"As I live," muttered Reddy, "I believe that fellow is nearer than
he was!"

Reddy crouched lower than ever, and instead of watching Granny he
watched Quacker the Duck.



CHAPTER IV: Quacker The Duck Grows Curious

The most curious thing in the world is curiosity.
- Old Granny Fox.

Old Granny Fox never said a truer thing than that. It is curious, very
curious, how sometimes curiosity will get the best of even the wisest
and most sensible of people. Even Old Granny Fox herself has been
known to be led into trouble by it. We expect it of Peter Rabbit, but
Peter isn't a bit more curious than some others of whom we do not
expect it.

Now Quacker the Wild Duck is the last one in the world you would
expect to be led into trouble by curiosity. Quacker had spent the
summer in the Far North with Honker the Goose. In fact, he had been
born there. He had started for the far away Southland at the same
time Honker had, but when he reached the Big River he had found
plenty to eat and had decided to stay until he had to move on.
The Big River had frozen over everywhere except in this one place
where the water was too swift to freeze, and there Quacker had remained.
You see, he was a good diver and on the bottom of the river he found
plenty to eat. No one could get at him out there, unless it were