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Pecq's spirit and fun。
〃I guess I wouldn't； It is very bumpy and ends in a big drift； not
half so nice as this one。 Hop on and we'll have a good spin across
the pond〃； and Jack brought 〃Thunderbolt〃 round with a skilful
swing and an engaging air that would have won obedience from
anybody but wilful Jill。
〃It is very nice； but I won't be told I don't 'dare by any boy in the
world。 If you are afraid； I'll go alone。〃 And； before he could speak；
she had snatched the rope from his hand； thrown herself upon the
sled； and was off； helter…skelter； down the most dangerous coast on
the hill…side。
She did not get far； however； for； starting in a hurry； she did not
guide her steed with care； and the red charger landed her in the
snow half…way down； where she lay laughing till Jack came to pick
her up。
〃If you will go； I'll take you down all right。 I m not afraid； for I ve
done it a dozen times with the other fellows； but we gave it up
because it is short and bad；〃 he said； still good…natured； though of
cows； dogs； and boys who made faces and called her 〃Fraidcat。
〃He doesn't dare to get mad with Jill； for she'd take his head off in
two minutes if he did；〃 growled Joe Flint； still smarting horn the
rebuke Jill had given him for robbing the little ones of their safe
coast because he fancied it。
〃She wouldn't！ she's a dear！ You needn't sniff at her because she is
poor。 She's ever so much brighter than you are； or she wouldn't
always be at the head of your class； old Joe；〃 cried the girls；
standing by their friend with a unanimity which proved what a
favorite she was。
Joe subsided with as scornful a curl to his nose as its chilly state
permitted； and Merry Grant introduced a subject of general interest
by asking abruptly；
〃Who is going to the candy…scrape to…night？〃
〃All of us。 Frank invited the whole set； and we shall have a tiptop
time。 We always do at the Minors'；〃 cried Sue； the timid trembler。
〃Jack said there was a barrel of molasses in the house； so there
would be enough for all to eat and some to carry away。 They know
how to do things handsomely〃； and the speaker licked his lips； as if
already tasting the feast in store for him。
〃Mrs。 Minot is a mother worth having；〃 said Molly Loo； coming up
with Boo on the sled； and she knew what it was to need a mother；
for she had none； and tried to care for the little brother with
maternal love and patience。
〃She is just as sweet as she can be！〃 declared Merry；
enthusiastically。
〃Especially when she has a candy…scrape；〃 said Joe； trying to be
amiable； lest he should be left out of the party。
Whereat they all laughed； and went gayly away for a farewell
frolic； as the sun was setting and the keen wind nipped fingers and
toes as well as noses。
A little hurt at the charge of cowardice； for Jack was as brave as a
little lion； and with the best sort of bravery the courage to do right。
〃So it is； but I must do it a few times； or Joe will plague me and
spoil my fun to…night；〃 answered Jill； shaking her skirts and
rubbing her blue hands； wet and cold with the snow。
〃Here； put these on； I never use them。 Keep them if they fit； I only
carry them to please mother。〃 And Jack pulled out a pair of red
mittens with the air of a boy used to giving away。
〃They are lovely warm； and they do fit。 Must be too small for your
paws； so I'll knit you a new pair for Christmas； and make you wear
them； too；〃 said Jill； putting on the mittens with a nod of thanks；
and ending her speech with a stamp of her rubber boots to enforce
her threat。
Jack laughed； and up they trudged to the spot whence the three
coasts diverged。
〃Now； which will you have？〃 he asked； with a warning look in the
honest blue eyes which often unconsciously controlled naughty Jill
against her will。
〃That one！〃 and the red mitten pointed firmly to the perilous path
just tried。
〃You will do it？〃
〃Come on； then； and hold tight。〃
Jack's smile was gone now； and he waited without a word while
Jill tucked herself up； then took his place in front； and off they
went on the brief； breathless trip straight into the drift by the fence
below。
〃I don't see anything very awful in that。 Come up and have another。
Joe is watching us； and I d like to show him that we aren't afraid of
anything；〃 said Jill； with a defiant glance at a distant boy； who had
paused to watch the descent。
〃It is a regular 'go…bang； if that is what you like；〃 answered Jack；
as they plowed their way up again。
〃It is。 You boys think girls like little mean coasts without any fun
or danger in them； as if we couldn't be brave and strong as well as
you。 Give me three go…bangs and then we'll stop。 My tumble
doesn't count； so give me two more and then I'll be good。〃
Jill took her seat as she spoke； and looked up with such a rosy；
pleading face that Jack gave in at once； and down they went again；
raising a cloud of glittering snow…dust as they reined up in fine
style with their feet on the fence。
〃It's just splendid！ Now； one more！〃 cried Jill； excited by the
cheers of a sleighing party passing below。
Proud of his skill； Jack marched back； resolved to make the third
〃go〃 the crowning achievement of the afternoon； while Jill pranced
after him as lightly as if the big boots were the famous
seven…leagued ones； and chattering about the candy…scrape and
whether there would be nuts or not。
So full were they of this important question； that they piled on
hap…hazard； and started off still talking so busily that Jill forgot to
hold tight and Jack to steer carefully。 Alas； for the candy…scrape
that never was to be！ Alas； for poor 〃Thunderbolt〃 blindly setting
forth on the last trip he ever made！ And oh； alas； for Jack and Jill；
who wilfully chose the wrong road and ended their fun for the
winter！ No one knew how it happened； but instead of landing in
the drift； or at the fence； there was a great crash against the bars； a
dreadful plunge off the steep bank； a sudden scattering of girl； boy；
sled； fence； earth； and snow； all about the road； two cries； and then
silence。
〃I knew they'd do it！〃 and； standing on the post where he had
perched； Joe waved his arms and shouted： 〃Smash…up！ Smash…up！
Run！ Run！〃 like a raven croaking over a battlefield when the fight
was done。
Down rushed boys and girls ready to laugh or cry； as the case
might be； for accidents will happen on the best…regulated
coasting…grounds。 They found Jack sitting up looking about him
with a queer； dazed expression； while an ugly cut on the forehead
was bleeding in a way which sobered the boys and frightened the
girls half out of their wits。
〃He's killed！ He's killed！〃 wailed Sue； hiding her face and
beginning to cry。
〃No； I m not。 I'll be all right when I get my breath。 Where's Jill？〃
asked Jack； stoutly； though still too giddy to see straight。
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