Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/168

148 “I don’t know,” said Sam, discreetly holding back. “I am afraid that won’t work. I don’t want to get my neck broke.”

“Sam’s getting scared,” said Ted, as he and Phil clambered up with the ladder.

“No, I ain’t!” said Sam warmly, “but I hain’t got an inch of skin now that isn't black and blue.”

“This will have to be our last grand slide,” said Bert, as they took their places. “The snow is going fast.”

The five lads settled themselves on their unique toboggan, and at the word Ted gave  the starting push. Away they went, rushing down the slope with such force that the forward end of the ladder plunged into the mud  at the foot, and the rear flew up and described  a half-circle in the air, scattering its riders in  all directions. Two shouts broke on the air, one of woe as they took their flight, the other  and longer one of mirth, as each surveyed his  fallen companions. Phil was particularly funny, for a train of crackers scattered from his  pockets marked the course of his flight.

“It was lots of fun,” Bob confided to Bess