Alcyon the Kingfisher Proves a Friend
"NOW where do you suppose Ducky Doodles is?" said Mrs. Mallard,
as the rest of the Fluffy Ducklets climbed up the Marshy Bank in the
Sheltered Little Cove. It was about the same time that Billy Coon was
crawling into the Warm Hollow Log to go to sleep.
"I suppose he got lost in the Fuzzy Cat-tails along the Sheltered
Water Lane," said Mr. Mallard. "I'll go and look for him."
"You stay right here and watch these Fluffy Ducklets, and I will go
and look for him," said Mrs. Mallard. "I can quack louder than you
can. I'm going right this minute."
So away hurried Mrs. Mallard to hunt for Ducky Doodles, while Mr. Mallard
led the Fluffy Ducklets to a Hiding Place among the Tumbled Bulrushes.
"Qua-ack quack-quack-quack," called Mrs. Mallard loudly, as she
swam down the Sheltered Water Lane. "Qua-ack quack-quack-quack."
The Mallards always took the Fluffy Ducklets for a swim at night because
they thought it would be safer on the water than on land. They knew that
Trailer the Mink and Billy Coon and Snoop the Weasel and other Night
Prowlers might get them if they stayed on land at night. But they did not
fear them during the day. And if they were in sight on the water during the
day, they knew that Sharptoes the Duck Hawk might see them.
Of course, if the Fluffy Ducklets wanted to play in the water during the
day, they could do so in the Sheltered Little Cove where Sharptoes could not
see them. But usually the Fluffy Ducklets were ready to rest awhile after
playing in the water almost all night.
Mrs. Mallard swam almost to the end of the Sheltered Water Lane.
"Qua-ack quack-quackquack," she called again, for she had expected
to find Ducky Doodles not far away. And although Mrs. Mallard swam here and
there, and quacked and quacked, there was no Ducky Doodles to be found.
"I do hope that Danny Muskrat did not catch him," she said, as she
started back to the Sheltered Little Cove.
That night just as Billy Coon left the Warm Hollow Log and started around
the Duck Pond to find the Fluffy Ducklets, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and the
Fluffy Ducklets started out to see if they could find Ducky Doodles.
The first thing Billy Coon did when he reached the Duck Pond was to take
a bath. Then he walked along the bank in the Oozy Mud looking for a
breakfast. It was a queer time to be eating breakfast, when Bud and Mary
were just eating supper; but it really was Billy Coon's breakfast, for he
had slept all day.
After a while Billy Coon came to the Sheltered Little Cove. He could see
duck feathers on the Marshy Bank, and there were many, many Ducklet Tracks
in the Oozy Mud. Billy Coon sniffed around awhile and followed the Ducklet
Tracks up the Marshy Bank to the place where the Fluffy Ducklets had stayed
that day.
"Aha," said Billy Coon. "I have found where the Fluffy
Ducklets stay at last. I'll just hunt around in the Jungle Thicket for
Tempting Berries for a while, and then come back after the Fluffy Ducklets
when it is time for them to come ashore." And away strolled Billy Coon.
Now, when the Mallards and the Fluffy Ducklets reached the end of the
Sheltered Water Lane, Mrs. Mallard quacked loudly to see if she could call
Ducky Doodles. Far across the Duck Pond there was a loud quack in answer.
"That was Mrs. Spoonbill," said Mrs. Mallard. "Suppose we
swim over and ask her if she has seen Ducky Doodles."
Away swam the Mallards and the Fluffy Ducklets, with Mrs. Mallard
quacking every now and then to let Mrs. Spoonbill know they were coming.
In a little while they could see the Spoonbills swimming toward them. But
there were more than just Shoveler and Mrs. Spoonbill. Yes, sir. Close
behind them were a number of Downy Spoonbills swimming along as fast as
their little webbed feet could push them; and who else do you suppose was
right in the midst of them? Why, Ducky Doodles, of course.
"Ducky Doodles, where have you been?" quacked Mrs. Mallard.
"Oh, Mother, I was lost," said Ducky Doodles. "I swam into
the Tumbled Bulrushes to play with the Downy Spoonbills, and when I came out
I could not find you."
Ducky Doodles was very glad to be with his own brothers and sisters
again, and after that he was careful not to leave them.
