day to hitch Nicknack to
Ted's sled and drive him down to the ice to try the goat's new rubbers.
They were tied on his hoofs with pieces of string, Mrs. Martin helping
the children do this. Nicknack was a gentle and patient goat, but he
acted rather strangely when the rubber squares were tied over his hoofs.

He stamped his feet, shook his head and bleated. He did not quite
understand what was going on, but he made no special trouble and started
off well when he had been hitched to the sled.

"Me want a wide!" called Trouble from the veranda, as Ted and Jan went
gliding away over the snow.

"Next time!" answered Ted.

"This sled isn't big enough," added Janet. "We ought to get a bigger
sled, Teddy," she went on. "One as big as our goat wagon, and then we
could have fine rides and take Trouble with us."

"We'll ask daddy to get us one," said her brother.

When they reached the pond the only skaters on it were Tom and Lola
Taylor. Tom laughed as he saw Nicknack.

"Ho!" he cried, "your goat will fall down on the ice again."

"Maybe he won't," answered Teddy. "Just you watch!"

He drove Nicknack toward the frozen pond, but the goat stood still at
the very edge.

"He's afraid to go on--he knows he'll slip," said Tom.

"I guess that's it," agreed Teddy. "Go on, Nicknack!" he called.
"Giddap! You won't fall 'cause you've your rubbers on."

"Oh! has he, really?" asked Lola.

"'Deed he has. We made him some out of an old rubber boot," replied
Teddy. "Look!" and he pointed to the black squares tied on Nicknack's
hoofs.

"How funny!" gasped Lola.

"Maybe he won't slip with them on," remarked Tom, "but I guess he isn't
sure of it. He won't go on the ice."

And indeed Nicknack did not seem to want to do this. He turned first to
one side and then the other as Ted tried to drive him on to the frozen
pond. Nicknack did not mind pulling the Curlytops over the snow, where
he knew he would not slip, but he was afraid of the ice.

"I know how to get him on," said Teddy.

"How?" asked Tom.

"Here, you hold this cookie in front of him," went on Teddy. "I put it
in my pocket to eat myself, but I'll give it to Nicknack. Hold it in
front of his nose, Tom, and when he goes to bite it you just walk away
with it. Then he'll follow after you, and when you walk on the ice he'll
do the same."

"Say, that is a good way!" cried Tom. "I'll do it!"

"Once he's on the ice, if the rubbers keep him from slipping, he'll be
all ri