"Will the right time be when all our babies are eaten?" she asked. "I'm down-right tired of hearing his name! Oh, what shall I do, what shall I do?" she sobbed.
"I must be going," said Bully sadly. "I can hear those ducks talking on the other side of the pond. I think it's safe now."
Then he went and told Grandmother Bull Frog what Mrs. Toad had said. "O, Grandmother," he cried, "why doesn't John Bull Frog do what he said he would?"
"I don't know," she replied. "We're all tired out waiting. It's very bad indeed!"
And Grandmother Frog, too, began to cry.
JOHN BULL FROG MAKES GOOD
The days slipped slowly away. The people, big and little, in and about the pond were silent and sad—all except the ducks. They swam about, ate all the frogs they could hold, and were as happy as well-fed ducks could be. They hadn't anything to worry about, so why shouldn't they be happy? They thought they were very lucky to have found such a lovely spot in which to make a nest and raise a family. They made themselves perfectly at home in the Frog Pond. They liked the tall grasses and the quiet water. They loved this home better than any other they had ever had. It was so safe. Then there was such fine swimming and so much to eat. They could eat just as many frogs as they wanted.
The frogs watched them nearly all the time. They peeped slyly from under a big leaf or from behind a rock. They put their heads for a moment up out of the water and then dodged quickly back. In this way they were able to find out where the ducks were at any time of day. They thought it very hard that they must be so careful because all the time a great danger was always near at hand.
One bright morning after the ducks had lived there some time, the frogs who were watching closely saw Mrs. Duck throwing shells from the nest. Now and then she would quack softly. Mr. Duck and she both seemed very happy about something. Bully wondered what it could be. As the hours passed, still more shells were thrown out. Now the knowing old frogs seemed sadder and more worried than ever. "Things are getting worse here every day," he heard some one say. He looked around and saw several old bullfrogs near him watching Mrs. Duck. The frog who had spoken continued, "Now that duck will come from her nest in a day or two with a whole brood of babies. She will then take them to the water and they will eat all of our polly-wogs."