“Do you think it will storm some more?” Freddie wanted to know.
Bert did not answer right away. He was thinking what he could do about Flossie. If she could not walk then she must be carried, but he felt that he could not hold her on his back much longer, his leg was paining too much.
Just then the sight of Rover, the big, strong dog, floundering about in the snow, gave Bert an idea. Rover did not seem to care how much breath or strength he wasted, for he ran everywhere, barking and trying to dig things out from under the drifts.
“Oh, Flossie! wouldn’t you like to ride on Rover’s back?” asked poor, tired Bert.
“Oh, that will be lovely!” cried the little girl.
“Here, Rover!” cried Freddie.
The dog came leaping through the snow, very likely hoping to have some sticks thrown that he might race after them. But he did not seem surprised when Flossie was placed on his back and held there by Freddie on one side and Bert on the other.
“Now I’m having a ride on a make-believe elephant!” laughed Flossie. Rover could not run with the little girl on his back, and I must say he behaved very nicely, carrying her along through the drifts. Her legs hung “dangling down-o,” but that did not matter.
“I guess I’m rested now,” said Flossie, after a bit. “I’m cold, and it will make me warmer to walk. I’ll walk and hold your hand, Bert.”
If Rover was glad to have the load taken from his back he did not say so, but by the way he raced on ahead when Flossie got off I think he was.