"And you'll see my duck, Downy," said Freddie. "Oh, he's growed so
big--he's just like a turkey."

Harry thought Downy must be a queer duck if he looked that way, but,
of course, he did not question Freddie's description.

"Here, Downy, Downy!" called Freddie, as they came to the little
stream where the duck always swam around. But there was no duck to be
seen.

"Where is he?" Freddie asked, anxiously.

"Maybe back of some stones," ventured Harry. Then he and Bert joined
in the search, but no duck was to be found.

"That's strange," Bert reflected. "He's always around here."

"Where does the lake run to?" Harry inquired.

"Into the ocean," answered Bert; "but Downy never goes far. There's
Hal now. We'll get in his boat and see if we can find the duck."

Hal, seeing his friends, rowed in to the shore with his father's new
rowboat that he was just trying.

"We have lost Freddie's duck," said Bert. "Have you seen him
anywhere?"

"No, I just came out," replied Hal. "But get in and we'll go look for