ing out in the greatest distress. The others were 
seized with terror and tried to hide. A great 
black raven dropped down among them and one 
of its wings sent Baldpate rolling heels over 
head. An instant later it rose and flew away 
carrying in its bill a little duck. Thus it was 
that one of Baldpate’s sisters perished, while 
yet a soft and dainty infant and before her feet 
had ever touched water. 
When all had had time to catch their breath 
the journey was resumed. It was only a few 
yards farther that they came to grass, for the 
seepage from the lake makes the grass grow to 
the very edge of the dry desert sands. The 
mother was hurrying her young ones onward 
to safety when terror again gripped the hearts 
of the little family. This time something burst 
from a grass clump in their very midst, and they 
had their seare all over again. But it was only 
a meadowlark springing from her nest. Five 
of the most beautiful speckled eggs one might 
care to see lay there in a deep grass cup, which 
of course was not a sight to frighten anybody. 
The ground was damp and tall tules were 
216 
