"There's no snow." "I know that; but de mud's jist as slippery as grease.

That thar team kin pull it, easy 'nuff!" Harry and Tom consulted together, and agreed to drive out to the road and try what could be done, and then, if the loaded sled was too much for the team, they would throw off the wood and go home with the empty sled.
There was snow enough until they reached the road--for very little had melted in the woods--and when they got fairly out on the main road the team did not seem to mind the change from snow to thin mud.
The load was not a very heavy one, and there were two horses and two mules--a pretty strong team.
Polly did very well.

She was now harnessed with Grits in the lead; and she pulled along bravely.

But it was slow work, compared to the lively ride over the snow.

The boys and the men trudged through the mud, by the side of the sled, and, looking at it in the best possible light, it was a very dull way to haul wood.