Chapter III: Part 3

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.

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.

The soft summer breezes whispered merrily through the tall, nodding treetops. The little flowers bowed and smiled to their neighbors. The pond lilies lifted their beautiful faces a little higher and trembled for joy. The tall cat-tails waved their handsome brown heads to show that they, too, were glad. Even the rocky old cliff beamed with happiness as he looked down on the beautiful little lake which lay shining in the morning sun. Every little creature seemed bubbling over with joy. Each one in his own way seemed to praise God and give thanks that he was alive and that his home was safe once more. Doesn't it seem strange that when the ducks were so happy the frogs were so miserable? Now the frogs were happier than they had ever been before, and the poor ducks were somewhere in the woods sighing and calling over and over again for their lost babies. Some folks just can't live happily together.

Mrs. House Frog came hurrying through the deep woods. Long before she reached the pond she had heard the singing of the frogs. She knew this must be the place the Lark had told her about. She panted a little as the frogs all crowded about her. Everyone wanted to know who she was, where she came from, and what she was like. Old Grandfather Bull Frog made them all stand back so she might have a chance to speak.

"I am called a house frog," she said, "and I came from a land far across the big ocean. It is the land of Australia. You can see I am not at all handsome. My clothes, although quite plain, are good for traveling. I find that as I look so much like the leaves I am not easily seen."

The frogs did not wait for Mrs. House Frog to tell any more of her story, as everyone was so anxious to tell her about the ducks and how the John Bull Frogs had driven them away. Near the edge of the crowd sat Mr. and Mrs. John Bull Frog smiling and looking greatly pleased with themselves. They were too modest to boast of what they had done, but it made them proud and happy to hear others tell it. Everybody was talking at once. There was such a chatter that Mrs. House Frog could hardly tell what they were saying. Even old Blackie the Crow was screaming, "Caw, caw, caw," right over their heads. He too, was trying to tell the exciting story. Grandfather Bull Frog shook his wise old head at so much noise. He clapped his hands loudly. Standing up, he beckoned to the crowd, calling for order in deep bass tones. Soon he was able to quiet the frogs. When they stopped talking and their eyes were fixed on him, he turned to Mrs. House Frog with a kindly smile on his handsome old face and said real politely and with a graceful bow, "Mrs. House Frog, you may, if you like, live under the old log just over there."

Looking toward where he pointed, Mrs. House Frog said very pleasantly that she would be delighted to have such a fine home. Bully was very happy when he heard this, for he felt that he would like Mrs. House Frog, and he was glad her home was to be where he could see her often. He went with her to her new house, and while she was resting asked her to tell him why she was called a house frog.

MRS. HOUSE FROG'S STORY

After a few moments Mrs. House Frog said:

"A few years ago a man and his wife, who were called missionaries, came to my country and built a nice little house near the place where Mr. House Frog and I lived. We didn't know for a long, long time why they were called missionaries. Mr. House Frog and I used to wonder what such a big word meant. One Sunday we heard the man explaining to the children that they were called missionaries because they were sent on a mission to tell people about God. We could hear everything he was saying, for the meeting was held under a big tree in the yard and we were sitting on a limb right over the children's heads.

"We hid in this tree each day and watched the missionaries build their house. We could see them saw the boards and put them in place by driving big nails into them with a heavy hammer. How they did work! From the first time we saw them Mr. House Frog and I liked the looks of those people, so we made up our minds to live in that new house, too.

"A few days after they moved in, as we were climbing about and looking over the outside of the house, we found a small hole up under the eaves. Just as soon as it was dark we packed up and moved in too, going through this hole. My, but it was splendid! It was so new and clean. That night we went through the whole house, even the cupboards and closets. After we had looked into every nook and corner we decided to sleep during the day under a box in a corner of the kitchen. They used this box as a stand for their water pail, and there must have been a tiny hole in the pail, for the water trickled down just enough to suit us.

