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 



