did reach the nesting-place in the far North, they couldn't have
nests or eggs or young because they had no mates, so what was the
use? Besides, they hoped that if they waited around they might find
their mates. They thought they might not have been killed, but just
hurt, and might be able to get away from those hunters. So they
left us and swam back towards that terrible place, calling for their
lost mates, and it was the saddest sound. I know now just how they
felt, for I have lost Mr. Quack, and that's why I'm here." Mrs.
Quack drew a wing across her eyes to wipe away the tears.

"But what happened to those Ducks that were swimming about there
and made you think it was safe?" asked Peter, with a puzzled look
on his face.

"Nothing," replied Mrs. Quack. "They had been fastened out there
in the water by the hunters so as to make us think it safe, and the
terrible guns were fired at us and not at them. The hunters were
hidden under grass, and that is why we didn't see them."

Peter blinked his eyes rapidly as if he were having hard work to
believe what he had been told. "Why," said be at last, "I never
heard of anything so dreadfully unfair in all my life! Do you mean
to tell me that those hunters actually made other Ducks lead you
into danger?"

"That's just what I mean," returned Mrs. Quack. "Those two-legged
creatures don't know what fairness is. Why, some of them have
learned our language and actually call us in where they can shoot
us. Just think of that! They tell us in our own language that there
is plenty to eat and all is safe, so that we will think that other