duckey daddles loved to swim. every day he begged mrs. duck to take him down to the old mill pond. but she couldn't take him there every day, for there were lots of things to attend to at home. besides, it was quite a long way, and she wasn't fond of walking.

so one day duckey daddles made up his mind to go alone. off he went on his floppy yellow feet, wabbly, wabbly down the road, under the old snake fence and then across the pleasant meadow till he reached the old mill pond.

sitting very still on his log was old uncle bullfrog. he was half asleep, with his hands folded across his white and yellow waistcoat. he had just eaten a lot of nice green flies and was feeling very contented.

"quack! quack! hip! hurray!" cried duckey daddles, flapping his wings. then he jumped in, spattering water all over old uncle bullfrog.

"take care, there!" said old uncle bullfrog, waking up and wiping his yellow-rimmed spectacles. but duckey daddles didn't hear him. he was standing on his head in the water, gobbling up little fish.

"what's the use of going home for lunch? i've had mine already!" he cried. and off he swam around the old mill pond. suddenly there was a loud splash. duckey daddles turned to see what was the matter. on the bank stood a number of boys. duckey daddles ducked just in time to get out of the way of a stone that splashed in the water close beside him.

"swim, you little side-wheeler!" shouted the boys, and another stone fell uncomfortably near him.

"any port in a storm," he said to himself, remembering a story he had once heard about his great-great-grandfather, admiral drake. and duckey daddles paddled straight for a little cove behind a clump of trees.

it was nearly dark when he finally reached home, for he had to wait a long time before the boys left the old mill pond.

"duckey daddles, where have you been?" asked mamma duck.

"come over here!" cried his father, laying down the duckville "evening quack." "what has kept you out so late?"

duckey daddles told the truth, and when he had finished, daddy duck said, "duckey daddles, i won't punish you because you've told the truth. but next time look out! i shan't ask any questions."