not
before appeared. It was gliding evenly where others usually began to
slow up. Its board was twelve feet long. Foot-rails obviated the
necessity of holding legs. Its sleds were long and substantial and
evidently built solely as bob-sleds and not, as most, to be detached and
used for hand sleds as well. The eight occupants began to "jounce" when
opposite the Orde place, and Bobby saw with admiration that this was a
"spring bobs." That is to say: the board connecting the sleds was not of
rigid pine, like the others, but of hickory which bent like a
buck-board. When the occupants "jounced," the spring of this board
naturally helped the bobs to keep going for some distance after it would
ordinarily have come to a stand-still.

This scientific bobs easily excelled all previous records. Its steersman
made a triumphant mark, a full half-block beyond the farthest. So lost
in admiration of the vehicle had Bobby been that he had failed even to
glance at its occupants. Now as they returned, dragging the bobs after
them, he recognized in the steersman Carter Irvine, and in the others
the rest of his intimate friends. At the same instant they recognized
him and greeted him with a shout.

"Come on slide!" they called.

Bobby joyously laid hand on the steer-rope and began to help up the
hill.

The centre of the street was entirely given over to the coasters darting
down. On either side those ascending toiled, helped occasionally by the
good-natured driver of a cutter or delivery sleigh. Then the steer-ropes
were passed around a runner support of the cutter and held by the
steersman who perched on the front of the bobs. Thus if the bobs upset,
or the horse went too fast, he could detach the bobs from the cutter by
the simple expedient of letting go the rope. All the others immediately
piled on to get the benefit of the ride. Some preferred to stand atop
the cutter's runners. It lent a pleasant sensation of a sort of
supernatural gliding, this standing, upright and motionless, but
nevertheless moving forward at a good rate of speed. Certain drivers
refused, however, to allow these liberties, but scowled blackly when
addressed by the usual cheerful "Give us a ride, Mister?" To catch
surreptitious rides with them was considered a desirable feat. Certain
daring youngsters stole up behind and crouched low against the runners.
Occasionally they escaped detection, but generally tasted the sting of
the whip-lash as it curled viciously