With their necks stretched high, Mr. and Mrs. Quack watched.
They were ready to take to their strong wings the instant they
discovered danger. But they did not want to fly until they were
sure that it WAS danger approaching. They were startled, very
much startled.

Presently they made out what looked like the branch of a tree
moving over the water towards them. That was queer, very
queer. Mr. Quack said so. Mrs. Quack said so. Both were growing
more and more suspicious. They couldn't understand it at all, and
it is always best to be suspicious of things you cannot
understand. Mr. and Mrs. Quack half lifted their wings to fly.



CHAPTER XXX: The Mystery Is Solved

It was very mysterious. Yes, Sir, it was very mysterious.
Mr. Quack thought so. Mrs. Quack thought so. There,
out in the Big River, in the midst of the Black Shadows, was
something which looked like the branch of a tree. But instead of
moving down the river, as the branch of a tree would if it were
floating, this was coming straight across the river as if it were
swimming. But how could the branch of a tree swim? That was too
much for Mr. Quack. It was too much for Mrs. Quack.

So they sat perfectly still among the brown stalks of the wild
rice along the edge of the Big River, and not for a second did
they take their eyes from that strange thing moving towards