68 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



over to Holmes Lake. Quietly slipping through the bushes, 

 they came upon the shore unexpectedly, and sure enough 

 there were four old swans and a dozen young, leisurely 

 feeding near the bank. A swan would thrust its long 

 neck full length under the water and strip off the tender 

 shoots on the rushes and flags, or catch insects, pollywogs, 

 snails, or any other eatable thing that came handy. It 

 was a pretty sight to see a great white bird thrust its long 

 neck under the water and stand with its tail in the air 

 with bubbles coming up every few moments showing where 

 it was feeding. First one foot and then the other would 

 paddle a bit to help the bird keep its balance or to hold 

 it under the water. Dad did not want to shoot any of the 

 birds and had no canoe. He had hoped to catch the birds 

 feeding on the land and by a bold rush secure some of 

 the young before they could get into the water, but altho 

 he and the boy spent most of the day hiding about the 

 lake, the swans, led by that good spirit which protects the 

 wildling, kept well away from the shore. 



One thing occurred, however, which interested the boy 

 greatly. Along in the early afternoon a great snapping 

 turtle, quietly slipped off a log and started swimming 

 toward the swans. Both Dad and the boy watched intent- 

 ly. Quietly it moved with only its head sticking above the 

 water until within perhaps twenty feet of the happy family. 

 Then it settled down till only the tip of its nose could be 

 seen. Stealthily it moved forward till within five or six 

 feet, when it disappeared. In a moment a young swan 

 gave a flop and a squawk and disappeared under the water. 

 The wily old turtle had risen from beneath and catching 

 him by one foot had settled to the bottom, pulling the 

 poor bird under, allowing the water to finish the story. 



