between the ice and the water; and then
the ice gives way under the weight of the atmosphere, and air is
admitted into the water beneath."

"Well, I 'm glad air-holes are good for something," said Oscar; "they
're troublesome enough to skaters. Jim Anderson skated right into one
the other day, and came pretty near getting drowned. But I always keep
my eyes open for them. I never got into one yet."

"You cannot be too careful when you are on the ice," remarked Mrs.
Preston. "I felt so uneasy, that I was just going to send Ralph in
search of you, when you got home."

After that day it required considerable coaxing to induce Tiger to go
upon the boys' skating-ground. He manifested a decided preference to
remain upon the shore, and look on; and when he did venture to
accompany his master, he kept close by his side, and travelled over the
treacherous ice with a degree of circumspection, which said very
plainly, "You won't catch me in that scrape again, master Oscar!"

But there was nothing that the boys enjoyed more at this season of the
year, than a real good snowstorm. Such a storm they were favored with
during this month. It came on in the evening, and the next morning,
when they arose, their basement windows were more than half buried up
in snow, and the drifts, in some places, were higher than Oscar's head.
The streets were deserted and almost impassable. Thick crusts of snow
hung over the roofs of the long blocks of houses; while the blinds,
windows, doors and balustrades were heavily trimmed with the same
delicate material. The huge banks which stretched themselves along the
street and sidewalk, were as yet undisturbed; for the few passers-by
had been glad to pick their way through the valleys. The wind roared
and piped among the chimneys and house-tops, and whisked through narrow
passage-ways, and whistled through the smallest cracks and crevices, in
its merriest and busiest mood. Now it would scoop up a cloud of snow
from the street, and bear it up far above the house-tops, and then it
would repay the debt by gathering a fleecy wreath from some neighboring
roof, and sweeping it into the street beneath. The storm still
continued with unabated severity, and the air was so full of snow, that
one could hardly see the length of the street.

After a hasty breakfast, the boys tucked the bottoms of their trowsers
into their boots, and sallied forth, to explore the half-buried
streets. And now the light sn