Chapter I. The Catastrophe

howeverfor,startinginahurry,shedidnotguidehersteedwithcare,andtheredchargerlandedherinthesnowhalf-waydown,whereshelaylaughingtillJackcametopickherup. “Ifyouwillgo,I'lltakeyoudownallright.I'mnotafraid,forI'vedoneitadozentimeswiththeotherfellowsbutwegaveitupbecauseitisshortandbad,”hesaid,stillgood-natured,thoughalittlehurtatthechargeofcowardiceforJackwasasbraveasalittlelion,andwiththebestsortofbravery,—thecouragetodoright. “SoitisbutImustdoitafewtimes,orJoewillplaguemeandspoilmyfunto-night,”answeredJill,shakingherskirtsandrubbingherbluehands,wetandcoldwiththesnow. “Here,puttheseonIneverusethem.KeepthemiftheyfitIonlycarrythemtopleasemother.”AndJackpulledoutapairofredmittenswiththeairofaboyusedtogivingaway. “Theyarelovelywarm,andtheydofit.Mustbetoosmallforyourpaws,soI'llknityouanewpairforChristmas,andmakeyouwearthem,too,”saidJill,puttingonthemittenswithanodofthanks,andendingherspeechwithastampofherrubberbootstoenforceherthreat. Jacklaughed,anduptheytrudgedtothespotwhencethethreecoastsdiverged. “Now,whichwillyouhave?”heasked,withawarninglookinthehonestblueeyeswhichoftenunconsciouslycontrollednaughtyJillagainstherwill. “Thatone!”andtheredmittenpointedfirmlytotheperilouspathjusttried. “Youwilldoit?” “Iwill!” “Comeon,then,andholdtight.” Jack'ssmilewasgonenow,andhewaitedwithoutawordwhileJilltuckedherselfup,thentookhisplaceinfront,andofftheywentonthebrief,breathlesstripstraightintothedriftbythefencebelow. “Idon'tseeanythingveryawfulinthat.Comeupandhaveanother.Joeiswatchingus,andI'dliketoshowhimthatwearen'tafraidofanything,”saidJill,withadefiantglanceatadistantboy,whohadpausedtowatchthedescent. “Itisaregular'go-bang,'ifthatiswhatyoulike,”answeredJack,astheyplowedtheirwayupagain. “Itis.Youboysthinkgirlslikelittlemeancoastswithoutanyfunordangerinthem,asifwecouldn'tbebraveandstrongaswellasyou.Givemethreego-bangsandthenwe'llstop.Mytumbledoesn'tcount,sogivemetwomoreandthenI'llbegood.” Jilltookherseatasshespoke,andlookedupwithsucharosy,pleadingfacethatJackgaveinatonce,anddowntheywentagain,raisingacloudofglitteringsnow-dustastheyreinedupinfinestylewiththeirfeetonthefence. “It'sjustsplendid!Now,onemore!”criedJill,excitedbythecheersofasleighingpartypassingbelow. Proudofhisskill,Jackmarchedback,resolvedtomakethethird“go”thecrowningachievementoftheafternoon,whileJillprancedafterhimaslightlyasifthebigbootswerethefamousseven-leaguedones,andchatteringaboutthecandy-scrapeandwhethertherewouldbenutsornot. Sofullweretheyofthisimportantquestion,thattheypiledonhap-hazard,andst