"Well, maybe we'd better throw some snowballs at the door," proposed Chuck, "to bring them out now."
This was accepted as a good plan, and "Bang, bang, bang!" went the balls against the door.
The sleigh, in which the boys took refuge, was well hidden behind a pine tree, so they could not be seen from the house.
Framed in the doorway stood a boy gazing at a heap of bundles.
"There's a light!" said Reddy in a low voice. "Someone is opening the door."
"It's Mike!" answered Herbie, excitedly. "I'll bet he can't believe his eyes."
It did seem to the others that what Herbie said was true, for, framed in the doorway of the cottage stood a boy, gazing at a great heap of bundles and boxes on the steps before him as if dazed. Once he rubbed his eyes as if to make sure he was awake, then he slowly stretched out one hand toward the beautiful new sled, hardly daring to believe it was real. Then suddenly, as the boys watched eagerly, the sled was in his arms and he was jumping up and down with joy, calling to those of his family who could, to come out to see the wonderful surprise.
"Time for us to be getting home now," whispered Chuck, and Toad, feeling very happy, answered:
"I guess you're right."