“I won’t have accidents always,” August replied.
“But what do they do with so many ducks?” asked Tommy.
“Why, half the poor Chinese people near the coast live on the water all the time in boats that are half houses. Of course they could not keep hens, but they can keep ducks and they do.”
“Oh, yes!” cried Tommy. “I ’member how papa told about seeing them fed and called into the boats. He said every flock knew its own call, and would go scuttling through the water to the right boat. He thought they were in this d’edful hurry, cause the last one got whipped.”
“What shall I do about school, mamma?” August asked.
“Oh! go, and recite your most important lessons,” she answered wisely. “I will take care of the eggs and chickens till you return.”
It was just as well for August to be occupied, since the hatching, although it went on surely, was slow work.
With great faith in his incubator, August had previously built a little yard for the expected chickens.
It was in box form, about eight feet long and two feet wide. In the center was a feeding-tray and water tank, and at one end a hover. This hover (H) was