another strap, to be secured about the ankle. Then a cleat was nailed onto
the ski to fit against the heel of the shoe. In use we found it best to
cut a groove in the bottom of the ski, so as to give us a better grip on
the snow in climbing up hills. With the skis we had to use short poles or
"ski sticks" to assist in starting, stopping and steering when coasting.
The ski stick was a bean pole provided with a wooden block near the lower
end, to prevent it from being forced too far through the snow.



The Swiss Snow Shoe or Swamp Shoe.

The Swiss shoe was made primarily to assist us in exploring some boggy
land a short distance up the river from our island. The original swamp
shoes were made from the bottoms of two old baskets, and they worked so
admirably that it was decided to equip the whole society with them. Uncle
Ed, when told about them, informed us that that was the kind of snow shoe
used in Switzerland. Of course, we could not afford to destroy a pair of
baskets for each member of the club, and so we had to weave the shoes from
the willows which grew on the island.

[Illustration: Fig. 35. The Ski Stick.]

[Illustration: Fig. 36. The Swiss Snow Shoe.]



CHAPTER IV.

TENT MAKING.