It was for Hooty that they took turns in watching . It was just the hour when Hooty likes best to hunt . By and by they heard Booty 's hunting call . It was far away in the Green Forest , Then Mr. and Mrs. Quack felt easier , and they talked in low , contented voices . They felt that for a while at least there was nothing to fear . Suddenly a little splash out in the Big River caught Mr. Quack 's quick ear . As Mrs. Quack brought her head up out of the water , Mr. Quack warned her to keep quiet . Noiselessly they swam among the brown stalks until they could see out across the Big River . There was another little splash out there in the middle . It was n't the splash made by a fish ; it was a splash made by something much bigger than any fish . Presently they made out a silver line moving towards them from the Black Shadows . They knew exactly what it meant . It meant that some one was out there in the Big River moving towards them . Could it be a boat containing a hunter ? With their necks stretched high , Mr. and Mrs. Quack watched . They were ready to take to their strong wings the instant they discovered danger . But they did not want to fly until they were sure that it WAS danger approaching . They were startled , very much startled . Presently they made out what looked like the branch of a tree moving over the water towards them . That was queer , very queer .
Mr. XXXXX said so .
Booty Forest Hooty Quack River boat queer splash stalks voices