86 STORIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



it out of the tree." And they hurried off, Obi 

 telling about the Ducks, who had chosen a new 

 nesting-place across the river, as a Cat Owl had 

 appropriated the old tree. 



Such a pretty place as the Wood Ducks had 

 chosen for their home, close by a pond, where 

 the river had been widened to feed a mill. The 

 old building, with its great wooden water-wheel, 

 was standing yet, on a mossy, stone foundation. 

 Everything about was mossy ; every crack held 

 a fern, and all the banks were covered with 

 laurels and blooming wild azaleas. 



" See, I left the lunch basket here on this flat 

 rock ; it will make a jolly table," said Obi. " We 

 mustn't talk any more now, but only whisper. 

 The Duck's tree is round on the other side, and if 

 we go into the mill, we can look almost into the 

 nest from the window. Here, creep along this 

 beam, so the floor is very rotten, but I've 

 fixed a place by the window where we can 

 stand." 



Yes, there were some bits of board, secured so 

 that the children could stand comfortably and 

 look through the twisted sash, and yet be per- 

 fectly hidden. The nest tree was a chestnut that 

 had lost many branches, and in the stump of one 