It was a happy family of Mallards that started back toward the Sheltered
Water Lane that led to the Sheltered Little Cove. They quacked and splashed,
and Billy had no trouble at all to hear them coming.
Billy Coon was hidden in a clump of Tumbled Bulrushes right near where
the Mallards and Fluffy Ducklets would walk up the Marshy Bank. It was
getting daylight, but Billy Coon thought he would have time to catch some
Fluffy Ducklets and then hurry back to the Warm Hollow Log in the Woodlot
for another sleep.
Billy Coon did not know that the Mallards had a friend near who was
watching him. He thought he was well hidden in the Tumbled Bulrushes.
Just as the Fluffy Ducklets were ready to walk up the Marshy Bank, there
was a loud noise overhead. It sounded something like a giant rattle. It was
Alcyon the Kingfisher. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard called the Fluffy Ducklets back
to the water. They knew that Alcyon's sharp eyes had seen danger near.
Alcyon had such sharp eyes that he could see fish swimming in the water far
below while he was sitting on a High Perch. And he had seen Billy Coon.
Of course, Billy Coon felt very cheap, and he sneaked back to the Warm
Hollow Log, knowing that the Mallards would be too smart to be caught like
that again.
Ranger the Coyote Meets His Match
RANGER the Coyote lived in a Hidden Den in the side of a hill far beyond
the Wide-Wide Pasture. He liked to live there because the dry hill side
grass was just the color of his tawny fur, and he could hide easily. Ranger
seldom went into his Hidden Den himself. He left that for Mrs. Coyote and
their Furry Little Pups. Usually Ranger the Coyote stayed on a high hill
where he could see if Fearful the Man came by. Then he could warn Mrs.
Coyote. If Fearful the Man saw him, Ranger would run away just out of range
of his gun, and there he would sit until he came near, and away he would go
again and sit on another knoll until Fearful came near. That was one of
Ranger's tricks to lure Fearful the Man away from his Hidden Den.
Sometimes Ranger the Coyote made excursions across the Wide-Wide Pasture
and through the Green Meadow and came near the Grand Old House in the hope
of finding Old Cluck and her Chicklets far enough away from shelter so that
he could catch them. Of course, Ranger the Coyote was always careful to make
his visit in the evening or early morning, for then he was not so likely to
be seen. On the way to the Old Homestead Ranger liked to hunt for rabbits
and gophers and other things to carry back to his Furry Little Pups.
And so one evening when the Long Shadows were stealing out of the Black
Forest and covering the Great Wide World, Ranger the Coyote left his Lookout
Post near his Hidden Den and started toward the Grand Old House. You see,
Old Cluck's Chicklets were getting quite large, and Mrs. Smith gave them
more freedom because she thought they could take care of themselves. Ranger
the Coyote had seen them hunting grasshoppers in the Green Meadow several
times, but always they were too near to the Grand Old House for him to
venture to catch one. Or they left and went to their roost before it was
dark enough for him to come closer. Or else Nero the Hound was watching. No,
sir; Ranger the Coyote never had been able to catch one of Old Cluck's
Chicklets, but he thought that if he kept on trying one day he would surely
get one.
Now, it happened that as Ranger the Coyote came to the Green Meadow,
Ringneck the Pheasant came out of hiding for his evening meal. That was just
the time that Ringneck liked to catch bugs and grasshoppers, and eat Clover
Leaves. Ranger the Coyote knew that it was no easy matter to catch Ringneck
the Pheasant. It was not anywhere near so easy to catch Ringneck as it was
Old Cluck, for Ringneck could fly away when danger came near if he knew it.
But Ranger the Coyote decided he would try to catch Ringneck, anyway. It
was still a little too early for him to venture too near to the Grand Old
House. If he failed to get Ringneck, then he could go after one of Old
Cluck's Chicklets later.
Ringneck's parents were foreigners like Hungarian the Partridge. They
were brought to this country from far-off China years ago, and for that
reason Ringneck was sometimes called the Chinese Pheasant. But Ringneck's
family has lived here so long that the Pheasants are now quite as much at
home as they were in their native land. And they are very good citizens.
Ringneck was hatched on the Old Homestead, and he had learned to watch out
for Ranger the Coyote and other enemies; but Ranger thought he might be
caught napping. Ranger the Coyote hoped that Ringneck would be so interested
in finding his supper that he would not be so watchful as usual.
