"It's just like roller skating," said Mab, "and I can do that, I know."
"Well, you may find it a little different from roller skating, Mab," her papa answered with a laugh.
"Here I go!" cried Hal. He struck out on the ice, first with one foot, and then with the other, as he had been used to doing on his roller skates. And then something happened.
Either Hal's feet slid out from under him, or else the whole frozen surface of the pond tilted up, and struck him on the head. He was not quite sure which it was, but it felt, he said afterward, as though the ice flew up and struck him.
"Oh, be careful!" cried Daddy Blake, as he saw Hal fall. But it was too late to warn the little boy then.
"Oh, he's hurt!" exclaimed Mab with a little sob, as she saw that her brother did not get up.
Daddy Blake skated over to Hal, but there was no need of his help. For Hal got up himself, only he was very careful about it. He did not try to skate any more. He did not want to slip and fall.
"Are you hurt?" asked Mr. Blake.
"N-n-no; I guess not," Hal answered slowly. "The ice is sort of soft,
I guess."
"No quite as soft as snow, however," laughed Daddy Blake. "Now you had better not try to skate until I take hold of your hand. I will hold you up. Come, Mab, well take hold of hands and so help each other to stand up."