"Well, then," replied Sammy, "this afternoon I found a stranger
hiding in there, a stranger with a beautiful green head and neck
and a white collar."

"Mr. Quack! Oh, it was Mr. Quack!" cried Mrs. Quack joyfully and
lifted her wings as if she would start for the swamp at once.

"Stop!" cried Sammy sharply. "You said you would wait until I am
through. It won't do for you to go there until after dark, because
there is a hunter hiding very near Mr. Quack's hiding-place.
Wait until it is dark and he has gone home. Then take my advice,
and when you have found Mr. Quack, bring him right up here to the
Smiling Pool. He can't fly, but he can swim up the Laughing Brook,
and this is the safest place for both of you. Now good night and
good luck."




XIX

JERRY MUSKRAT'S GREAT IDEA


A friendly friend is a friend indeed When he proves a friend
in the time of need.

Mr. and Mrs. Quack had been so much taken up with each other and
with their troubles that they had quite forgotten they were not
alone in the Smiling Pool, which they had reached by swimming up