it had been
marked out a week or ten days before the race, and it had been
thoroughly understood that any of the competitors were at perfect
liberty to skate over the grounds and get familiar with the different
turning places, marked by little red flags.

Frank, with Alec as a companion and trainer, accompanied by one of Mr
Ross's servants, who was also a splendid skater, had gone over the route
two or three times, and so was quite familiar with it. A little before
the race began he was quite surprised to have this Indian skater call
him aside and tell him to be careful and keep his eye on the correct
route, and also to guard himself against that young white man who had
deserted Alec. He then added:

"Watch the Indian with one arm; his heart is good toward you."

Then, putting his fingers to his lips as a sign of caution, the Indian
quickly slipped away among the crowd. This very much perplexed and
bothered Frank, especially when Mr Ross said to him:

"Keep your eyes on the lookout for the flags--the Indian lads are so
familiar with the route that they will not bother to notice them; and
look out for tricks from those whose faces, like your own, are white."

There were perhaps twenty competitors in the great race. As the
distance was so long it was not very essential that they should get off
at the same instant. There would doubtless be those who depended on
rapid bursts of speed to carry them to the front, and so a second or two
made but little difference at first. At the report of a gun away they
flew. They had all sorts of skates and all kinds of styles. With ten
or twelve miles' work before them, none, except some of the younger
lads, tried to do their very best at first. Frank naturally wished to
skate in company with his white companions, but they sullenly refused
the offered society. Insulted and annoyed at this conduct, and
remembering the warning words of Mr Ross, and also of his faithful
servant, he just made up his mind to be on the alert, and if it were
possible he would be in the first of the palefaces. On and on they
sped, until a couple of miles at least were covered. Then they had
reached a spot where the route lay between two rocky islands not a
hundred feet apart. The ice here was beautifully smooth, and being
well-sheltered was as clear as glass. With a wild whoop the Indians
dashed on across it, and at the same time, rather to Frank's surprise,
one of the clerks, putting on a rapid