Mike squatted on the raft smoking his pipe, but he said nothing. He was thinking over the words the children had spoken.
"Mike, guess we'll take a spin over the ice," said Paul.
"Mike no like him—pouf! full of holes of air!" said Mike, making a sound to show the children the danger of air-holes.
"We know an air-hole when we see it—and I can't see any of them around here," replied Paul.
"Besides, we are only going to skate around the raft," said Don.
"Mike no like him, big boys like him, what Mike can do?" said the Indian helplessly, as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Mike, I won't go—neither shall Dot," said Lavinia.
"Oh, but I am, Viney! Don't think that I am going to sit here like a baby when Don is off streaking across the ice or doing the 'outer edge,'" retorted Dot, taking her skates from the bag and unbuckling the heel straps.
Two sledges had finished unloading and the drivers called out to Mike.
"Comin' back this trip?"