"We lived there some time before we were found out. We had a splendid time every night, and got sleek and fat from helping ourselves to all the good things we could find. But one day the woman found out that the water pail was leaking, so she moved the box. We were having a nice nap when suddenly we awoke and, looking up, saw her bending over us. Of course we jumped as quickly as possible. The woman was badly startled and screamed loudly. Her husband came running to see what was the matter. When he saw what had frightened her, he laughed and said, 'It is nothing but two harmless frogs.' He took the broom and swept us outdoors. This didn't worry us in the least, for that night we got into the house again through our private door up near the roof.

"A few nights after this I chased a fat beetle up the table leg. As he was rushing across the top of the table I almost nabbed him, but he dodged around a glass of milk which stood on the table. As I jumped round the other side of the glass to head him off, I knocked the glass over and it rolled to the floor with a loud crash. The milk ran all over the tablecloth and trickled down on the floor. My, but I was upset! That glass made such a racket I forgot all about the beetle and gave a big jump. I landed under the stove, where I hid.

"Well, you should have heard those people! This time they were both frightened. I could see their faces plainly from where I sat under the stove. They were both pale, as I saw by the light of the lamp they carried. From what they said they seemed to think a man had got in the house. I kept still and trembled while they peered about and poked the lamp into all the dark corners. I was glad to keep out of sight, you may be sure.

"A few nights after this I made another mistake and they found me again. As I was wandering about, I saw a water pitcher on the dining table. Finding its nose nice and damp, I decided to sleep on it all the next day. In the morning, after I had just dropped off into a sound sleep, the family rose, and when breakfast was ready the woman came, took up the pitcher, and poured a glass of water. I woke up just as I went into the glass with the water. She was talking and laughing and did not see me until she raised the glass to her lips to drink. Giving a faint little 'O horrors!' she dropped the glass to the floor and sank into a chair. Her husband sprang up and, seeing me, laughed and laughed. Then he took the broom and quickly swept me outdoors. 'Just think,' I heard her say, 'I might have drunk that frog!' The man kept on laughing until she, too, saw how funny it was and laughed merrily. Now I was outside and Mr. House Frog was inside. I didn't mind this, as I knew well where our door was, and that I could get back in.

"It was some time before they found us again. We had grown careless, and one night when playing hide-and-seek, chasing each other over the wall, we both saw a large bug which we had frightened from behind one of the pictures. He ran up the wall and began to walk across the ceiling as fast as he could go. I was close behind him and Mr. House Frog a little way behind me. I thought I was near enough to grab the bug, when suddenly he dodged to one side. In trying to turn myself about as he had done, I slipped and fell. Mr. House Frog, when he saw me fall, was so frightened he, too, slipped and fell.

"We had been so busy chasing the bug we didn't notice we were directly over where the people of the house were sleeping. When I fell I hit the woman squarely in the face, and Mr. House Frog went down slap in the man's face. They both sprang from the bed, and the woman screamed and screamed. Finally she fainted and fell to the floor. The man picked her up and laid her on the bed. After awhile she moaned, 'Oh, those awful frogs! I know I shall die if you don't kill them.'

"'I can't kill them,' the man told her, 'but in the morning I will carry them a long way off and leave them.'

"He did as he said he would. He put us into a closed box and took us a half-day's journey into the country. As he let us go he said, 'Now, you little rascals, you will bother us no more!'

"When he had gone, we made up our minds to go back as soon as we could. That house suited us to a T. We promised ourselves we would never again be so careless. It was a long, tiresome journey, but we didn't mind it. We got to the house about dusk, tired and hungry. We saw the folks were eating supper, as we once more peeped through that little hole under the eaves. We saw some crumbs fall to the floor as they ate, and as we were so very hungry we decided to go down very quietly, hide under the table, and have our supper at once. We got as far as the man's chair when all of a sudden he tipped back and raised the front legs of the chair from the floor. Just then a nice soft crumb fell from his knee. Mr. House Frog sprang to get it, when down came the front legs of the chair on him and crushed him. Oh," shuddered Mrs. House Frog, "it was dreadful, dreadful! His eyes bulged out of his head and his tongue hung from his mouth. I was so frightened I could not move. Oh, Oh," she shuddered, "I can't bear to think of it. It was so very, very dreadful!" Mrs. House Frog covered her eyes with her little hands and shook with sobs, while Bully looked on, his little heart filled with pity.

