Sure! Been ready half an hour."

"Wait a minute, Frank, till I tighten my skate strap," cried Fred Rover,
as he bent down to adjust the loosened bit of leather.

"Hurry up, Fred, we don't want to stand here all day," sang out his
Cousin Andy gaily.

"That's it! I want to win this race," broke in Randy Rover, Andy's twin
brother.

"Now remember, the race is to be to the old white pine and back,"
announced the starter. "Every contestant has got to touch the tree
before he starts to come back; otherwise he'll be counted out."

"You ought to have a pistol to start us with," came from Jack Rover.

"I guess my old locomotive whistle will do for that," answered Frank
Newberry. He paused to look at the line of skaters. "Now then, everybody
on the job!" and a loud whistle rent the air.

Instantly there was a scurry of skates, and off the line started across
Clearwater Lake to where a blasted pine tree reared its naked trunk
against the skyline.

It was a Saturday afternoon in early winter, and the cadets of Colby
Hall Military Academy were out in force to enjoy themselves on the
smooth ice of the lake, near which the school was located. The cadets
had been amusing themselves in various ways, playing tag and hockey, and
in "snapping the whip," as it is called, when Gif Garrison, at the head
of the athletic association, had suggested a race.

"We might as well find out who is the best skater in the school," Gif
had said.

"Right you are," had come from his particular chum, Spouter Powell. "Let
us get up a race by all means."

With so many cadets who could skate well, it was an easy matter to
arrange for the contest. To make the matter more interesting, one of the
Hall professors, Mr. Brice, said he would give some prizes to the pupils
coming in first, second and third.

"I'll give a fine book of adventures to the first cadet, and also books
to the others," Mr. Brice announced. He was still a young man, and in
hearty sympathy with everything in the way of outdoor sports.

Among those to enter the contest were Jack Rover and his three cousins,
Fred, Andy and Randy. All were provided with hockey skates, and each
felt confident of making a good record for himself. Yet they all knew
that the school boasted of some fine skaters, one lad in particular, Dan
Soppinger, having won several contests on the ice in years gone by.

"We've got our work cut out for us!" cried Fred Rover, as he skated
beside Jack.

"Save your win