From all sorts of hiding places came running the boys and girls who had been playing hide-and-seek. Freddie's voice told every one that he was in trouble.
"Oh, Freddie!" cried Flossie, who had hidden under the couch in the dining room. "What's the matter? Where's your head?" For she saw only her brother's little fat legs and plump body near the piano. "Where's your head, Freddie?" she cried.
"It's in behind here!" the chubby little fellow replied. "I can't get it out from behind the piano! My ears stick out so far they catch on the edge of the piano."
By this time Nan had come from her hiding place, and she made her way through the crowd of children who were looking in wonder at the sight of Freddie so caught.
"Oh, Freddie, how did it happen?" asked Nan.
"Don't ask him how it happened," said Bert. "Let's get him out, and he'll tell us afterward."
"Yes, do get me out!" begged Freddie.
Bert and Nan took hold of their little brother and tried to pull him out backward. But he seemed stuck quite fast.
"Can't you push yourself out?" asked Bert.
"I'll try," said Freddie bravely. So he pushed backward as hard as he could, while Bert and Nan pulled.