"I see my papa!" suddenly called Trouble. "He's bringin' out de clothes!"
"No, that's a basket of snow he has," said Janet with a laugh, for her father had just then come out of the tunnel with the first load of snow that had been dug loose by Uncle Frank.
From then on, for some time, the children had a sight of their father or their Uncle Frank only once in a while, as either one or the other came to the mouth of the tunnel to empty the basket filled with snow. Sometimes it would be Daddy Martin and again Uncle Frank, as they were taking turns.
"I guess the tunnel must be most finished," said Janet, when they had been watching for some time.
"Anyhow here they come in," added Teddy, as he heard a noise at the back of the house.
"Did you tunnel your way to the barn?" asked Mrs. Martin, as her husband and Uncle Frank came into the kitchen.
"Not yet. It's farther than we thought, and hard work," answered Mr. Martin. "We came in to get some dinner and then we're going at it again."
"And will you see if Nicknack is all right when you get out to the barn?" asked Teddy.
"I surely will," promised his father. "I thought I heard him bleating when I first went out, so I guess he's all right."
"Couldn't you bring him into the house?" asked Janet.