The Iloiiie of tJic Wolverene and Beaver. 105 



tennis bat, in which a small hole is left towards the 

 "ore part of the shoe. On this network the foot of 

 the hunter rests, and the hole plays a most im- 

 portant part, for over it coiTte the toes and in it 

 they find room to play. A proficient in the use of 

 snow-shoes will never stoop down to tie them on, 

 but will twist his foot into the loops provided for 

 that purpose, and walk away. On advancing the 

 foot the shoe rests on the upper part just where the 

 toes articulate (or spring out), these members passing 

 through the hole above mentioned ; and when the 

 stride is completed and the advanced foot planted 

 on the ground to bring up the other, the shoe slips 

 ofif the toes which dragged it forward, and rests 

 firmly on the lattice work. And now the use of 

 the hole is apparent, for without it the toes would 

 be bent upwards at each step, and would soon be- 

 come cramped and stiff, or even raw if the novice 

 perijisted in travelling. To gain the knack of 

 dropping and catching up the shoe at each stride a 

 great deal of practice is requisite, and the art can 

 only be learned on snow itself, for the earth would 

 not permit the toes to sink through the hole. W'e 

 live, however, in an age of progress. The "rink" 

 has rendered skating possible at midsummer, and 

 who knows if some ingenious speculator may not 

 itart an establishment where the youth of England 



