"True enough, Peter. True enough," said in reply Blacky, his eyestwinkling. "But I thought they might be. I had heard a rumor thatthose who go south are traveling earlier than usual this fall, so Iknew I might find Mr. and Mrs. Quack over here any time now. Is ittrue, Mrs. Quack, that we are going to have a long, hard, coldwinter?"

"That is what they say up in the Far North," said in replyMrs. Quack. "And it is true that Jack Frost had started down earlierthan usual. That is how it happens we are here now. But about thosehunters over by the Big River, do you suppose they will come overhere?" There was an anxious note in Mrs. Quack's voice.