The kick of the boy who guided the sled, and the hearty laugh of both its occupants, when Ralph was overturned, satisfied him that he had been run down purposely.

He did not know the names of the boys, having only met them occasionally on the Common.

They soon came along again, on their way up the hill, and Ralph asked the owner of the sled why he run him down.
"Because you got in our way," replied the boy.
"No, I did n't," said Ralph; "there was room enough for you to go by, but you steered out of your course, and gave my sled a kick, too." "Don't you tell me I lie, you little snipper-snapper," answered the boy "or I 'll put you in my pocket, and carry you off." "See what you did," continued Ralph, pointing to the scratches on the "Clipper;" "I should n't care anything about it, but the sled is n't mine.

I borrowed it of my brother, and it had n't a scratch on it when I took it." "Pooh," said the other boy, "that does n't hurt it any.

I 'll be bound it will be scratched worse than that, before the winter 's over.