ut
for the luckless Dutcher.

The unexpected happened. Hen swung around, as on a pivot, extending a
foot in such a way as to trip Ben and send him down on his own face.

In the gasp of astonishment that followed Hen got upon his feet, gave a
swift push with his left skate and was away.

"After him, fellows!" roared Toby Ross. "We'll hold him and let Ben do
the face-washing."

Dick, Tom and Greg had shot past the scene. Now they circled and came
back, their faces aglow with the fast sport and the keen air.

Hen tried to make for the shore, but got in where the surface of the ice
was rough and choppy. Ned Allen and Toby reached out to grasp Hen as
they neared him. Young Dutcher made a switching-away movement, and the
next instant he had fallen flat on his face. He let out a howl.

"We've got him!" declared Toby, as he and Allen pounced on the prostrate
one.

"Yes, but let him alone, fellows," urged Dick, reaching the scene and
halting. "Hen may have his faults, but it's time we chose another fellow
to pick on for a while."

"We're going to wash his face," insisted Ben Alvord, skating up and
looking belligerent. "Don't you interfere, Dick Prescott!"

Hen, making no effort to do more than sit up, was blubbering softly.

"Lemme alone, fellows," he pleaded. "Can't you see I'm hurt?"

Hen had his right mitten off, and was gingerly applying that hand to the
narrow stretch of upper lip. There was blood there. Hen, catching only
an imperfect view as he gazed down past the end of his nose, was sure
that he had been badly injured by his fall.

Some of the other boys set up a yell of laughter.

"Why, you big baby!" blurted Toby. "You've only scratched your lip on
the ice."

"A handful of snow will heal it!" asserted Ben Alvord. "Come, get up,
bone-head! Come on to your dousing."

"You lemme alone, I tell you!" screamed Dutcher, blubbering. "I've got
to go home and get myself attended to."

"Come on, booby!" jeered Alvord, forcing a hand under one of Hen's
shoulders and trying to lift him.

"Lemme alone. Can't you see I'm badly hurt?"

"Let Hen alone," broke in Dick quietly.

"He's got to come ashore and have his face washed in the snow," insisted
Alvord. "Come, fellows, help me take him there."

"You'd better step back and let him alone, Ben!" spoke Dick, more
quietly than before, but there was a sound of command in his voice as he
moved over between Hen and Alvord.

"Get out of the way," growled Ben. "Thi