"Certainly," answered Mother Otter. "Every one of
them knows that our people have all been famous
swimmers for centuries."

"I suppose, then," ventured Mother Bear, "that
your children were born swimmers. You probably had
trouble in keeping them out of the water when they were
babies."

Mother Otter laughed. "The trouble was to get
them into the water," she said, "because the silly little
things were afraid. All young otters are afraid of the
water and have to be put into it by force."

"You do not mean it!" exclaimed Mother Bear, with
great amazement in her tones.

"Indeed I do," replied Mother Otter. "We had to
push every one of our children into the water. Does
Little Bear know how to swim?"

"No," answered Mother Bear, shaking her head, "he
is afraid to try."

"Duck him," advised Mother Otter, "duck him.
There is no other way to teach a little bear to swim."

And away she went, down the stream, intending to
overtake Father Otter.