the Laughing Brook. So it happened that when Mrs. Quack suggested
that if Mr. Quack's wing got strong they might be able to find
a lonesome pond not too far away where they could make their home
for the summer, they were a little startled to hear a voice say:
"I know where there is one, and you will not have to fly at all to
get to it." Both jumped a little. You see their nerves had been
very much upset for a long time, and the least unexpected thing
made them jump. Then both laughed.

"Hello, Jerry Muskrat! We'd forgotten all about you," said Mrs.
Quack. "What was that you said?"

Jerry good-naturedly repeated what he had said. Mrs. Quack's face
brightened. "Do you really mean it?" she asked eagerly. "Do you
really mean that you know of a pond where we could live and not be
likely to be seen by these two-legged creatures called men?"

"That's what I said," replied Jerry briefly.

"Oh, Jerry, you're not joking, are you? Tell me you're not joking,"
begged Mrs. Quack.

"Of course I'm not joking," returned Jerry just a little bit
indignantly, "I am not the kind of a fellow to joke people who are
in such trouble as you and Mr. Quack seem to be in. The idea came
to me while you were talking. I couldn't help overhearing what you
were saying, and the minute you mentioned a lonesome pond, the idea
came to me, and I think it's a perfectly splendid idea. I know of
just the lonesomest kind of a lonesome pond, and you won't have to
fly a stroke to get to it. If you are smart enough not to be caught