had made up her mind to stay on the nest always or that she had fallen
asleep. But just then up she got and came waddling out to where Mr.
Duck was. They had a long, earnest talk. Then they both went down to
the water and began to eat young frogs. It was a terrible thing to see!
Bully trembled from head to foot, while great drops of sweat stood out
all over his little body. The ducks swam around contentedly, quacking
all the time. Every once in a while he could see them put their heads
down under the water--far down until the water was clear above their
eyes. And every time their heads came up out of the water he saw the
arms and legs of baby frogs disappearing in those big mouths.
[Illustration: _Bully saw the baby frogs disappearing in the Ducks'
mouths_]
It was an awful sight. Bully shut his eyes so that he might not see the
little frogs being swallowed alive. Finally he opened his eyes and,
taking one more hasty look, he slipped into the water and swam as far
out of sight of the ducks as it was possible. How could they be so
cruel, he thought. He knew that he must watch out or he, too, would be
eaten alive. Looking about, he could not see an old frog anywhere. The
sight was too dreadful for them, so they had gone and hidden. Day after
day those ducks ate young frogs until the little frog people of the
pond were in a panic. Bully didn't dare hunt in the daytime now. He had
to keep out of sight to save his life.
There were no more grand concerts with a full booming chorus such as
the frogs used to give. Now and then a few frogs would croak a little,
but the fine old concert was a thing of the past. There was very little
leaping, jumping, swimming, or playing. Every little frog had to keep
watch all the time so that he might not lose his life. Oh, why had
those dreadful ducks come to spoil the frogs' beautiful home! They
loved this pond so much. Everyone was afraid for his life all the time.
Many frogs were killed after they had done their best to keep out of
sight. They could never be quite sure they were safe.
The days passed slowly. More and more frogs and polly-wogs were eaten.
Grandfather Bull Frog was almost crazy. He had taken such good care
of his loved Frog Pond. Now those greedy ducks were spoiling it all.
Something must be done. He felt he could not stand the wholesale
killing of the little frogs much longer. He looked thin and worried. He
knew that unless something was done before Mrs. Duck brought her babies
from the nest, then most of the young frogs and polly-wogs would be
eaten.
Grandfather told Bully to go and tell all the frogs to gather near the
old log for a meeting. He wanted to find out whether anyone could think
of a plan to get rid of the ducks. Bully went and invited them all to
the meeting. He even told Mrs. Toad about it, although he didn't see
what she could do. The frogs all came at once. Grandfather asked each
of them if he knew of any way to drive the ducks away from the pond.
But no one seemed to know what was best to do.
"I should think some of you old bullfrogs could bite those ducks until
they would leave," said Mrs. Toad.
"Why don't you bite them yourself?" asked a young frog.
"Because," she answered, "I haven't any teeth. How could I bite a duck
and make him leave the Frog Pond, I want you to tell me!"
"I thought you had teeth," said Grandfather Bull Frog. "Most frogs do."
"Toads never do," she replied.
But no one thought Mrs. Toad's idea a good one. They thought of the
duck's strong yellow beak and how it would hurt to be bitten by one.
At last John Bull Frog, who had been sitting at the edge of the
gathering, said, "I don't feel like saying much because I acted so
badly when I first came here. I am ashamed of the way I acted then. But
let me tell you, Mrs. John Bull Frog and I, when the time comes, can
rid the pond of those ducks."
"Can't you do it now?" the frogs asked.
"No, we can't do it until the right time comes," he replied.
"How can you get rid of them?" asked Grandfather Bull Frog.
"I can't tell you now, but we'll do it at the proper time," was all he
would say.
The other frogs told Old John they hoped he would do everything he
possibly could, and do it right away. The meeting then broke up, and
as the frogs hopped away they could all see those greedy ducks eating,
eating, eating little frogs.
Oh, if John Bull Frog would only _do_ something! He had said he could
get rid of the ducks. Then why did he have to wait? Each day more and
more frogs were eaten. If John Bull Frog really could rid the pond
of them, they didn't see why he shouldn't do it right now. It was
certainly pretty strange and queer. And it was very hard to wait.
