Several days went by very peacefully, and then one morning, very early, there was a dreadful noise: BANG, BANG, BANG.
Next day she went back to spend another happy day with the tame ducks. They were all kind and friendly, but the one she really liked was the big one who had spoken to her first. She discovered that he was a drake and was the head of the family. Little duck realised that she had been very lonely all by herself, and was really enjoying their company.
Weeks went by, with little duck spending every day with her new friends, and enjoying herself immensely. One day Drake told her that it was almost time for the “guns” to come out and she was very afraid. Where could she go to be safe?
After a lot of discussion, one of the ducks suggested that she go home with them to their pen. That seemed a great idea, so that evening when the others all left the river, she waddled along behind them. It was rather frightening entering the pen, but the others assured her she would be quite safe, and would like their dinner. A little girl arrived, carrying a can of maize, which she scattered inside the pen. When she saw the little wild duck with her tame ones, she was very excited. Little duck found the maize very tasty and certainly was much easier than catching insects for her tea. After eating they all found comfy spots in the grass, and all went to sleep. Next morning the little girl came back and gave them some nice warm mash, and then opened the pen. After their meal, away they all went, down to the river.
During the day, the ducks had a big discussion, and asked little duck if she would like to come and live with them in their pen, at least until the “guns” had been. She was delighted to be asked and it was lovely to feel safe, and be with such friends. Several days went by very peacefully, and then one morning, very early, there was a dreadful noise: BANG, BANG, BANG.
She was terrified. The others assured her she was quite safe but she stayed huddled up in the grass in the pen, all that day. The little girl dropped some maize down near her day. She realised little duck was very frightened and wasn’t going down to the river that day.
Gradually she realised that no harm would come to her as long as she stayed with her friends, and the days were spent as before, swimming around or sitting on the bank in the sun. The “guns” eventually stopped and peace returned. Little duck became restless with life in the pen. One day, she said “Goodbye” to her friends and didn’t go back to the pen that night. They were sad to see her go, but knew that she came from a different type of life to them. Many months went by and it was nearly time for the “guns” again, when one evening as the tame ducks were all sitting up by their pen, waiting for their evening meal, there was a whirr of wings, and down dropped little duck. There was a great quacking and fuss, everyone was delighted to see her back. When the girl arrived with the maize, she was just as excited as the ducks. Little duck told them that she realised the guns would be starting again soon and she thought she would come and visit again.
It was a very happy reunion and everyone enjoyed being together again. This time, of course, she was older, and she and Drake became very fond of one another. When the guns stopped, everyone waited for Little Duck to leave, but she didn’t go. Time went by and the other ducks found that Little Duck was laying her eggs in a special spot, and when she had ten eggs, she stopped laying and settled down to hatch them.
The little girl hunted for Little Duck, and when she found her sitting on her eggs, she put food down near her each day, and she was left in peace to hatch her family. The weeks passed, and then one morning, to everyone’s great excitement the eggs started to crack and the wee ducklings emerged. Little Duck stayed patiently on the nest until all the eggs had hatched, and then waddled up to the nest until all the eggs had hatched, and they all looked a bit like Drake.
She was very proud of her family, but was delighted when all the other ducks helped guard the ducklings down at the river. Little Duck stayed with her friends for several weeks and then she and her family swam off to live their own life. The pen seemed very empty without them.
The ducklings never returned to the pen, but Little Duck came back and spent several months with her friends each year for a long while, but at last a “shooting season” came round and Little Duck didn’t return, and was never seen again.