CHAPTER XIV.
"Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." Howard Minturn was a king among the schoolboys; so, though some of them nudged each other and laughed a little when Tip swung open the iron gate and appeared in Mr.Minturn's grounds, the most of them, seeing how quickly Howard sprang forward, and how heartily he greeted the newcomer, did the same.

Howard was his father over again; if he did a thing at all, he did it well.

Every moment of that afternoon was enjoyed as only boys know how to enjoy holidays: the whole round of winter fun was gone through with,--coasting, snowballing, building forts, rolling in the snow, each had their turn.
Tip was not one whit behind the rest in all these matters, and if ever boy enjoyed an afternoon, he did that one.

The sun had set in its clear, cold beauty, and the sharp winter night was coming down; the boys stood at the foot of the hill waiting for Ellis and his sled, which were at the top; they came at last, shooting down the glassy surface.
"Hurry up," called out Howard, as he spun along.

"What the mischief became of you?
We thought you had gone to hunt up Sir John Franklin and crew." "Hurry down, I should say you meant," answered Ellis, guiding his sled skilfully around the curve, and springing to his feet.