After some time she lifted her hands from her eyes and said, "I saw the man looking at Mr. House Frog, and the woman crying and saying, 'How terrible! Here are those poor little frogs back again. I am so sorry, so sorry!' Now she didn't seem at all afraid, only very, very sorry for us. The man picked me up in his big, warm hands and said, 'You poor little thing! You know I didn't mean to hurt you.' Of course I knew he was not to blame, but I couldn't tell him so.

"They took Mr. House Frog out and buried him, and the woman said I should always live with them. She said never again would she be so silly as to be afraid of me. Well, I lived there a long time. Then one day the woman began to put their things into trunks and boxes. I knew something was going to happen. Seeing me, the man picked me up and said, 'You shall go with us, Froggie. You have stood by us so long.'

"They packed me in soft mud, and I slept for many days. I was awakened by a boy who had spilled the mud on the ground. Several people were near us, and I learned by their conversation that we had crossed the great ocean and were now in a strange land. The man had died at sea and the woman was going to the mountains. 'I shall have this frog for my pet,' said the boy. How I learned to dislike that boy! He poked me with sticks. He threw dirt at me when I tried to sing. He kept me in a pen where I had not enough to eat.

"Do you wonder that when I found a small hole in the pen I squeezed through it and hurried away as fast as I could? After going a little way I saw a Lark hopping about looking for his breakfast. I was so sad and lonely I went right over and spoke to him. I told him all my troubles, and that I did not know where to go in this big strange land.

"The Lark told me all about this beautiful place. It made me want to come here at once. I am glad I came, for it is very beautiful. I am sure I shall like to live here."

THE WONDERFUL NEST

Just as the sinking sun began to drop his dark curtain over the Frog Pond, and the beautiful moon lifted her fair face in the east, a strange frog came out of the woods and hopped toward the pond.

"Ker-r-rump," called an old bullfrog very loudly. On hearing this, frogs could be seen coming from almost every direction. Soon there was a great crowd around the stranger. They began all at one time asking her questions. Grandfather Frog told them to be quiet and give her a chance to speak for herself.

"I have come a long way," said the stranger. "My home is in the far-off land of Brazil. I was happy there and wished for no better place to live. One day a man came along, and then all my life was changed. He caught my mate and me in a net and brought us away to this big country. Here he put us in a tiny lake that was in a small park. We lived there only a short time when one evening, as I was busy building a nest, an owl swooped down from the sky. Before I knew he was near he had seized me with his big feet and swiftly carried me away. 'Oh, dear,' I thought, 'this will surely be the last of me, for he is taking me to his nest as food for his babies.'

"The owl flew a long distance. But as we were passing over a farmhouse a man came to the door and shot him. He flew on a little way before he fell, keeping fast hold of me until we reached the ground.

"I was not badly hurt, but I was very much frightened. When I heard the children coming to get the dead owl, I hid under the edge of a big stone and I stayed there for a couple of days. Then I decided that I would see if I could get back to the pond where I had left my mate. As I was slowly hopping along, a Lark lit near me and asked where I was going. I soon told him how the owl had snapped me up and carried me away, and how anxious I was to get back home. 'Why not go to the Frog Pond?' he asked. 'There are no owls there.' He told me all about this place, but I said, 'I must first go for my mate.'

"'Oh, go right on to the Frog Pond,' said the Lark. 'I will look your husband up and tell him where to find you. He can come by himself as well as not.' This seemed after all the best plan, so here I am."

Grandfather Bull Frog told her he was very glad she had come directly to the pond. He asked her where she would like to live. A tree would suit her best, she said, as she had spent most of her time in Brazil in a tree.

