he cried out. "I observed, just now, some triangles with
labels on the top, marked cracked and dangerous. We will get one and
place it over the spot."

"I'll go and get the sign-posts you speak of," said Frank. "Don't
trouble yourself, sir."

"Then I will keep guard round the spot, to prevent any unwary person
from approaching it," said the stout gentleman.

Frank, on his return, found him going round and round the star.

"By to-morrow, I daresay, the wound will have healed," he remarked. "By
pressing it gradually down, as I have been doing, the water will have
risen into the interstices and have frozen the broken pieces together."

"I hope, sir, that I shall not be so clumsy again. I may not always
meet people ready to take a knock-down so good-naturedly as you have
done," said the midshipman.

Frank and the stout gentleman became great friends after this, and Frank
obtained from him many useful hints about skating. Meantime, several
other people assembled on the lake, which now presented a very animated
spectacle. Frank having come back to see how Ellis was getting on,
found Ernest with him, giving him some further instruction, from which
the pupil was much benefiting.

"Well, Ernest," said Frank, "we have not had a skate together for a long
time. What do you say to a race round the pond? I have got the use of
my legs, I find, pretty well, but I don't think I could come any of
those twists and turns, and spread-eagle kind of things."

Ernest said that he should be delighted to race his brother Frank, but
advised him to curb his impetuosity.

"Oh, never fear! I've no other notion of going ahead but by putting on
all the steam. My engines don't work at half-pressure," answered the
midshipman. "Who'll start us? Buttar, will you?"

"With all my heart," answered Buttar. "Now get in line. Remember, the
course is right round the pond, in and out into all the bays, and
between all the islands. Now, once to make ready, twice to prepare.
Once, twice, thrice, and--" Frank was so eager, that he was off almost
before the word was out of Buttar's mouth--"away!"

Off went the racers, the rest of the party following, but making short
cuts so as to observe their proceedings. The contrast between the two
brothers' style was very amusing. Ernest's was all science or art,
which enabled him to move gracefully along without any apparent
exertion. All he did was to keep his hands waving slowly, to expedite
h