by Reddy Fox or Hooty the Owl or Billy Mink or any of those people
who hunt for a living, there isn't any reason I know of why you
shouldn't spend the summer there in peace and comfort."

Mrs. Quack's eyes fairly shone with hope and eagerness. "Oh, Jerry,
tell us where it is, and we'll start for it right away!" she cried.

Jerry's eyes twinkled. "Of course, the owner of that pond might
not like to have neighbors. I hadn't thought of that," said he.
"Perhaps he ought to be asked first."

Mrs. Quack's face fell. "Who is the owner?" she asked.

"My cousin, Paddy the Beaver. He made it," replied Jerry proudly.

Mrs. Quack's face lighted up again at once. "I'm sure he won't
object," said she. "We know a great many of the Beaver family. In
fact, they are very good neighbors of ours in our home in the far
Northland. I didn't suppose there was a Beaver pond anywhere around
here. Tell me where it is, Jerry, and I'll go right up there and
call on your cousin."

"All you've got to do is to follow the Laughing Brook way back
into the Green Forest, and you'll come to Paddy's pond," said he.
"He made that pond himself two years ago. He came down from the Great
Woods and built a dam across the Laughing Brook way back there in
the Green Forest and gave us a great scare here in the Smiling Pool
by cutting off the water for a few days. He has got a very nice
pond there now. Honker the Goose and his flock spent a night in it
on their way south last fall."