"Before I choose my tree," she told them, "I had better make my nest, as it is getting so late in the season. It is time my polly-wogs were hatching."

"Do you make your own nest?" Mrs. Toad asked her.

"Of course I do," she said. "I thought all frogs did that. Our family always do."

"Where will you make it?" Grandmother Bull Frog asked her.

"If you don't mind," she answered, "I should like this shallow place in the edge of the pond."

As no one objected, she jumped into the water and disappeared. In a short time the frogs crowded on the shore saw her two hands come up filled with mud. She chose a spot where she carefully placed the mud, then disappeared again. Soon she came up with more mud and placed it near the first bit. Many times the little hands disappeared and came up loaded with mud, which was carefully placed with the other.

By and by the frogs saw that the nest began to look round like a circle. Then pretty soon the mud wall became so high the builder had to bring her head and shoulders out of the water in order to put the mud in the right place.

Not a frog croaked. They were all too much taken up with what she was doing to spend time in that way.

After she had worked for some time she stopped and, looking around, said, "It's pretty hard work lifting and shaping so much mud!"

"Don't you think you should have waited until your mate was here?" asked Grandmother. "He could have helped you."

"I should say not!" said the stranger. "You don't know him. He is the laziest frog you ever saw. He never helps me build my nest. He just doesn't enjoy working. I always have to make the nest myself. Of course he is a dear fellow and I'm fond of him," she said hastily, "but he just won't work."

Then she went on with her nest, lifting handful after handful of mud from the bottom of the lake and piling it up on the round wall. When the wall was about four inches high and twelve inches across, she smoothed the inside with her hands, and then rubbed the bottom of the nest and the lower part of the wall with the underside of her body and feet. She paid no attention to the outside of the wall. That was left rough and uneven.

When she had finished her nest it looked like a mud bowl half full of water sitting in the pool. "Here," she said, as she climbed on the bank, "is where I shall place my eggs. I can then keep an eye on the polly-wogs and see that nothing harms them. They cannot get out of the nest."

Of course all the frogs had to see that nest. And every one of them said that it was most wonderfully made.

"You see," she said, as she showed them her hands, "all my fingers are largest on the ends. That is why I can handle the mud so well. Now I must have something to eat," she said as she began to look around for insects. "It gives one an appetite to work so hard."

As the frogs hopped away everyone was saying, "That is truly a wonderful nest!" Many of the mother frogs sighed and wished for one as good.

NEWS

"Caw, caw, caw!" cried a black Crow as he lit in the top of a tall old tree. "Caw, caw, caw!" he cried again as he flew across the Frog Pond and lit in a tree on the opposite shore. No one paid the least bit of attention to him, so he flew over the pond and lit on the old limb that reached out over Grandfather's island. Flapping his wings, he again cried loudly, "Caw, caw, caw!"

The frogs paid no attention to the Crow because he came often to the Frog Pond and called to them from the treetops. Maybe he did this because he thought he was a better singer than the frogs. Another reason why they did not notice him might have been because it was early twilight and everyone was busy hunting his supper.

"Caw, caw, caw!" he cried. "News, news, news! Listen to the news I have to tell you!"

"What's the matter with you? Have you gone crazy?" asked Golden Tree Frog as he came hurrying along the limb to the place where the crow was perched.

"No, I'm not crazy," answered the Crow crossly. "And if you're not going to be polite, I shall spread my wings and fly away without telling you my news. I'm very sure the frogs of this pond would like to know what I found out, but if they all think more of filling their stomachs than of listening to me, I shall not take the trouble to tell it."

"Please pardon us, friend Crow," said Golden Tree Frog. "I will go and see if I can find Grandfather Bull Frog."

Back along the old limb and quickly down the tree trunk to the ground he ran, and soon was out of sight. It was not long before Grandfather and Grandmother Bull Frog and Golden Tree Frog swam quickly from among the bulrushes to the island. As soon as they had landed, Grandfather croaked loudly three or four times. At the summons every frog stopped eating his supper at once and went splashing off through the water to join Grandfather on his island.