And so Ranger ran to a good hiding place as near to Ringneck as he dared
to go without being seen, and waited for him to come nearer. He also waited
for it to grow darker. Ranger the Coyote is not so good as Reddy Fox when it
comes to sneaking on his game. He is better at catching it in a fair chase
like his big brother Shaggy the Wolf. Instead of trying to sneak nearer to
Ringneck, he simply hid in the grass and waited for Ringneck to come near
enough so that he could make a run for him.
Nero the Hound had been sleeping on the front lawn near the Grand Old
House. That is, he had been napping with one eye open. Suddenly he thought
he smelled Coyote. The Playful Air Whiffs had danced across the Green Meadow
from Ranger the Coyote straight to Nero's nose. Nero sat up and looked. For
a while he could see nothing, but the Playful Air Whiffs told him as plain
as daylight that Ranger was not far away.
Nero stood up and stretched. The hair on his back bristled. Down toward
the Green Meadow he trotted with the Playful Air Whiffs bringing Coyote
scent stronger and stronger as he went. Soon he was near enough to see
Ranger the Coyote watching Hungarian the Partridge. Ranger was so interested
watching Hungarian the Partridge that he forgot to look for Nero the Hound.
Perhaps he thought he was far enough from the Grand Old House to be safe. He
did not think about the Playful Air Whiffs carrying his scent to Nero.
Ranger the Coyote did not see Nero until Nero was almost on him. Ranger
started to run away, but it was too late. You should have seen what a
thrashing Nero gave Ranger before he got away! Then Nero the Hound trotted
back to the Grand Old House as if he had done his duty, while Ranger the
Coyote raced back to the hills where he could hide and lick the wounds that
Nero's sharp teeth had made. After that, Old Cluck and her Chicklets could
feed in the Green Meadow in safety, for Ranger was glad to stay away.
That night Mrs. Smith gave Nero the Hound an extra good supper, for she
had seen him drive Ranger away. She knew that if Nero had not been watching,
Ranger the Coyote might have caught some of Old Cluck's Chicklets. And so
Nero was given an extra dish of mush and milk to pay him for his
faithfulness.
Spink the Bobolink Sings a Song
SOME time after Redwing the Blackbird moved into the Sheltered Little
Cove, another neighbor arrived from the Sunny Southland. He was black, with
a design made up of white, brown, and gray. He was a little smaller than
Redwing, and the first time Bud Smith saw him he said, "Well, there is
Spink the Bobolink back again."
Spink the Bobolink was really a very interesting fellow. He was a first
cousin of Redwing the Blackbird's, and perhaps that is the reason why he
liked the Marshy Banks along the Duck Pond as Redwing did. Spink was also a
first cousin of Burlingame the Meadow Lark's and Weaver the Oriole's.
Spink had two suits that he wore on different occasions. He also had two
names. The flashy spring suit that he was wearing when he came to the Duck
Pond on the Old Homestead was the one he wore in the Northland. He always
came north about two weeks ahead of Mrs. Bobolink, and then all he had to do
was sit around and sing.
When Mrs. Bobolink arrived, they built a nest on the ground in the Green
Meadow, as their cousin Burlingame the Lark did, but not far from the
Sheltered Little Cove. They were different from their other cousin, Weaver
the Oriole, when it came to nest building, for he built his nest on a
Springy Limb of the Big Elm that stood in the front yard by the Grand Old
House.
Perhaps you would like to know about Spink's other suit and his other
name before hearing more of his adventures on the Old Homestead. You see,
Spink had lived at the Old Homestead two summers, for he had been hatched
there two summers before.
When Spink got ready to go to the Sunny Southland to spend the winter, he
changed his coat entirely. You would never have known he was the same bird.
His coat was then quite plain, and he looked almost like Mrs. Bobolink in
her modest yellowish-brown dress with a few trimmings of yellow and white.
No, sir, you would never have known Spink in that suit.
When he arrived in the Sunny Southland, he lived in the rice fields and
ate so much rice that he grew very fat. People in the Sunny Southland called
him Rice-Bird because he ate so much rice, and he was not so well liked as
he was in the Northland. For one thing, he was so busy eating rice that he
even forgot to sing, and his drab coat surely was not anything in his favor.
