Chapter XXVI
The Skating Race
For nearly half a mile Peter Slade kept the lead with ease, but then his breath began to fail him. Looking over his shoulder, he saw both Larry and Dick crawling up.
"No, you don't!" he muttered, and put on a fresh burst of speed that increased his lead by two yards.
"Peter Slade is going to win!"
"See how he is running away from the others!"
So the cries arose and it certainly looked as if the youth mentioned could not possibly be defeated.
But now both Larry and Dick "dug in for all they were worth," as they themselves expressed it. While there was yet a quarter of a mile to be covered Dick made a spurt and ranged up alongside of his chum.
"Sorry, but I've got to go ahead!" he cried, gaily.
"Come on, we'll both go!" yelled Larry, good
