CHAPTER XVII THE RACE AND THE RUNAWAY

 Bert loved to ride and drive, but it must be confessed that he did not enjoy racing¹.

 

The road was rather uneven², and he could not help but think what the consequences might be if the cutter should strike a deep hollow or a big stone.

 

"Don't let Rusher run away," he said to his friend. "Be careful."

 

Bob was by this time having his hands so full that he could not answer.

 

"Steady, Rusher, steady!" he called out to the steed. "Steady, old boy!"

 

But the old race horse was now warmed up to his work and paid no attention to what was said. On and on he sped, until the young man in the other cutter was gradually outdistanced.

 

"Told you I could beat you!" flung back Bob.

 

"The race is yours," answered the young man, in much disappointment, and then he dropped further back than ever.

 

"Better slacken up, Bob," said Bert. "There is no use in driving so hard now."

 

"I—I can't slacken up," answered Bob. "Steady, Rusher," he called out. "Whoa, old fellow, whoa!"

 

But the old race horse did not intend to whoa, and on he flew as fast as his legs would carry him, up the first hill and then onward³ toward the turn before mentioned.

 

"Be careful at the turn, Bob!" screamed Bert. "Be careful, or we'll go over!"

 

"Whoa, Rusher!" repeated Bob, and pulled in on the reins⁴ with all of his might.

 

The turn where the sand pit had been was now close at hand. Here the road was rather narrow, so they had to drive close to the opening, now more than half filled with drifted snow. Bert clung to the cutter while Bob continued to haul in on the reins. Then came a crash, as the cutter hit a hidden stone and drove straight for the sand pit.

 

"Hold on!" cried Bob, and the next instant Bert found himself flying out of the cutter and over the edge of the road. He tried to save himself by clutching at the ice and snow, but it was useless, and in a twinkling he disappeared into the sand pit! Bob followed, while Rusher went on more gayly than ever, hauling the overturned cutter after him.

 

Down and down went poor Bert into the deep snow, until he thought he was never going to stop. Bob was beside him, and both floundered around wildly until almost the bottom of the pit was reached.

 

"Oh, Bob!"

 

"Oh, Bert! Are you hurt?"

 

"Don't know as I am. But what a tumble!"

 

"Rusher has run away!"

 

"I was afraid he'd do that."

 

For a minute the two boys knew not what to do. The deep snow lay all around them and how to get out of the pit was a serious question.

 

"It's a wonder we weren't smothered," said Bob. "Are you quite sure no bones have been broken?"

 

"Bones broken? Why, Bob, it was like coming down on a big feather bed. I only hope Rusher doesn't do any damage."

 

"So do I."

 

When the boys finally floundered out of the hollow into which they had fallen, they found themselves in snow up to their waists. On all sides of them were the walls of the sand pit, ten to fifteen feet high.

 

"I don't see how we are going to get out of this," said Bert dolefully. "We can't climb out."

 

"We'll have to do it," answered Bob. "Come, follow me."

 

He led the way through the deep snow to where the walls did not seem to be so high. At one spot the rain had washed down part of the soil.

 

"Let us try to climb up that slope," said the larger boy and led the way, and Bert followed.

 

It was hard work and it made Bert pant for breath, for the snow was still up to his waist. But both kept on, and in the end they stood on the edge of the sand pit, opposite to the side which ran along the road.

 

"Now we have got to walk around," said Bob. "But that will be easy, if we keep to the places where the wind has swept the snow away."

 

At last they stood on the road, and this reached both struck out for Dalton, less than a mile away.

 

"I'm afraid I'll catch it, if Rusher has smashed up the cutter," said Bob as they hurried along.

 

"We did wrong to race," answered Bert.

 

"Humph! it's no use to cry over spilt milk, Bert."

 

"I know that, Bob. Was the cutter a new one?"

 

"No, but I know father won't want it smashed up."

 

Much downhearted the boys kept on walking. Bert had not wanted to race, yet he felt he was guilty for having taken part. Perhaps his father would have to pay for part of the damage done.

 

"Maybe old Rusher ran right into town and smashed things right and left," he said to his friend.

 

"It would be just like him," sighed Bob. "It will make an awful bill to pay, won't it?"

 

A little further on they came to where a barn and a wagon⁵ shed lined the road. Under the shed stood a horse and cutter.

 

"My gracious me!" burst out Bob.

 

"Why—why—is it Rusher?" gasped⁶ Bert.

 

"It is!" shouted his friend.

 

Both boys ran up, and as they did so a farmer came from the barn.

 

"Oh, Mr. Daly, did you catch our horse?"

 

"I did, Bob," said the farmer. "Had a runaway⁷, eh?"

 

"Yes, sir. Rusher threw us both into the old sand pit. I'm ever so glad you caught him. Is the cutter broken?"

 

"Not that I noticed. I knew you must have had a spill-out. I saw you going to the lake right after dinner."

 

Both boys inspected the cutter and found it in good condition, outside of a few scratches that did not count. Old Rusher was also all right, for which they were thankful.

 

"It was nice of you to stop the horse," said Bert to Farmer Daly.

 

"Oh, I'd do as much for anybody," said the farmer. "That is, if it wasn't too dangerous. Rusher wasn't running very fast when I caught him."

 

"He was running fast enough when he threw us out," answered Bob.

 

It did not take the boys long to get into the cutter again.

 

"Don't let him get away on the road home," sang out Farmer Daly after them.

 

"No fear of that," answered Bob.

 

He was very careful how he let Rusher step out. It was growing late, but Bert did not urge him on, so it was half-past five before the Ramdell house was reached.

 

"You are late after all," said Mr. Bobbsey, rather displeased⁸.

 

"Oh, we've had such an adventure," cried Bert.

 

"What happened to you?" questioned Mrs. Bobbsey quickly.

 

"Rusher threw us into a sand pit," answered Bert, and then told the whole story.

 

"You can be thankful that you were not hurt," said his mamma.

 

"I am thankful, mamma."

 

"Rusher is still full of go," said Mrs. Ramdell. "I have warned my husband not to let Bob drive him."

 

"Oh, it was the brush with the other cutter that did it," said Bob. "Rusher couldn't stand it to let another horse pass him on the road."

 

Shortly after this, good-bys were said, and Sam brought around the big family sleigh from the barn. Into this the whole Bobbsey family piled, and off they went, in the gathering⁹ gloom of the short winter day.

 

"I've had a lovely time!" called out Nan.

 

"So have I had a lovely time," added little Flossie.

 

"Splendid," came from Freddie. "The baby is awful nice to play with."

 

"I've had a good time, too," said Bert. "The hockey game was just the best ever, and so was the drive behind Rusher, even if we did get dumped out."

 

The drive back to Lakeport was enjoyed as much as the drive to Dalton in the morning. On the way the children began to sing, and the]voices mingled¹⁰ sweetly with the sounds of the sleigh bells.

 

"I shall not forget this outing in a hurry," said Nan, as she leaped to the step and ran into the house.

 

"I shan't forget it either," answered Bert. "But it turned out differently for me from what I thought it would."

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

3 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

4 reins   

感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带

参考例句：

• She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

5 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

6 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 runaway   

n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的

参考例句：

• The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
• He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。

8 displeased   

a.不快的

参考例句：

• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。
• He was displeased about the whole affair. 他对整个事情感到很不高兴。

9 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

10 mingled   

混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]

参考例句：

• The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
• The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。