The Mother Teal and the Overland Route 



not follow. Instead of that he looked about, 

 and found the nine little bright-eyed down- 

 lings deep in the ruts, vainly trying to hide. 



He stooped gently, and gathered them all 

 into his hat. Poor little things, how they did 

 peep! Poor little mother, how she did cry 

 in bitterness for her brood! Now she knew 

 that they all were to be destroyed before her 

 very eyes, and she beat her breast on the 

 ground before the terrible giant in agony of 

 sorrow. 



Then the heartless monster went to the edge 

 of the pond, no doubt for a drink to wash the 

 Ducklings down his throat. He bent down, 

 and a moment later the Ducklings were spat- 

 tering free over the water. The mother flew out 

 on the glassy surface. She called, and they all 

 came skurrying to her. She did not know that 

 this man was really her friend ; she never knew 

 that he was the divinity whose mere presence 

 had been enough to drive the Fox away and 

 to save them in their direst strait, — his race has 

 persecuted hers too long, — and she went on 

 hating him to the end. 



She tried to lead her brood far away from 

 205 



