The Toyman took a handful of snow and crushed it hard between both hands. When he had finished he opened his fingers. In his palm was a round white ball. Then another he made and another. And the three little soldiers, Jehosophat, Marmaduke, and Hepzebiah, made lots too. They piled them in the corner of the fort, until they had a heap like the iron balls around the cannon in the town park.
"Now," commanded the Toyman. "March to the barracks and get warm" (he pointed at the house). "I'll watch and call when the enemy comes."
Into the house they went, and dried their mittens and warmed their hands. And each had a cup of nice warm milk.
After a while there was a loud knock at the door, and the sound of a horn.
Mother opened the door a little way.
The horn sounded again. Then the voice spoke loudly:
"Fall in," it said. "The enemy comes!"
Quickly the three little soldiers put on their mittens and caps, and buttoned their coats, and hurried to the fort.
They looked around. They could not see anybody with a horn. And the Toyman was gone.
Over the walls of the fort they peeked.