The Swiss shoe was made primarily to assist us in exploring some boggy land a short distance up the river from our island. The original swamp shoes were made from the bottoms of two old baskets, and they worked so admirably that it was decided to equip the whole society with them. Uncle Ed, when told about them, informed us that that was the kind of snow shoe used in Switzerland. Of course, we could not afford to destroy a pair of baskets for each member of the club, and so we had to weave the shoes from the willows which grew on the island.

Fig. 35. The Ski Stick.

Fig. 35. The Ski Stick.

Fig. 36. The Swiss Snow Shoe.

Fig. 36. The Swiss Snow Shoe.