BULLY'S NARROW ESCAPE
One morning when Bully awoke he felt very hungry. He did not sleep on
his lily pad now. How could he sleep on his lily pad when he didn't
know what moment a big duck would find him and eat him alive? Each
night he climbed on Grandfather's island and cuddled down close beside
Grandmother Bull Frog. Grandmother and Bully both hid under some leaves
that grew near the water's edge. But Bully was always afraid now. He
never went with a hop and a leap anymore. He always moved slowly and
quietly. Only those whose life has been in constant danger know what it
means to be afraid all the time. There is no joy in life when one must
keep watch all the time and can never rest because an enemy is always
near.
All the frogs in the Frog Pond began to grow thin and to look worried.
The tree frogs were by far the safest these days. If they stayed up in
the trees they were not in danger, for ducks out hunting food do not
climb trees.
Well, as I started to tell you, Bully awoke one morning very hungry
indeed. He told Grandmother how dreadfully hungry he was. He told her,
too, that he was afraid to look for anything to eat. "But you must eat
to live, you know," she told him. "Now listen to me," she continued.
"Over by Mrs. Toad's house there is a nest of fine big ants. I think
you can get some of them, but you must be very, very careful. Keep
watch every moment. Get down under the water and swim until you come
to the rock. Then if you keep watch I think you will be safe and have
a good breakfast. Now," she said, "I shall worry all the time you are
gone. Don't forget even for a moment to be careful," she said again.
Bully promised to remember all she had told him. He was very timid
about the venture, but he must have something to eat right away.
Soon he was safe beside the big rock. Both the ducks were on the other
side of the pond, so he felt much less afraid than he had been sure
he was going to feel. He found the ants' nest under a bunch of tall
grass. There was plenty for breakfast; there were enough ants for many
frogs much bigger than he. He began to eat, all the time trying to
keep hidden in the tall grass. He didn't mean to lose sight of those
ducks. He had promised Grandmother Bull Frog he wouldn't. If one of
them started to come his way, he would jump into the water and hide.
The ants certainly tasted good. You know a good meal tastes much better
when you are very hungry than when you are not much in need of food. He
was so hungry and the ants tasted so good he got careless and forgot
all about the ducks and his promise. One of the worst things people can
do is to get careless. Many lives are lost because of carelessness. It
nearly cost Bully his life.
He was busily eating ants when all at once out from behind the grass
shot a big green head. It was a dreadful looking head. When Bully saw
the wicked eyes he jumped as quickly as he could. He didn't have time
to think which way to go. He just jumped and with all his might. When
he landed he found himself near Mrs. Toad's rock. He heard a big,
strong beak come together with a loud snap. My, but he shivered! It
almost nipped his skin! He saw a hole under the rock, and went into it
like a flash. Right behind him, just as he got inside the hole, snapped
that big yellow beak again. For many days Bully could see those wicked
eyes and hear the loud snap of that beak.
"Well, why are you rushing into my house so rudely?" came a voice from
a dark corner.
"Oh, it's that dreadful duck!" Bully managed to say. He was shaking so
he could hardly speak.
"Oh, don't talk to me," said Mrs. Toad crossly. "I'm just worried to
death with those ducks!"
"Why are you worried?" asked Bully. "You are too big for them to eat. I
don't see why you should be afraid."
"Who said I was afraid of them?" she asked. "It's my babies, not
myself, I'm thinking about. What do you think those ducks are hanging
around this rock for, if not for my children?"
"Why," said Bully in great surprise, "I didn't know you had any babies!
I never saw them."
"Never saw them!" she repeated. "Well you must be blind if you can't
see them! I can see them plainly enough from here, hopping about the
rock or swimming in the water."
"Why, I thought those were little frogs," said Bully. "They look like
frogs."
"They don't look like little frogs to their mother," replied Mrs. Toad.
"I can tell every one of them. But to other people young toads always
do look like little frogs," she said.
"Do you have any polly-wogs?" Bully asked.
"Of course I do," she replied, "hundreds and hundreds of them. Why do
you suppose I came here to live?" she continued. "I hope you don't
think it was on my own account! A fat old toad like me is safe any
place. I came to the Frog Pond so I could raise a family. That's why I
came here."
"How many children have you, Mrs. Toad?" asked Bully.
"I don't know," she answered. "Before those horrid ducks came I had
about six thousand. Before the season is ended I hope to bring up ten
thousand little toads. Of course I don't know how many are left. I've
seen those ducks eat my babies until I'm discouraged. I haven't eaten a
thing for a week. I am too worried to eat."