It was a good thing for Spink that he went on to South America to spend the
winter after he had eaten his fill of rice, for he had so many friends and
they ate so much rice that they were a nuisance. Mr. Rice Grower sometimes
lost his patience entirely, and killed many of Spink's friends.
But my, what a different fellow was Spink the Bobolink when he came back
to the Old Homestead! He put on his best suit like a regular dandy, and sang
from morning until night. There were not many of the Mallards' neighbors who
could sing except Redwing the Blackbird and Spink the Bobolink. It would be
hard to imagine the Spoonbills or Diver the Grebe or Longlegs the Heron or
Jack Snipe or any of the others singing.
Yes, sir, Redwing the Blackbird and Spink the Bobolink were about the
best songsters at the Duck Pond. They often met and sang a duet together.
Sometimes it was in the Sheltered Little Cove, or among the Fuzzy Cat-tails
along the Marshy Banks, and sometimes they met in the Green Meadow, or along
Little River. Then Burlingame the Meadow Lark would add his song to theirs.
One day Spink the Bobolink did not appear for, the regular concert.
"I wonder what has happened to Spink," said Redwing. Then he
saw Spink flying toward the Green Meadow with a Fat Grasshopper in his beak,
and he knew that Spink was too busy feeding a family to sing.
It was not long until the Baby Bobolinks were able to fly, and then the
whole family played around in the Green Meadow and along Little River and by
the Duck Pond. Soon they joined another family and another until there was a
large flock of them together.
Of course, Redwing's Wee Blackbirds had grown large also, and the Wee
Blackbirds of Redwing's friends had grown large, so there was a large flock
of Blackbirds as well as Bobolinks at the Duck Pond. And you should have
heard those Blackbirds sing!
But Spink the Bobolink was not doing much singing any more. He was
changing his clothes and getting ready to start for the Sunny Southland
again. Perhaps he was thinking of the feasts he would have in the rice
fields on his way to his winter home.
Spink would be ready to leave the Chilly Northland a long time ahead of
the Blackbirds and the Bluebirds and many other of the Feathered Friends on
the Old Homestead. That was because he traveled slower, and stopped over in
the rice fields to get fat before continuing his long journey to South
America.
It was too bad that Spink and his friends had to make such pigs of
themselves eating rice. It would have been all right if they had eaten just
what they needed and then had gone on. But Spink was not the same gentleman
in the Sunny Southland that he was in the Land of Cool Breezes. He ate and
ate and grew fatter and fatter until Fearful the Man came along and killed
many of Spink's friends and ate them.
Mr. Bluebird Visits the Duck Pond
MR. AND MRS. BLUEBIRD had built a nest in the Nesting Box that Bud Smith
had made for them and set on an iron post in the front yard by the Grand Old
House. Bud had used an iron post so that Hunting Cat could not climb up to
the nest.
The Bluebirds had five babies to feed, and with Robin Red and Jenny Wren
and Weaver the Oriole and others all hunting bugs and caterpillars and worms
around the Grand Old House, it was quite a job for everybody to find enough.
One day Mr. Bluebird decided he would fly over to the Duck Pond. He
thought perhaps it would be easier to find something there for the Baby
Bluebirds to eat. He did not know that Redwing the Blackbird and Spink the
Bobolink and Burlingame the Meadow Lark and many other Feathered Friends had
been hunting around the Duck Pond and through the Green Meadow. All he knew
was that he had to find something to feed to five Baby Bluebirds.
Of course, some people would not have called them Babies any more. They
were really almost grown, for they had grown feathers, and within a few days
they would be ready to leave the nest. But my, how much they could eat!
And so while Mrs. Bluebird was looking for a Fat Grasshopper over by High
Cliff, near where Molly and Peter lived, Mr. Bluebird flew across the Green
Meadow to the Jungle Thicket by the Duck Pond and alighted on a Wild Berry
Bush to look around.
Mr. Bluebird had been to the Duck Pond many times before. He and Mrs.
Bluebird went to the Duck Pond and down along Little River in search of bugs
and dried berries when they first came back to the Old Homestead from the
Sunny Southland. Mr. Bluebird had arrived a week or two ahead of Mrs.
