When, passing from the little mere, they entered the straight of the canal, these two were respectively fourth and fifth.

Up the course they sped, through a deserted snow-clad country, past the church of the village of Alkemaade.

Now, half a mile or more away appeared the Quarkel Mere, and in the centre of it the island which they must turn.

They reached it, they were round it, and when their faces were once more set homewards, Lysbeth noted that the Wolf and the Badger were third and fourth in the race, some one having dropped behind.

Half a mile more and they were second and third; another half mile and they were first and second with perhaps a mile to go.