THE Quacky Duck stood on the bank of the stream. And the
frogs came and sat on stones and insulted him. Now the words
which the frogs used were these,—
“Ya! ha! he hasn’t any hind-legs!
Ya! ha! he hasn’t any fore-legs!
Oh! what horrid luck
To be a Quacky Duck!”
These were not pleasant words. And when the Quacky Duck heard them, he
considered within himself whether it would not be best for him to eat
the frogs.
“Two good things would come of it,” he said. “I should have a savoury
meal, and their remarks would no longer be audible.”
So he fell upon the frogs, and they fled before him. And one jumped
into the water, and one jumped on the land, and another jumped into the
reeds; for such is their manner. But one of them, being in fear, saw
not clearly the way he should go, and jumped even upon the back of the
Quacky Duck. Now, this displeased the Quacky Duck, and he said, “If you
will remove yourself from my person, we will speak further of this.”
So the frog, being also willing, strove to remove himself, and the
result was that they two, being on the edge of the bank, fell into the
water. Then the frog departed swiftly, saying, “Solitude is best for
meditation.”
But the Quacky Duck, having hit his head against a stone, sank to the
bottom of the pond, where he found himself in the frogs’ kitchen. And
there he spied a fish, which the frogs had caught for their dinner,
intending to share it in a brotherly manner, for it was a savoury fish.
When the Quacky Duck saw it, he was glad; and he said, “Fish is better
than frog” (for he was an English duck)! And, taking the fish, he swam
with speed to the shore.
Now the frogs lamented when they saw him go, for they said, “He has our
savoury fish!” And they wept, and reviled the Quacky Duck.
But he said, “Be comforted! for if I had not found the fish, I should
assuredly have eaten you. Therefore, say now, which is the better for
you?” And he ate the fish, and departed joyful.