would rather have gone
alone, or at all events, with Harry only; but Charley begged go hard to
be allowed to accompany them that he did not like to refuse him. They
expected not to be more than three hours away at the utmost. The skates
were fixed firmly on the feet. Philip wisely tried his by making two or
three outside edge circles and figures of eight. "Are you ready, boys?
Follow your leader, and away we go." Away they went. Right leg--left
leg--resting for fifteen seconds or so on each--their bodies now
slightly inclined to one side, now to the other, like ships making short
tacks. It was exhilarating exercise. Their spirits rose to the highest
pitch as they glided on--they shouted and laughed with glee--Charley
managed to keep up, but what was sport to his brothers, was rather hard
work to him; still he would not beg them to slacken their speed, but
kept on bravely till his legs began to ache. They had heard Philip say
that they were not likely to have many such days during the winter for
skating; for though there would be no want of ice, it would be soon so
covered with snow, that it would be impossible to get over it. They
might easily, to be sure, sweep a space in the ice clear of snow, but
that would be very tame work compared to flying over miles of ice as
they were now doing. Charley, therefore, would not, if he could help
it, ask his brothers to stop. At last he found himself falling behind.
With his utmost exertions he could not keep up with them. While he was
thinking whether he should call out, his foot struck something (it was
the thick part of a branch which had been floating when the lake froze),
and down he came.

"O, Harry, Harry!" he cried out. Harry heard him, and circling round,
skated back to his assistance. Philip had gone some way, when not
hearing his brothers' voices, he swept round on a half circle to ask
them why they had become so suddenly dull. What was his dismay to find
that they were not near him. Both were stretched their length, as it
seemed, on the ice, at a considerable distance. As he turned he was
conscious of a cracking noise, which seemed to pass from one end of the
lake to the other. Still he must reach his brothers, or attempt to do
so, even should the ice be giving way every stroke he made.

"Oh, the ice is giving way! the ice is giving way!" cried Charley; but
though the cracking sound increased, Philip did not perceive any other
sign of this being the