The Mother Teal and the Overland Route 



him. She took them right across the open 

 pond. This was a mistake, for it exposed them 

 to other, to real, enemies. That great Marsh 

 Hawk saw them, and he came swooping along, 

 sure of getting one in each claw. 



" Run for the rushes! " called out the Mother 

 Greenwing ; and run they all did, pattering over 

 the surface as fast as their tired little legs could 



"Run! run!" cried the mother. But the 

 Hawk was close at hand now. In spite of all 

 their running he would be upon them in another 

 second. They were too young to dive. There 

 seemed no escape, when, just as he pounced, 

 the bright little mother gave a great splash 

 with all her strength, and using both feet and 

 wings, dashed the water all over the Hawk. He 

 was astonished. He sprang back into the air to 

 shake himself dry. The mother urged the little 

 ones to "keep on." Keep on they did. But 

 down came the Hawk again, again to be re- 

 pelled with a shower of spray. Three times 

 did he pounce, three times did she drench him, 

 till at last all the downlings were safe in the 

 friendly rushes. The angry Hawk now made a 



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