r a private trial on a little
hill behind the barn without telling anyone about it. They slid down
very swiftly, and as they were walking up again Bert said:

"I think we have a fast one all right, Charley."

"I'm sure we have," was the answer.

"It will pass anything on the main hill," went on Bert, and his friend
believed him.

The storm kept up all night, and in the morning there was snow enough
to suit anyone. Bert laughed as he looked out of the window and saw it.

"There'll be coasting now all right!" he cried, as he saw the big
stretch of white over the fields and on the hills. "We can have bob
sled races, too."

"Can't we come?" asked Flossie.

"We like sled rides," added Freddie.

"You may come part of the time," answered Bert. "But big sleds aren't
for little folks like you."

Not far from the Bobbsey home was a long hill that was most excellent
for coasting. It was on this that Charley and Bert had decided to test
their new sled on a long stretch.

As they hauled it from the barn where it had been made, and started to
pull it to the hill, there were many laughs at the odd homemade affair.
For Bert and Charley had done most of the work themselves, and it was
rather rough.

"She'll never coast!" cried one boy, with a laugh. He was quite a
friend of Danny's.

"Here comes the sled that can, though!" cried another, and Danny
himself came into view, pulling a fine, new, big bob after him.

"That's the fastest one on the hill," boasted another lad who was
helping Danny pull his sled.

"Well, I think ours is fast, too," said Bert calmly.

"Do you want to race?" asked Danny with a sharp glance at Bert.

"I don't mind," was the answer. It was after school, following the
first snow, and the hill was just right for coasting.

"Come on! Come on!" cried a number of boys and girls, as they heard
what went on between Danny and Bert. "There's going to be a race on
the big hill between the big bobs."

There was much excitement. The sleds were the two largest owned by
anyone in the neighborhood, and both were fine ones. Danny had bought
his, but Bert and Charley had made theirs, and so, though it was not so
fancy, it was stronger. Most eyes were on Danny's sled, for it was
painted in bright colors, and brightly varnished. It had a red cushion
of carpet on the top, and places at the side to rest one's feet.

The bob of Bert and Charley was built just the same, but it was painted
in homemade