Bully was greatly surprised at what Mrs. Toad told him. "If you lay
that many eggs, why are there so few toads in the world?" he asked.
"Well," she answered, "it's because snakes, turtles, birds, and many
other creatures live on young toads. And in the water there are bugs
that destroy many of the eggs. After a big rainfall I sometimes put my
eggs in what looks like a good pond. But in a few days the sun draws
all the water away, the pond is dry, and the eggs never hatch. It's
certainly a very discouraging world we're living in. It's surely a hard
place for a toad to try to raise a family. When I think of all the
babies I have lost I am dreadfully downhearted. I don't see how I can
bear to live any longer."
She bowed her head, covered her wet eyes with her hands, and croaked
sadly. Bully felt very sorry for her. She seemed to have so much
trouble. He wished he could say something to comfort her. It certainly
was too bad. She was such a kind old toad. She never harmed anybody.
Bully wondered why she had to have so many troubles.
"We hope John Bull Frog will be able to do something," he finally said.
"Well! I don't want to hear any more about what John Bull is going to
do. If he can do anything, why doesn't he do it now? It's about time,"
Mrs. Toad answered.
"He says he will attend to the ducks when the right time comes," Bully
told her.
"Will the right time be when all our babies are eaten?" she asked. "I'm
down-right tired of hearing his name! Oh, what shall I do, what shall I
do?" she sobbed.
"I must be going," said Bully sadly. "I can hear those ducks talking on
the other side of the pond. I think it's safe now."
Then he went and told Grandmother Bull Frog what Mrs. Toad had said.
"O, Grandmother," he cried, "why doesn't John Bull Frog do what he said
he would?"
"I don't know," she replied. "We're all tired out waiting. It's very
bad indeed!"
And Grandmother Frog, too, began to cry.
JOHN BULL FROG MAKES GOOD
The days slipped slowly away. The people, big and little, in and about
the pond were silent and sad--all except the ducks. They swam about,
ate all the frogs they could hold, and were as happy as well-fed ducks
could be. They hadn't anything to worry about, so why shouldn't they be
happy? They thought they were very lucky to have found such a lovely
spot in which to make a nest and raise a family. They made themselves
perfectly at home in the Frog Pond. They liked the tall grasses and the
quiet water. They loved this home better than any other they had ever
had. It was so safe. Then there was such fine swimming and so much to
eat. They could eat just as many frogs as they wanted.
The frogs watched them nearly all the time. They peeped slyly from
under a big leaf or from behind a rock. They put their heads for a
moment up out of the water and then dodged quickly back. In this way
they were able to find out where the ducks were at any time of day.
They thought it very hard that they must be so careful because all the
time a great danger was always near at hand.
One bright morning after the ducks had lived there some time, the frogs
who were watching closely saw Mrs. Duck throwing shells from the nest.
Now and then she would quack softly. Mr. Duck and she both seemed
very happy about something. Bully wondered what it could be. As the
hours passed, still more shells were thrown out. Now the knowing old
frogs seemed sadder and more worried than ever. "Things are getting
worse here every day," he heard some one say. He looked around and saw
several old bullfrogs near him watching Mrs. Duck. The frog who had
spoken continued, "Now that duck will come from her nest in a day or
two with a whole brood of babies. She will then take them to the water
and they will eat all of our polly-wogs."
"It is very bad," said another frog. "I don't know what we shall do!"
"Do you suppose," said another, "that Mr. and Mrs. John Bull Frog can
do anything?"
"Oh, I'm all out of patience with hearing about that!" was the answer.
"If they can do anything, why haven't they done it before this? Now
instead of two ducks we shall probably have a dozen of them. I just
can't bear to think of those John Bull Frogs and their promises," he
continued. "They have promised so much and have done so little. There
they are now!"
Bully looked toward the bulrushes, and sure enough, there were Mr. and
Mrs. John Bull Frog climbing up on their rock. They seemed very happy
today--happier than he had ever seen them. They were both smiling as
they watched the ducks. In fact, there was a broad grin on John Bull
Frog's handsome face, as he nudged Mrs. John Bull Frog with his elbow
and pointed toward Mrs. Duck and her family.
"Just look at them now," said an old frog. "I really believe they are
laughing. Don't they know that their babies will disappear faster than
ever now?"
"They don't seem to care for their babies," said a fat old frog. "The
hard-hearted things, I wish they had never come here at all!"
Still more shells were thrown from the nest, and the ducks were
quacking softly.
