Inside the house Mother Bunker and Grandma Ford heard the queer thumping sound on the porch.
"I wonder what that is?" said Grandma Ford.
"Maybe it's our friend that makes the queer noises, making a new one," answered Mrs. Bunker.
Then they heard Laddie calling:
"Oh, come quick! Russ is upside down and his leg is stuck and he can't get it out! Oh, hurry, please!"
"Mercy me!" cried Mrs. Bunker. "Something has happened!"
Out of the door she rushed, with Grandma Ford after her, and when they saw Laddie, with the barrel staves on his shoes, his mother asked:
"What has happened? What have you done to yourself? What are those things on your feet?"
"Snowshoes that Russ made," was the answer. "He's got some on his own feet, but he fell into a snow bank and he can't get out and he's hollerin' like anything!"
"Oh, that's too bad!" cried Grandma Ford. "But if he fell into a snow bank it's so soft he won't be hurt. But I'll get Grandpa to dig him out."