Hal and Mab started off on their race so evenly that neither one was ahead of the other. The two children had learned to skate farily well by this time, though of course they could not go very far, nor very fast. And they could not cut any "fancy figures" on the ice such as doing the "grape-vine twist," or others like that.  
"I—I—I think I'm going to win," said Mab as she skated along beside her brother.
 
"You'd better—better not talk," Hal panted¹. "That takes your breath, and it's hard enough to breathe anyhow, when you're skating fast, without talking."
 
"You're talking," said Mab.
 
"But I'm not going to talk any more," Hal answered, and he closed his lips tightly².
 
On and on they skated, side by side.
 
"Oh, Hal's going to win!" cried some of the children who had gathered around to watch.
 
"No, Mab is!" shouted a number of little girls who were her friends.
"Mab will win!"
Sometimes Mab would be in the lead, and then Hal would come up with a rush and pass her.
 
It was not very far to the "finish line," as the end of the race is called.
 
"Oh, I do hope I get there first!" thought Mab, her little heart beating very fast.
 
"I hope I win!" thought Hal.
 
And that is always the way it is in races—each one wants to be first. That is very right and proper, for it is a good thing to try and be first, or best, in everything we do. Only we must do it fairly, and not be mean, or try to get in the way of anyone else. And, if we don't win, after we have done our best, why we must try and be cheerful about it. And never forget to say to the one who has come out ahead:
 
"Well, I am sorry I lost, but I am glad you won."
 
That is being polite, or, as the big folks say; when they have races, that is being "sportsman-like," and that that is the finest thing in the world—to be really "sportsman-like" at all times.
 
"Go on! Go on!" cried Daddy Blake. "Don't stop, children! Finish out the race!"
 
But Hal and Mab were getting a little tired now, though the race was such a short one. Gradually Hal was skating ahead.
 
"Oh dear! He's going to win!" thought Mab, but, just then, all of a sudden, Hal's skate glided³ over a twig⁴ on the ice, and down he went. "Ker-bunk-o!"
 
Before Mab could stop herself she had slid over the finish line.
 
"Oh, Mab wins! Mab has won the race!" cried her girl friends.
 
Poor Hal, who was not much hurt, I am glad to say, got up. He looked sorrowfully at his sister who had gone ahead of him, when he stumbled⁵. He did want so much to win!
 
But Mab was a real "sportswoman," for............