WhenWhitefootmadetheheedlessjumpthatlandedhiminapailhalffilledwithsap,nooneelsewasinthelittlesugar-house.Whitefootwasquitealone. Yousee,FarmerBrownandFarmerBrown’sboywereoutcollectingsapfromthetrees,andBowsertheHoundwaswiththem. FarmerBrown’sboywasthefirsttoreturn. HecameinjustafterWhitefoothadgivenupallhope. Hewentatoncetothefiretoputmorewoodon. Ashefinishedthisjobheheardthefaintestoflittlesqueaks.Itwasaverypitifullittlesqueak. FarmerBrown’sboystoodperfectlystillandlistened.Hehearditagain. HeknewrightawaythatitwasthevoiceofWhitefoot. “Hello!”exclaimedFarmerBrown’sboy. “ThatsoundsasifWhitefootisintroubleofsomekind.Iwonderwherethelittlerascalis.Iwonderwhatcanhavehappenedtohim.Imustlookintothis.” AgainFarmerBrown’sboyheardthatfaintlittlesqueak. Itwassofaintthathecouldn’ttellwhereitcamefrom. Hurriedlyandanxiouslyhelookedalloverthelittlesugar-house,stoppingeveryfewsecondstolistenforthatpitifullittlesqueak. Itseemedtocomefromnowhereinparticular.Alsoitwasgrowingfainter. AtlastFarmerBrown’sboyhappenedtostandstillclosetothattinpailhalffilledwithsap. Heheardthefaintlittlesqueakagainandwithitalittlesplash. Itwasthesoundofthelittlesplashthatledhimtolookdown. Inaflashheunderstoodwhathadhappened. HesawpoorlittleWhitefootstrugglingfeebly,andevenashelookedWhitefoot’sheadwentunder.Hewasverynearlydrowned. Stoopingquickly,FarmerBrown’sboygrabbedWhitefoot’slongtailandpulledhimout. Whitefootwassonearlydrownedthathedidn’thavestrengthenoughtoevenkick. AgreatpityfilledtheeyesofFarmerBrown’sboyasheheldWhitefoot’sheaddownandgentlyshookhim. HewastryingtoshakesomeofthesapoutofWhitefoot. ItranoutofWhitefoot’snoseandoutofhismouth.Whitefootbegantogasp. ThenFarmerBrown’sboyspreadhiscoatclosebythefire,rolledWhitefootupinhishandkerchiefandgentlyplacedhimonthecoat. ForsometimeWhitefootlayjustgasping. Butpresentlyhisbreathcameeasier,andafterawhilehewasbreathingnaturally. Buthewastooweakandtiredtomove,sohejustlaytherewhileFarmerBrown’sboygentlystrokedhisheadandtoldhimhowsorryhewas. LittlebylittleWhitefootrecoveredhisstrength. Atlasthecouldsitup,andfinallyhebegantomoveaboutalittle,althoughhewasstillwobblyonhislegs. FarmerBrown’sboyputsomebitsoffoodwhereWhitefootcouldgetthem,andasheate,Whitefoot’sbeautifulsofteyeswerefilledwithgratitude. 
