"Gracious sakes alive, chile!" burst out Dinah, and without waiting to put anything on her head she rushed forth into the garden. "Gib me dat shovel quick! He'll be stuffocated fo' yo' know it."
"DAT CHILE DUN GWINE AN' BURIED HIMSELF ALIVE."—[P. 53.]
She began to dig away at the pile of snow, and presently uncovered one of Freddie's lower limbs. Then she dropped the shovel and tugged away at the limb and presently brought Freddie to view, just as Mrs. Bobbsey and Nan appeared on the scene.
"What in the world is the matter?" questioned Mrs. Bobbsey, in alarm.
"Dat chile dun gwine an' buried himself alive," responded the colored cook. "De roof of de snow house cabed in on him, pooh dear! He's 'most stuffocated!"
In the meantime Freddie was gasping for breath. Then he looked at the wreck of the snow house and set up a tremendous roar of dismay.
"Oh, Flossie, it's all spoilt! The bay window an' all!"
"Never mind, Freddie dear," said his mother, taking him. "Be thankful that you were not suffocated, as Dinah says."