Suddenly the toys in the big sack felt themselves being picked up. Santa
Claus had slung them over his back to carry out to the sleigh. A moment
later the Nodding Donkey felt a breath of cold air strike him, but he
did not mind, as he had on a warm coat of varnish.
Up and down, and from side to side the toys in the bag felt themselves
being jostled, until they were set down in the big sleigh.
"All aboard!" called Santa Claus, as he took his seat and gathered up
the reins. "Come, Dasher! On, Prancer! Hi, Donner and Blitzen! Down to
Earth you go with the Christmas toys!"
There was another jolly jingle of bells, and the toys felt themselves
being whisked away over the snow. There was a little hole in the bag
near the Nodding Donkey, and also a hole in the paper in which he was
wrapped. He could look out, and on every side he saw big piles of snow.
Snow was also falling from the clouds.
On and on rushed the sleigh of Santa Claus, drawn by the eight reindeer.
Over the clouds and drifts of snow, and through the white flakes they
rushed, the sleigh-bells playing a merry tune.
"Oh, this is a wonderful voyage!" thought the Nodding Donkey. "I wonder
when I shall reach the Earth?"
Suddenly there was a hard shock.
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