Bully and Mrs. House Frog were among the first to reach there. When all the frogs had landed on the island, Grandfather Bull Frog asked the Crow to tell his news.

"Yesterday," he told them, "our friend the Lark came home."

"The Lark came home!" cried several frogs all at once. "Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

"Of course I'm sure," replied the Crow crisply. "Isn't he an old friend of mine? And don't I know where the Larks' nest is? I saw the Lark and talked with him. He is hard at work helping his mate find fat worms for those dear baby larks."

Then without adding anything more the Crow flew away and the astonished frogs sat still looking at each other. "What could have made the Lark come home so soon?" they asked each other.

"Surely he has not told all the frogs," sobbed Bully, "and I was so sure he would do that." Mrs. House Frog begged Bully in a whisper not to cry until he had seen his friend the Lark and found out his reason for coming home so soon.

"I can't understand why he should come back now," said Grandfather Bull Frog thoughtfully, "unless he has told all the frogs. Though I hardly think it possible that he has seen them all. But let us wait until we learn from him his reason for coming back before we find fault with him. He will no doubt be round to see us in a day or two. Then he can tell us his story."

So the frogs went back to finish their supper. Many of them said they didn't understand why their friend had not done as he promised. Bully was so worried he just couldn't eat his supper. Climbing on his lily pad, he sat there all alone thinking sadly about his friend, for he felt sure he hadn't quite done as he had promised.

THE LARK'S STORY

That night Bully had a dream. In his dream he saw bad boys killing frogs, and he saw snakes and turtles eating them. He saw men, with live frogs on cruel hooks, jerking them back and forth through the water trying to catch fish with them. In his dream he saw frogs put in stuffy little pens with little to eat, and many people lean over the pen looking down at them. And he saw ducks eating thousands and thousands of young frogs. All these little cousins were reaching out their tiny hands and begging him to get the Lark to hurry and tell them how to find the Frog Pond. In his dream they told him they were unhappy where they were and wanted to go to his beautiful home.

Bully sobbed in his sleep. He wiggled about uneasily. Then he dreamed he was trying to find his friend the Lark. He went looking behind old stumps and among the rocks. He hunted among the tall weeds and grasses. In his dream he was gazing up into the treetops to see if the Lark was there. He looked and looked every place in the whole round world to find the Lark, but he could not be found. "Oh," cried Bully aloud, "what shall I do? I cannot find him!"

"Ha, ha!" sang a well-known voice near him. "And why are you moaning in your sleep?" the Lark went on, gently pecking him in the side. "Wake up! Wake up! Aren't you glad to see me?"

Bully opened his eyes, and sure enough, there was his friend on the lily pad close beside him. "Oh, those poor suffering frogs!" Bully cried out. "They want to come so much, and they don't know the way. Why didn't you tell all of them? What made you come home so soon? You didn't tell all the frogs, did you, friend Lark?"

"No, I didn't," replied the Lark. "When I went away I had made up my mind to be gone all summer, but as the days went by I thought more and more about my mate and our babies. I wondered and wondered how they were getting along without me. I wondered if they were well, or if anything had harmed them. I kept thinking of how many worms it would take every day to feed them. I wondered if my mate would be able to get enough food for them. And the more I thought about it, the more I worried. It seemed to me I wasn't a very good father to go away and leave them. I kept flying about trying to find frogs, but my thoughts were all the time with my mate and babies. I seemed to hear them calling me.

"At last I got so homesick I couldn't eat or sleep. I could only long for my home. I hated to come and break my promise. Perhaps it was foolish to think so much about my family. I made up my mind not to come home; and just then something dreadful happened that made me come.

"One afternoon I lit in an old tree to plume my feathers and rest a bit. Hearing a chirping below me, I looked down and saw a lark's nest hidden among some tall grasses. The father and mother lark were flying about looking for worms and insects to feed their hungry family. They were so happy! They seemed to love one another so much, and how proud they were of their babies! It kept them pretty busy to get enough food. Often they would be away for some time.

