208 FOUR-FOOTED A^IERICANS 



Meanwhile Nez walked across several times in the 

 same tracks, to make an easier path for Nat, who was 

 impatient to try his luck. 



*' Now be careful," called Mr. Blake and the Doctor 

 together, as Nat balanced himself on the shoes, feeling 

 that his feet Avere unnaturally far apart. One step, 

 another, and Nat's feet had collided, his left shoe step- 

 ping on the heel of the right, making him nearly turn a 

 somersault and land head down in the snow, gasping 

 and struggling. 



The pai'ty laughed heartil}^, for Nat had been so very 

 confident of success. 



'^ If that were big snow he were lost I " said Olaf . 

 " If you feel to slip, stoop down, that you do not come 

 off, so — '' and Olaf squatted to show his meaning. 



Nat was picked up and tried again, bat this time he 

 spread his legs so far apart to keep from interfering 

 that he could not bring them together again, and stood 

 still laughing, his arms crossed to keep him from sprawl- 

 ing, as if he were a model for a fancy letter A. 



^' Never mind," said the Doctor, "you Avill learn by 

 practice if we have nuich snow this winter, for I am 

 going to ask Nez and Olaf if, between them, they can- 

 not rig us up half a dozen pairs of snow-shoes, so that 

 all the household at the farm can have walks over the 

 fields when the roads are choked and impassable." 



" How jolly I " cried Nat, and then stopped as he saAV 

 the Avistful look on Rap's face and remembered that 

 snow-shoes Avoald be of no use to him. 



'' We must have one of those flat toboggan sleds, too, 

 uncle," he added quickly, smiling at Rap, ''and then Ave 

 can take turns in dragging Dodo and mother, for they 



