"Oh! Miss Vernor, Olly shan't do it, shall he?
Do say he shan't!" "Do what ?" asked Gerald, pausing in the act of searching for another pebble.
"Put it in the water to swim like a duck.

It isn't a duck, it's a little, little young bird he's found in a nest, and it can't swim, it can't hardly fly.

Oh, don't let him!" "Let him!" echoed Gerald sharply.

She sprang toward the children with a bound, almost lifting Olly off his feet as she drew him back from the water's edge.

"You cruel boy!" she cried.