Here they found a path. It took them on to the river. At the end of the path the snow was trodden down. Peter saw two holes in the ice.
"Father," he said, "see those holes. Who made them?"
"The blacksmith and his boy chopped them yesterday. Then they fished through them. You see now why the blacksmith did not shoe Brownie yesterday.
"He knew you would be sorry about that. So he told me to bring you fishing."
"I'd rather do this than anything else," said Peter. "I will thank him for his holes."
"You will not like to do it long," said father. "It is a cold day."
He baited Polly's hook and Peter's hook. He showed them how far into the water to put their lines.
Then he said, "While you are fishing, I will build a little fire. There are plenty of small pieces of wood by the bank. You may warm your fingers at my fire. Perhaps the fish will not bite to-day."
"Did the blacksmith catch any?" asked Polly. "Oh, yes," said father.
"Maybe he caught them all," said Polly. "I haven't had a bite yet. I am getting cold standing here."