The blue and brown were mates.

Once again Freckles repeated his "How I wish I knew!" Around the bridge spanning Sleepy Snake Creek the swale spread widely, the timber was scattering, and willows, rushes, marsh-grass, and splendid wild flowers grew abundantly.

Here lazy, big, black water snakes, for which the creek was named, sunned on the bushes, wild ducks and grebe chattered, cranes and herons fished, and muskrats plowed the bank in queer, rolling furrows.

It was always a place full of interest, so Freckles loved to linger on the bridge, watching the marsh and water people.

He also transacted affairs of importance with the wild flowers and sweet marsh-grass.