"Now what is the meaning of this?" he exclaimed angrily.
"We came into the broad out of curiosity, sir," said Frank; "and we could not see the notice-board until we were in the broad, and then we thought we might as well take a turn round before going out, but we are sorry you have caught us."
"Oh, are you really! Well, I want to preserve the broad for wild-fowl, so I don't like it to be disturbed; but where did you get this strange boat built?"
"We built it ourselves," answered the boys,—and then in reply to the inquiries, they told him all about it, and their object, and by the time all was explained to him they found that he was a very jolly sort of fellow, and he found that they were very pleasant, unaffected lads, and the end of it was that they lunched with him on board his yacht, and had full permission to go on the broad whenever they liked.
Frank's attention was arrested by a pretty, light grey duck swimming about in the centre of the broad.
"Is that a pintail duck?" he inquired of Mr. ——.
"Yes, and the only one on the broad, I am sorry to say. Its mate has been killed, and my man found the deserted nest with four eggs in it, among the reeds on the other side of the broad. If he has not taken it you may have it."
His man had not taken it, and in a few minutes the boys were the possessors of the eggs of this rare duck. The nest and eggs were of the usual duck type, and did not correspond in any degree with the extreme prettiness of the duck, which, with its mottled grey back and red-brown head and neck, is as fair to look at as it is good to eat.
The yachts were disengaged from their position without any damage, and the boys took leave of their entertainer with a cheer, and made for the river again.
"I hope all our adventures will end as nicely as that one," said Dick.