The Adventures of Poor Mrs Quack | Page 6

been driven from place to place until we had caught up with Jack Frost,
there would be nothing but ice excepting in small places in a river
where the water runs too swiftly to freeze. We would just have to drop
into one of these to rest a little, because we had flown so far that our
wings ached as if they would drop off. Then just as we would think we
were safe for a little while, there would come the bang of a terrible gun.
Then we would have to fly again as long as we could, and finally come
back to the same place because there was no other place where we

could go. Then we would have to do it all over again until night came.
Sometimes I think that those men with terrible guns must hate us and
want to kill every one of us. If they didn't, they would have a little bit
of pity. They simply haven't any hearts at all."
"It does seem so," agreed Peter. "But wait until you know Farmer
Brown's boy! HE'S got a heart!" he added brightly.
"I don't want to know him," retorted Mrs. Quack. "If he comes near
here, you'll see me leave in a hurry. I wouldn't trust one of them, not
one minute. You don't think he will come, do you?"
Peter sat up and looked across the Green Meadows, and his heart sank.
"He's coming now, but I'm sure he won't hurt you, Mrs. Quack," said
he.
But Mrs. Quack wouldn't wait to see. With a hasty promise to come
back when the way was clear, she jumped into the air and on swift
wings disappeared towards the Big River.

VI
FARMER BROWN'S BOY VISITS THE SMILING POOL
Farmer Brown's boy had heard Welcome Robin singing in the Old
Orchard quite as soon as Peter Rabbit had, and that song of "Cheer up!
Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer!" had awakened quite as much gladness in
his heart as it had in Peter's heart. It meant that Mistress Spring really
had arrived, and that over in the Green Forest and down on the Green
Meadows there would soon be shy blue, and just as shy white violets to
look for, and other flowers almost if not quite as sweet and lovely. It
meant that his feathered friends would soon be busy house-hunting and
building. It meant that his little friends in fur would also be doing
something very similar, if they had not already done so. It meant that
soon there would be a million lovely things to see and a million joyous
sounds to hear.

So the sound of Welcome Robin's voice made the heart of Farmer
Brown's boy even more happy than it was before, and as Welcome
Robin just HAD to sing, so Farmer Brown's boy just HAD to whistle.
When his work was finished, it seemed to Farmer Brown's boy that
something was calling him, calling him to get out on the Green
Meadows or over in the Green Forest and share in the happiness of all
the little people there. So presently he decided that he would go down
to the Smiling Pool to find out how Jerry Muskrat was, and if
Grandfather Frog was awake yet, and if the sweet singers of the
Smiling Pool had begun their wonderful spring chorus.
Down the Crooked Little Path cross the Green Meadows he tramped,
and as he drew near the Smiling Pool, he stopped whistling lest the
sound should frighten some of the little people there. He was still some
distance from the Smiling Pool when out of it sprang a big bird and on
swift, whistling wings flew away in the direction of the Big River.
Farmer Brown's boy stopped and watched until the bird had
disappeared, and on his face was a look of great surprise.
"As I live, that was a Duck!" he exclaimed. "That is the first time I've
ever known a wild Duck to be in the Smiling Pool. I wonder what
under the sun could have brought her over here."
Just then there was a distant bang in the direction of the Big River.
Farmer Brown's boy scowled, and it made his face very angry-looking.
"That's it," he muttered. "Hunters are shooting the Ducks on their way
north and have driven the poor things to look for any little mudhole
where they can get a little rest. Probably that Duck has been shot at so
many times on the Big River that she felt safer over here in the Smiling
Pool, little as it is."
Farmer Brown's boy had guessed exactly right, as you and I know, and
as Peter Rabbit and Jerry Muskrat knew. "It's a shame, a downright
shame that any one should