Marmaduke was frightened. What a horrible crash there would be when they slid from the high bed to the floor.
But nothing like that happened at all. Away off the bed, over the bright rag carpet, and past the red fire, safely and swiftly they trotted. Below the window they paused. Pretty silver ferns and trees covered the panes and sparkled in the firelight. The window was closed, but that did not matter at all.
"Up with you!" yelled Jack Frost.
Slowly, as if by magic, up went the window sash! Over the sill galloped the reindeer. And after them ran the toy sleigh with Jack Frost and Marmaduke on the red seat.
Over the porch, too, they went.
Then something did happen.
"Now look at yourself," said Jack Frost, cracking his whip.
Marmaduke did not hear him at first. He was admiring that whip. It was only a long icicle, and all Jack had to do was to touch the reindeer with its point to make them run faster and faster.
"Look at yourself," he repeated.
Marmaduke obeyed.