Bully heard some one crying. He looked around to see who it was. Mrs.
Toad was sitting in her doorway sobbing, "Oh, my poor toadies, my poor
little polly-wogs! What shall I do? What shall I do?"
There seemed to be nothing that she or anybody else could do. Everyone
seemed downhearted and discouraged except Mr. and Mrs. John Bull Frog
and those dreadful ducks. The frogs were very, very unhappy for the
next day or two as they waited to see the ducks come from their nest.
At last, early one morning when the big bright round sun was just
peeping through the treetops, and the dew on the grass around the
Frog Pond was sparkling like thousands of tiny diamonds, Mrs. Duck
stepped out of her nest, saying, "Quack, quack," very softly. Behind
her toddled ten of the most beautiful little downy ducklings any mother
could wish for. Mr. Duck walked with them to the edge of the pond to
help Mrs. Duck get them into the water. He wanted to show them the
nice young polly-wogs they were to have for breakfast, too. No one has
to teach a little duck to swim any more than a young robin has to be
taught to eat worms. A duckling seems to know all about swimming from
the day he leaves the nest.
When the ducks were all in the water, the frogs who were watching on
the opposite side of the pond saw Mr. and Mrs. John Bull Frog quietly
slip into the pond and go out of sight. Then very soon they saw two of
the little ducks suddenly disappear under the water. In a short time
Mr. and Mrs. John Bull Frog climbed back on their rock. They looked
a bit fatter and happier than when they went in. The frogs couldn't
understand what made them seem so. And what had become of those two
little ducks!
Mr. and Mrs. Duck didn't seem to notice that anything unusual had
happened. After they had eaten their breakfast of young frogs and
polly-wogs they left the Frog Pond. Mrs. Duck led her family back to
the home nest and cuddled them snugly under her warm wings. There were
really only eight left, but she didn't seem to notice. She is not very
good at numbers.
The next morning all the frogs were smiling broadly. They knew now
why Mr. and Mrs. John Bull Frog had looked so happy the day before.
They gathered early on their bank of the Frog Pond to see if Mr. and
Mrs. John Bull Frog would dare do the same thing they had done the day
before. Sure enough, when the ducks were all swimming around in the
water, the John Bulls slipped from their rock and disappeared.
The eyes of the frogs who were watching almost popped out of their
heads from excitement. Pretty soon they saw two more little ducks go
under the water with a jerk, just as had happened the day before. This
time they heard one give a faint little quack. After a few moments Mr.
and Mrs. John Bull Frog climbed back on their rock. They were smiling
more broadly than ever and looked as if they had enjoyed a very good
breakfast. This time Mrs. Duck seemed to notice that something was
wrong, but she didn't know just what it was. Very soon she left the
water with her babies. Six little ducks were all she had now. She
looked around and quacked a few times. Then she sat down on the bank
of the pond and called to the little ducks to come and get under her
wings. She put her head first under one wing and then under the other
as though she was trying to count her family. Perhaps she was!
The next day you may be sure every frog in the pond, as well as Mrs.
Toad and even the tree frogs, gathered early on the banks to see the
Duck family go down to the water for their morning swim. Every frog
face wore a wide smile. Bully was full of joy, and even Mrs. Toad had
wiped away her tears and was smiling a wee bit of a smile. But Mr. and
Mrs. Duck didn't seem quite as happy as usual. They had a worried look.
Their quacks sounded almost like a sob. The ducks and frogs in Rainbow
Valley had begun to change places. A few days ago the ducks were happy
and the frogs were sad. Now the frogs were ready to hold their sides
with laughter and the ducks were looking troubled and frightened.
Mrs. Duck didn't start out as early as usual this morning. She kept
looking this way and then that, and acted as though she were worried
about something. No matter which way she looked about the pond, she
could see nothing but frogs. They seemed to be everywhere, and each
one seemed to be looking straight at her and her family. But surely,
thought she, they can't harm me or my family. But she didn't seem to
understand what the trouble was, or why all those frogs were sitting
on the bank and watching her. Now where were those other little ducks?
Surely she had more than these. But she couldn't answer any of these
questions.
The little ducks under her wings began to quack softly. This meant they
were hungry and wanted some breakfast. Her babies must be fed, and
she knew of no food quite so good for them as polly-wogs. Why hadn't
she fed them before? They ought to have had their breakfast long ago.