Bluebird, when food was rather scarce, and he had hunted alone until she
came.
After the Baby Bluebirds had been hatched, Mr. Bluebird had been too busy
feeding them to go far from home. For that reason it had been quite a while
since he had visited the Duck Pond. He was wondering who were living there
that year. He liked the Duck Pond with its Marshy Banks and the Jungle
Thicket on one side of it. But he liked it up by the Grand Old House better.
While Mr. Bluebird was looking around, he suddenly saw a movement on the
ground. At first he thought it was a large worm crawling along. Then he
noticed that something was pushing up the ground into a snakelike ridge. It
seemed very strange to see the ground rise in all sorts of twists and turns.
Mr. Bluebird hopped down where he could see it better.
"Now, what do you suppose is doing that" said Mr. Bluebird, as
the little ridge grew longer. "Sure-ly, sure-ly that is a strange
sight."
Then, right while Mr. Bluebird was watching, the ground broke through and
out popped the head of Miner the Mole.
Miner the Mole was a relative of Barney the Shrew's, who lived in the
Woodshed by the Grand Old House, and ate the ants and sawflies that fell out
of the wood that Bud split. At first sight both Barney and Miner looked
something like Whiskers the Mouse. But Barney and Miner did not have any
ears that showed like Whiskers', and their eyes were not much better than
none. Both of them had much longer noses than Whiskers had.
No, Miner's eyes were not much good. He worked under the ground so much
that he had very little use for eyes. Sometimes at night, when the light was
not strong enough to hurt his eyes, Miner came to the surface to hunt. That
was usually on wet nights when the Wiggly Earth-worms came to the surface.
Miner surely was fond of Wiggly Earthworms.
When Miner's nose appeared above ground, he was not quite sure whether it
would be safe to show his head or not. He could not see, and did not know if
enemies were near.
Mr. Bluebird was much interested in Miner the Mole. He wondered what
Miner had been doing under the ground out of sight.
"Hello, Mr. Mole," said Mr. Bluebird. "You seem to be very
busy to-day."
Now, Mr. Bluebird probably did not know it, but Miner the Mole was almost
always busy. It was not uncommon for him to dig a hundred feet of Secret
Tunnels in a day and a night. It seemed as if Miner never rested and slept.
Miner the Mole was just ready to pull back his head and go on with his
work when he heard Mr. Bluebird. "Yes, I am very busy," he said;
"but who are you?"
"I am Mr. Bluebird, and I live in a Nesting Box up by the Grand Old
House."
Of course Miner the Mole did not know anything about the Grand Old House,
and he did not know much about anything. He lived under ground so much that
everything was new and strange to him.
"And what is the Grand Old House?" he asked.
"That is the home of Bud and Mary Smith," replied Mr. Bluebird.
"Bud built my Nesting Box for me."
"How far is it to the Grand Old House?" asked Miner.
"Oh, it is only a little way," said Mr. Bluebird. "It is
just across the Green Meadow."
Mr. Bluebird did not realize that what seemed a short distance for him to
fly would be a long, long way for Miner the Mole to dig. It would be like a
man in an automobile telling a man who was walking that it was a short
distance to town. But Mr. Bluebird did not intend to fool Miner.
Saw-Whet the Owl Is Disappointed
MR. BLUEBIRD was so interested visiting with Miner the Mole that he did
not remember he had come after something to feed to the Baby Bluebirds. And
Miner the Mole was so interested hearing about the Great Wide World that he
stopped his work for a visit.
There was Mr. Bluebird, who had been many places and had seen many
wonderful things, but who did not know anything about the Underground World
where Miner lived. And there was Miner the Mole, who knew many things about
his Underground World, but who knew very little about the Great Wide World.
All Miner knew was that the Great Wide World was filled with Flying Enemies
and Walking Enemies that pounced upon his friends whenever they showed
themselves above ground, and that he had to be careful where he went.
"Why are you digging so many Secret Tunnels here by the Duck
Pond?" asked Mr. Bluebird. And then Miner the Mole told Mr. Bluebird
some interesting things about his Underground World.
