Afternoon came, and nothing unusual had happened, but John Jay kept up
his courage and looked around for something to do to occupy the time. A
wide plank leaned up against the little shed at one side of the cabin.
It made him think of Uncle Billy's cellar door, where he had spent many
a happy hour sliding.

"I'm goin' to have a coast," he said to Bud. A smooth board which he
found near the woodpile furnished him with a fine toboggan. By the help
of an overturned chicken-coop, which he dragged across the yard, he
managed to climb to the top of the shed. Squatting down on the board, he
gave himself a starting push with one hand. The downward progress was
not so smooth or so rapid as he desired.

"Needs greasin'," he said, looking at the plank with a knowing frown. A
rummage through the old corner cupboard where the provisions were kept
provided him with a wide strip of bacon rind, such as Uncle Billy used
to rub on his saw. John Jay carried it out of doors and carefully rubbed
the plank from one end to the other. Then he greased the underside of
the little board on which he intended to sit. The result was all he
could wish. He slid down the plank at a speed that took his breath. Up
he climbed from the coop to the shed, carrying his board with him, and
down he slid to the ground, time and again, yelling and laughing as he
went, until Bud began to be anxious for his turn. When the little fellow
was boosted to the shed, he did not make a noise as John Jay had done;
he slid in solemn silence and unspoken delight.

Over an hour of such sport had gone by when Bud remarked, "Ivy's
a-missin' all the fun."

"She's too little to go down by herself," answered John Jay; "but if I
had another little board I'd take her down in front of me."

He began looking around the wood-pile for one. Then he caught sight of
the big dish-pan, which had been set outside on the logs to sun.

"That's the ve'y thing!" he exclaimed. "It'll jus' hole her." The bacon
rind was nearly rubbed dry by this time, but the pan, heated by sitting
so long in the sun, drew out all the grease that remained. It took the
united strength of both boys to get Ivy to the top of the shed, but at
last she was seated, with John Jay just behind her on his little board,
his legs thrown protectingly around the pan. They shot down so fast that
Ivy was terrified. No sooner was she dumped out of the pan on to the
ground than she retired to a safe distance, and stuck her thumb