As she thought this she got up and waddled slowly to the edge of the
water, the little ducks following her eagerly. She watched carefully
to see that no danger was near. She gathered them all around her for
a few minutes and quacked softly to them. Then she led them down into
the water. Soon they were having such a splendid time swimming happily
about and eating their breakfast.
But all too soon Mrs. Duck and Mr. Duck, who had also come down to the
water, heard two real loud little quacks. Now they really were worried.
They left the water at once, but only four of their family toddled
after them. They looked all about, and then looked at their babies, and
all the time Mother Duck kept saying, "Quack, quack." She was surely
calling, calling, calling those other dear downy babies of hers. But
they had gone away and would never come back. Her voice shook as she
called, and there was a big lump in her throat. Mr. Duck didn't say
much. He didn't seem to be able to quack out loud. He just walked along
after those four babies not looking at anything else.
It was much later than usual the next day when Mrs. Duck came back to
the old Frog Pond to feed her four babies. She acted as if she did
not want to go near the water. It was there she had lost her other
downy babies. She waited about as long as she could. For some time
the little ducks had been calling loudly for their breakfast. She
had tucked them back under her wings and kept them there as long as
she could. They kept saying they wanted to go to the pond and catch
polly-wogs for breakfast. They were so very, very hungry. She told them
they might leave the nest, but she did not like to start out with them.
She could see no danger, but somehow she was in great fear that
morning. At last she left the nest, but she did not mean to let the
four little ducks go near the water. But what did those naughty babies
of hers do? As soon as she left the nest the little ducks ran ahead
of her as fast as their short yellow legs would carry them. Then they
plunged right into the water. Mrs. Duck ran after them, quacking softly
at first, then louder and louder. She begged them to come back. Then
she scolded them. But like all naughty children, they wouldn't mind
her. They loved the water and the tender little polly-wogs. They were
sure there was nothing to be afraid of. They thought anybody could see
that. Why was mother making such a fuss? That is what they asked as
they ate their breakfast.
It took Mr. and Mrs. John Bull Frog only a moment or two to gobble up
two more little ducklings. This time the frogs who were watching heard
two sharp, shrill little quacks. The father and mother ducks heard them
too. Then they both began to quack wildly and swim frantically about.
They hurried from the pond with only two downy ducklings following--all
that was left of their lovely family. They ran up and down the shore
ruffling their feathers and quacking loudly. But Mr. and Mrs. John Bull
Frog climbed leisurely back to their place on the rock with a broad
smirk on their faces and looking very fat and contented.
The two old ducks took their two babies and hurried off through the
woods as fast as the ducklings could go, all the time looking back with
eyes wide with fright. Bully followed as near as he dared, keeping out
of sight. He met a Robin who said he would follow the ducks and then
come back and tell him where they went. Late in the afternoon the Robin
flew back and said the ducks had told him they were going far away, and
never, never again would they be seen in that awful Frog Pond or in
Rainbow Valley.
That night you may be sure the music in and about the old Frog Pond was
wonderful. Every frog sang his loudest. Bully was so happy he could not
sit still. He stood right up and danced a jig on his lily pad.
[Illustration: _Bully danced a jig on his lily pad_]
MRS. HOUSE FROG ARRIVES AT THE POND
The next morning after the ducks went away, the sun looked down
smilingly on the home of the happiest little people in all the world.
The most joyful chorus ever heard rang out over the pond. Every frog,
big and little, was hopping about singing lustily. The old bullfrogs
sang in their deep bass voices, "Kerrump, ker-r-rump, rump, rump,
rump, ker-rumpety, rump." Above them could be heard the high, clear
tenor voices of the tree frogs as they sang, "Ker-rump, ker, ker-rump,
ker-r-r-rumpety rump." And the young bullfrogs kept time with the
others in the squeakiest of tones, saying, "Ker-ker, ker-rump, ker-ker,
ker-rump." Even Mrs. Toad and the mother frogs, who, we know, haven't
much music in them, were making a brave attempt to say, "Ker-rump."
A neighbor bobolink swinging on a tall cat-tail sang, "Bobolink,
bobolink, spink, spank, spink." When the swaying cat-tail bent down
near the water, Mr. Bobolink tipped way over as if about to fall off,
and called, "Chee, chee, chee!" All the other little birds about the
pond sang and sang until it seemed as if their tiny throats would burst.