Said Miner the Mole, "I have been living down in what you call the
Green Meadow. There are usually plenty of Wiggly Earthworms there for me to
eat. But when the ground becomes very dry and hard because there has been no
rain, it is hard for me to dig. And so I move here by the Duck Pond where
the ground is moist and soft. Even the Wiggly Earthworms like the moist
ground, and some of them who are not too far away move here."
"Why do you need so many Secret Tunnels?" asked Mr. Bluebird.
"Those are my Hunting Tunnels," said Miner the Mole. "I
run through them when I hunt, instead of walking above ground. Then my
enemies cannot see me. Sometimes I find Wiggly Earth-worms and Cutworms and
Grubs and Bugs in them. They walk in my Hunting Tunnels where they will not
be seen by their enemies in the Great Wide World."
"Don't you get lonesome working in your Hunting Tunnels all
alone?" asked Mr. Bluebird. "I should think you would want
company."
"Oh no," replied Miner, "because, you see, I am not alone.
Sometimes there are more than twenty of us who are using the same Hunting
Tunnels, and, of course, we meet quite often. We join our Hunting Tunnels,
and then have plenty of company. But we are not always safe even though we
stay out of sight. Sometimes Digger the Badger comes along, and then we have
quite a time to escape. Sometimes Reddy Fox and even Nero the Hound dig
after us."
"And I suppose that Forktongue the Snake tries to catch you in your
Hunting Tunnels," said Mr. Bluebird.
"Yes, he does. But one of our greatest enemies is Fearful the Man.
You see, it is all the fault of Satchelface the Pocket Gopher. Whenever
Satchelface finds where Fearful the Man has planted his crops, he burrows
along the row and eats the Sprouting Little Seeds. That makes Fearful the
Man very angry. Sometimes we also find where Fearful has planted his crops.
Wherever there are Sprouting Little Seeds, we know that there are sure to be
Cutworms and Grubs to eat them. And so we dig Hunting Tunnels along the rows
of Sprouting Little Seeds so we can catch the Cutworms and the Grubs. But
when Fearful the Man sees our Hunting Tunnels along his Sprouting Little
Seeds, he thinks Satchelface has been helping himself to his crops. Then
Fearful sets traps in our Hunting Tunnels. I do wish that some one would
tell Fearful the Man that we are trying to help him."
"I think Fearful the Man should be more careful," said Mr.
Bluebird.
"Sometimes Trapper Jim also sets traps for us," said Miner.
"Danny Muskrat told me once that Trapper Jim also sets traps for him.
He said he heard Trapper Jim say that furs were a good price, and that he
could even sell moleskins now."
While Mr. Bluebird was listening to Miner the Mole, the Long Shadows had
been creeping across the Old Homestead, and Saw-Whet the Owl had awakened
from his all-day sleep.
"Ho-hum, ho-hum," he said sleepily. "It's about time to
look for a Tender Mouse to eat."
He flitted through the treetops and alighted on a limb not far from where
Mr. Bluebird and Miner the Mole were visiting. It was not yet quite dark
enough for him to see well. Saw-Whet the Owl was very timid, and he never
came out until after dark. But Saw-Whet was quite sure that he saw a Tender
Mouse on the ground, and he came a little nearer.
Sure enough he could see a ball of silky gray fur sitting up and
squeaking like everything. It was Miner the Mole telling his troubles to Mr.
Bluebird. Miner had entirely forgotten to watch for enemies. But Mr.
Bluebird's bright eyes had seen Saw-Whet the Owl.
Saw-Whet thought that Miner the Mole was a Tender Mouse. Of course, if he
had known it was Miner, it would have made no difference. A mole would have
tasted just as good to Saw-Whet as would a Tender Mouse. And so Saw-Whet was
all ready to drop down and grab Miner.
"An enemy, an enemy," warned Mr. Bluebird, as he darted away
toward the Nesting Box near the Grand Old House.
Miner the Mole did not wait to see which enemy was near. He ducked into
his Hunting Tunnel almost before you could wink an eye, and Saw-Whet the Owl
sat there looking at a hole in the ground.
What do you suppose Mrs. Bluebird said when Mr. Bluebird returned without
a Fat Grasshopper?
