the bobbsey twins at school(读书的鲍勃西双胞胎)-第22部分
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in homemade fashion； and the carpet seat was an old and faded one。 But
it had a new gong and a fine big steering wheel。
〃All ready for the race；〃 cried Danny； as he got his sled in position。
〃Who's going down with me？〃
A number of boys came forward。
〃Who's going with Bert and me？〃 asked Charley； and several others
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stepped forward。
〃Go ahead； if you want to come in last！〃 sneered Danny； as he got his
sled in place。 〃I'll tell 'em you're coming； Bert。〃
〃All right；〃 was the cool answer。 〃Get an； boys！〃
Soon both sleds were filled； and all was ready for the big race … the
first of the season。
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The Bobbsey Twins at School
CHAPTER XVIII A NIGHT
ALARM
ARE you all ready？〃 called Danny to Bert； looking over at the
homemade bob； and there was something like contempt in his tone。
〃All ready；〃 answered Bert。 〃I'll start as soon as you give the word。〃
〃We ought to have someone to shove us off；〃 suggested Danny。 〃It
won't be fair if one or the other gets a headstart。〃
〃Hi！ He's afraid already！〃 cried Charley Mason。 〃He knows we're
going to beat！〃
〃I am not！〃 retorted Danny。 〃It will be a walkover for me once I start。
But I don't want Bert Bobbsey saying I took advantage of him； after the
race is over。〃
〃You needn't be afraid … I won't say so … I won't have to；〃 replied Bert。
〃All the same I think it would be better if we each had a push。 I want to
be fair； too。〃
〃Hey； Bert！〃 called a shrill voice； as the elder Bobbsey lad was looking
about for some on the hill to whom he might appeal。 〃Can't I ride down
with you； Bert？〃
It was Freddie who called； and he came runnining up； anxious to take
part in the exciting race。
〃No； Freddie； not this time；〃 explained Bert kindly。 〃I want only
large boys with me in the race。 I'll give you a ride afterward。〃
〃After I beat him； he means；〃 sneered Danny。
〃Come on； let's race if we're going to；〃 called some of the boys on
Danny's sled。
〃Yes； don't stay here all day。〃
〃Get a move on！〃
〃We'll beat； anyhow； what's the use of racing？〃
There were only a few of things that those on the big new sled of
Danny's； called to those on Bert's bob。 On their part Bert's friends
voiced such remarks as：
〃We're not so strong on looks； but we'll get there first！〃
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〃We're going to give Danny a tow to the bottom of the hill！〃
〃He won't know he's moving； once Bert's sled gets started going！〃
〃Well； what are we going to do？〃 asked Danny at last。 〃Shall we
shove off ourselves？〃
Just then there came along two large boys； Frank Cobb； and his
particular chum； Irving Knight。
〃What's going on here； a race？ 〃 asked Frank。
〃It looks that way；〃 said Irving。
〃Oh； will you push us off？〃 begged Bert； appealing to Frank； whose
father worked in Mr。 Bobbsey's lumber yard。
〃Sure we will；〃 answered Frank goodnaturedly。 〃Take the other sled；
Irving；〃 he said to his chum； 〃and we'll give 'em an even start。 Then
we'll see which beats； and may the best sled win！〃
〃That's what I say！〃 cried Irving。
The two larger boys took their places behind the bobs。 They slowly
shoved them to the edge of the hill； held them there a moment； and； at a
nod to each other； shoved them down evenly。
〃Hurray！〃 cried the crowd of other coasters。 〃There they go！〃
〃And Danny's ahead！〃 said some of his friends。
〃No； Bert's sled is！〃 shouted his admirers。
As a matter of fact； though； both sleds were even at the start。 On and
on they went very swiftly； for the hill had been worn smooth。 Then Bert
saw his bob getting ahead a little； and he felt that he was going to win
easily。
But he was glad too soon； for； a little later； Danny's sled shot ahead；
and for some distance was in the lead。
〃Can't you beat him； Bert？〃 whispered Charley Mason； who sat just
behind his chum。
〃I hope so；〃 was the answer。 〃But I can't really do anything。 We
