likely hiding-place and became so interested that he quite forgot
about the hunters who might be waiting along the bank.

So it happened that he didn't see a boat drawn in among the bushes
until he was right over it. Sitting in it was a man with a terrible
gun, very intently watching Mrs. Quack out in the middle of the
Big River. Sammy was so startled that before he thought he opened
his mouth and screamed "Thief! thief! thief!" at the top of his
lungs, and flew away with all his might. Mrs. Quack heard his scream
and understood just what it meant.

A little later Blacky the Crow discovered another hunter hiding
behind the bushes on his side. "Caw! caw! caw!" shouted Blacky,
flying out over the water far enough to be safe from that terrible
gun he could see.

"Quack! quack!" replied Mrs. Quack, which meant that she understood.
And so the hunt went on without a sign of poor Mr. Quack.




XVI

SAMMY JAY SEES SOMETHING GREEN


For all their peeking and peering among the broken-down rushes and
under the bushes along the banks of the Big River, and no sharper
eyes ever peeked and peered, Sammy Jay and Blacky the Crow had