138 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



that a gun is not loaded, and never trifle with it under 

 cany circumstances. It depends entirely upon how you 

 behave toward this little gan whether your uncle ever 

 gives it to you for your own or not ; but for the present 

 you must be content never to even handle it except 

 when one of us is Avith you." 



" Aren't you going to take any nighties ? " asked 

 Dodo, who had come down dressed in a rather confused 

 mass of the warmest clothes she could find, half hoping 

 that, in spite of everything, she might be allowed to go 

 at the last moment. 



" No, missy, the only way we could use nighties at 

 Nez' camp would be to put them on over our clothes. 

 A good blanket apiece will be much more useful." 



" The stage-driver from C'hestnut Ridge way allowed, 

 when he came down last night, they had a big fall er 

 snow there yesterdaj^, that is, big fer the season," 

 said Rod, as he drove up with Tom and Jerry in the 

 farm wagon, deep with straw to keep feet from chilling. 



"• Why didn't you bring the sleigh ? " called Olive 

 from the window, where she stood in the dusk to watch 

 them off, wrapped in a down quilt. 



" Snow's too soft; be all cut up down by the daypo." 



" There's an old sled in the barn, may I take it with 

 me ? If there's thick snow at the Ridge, there may be 

 some at Nez" camp," said Nat, eagerly. 



'• We have as much as we can carry now, my boy," 

 said the Doctor, "and you iiiav be very sure if there is 

 enough snow for coasting, Nez will have some sort of a 

 contrivance for you to do it with." 



" Oh, look ! " cried Rap, [jointing toward the southeast. 

 The turnpike stretched a pure white pathway between 



