While Leon was gone I was thinking pretty fast and I knew exactly how things would happen.

First time mother saw Mrs.Deam she would ask her if the ducks were all right, and she would tell that four were gone.

Mother would ask how many she had, and she would say twelve, then mother would remember that she started us with twelve in the basket--Oh what's the use! Something had to be done.

It had to be done quickly too, for I could hear Amanda Deam, her boy Sammy and Leon coming across the barnyard.

I looked around in despair, but when things are the very worst, there is almost always some way out.
On the dry straw worked between and pushing against the panels of the floodgate, not far from me, I saw a big black water snake.