On the way home the beaver boys and the little duck chap came to a new pond of water. It had been built by some new beavers, who raised up a dam at one end, so the water could not run away, for they wanted to have their houses in the water, you see.
"Oh, let's swim across this pond!" cried Noodle.
"I'm with you," said Jimmie, who, being a duck, could swim very well, you know.
Of course, being a duck, Jimmie Wibblewobble could not swim under water as can beaver boys. But for all that Jimmie did very well.
"It won't hurt the cocoanut to get wet," said Toodle. "We can jump in the water and pull it after us like a boat."
"To be sure," said Noodle.
"And I can swim with the soap on my back, so that will not get wet and melt," said Jimmie.
Into the water plunged the three friends, and Toodle and Noodle, pulling the cocoanut between them, watched the big beavers at work, and made up their minds that they would tell their papa and mamma about the new neighbors, so they could pay them a visit.
Well, everything was going along nicely, when, all of a sudden, as Jimmie was swimming close by an old log, he gave a sudden cry.
"Quack! Quack! Quackity-quack!" he yelled. "Oh, dear!"