"As I sat on the limb watching this family of larks, it made me think of my own dear mate and babies. I hid my head under my wing and cried. I could not eat my supper that night. I didn't feel like it. I just sat there thinking of that lark family. Some time in the night a cry of fear rang out. Opening my eyes, I saw the father lark flying swiftly round and round above the nest. He was crying out in wild grief and terror.

"As the moon was bright, I could plainly see why he cried out. A coyote had found the larks. He was eating the mother bird. After that it took him only a little time to eat the babies. The father bird was almost crazy with grief, but there was nothing he could do. He had just to bear his trouble as best he could.

"After I saw what happened to that lark family I just had to come home. There seemed no other way. I started at once, and flew and flew and flew as fast as I could, without food or rest. I was so afraid something dreadful had happened to my mate and babies. But I found them all well and doing finely. Mrs. Lark says she wishes me to go again and tell the rest of the frogs about this pond, as she is very sorry for them. She wants them to be happy. I think I shall start in a few days."

Bully told the Lark he was glad he loved his babies so much, and that all the frogs loved him for being so good to them.

"Have many of them come?" the Lark asked him.

"Yes," Bully told him, "a good many of them are here. And they seem to like it."

"I shall try to go again," the Lark said. "I have heard of several frogs I wish to invite. I know they would like to come. I've been told there are some frogs shut up in a stuffy pen. I must find them and get them free. An oriole told me he saw a big strange frog wandering about all alone, not seeming to know where to go. I must find him too. And there are many others to tell. Now I must fly back to Mrs. Lark and the babies."

He spread his wings and was gone. Bully hurried over to the island to tell Grandfather Bull Frog all the Lark had told him.

THE ROBINS' SECRET

Now, my young friends, we are all about as much disappointed in the Lark as the frogs were. But of course we can't blame him for being homesick for his mate and his babies. But if he hadn't been, this story would have been longer. As it is, we shall just have to make the best of it. I will tell you a secret the Robins told me, if you promise never to tell.

The Robins have a nest near the Larks' nest, and of course they didn't want everyone else to know. But they said if I whispered it to my young friends it would be all right, they thought. But you must not repeat it loud enough for others to hear.

Just turn your ear this way and listen, so I can whisper it ever so softly. The Lark told the Robins he would soon start back to tell all the other frogs. He said he had heard of some of the queerest frogs in the world. A bird told him he knew where there were some frogs who carried their babies in a bag. One Robin said another bird told the Lark of a frog that would bring all her family of fifty or sixty children with her to the pond. The Robin spoke so low I didn't hear just how she was going to do it.

The Lark told the Robin he had heard of many other queer kinds of frogs, and that soon he was going to start out to find them. Some of the frogs, he said, had big feet, some had little feet. Some wore beautiful coats, and others wore very plain clothes. Some frogs he knew of could really fly, others lived in holes in the ground, and some had horns and some had none. The Lark said he had heard about these queer frogs from different birds who had told him where he could find them. He told the Robins some of them lived in places a long, long way from the old Frog Pond. It would take him many days to make the journey to their homes, but by flying fast he could see them all and be back before Jack Frost came.

As soon as the Lark goes, and the strange frogs begin to come to Bully's Frog Pond, I shall write and tell you all about them. I'm sure it will not be many days before Bully's friend starts on his journey. Mrs. Lark thinks that, with the help of the Robins and Grandfather Bull Frog's good advice, she can take care of her babies. You wait patiently until he returns. He flies fast, so it will not take him long to visit them all. Then as the frogs come hopping in from all parts of the world I will tell you about them in my next book, called _Bully's Queer Relations_. You will find that he had a great many of them.

It all depends on the Lark. If he fails to invite all the frogs to the Frog Pond, they will not come. But I do not believe that he will fail. He is too true a friend of the frogs to disappoint them now when so much depends on him. So you may count on the story.