28 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



weight well. There she sat, and sailed before the wind at a 

 fair pace. 



" Did you ever see the like of that before ? " 



" No," answered Bell, " but I warrant you that the eggs must 

 have been hard set, and near to being hatched, or she would 

 never have done that." 



" She deserves to hatch them, at any rate. Had we better 

 fix the nest or leave it alone ? " 



" Better leave it alone ; I think she will stick to it if it does 

 not sink below her." 



/ -/A 



THE COMMON COOT. 



On Monday evening the boys sailed about the broad in 

 search of the floating coot's nest, and found it among the reeds 

 at the north end of the broad, and from the broken egg-shells 

 in it they had no doubt but that the coot had hatched her 

 young ones in safety, as she deserved to do. 



After landing Bell they ran the yacht into a ' rond ' of reeds, 

 and proceeded to eat their dinner, which they had brought 

 with them, and very happy and comfortable they were. The 

 sun shone brightly, the warm wind rustled through the reeds 

 and flags, the sky and the water were blue, their boat was a 