Bud Smith Sets a Trap
IT WAS a hot day in August. The Fluffy Ducklets had just awakened from
sleeping in the shade of a Drooping Willow Tree that grew along the Marshy
Bank of the Duck Pond. But you would never have known they were the same
Fluffy Ducklets that belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. No, sir. They had
quite grown up. Each one had put on a beautiful new coat of feathers, and it
would have been hard to tell them from Mr. and Mrs. Mallard at a distance.
"Let's go for a swim," suggested Ducky Diver; it is so hot here
on the bank."
"Qua-ack quack-quack-quack," said Mrs. Mallard, and she started
toward the water, followed by the others. "I do believe it would be
cooler in the water."
Soon all the Mallards were splashing and diving and having a fine time
playing Tip-up. Whenever they saw something in the Oozy Mud on the bottom of
the Duck Pond that they could not reach by playing Tip-up, then they would
play Dive. Down they would go to the bottom out of sight, and then they
would come up some other place. Tip-up and Dive were the two games they
liked to play.
But the Young Mallards had learned another game that they liked quite as
well. It was the game of Sail. You see, they had grown strong wings, and
they no longer had to swim across the Duck Pond unless they wanted to. If
they wished, they could fly.
Sometimes when they became tired of playing Tip-up and Dive on one side
of the Duck Pond, they would play Sail over to the other side. Then they
would play Tip-up and Dive again.
And so after they had splashed and ducked and dived for a while on that
August day, Ducky Doodles became restless. He wanted a change. "Let's
play Sail over to the other side," he said.
In a moment all the Mallards were in the air. But instead of playing Sail
straight across the Duck Pond, Mr. Mallard led them higher and higher. Soon
they were playing Sail around and around high above the water. At last when
their young wings began to get tired, Mr. Mallard set his wings and sailed
gracefully down to the Duck Pond, followed by the Young Mallards.
"Oh, wasn't that fun!" exclaimed Ducky Waddles.
"Let's do it again when we go back to the other side," said
Ducky Doodles.
"Yes, let's," said Ducky Diver.
Now, it happened that when the Mallards were playing Sail high above the
water Bud Smith was watching them from the front gate by the Grand Old
House. And Mary had seen them from the Fragrant Flower Garden, where she was
gathering a bouquet of Marigolds.
"Oh, did you see the Mallards?" asked Mary, as she came running
toward Bud. "They were playing Sail high above the water."
"Yes, I saw them," replied Bud. "I suppose they are
exercising their wings so that they will be strong enough to carry them to
the Sunny South land one of these days. It will not be long until Jack Frost
will start to paint the Dancing Little Leaflets, and then Old Man Winter
will be here again. Why, just think, school will start again in two
weeks."
"I wish the Mallards didn't have to leave," said Mary.
"But I suppose they can't be expected to stay here after the Duck Pond
is frozen over."
"No, I suppose not," said Bud.
Bud was thoughtful as he turned and walked back toward the Grand Old
House. The next day he came out to the mailbox carrying a letter. It was
addressed to the Bureau of Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.
Some days later a mysterious package and a letter in a long envelope were
left by the mail carrier. They were addressed to Bud, and came from the
Bureau of Biological Survey.
"Now, what are you getting from the government?" asked Mary.
Bud smiled and said nothing as he hurried up to his room. That afternoon
Mary heard the sound of a hammer and a saw in the Workshop, and when she
entered the door she found Bud covering a large, queer-looking,
open-bottomed cage with fine chicken wire.
"What's that?" asked Mary.
"Wait and see," teased Bud, as he drove a staple into place. In
the back of the cage Bud had built a small door, and over this door he had
fitted a smaller cage that was covered on the bottom as well as the sides.
This cage also had a door in it into which Bud could put his hand.
"I'll bet that's a trap," said Mary, hoping to get Bud to say
something that would betray his secret.
"Wait and see," said Bud with a smile, and he drove in another
staple.
"You're not going to trap the Mallards, arc you?" asked Mary.
"Yes, of course I am," said Bud.
Mary thought Bud was fooling her. "Truly now, what are you going to
use that thing for - a rabbit hutch?"
"I told you," said Bud. "I am going to trap the Mallards
in it."
"But you are joking about that."
"No, I mean it," said Bud.
"Bud Smith, what are you going to do with those Mallards?"
"You wait and see," laughed Bud.
"How long must I wait?"
"Until to-morrow," said Bud, and he resumed his hammering.
WHAT'S
NEW? 
