racers, Mumps still ten feet ahead, Fred and Dick side by side, and the others in a bunch just back of them.

But the strain was now beginning to tell upon Mumps, who had pushed himself too much from the start.  Halfway to the finish from the turning point Dick and Fred began to crawl up, until they were less than a yard behind him, one at either hand.

“Go it, Mumps!  They are catching you!”

Mumps did try to increase his speed, but hits wind was gone and he could hardly strike out.  The finish was now in sight, and the boys began to shout on every side: