crashed into their midst and came to an abrupt halt.

A moment later, Bob brought up against him with an impact that made both wince.

"I say, Dick, are you hurt?" he gasped, excitedly, as soon as he could find his voice.

"Whew, I'm too dizzy to know. You nearly knocked the last bit of breath out of me. My face is scratched to pieces."

"And—wow—how my ear stings. I'm sore all over."

"But we are mighty lucky to get off so easily," said Dick. "I wonder how old Hacky has fared."

"I hope he's all right. Say, my head spins like a top. Here come the rest of the fellows. I'll bet they are scared."

Both boys rose slowly and painfully to their feet. They were much jarred and bruised, but, fortunately, no serious damage had resulted.

"Hello, Hacky!" yelled Bob.

An answering hail came from below.

"He must be all right," said Dick, joyfully. "There he is—away down at the bottom of the hill."

"Are you hurt, fellows?" came a cry.

The other boys were making their way down the smooth, treacherous surface as fast as they dared.

"Not a bit of it!" yelled Bob. "Let's see about Hackett."

Without waiting for the others, he started down the incline, this time in an orderly fashion. Dick Travers followed him.

They found the tall boy busily engaged in brushing the snow off his clothes.

"Are you hurt, Hacky?" inquired Dick, anxiously.

"If my arm doesn't turn black and blue, I'm mistaken," growled John. "I got about eighty-seven jolts on the back of my neck, forty on the shoulders, and nearly broke my leg, besides. You fellows all right? That's good. What dunces we were to stand on such a bank. Anyway, I found out something."

"What's that?"

"Don't you see there's a little creek close here? And it goes in our 

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