inch, hardwood board, curve the fronts by means of a draw-knife, then
connect the runners by braces, and cover with a frame of lighter
material. These sleds, when shod at the blacksmith shop with half-
curved iron shoes, were things to delight in, and two of them,
properly hitched, made a fine "bob."

The bob sled is superior in every way to the old long sled which
delighted the grandfathers of the present boys. The old-fashioned
sleds were steered by the boy in front kicking with his heels on the
frozen snow, or the boy at the stern by dragging one foot behind as a
rudder. This answers very well for the common sled, but when the sled
is seven, eight, or ten feet long, and loaded underneath with pig iron
to give it weight, the boy in front who steers has a difficult and
exceedingly dangerous task, especially if the hill is steep and icy;
and it is next to impossible to steer such a craft from the stern by
dragging one foot behind.

The double-runner is much lighter and very much easier to steer on
account of the front sled being arranged so that it can be moved
independently of the rear sled, for a turn to the right or the left
causes the "bob" to take the direction indicated by the front runners;
but double-runners steered with a wheel, lever or yoke in front, are
very dangerous, as the steersman, in case of an accident, is thrown
against the steering apparatus, usually with serious results.

The safety double-runner does away with serious results, having a
bridle with which it is steered. It also does away with the danger of
collision by having an automatic brake that will stop it, in times of
danger, within the distance of its own length. These are qualities
which will be appreciated by all who "slide down hill," as we called