“ But why don't the ducks stay at home
and keep out of the way of the foxes ?”
(Pins is their home Pred. Uuey live
about ponds and lakes like this. They are
wild ducks.”

“Oh! are they’? There are nine of them, -
all scampering off just as fast as they can.
I think it is real mean in them to leave that
poor duck to take care of himself. Why
don't they all pounce on the old fox and
make him let go?”

Aa the fon would like nothing better
than that. What could they do, with no
weapons but their wings? With his long,
sharp teeth, he would soon dispatch the
whole flock.” |

“Would he? What an old scamp!
Well, I don’t care; if I were a duck I would
give him a good tussle, anyhow.”

« Ah! that is where the ducks are wiser
than my little Fred. It 1s not wise to run
_ into danger without, at least, a possibility
of success.