208 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



^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 JMr. Blake and the Doctor 

 together, as Nat balanced himself on the shoes, feeling 

 that his feet were 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. 



'J^lie pai-ty laughed heartily, for Nat had been so verj' 

 confident of success. 



" If that were big snow he were lost ! " 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, but this time he 

 s[)rea(l his legs so far apart to keep from interfering 

 that lie could not bring them together again, and stood 

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

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



"Never mind," said the Doctor, "you will learn by 

 practice if we have much snow tliis winter, for I am 

 gciing to ask Nez and ()laf 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 ! " cried Nat, and then stoj)ped as he saw 

 the wistful look on Eap's face and remembered that 

 snow-shoes woidd 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 we 

 can take turns in dragging Dodo and mother, for they 



