"He had not many friends," said the reed-warbler.
"He had not one," said the perch. "He was the worst robber in the pond."
"He never did anything to me," said the water-lily. "He was a brave and distinguished gentleman, who hadn't his equal among the lot of you. It was always a real pleasure to me when he came sweeping past my stalks."
"Well, I have seen many go sweeping down his throat," said the eel. "And they did not think that so amusing. But he did just what I should have done in his place! Now that he's gone, I suppose I'm the biggest in the pond."
He stretched himself to his full length.
"You have grown big and stout," said the reed-warbler.
"I have had a good year," said the eel. "But I shall soon be going to sea now and working off my fat."
On the evening of the same day a man stood at the edge of the pond, just where the reed-warblers lived. He wore high boots with wooden soles and whetted a scythe till the sound of it whizzed through the air.
"What's going to happen now?" said Mrs. Reed-Warbler.
"Quack! Quack!" cried the duck in terror.