five o'clock
As he finished Fred Rover , who was at the rear of the _ Blue Moon _ , gave that bobsled a quick push and leaped aboard . At the same time Carncross sent the _ Yellow Streak _ forward and also sprang to his seat . Then , side by side , the two bobsleds moved down the long hill , slowly at first , but gradually gathering speed . It was five o'clock of an afternoon in early December , and consequently quite dark , even on the snow-clad hills . Many of the smaller children , and also the girls , had gone home , leaving the place to the cadets and a few others . `` I hope we win this , '' remarked Randy , as the two sleds continued to speed forward side by side . `` Of course we 'll win it , '' came promptly from Gif Garrison .