WAYS OF NATURE 
and kept them there a day and a night. Still the 
friendship did not ripen; the ducks and the drake 
separated the moment we let them out. Left to 
himself, the drake at once turned his head home- 
ward, and started up the hill for the highway. 
Then we shut the trio up together again for a 
couple of days, but with the same results as before. 
There seemed to be but one thought in the mind of 
the drake, and that was home. 
Several times we headed him off and brought 
him back, till finally on the third or fourth day I 
said to my son, “If that drake is really bound to go 
home, he shall have an opportunity to make the 
trial, and I will go with him to see that he has fair 
play.” We withdrew, and the homesick mallard 
started up through the currant patch, then through 
the vineyard toward the highway which he had 
never seen. 
When he reached the fence, he followed it south 
till he came to the open gate, where he took to the 
road as confidently as if he knew for a certainty 
that it would lead him straight to his mate. How 
eagerly he paddled along, glancing right and left, 
and increasing his speed at every step! I kept about 
fifty yards behind him. Presently he met a dog; he 
paused and eyed the animal for a moment, and then 
turned to the right along a road which diverged 
just at that point, and which led to the railroad 
station. I followed, thinking the drake would soon 
54 
