third time she landed in the water with a splash and sat perfectly
still with her head stretched up, looking and listening with all
her might.

"It's all right. There's nothing to be afraid of," said Jerry
Muskrat.

"Are you sure?" asked Mrs. Quack anxiously. "I've been fooled too
often by men with their terrible guns to ever feel absolutely sure
that one isn't hiding and waiting to shoot me." As she spoke she
swam about nervously. "Peter Rabbit and I have been here ever since
you left, and I guess we ought to know," replied Jerry Muskrat
rather shortly. "There hasn't been anybody near here excepting
Farmer Brown's boy, and we told you he wouldn't hurt you."

"He brought us each a carrot," Peter Rabbit broke in eagerly.

"Just the same, I wouldn't trust him," replied Mrs. Quack. "Where
is he now?"

"He left ever so long ago, and he won't be back to-night," declared
Peter confidently.

"I hope not," said Mrs. Quack, with a sigh. "Did you hear the bang
of that terrible gun just after I left here?"

"Yes," replied Jerry Muskrat. "Was it fired at you?"

Mrs. Quack nodded and held up one wing. Peter and Jerry could see
that one of the long feathers was missing. "I thought I was flying