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.