hat
instant.

'Steer to the right!' a deep voice roared from the top of the hill.

Instinctively I obeyed. Instantly my sledge, as though animated by the
desire to look over the wooden parapet which ran, a couple of feet high,
along the slope, jogged and jumped, then turned round, and, with the
small amount of intelligence left in my brain, I became aware that I was
whizzing along backwards. I tried to think of instructions received, but
utterly failed; I endeavoured to keep cool. Where was I? I banged
against something, and the sledge twisted round again; it did its best
to run along sideways for awhile, like a crab; it butted me against a
tree and got itself straight again; then it seemed to take the bit in
its teeth, and, as if determining to get rid of me somehow, steered a
bee-line for a Chinese-lantern post at a distance of thirty yards. I
plunged my hand down, determined to defeat its malicious design, and
instantly the little vehicle began to whizz round and round like a
fire-work at the Crystal Palace. This was the beginning of the end; the
next moment something 'took me in the waistcoat,' and I found myself
waltzing in a sitting posture on the ice, my partner being the
lamp-post, the lantern attached to it swinging wildly. Where was the
sledge? The sound of hoarse laughter from the top of the hill was in my
ears; the waltz ended in darkness and silence; where was I?

It was only a deep bank of snow, of course, and I was soon in the air
once more. I did not know where to look for my sledge--I did not try. I
did not, at the moment, feel well enough disposed towards it to care
what had become of it. Some one fetched it.

I was received at the top of the hill with kind and encouraging words,
intended, of course, to hearten me to provide a second entertainment.
This I did, presently, but first I was resolved to be even with Watson.

'Your turn, old chap,' I said.

Watson looked at me with an expression of despair which was pathetic.

'I wish I knew what mistake you made,' he murmured, weakly. 'Did you
hurt yourself?'

'Not in the least; it's a lovely sensation, to some extent' I said. My
bones were aching all over, but I was determined to be even with
Watson, who had not yet done his share of the entertaining.

Watson gave a glance at the stairs, as though he contemplated a bolt; if
he had attempted to escape, I should have done my best to prevent him.
Perhaps he read my thoughts in my face; he sighed. Pr