This was a large pile of snow, made by the wind into a small hill, and it must have been many feet deep—well over the heads of the two small boys.
"Maybe we might get hurt there," said Laddie.
"No, we won't!" cried Russ. "Come on."
Russ was part way to the top when something happened. All at once one leg sank away down, barrel-stave snowshoe and all, and a moment later he was floundering in the snow, and crying:
"Hey, Laddie, I can't get out. I can't get out. Go and call Daddy or Grandpa! I can't get out!"
"Are you hurt?" asked Laddie.
"No. But my foot is stuck away down under the snow, and I can't pull it out."
"I'll go!" cried Laddie.
He never knew how fast he could travel on the home-made snowshoes until he tried. Up to the side porch he shuffled, and, not stopping to unfasten the pieces of barrel on his feet, he called out:
"Mother, come quick! Russ is upside down and he can't get his leg out!"