"I 'clar t' goodness!" exclaimed the colored cook, with a laugh that
made her shake all over, "dat ar' Snap am a good foot-warmer, so he
be. I jest hopes he don't jump out no mo', so I does." And, for a time
at least, the trick dog seemed content to lie quietly in the sled.

It was not a very exciting trip for those in the sled, as they went
along through the streets of Lakeport and so out into the open
country. Then they passed through village after village, with little
occurring. The roads were good, and occasionally they met other teams.

Once they came to a narrow place between two big drifts, and as
another sled was coming toward them it was rather a race to see which
one would get to the opening first.

"You can't go through when he does, Sam," said Mr. Bobbsey, nodding
toward the other driver.

"I knows I can't, sah. But I'll get there first."

Sam called to his horses and they sprang forward. A little later they
had reached the opening between the drifts and the other sled had to
wait until the Bobbseys got out of the narrow place.

All this time Bert and the others were making their way up the lake on
the ice. After going a mile or two on the ice-boat the wind died down
so that the craft did not go very fast.

"Come on, Dorothy," called Nan, "let's skate for a ways. And if you
get too far ahead of us, please wait, Bert," she added, and her
brother promised that he and Harry would.