just have to depend on the sled； you know。〃
〃Steer a little more over to the left；〃 suggested another boy。 〃It
looks smoother there。〃
〃I will；〃 said Bert； and he turned the steertng wheel of his bob while
Luke Morton； in the rear； pulled hard on the bell； making it clang out a
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loud warning。
〃Look out where you're going； Bert Bobbsey！〃 warned Danny； looking
back。
〃You're coming over on my side of the hill！〃
〃No I'm not。 I'm away from the middle even；〃 said Bert。 〃Besides；
I'm behind you。〃
〃I know you are； and you're going to stay there； but I don't want you to
run into me。〃
Bert thought of the time； the winter before； when Danny had run into
him； and broken his sled； but he said nothing。 He did not want that
kind of an accident to be repeated if he could help it。
On； on and on dashed the big bobs； with the crowd on the hill； and a
number of coasters scattered along the way； watching anxiously。 As soon
as Bert had steered over to the left his sled began to go faster； as the
snow was packed better there。 He was fast catching up to Danny； when
one of the boys on that bob； looking back； saw it； and warned the
steersman。
〃He's coming； Danny；〃 he cried。
〃Oh； he is； eh？ Well； he won't pass me；〃 and Danny steered his sled
over directly in front of Bert's； almost causing Bert to collide vith him。
〃Shame！〃 cried some watchers。 〃That wasn't fair！〃
〃Let him keep on his own side then；〃 warned Danny。
But this mean trick did Danny little good for； though Bert was forced
to go to the right； to avoid crashing into Danny； he； most unexpectedly；
found good coasting there； and he shot ahead until his sled was even
with that of the bully's。
〃Better look out； Danny；〃 warned the boy sitting directly back of him。
〃He's crowding us fast。〃
〃Oh； it's only a spurt。 We'll soon be at the bottom of the hill and
win。〃
On and on came Bert's bob； the Flier。 It was a little ahead of Danny's
now； and the latter； seeing this； steered over； thinking the going was
better there。
〃Look out！〃 warned Bert。 〃Who's crowding over now？〃
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〃Well； I've got a right here！〃 snarled Danny。
But Bert knew his rights also； and would not give away。 He held to
his place； and Danny dared not come too close。 Then； as Bert found
himself on smooth； hardpacked snow； he steered as straight as he could。
More and more ahead of Danny he went； until he was fully in front of
him。
〃We're going to win！ We're going to win！〃 cried Bert's friends。
〃We're going to win the race！〃
Danny was wild with anger。 He steered his sled over sharply； hoping
to get on the same track as was Bert and so pass him。 But it was not to
be。 Danny took too sudden a turn； and the next instant his bob
overturned； spilling everyone off。
There was a cry of surprise at the accident； and some of those on Bert's
sled looked back。 Bert himself looked straight ahead as a steersman
always should。
〃Danny's upset！〃 cried Charley。
〃I'm sorry！〃 said Bert。 〃Now he'll claim the race wasn't fair。〃
And that is what Danny did when he picked himself up； and walked
down to meet Bert； whose bob got safely to the foot of the hill； and so
won the race。
〃Aw； I'd have beaten if you hadn't gotten in my way so I had to steer
over；〃 cried Danny。
〃Don't talk that way now；〃 said Irving； who； with Frank Cobb had
come to the end of the hill。 〃Bert beat you fair and square。〃
〃Aw； well〃 grumbled Danny。
〃I'll race over again； if you like；〃 offered Bert。
〃Yes； and do the same thing；〃 grumbled Danny。 〃I will not。 I know
my sled is the best。〃
But few others； save those who hoped for a ride on it； agreed with the
bully； and Bert's homemade bob was held to be champion of the hill。
Then came many more coasts； Bert giving Nan and Flossie and
Freddie； and a number of their little girl and boy friends； several rides。
Until late that evening the coasting kept up； and Bert and Charley were
congratulated o
