"Why, that was a big muskrat. They won't hurt you. There are many of them in the lake, and in the winter the men catch them for their skins to make fur-lined coats from. It was only a big muskrat you saw, Mun Bun."
"And was he eating oysters?" asked Vi, who liked to know all about things.
"They were fresh-water clams," said Grandma Bell. "There are many of them in the lake, too. The muskrats bring them up from the bottom in their paws, and take them out on a rock that sticks up from the water. There they eat the clams."
"Well, I'm glad it wasn't a bear I saw," put in Mun Bun.
"So am I," said Mother Bunker with a laugh. "But you needn't be afraid—there are no bears here."
While this had been going on Laddie and Russ, with their father in the boat, had been having a good time. They rowed up the lake, and once or twice Mr. Bunker let the boys take the oars so they might learn how to row.
"If you are going to be around the water," said Mr. Bunker, "you ought to learn how to row a boat as well as how to swim."
"I can swim a little," said Russ.
"Yes, you do very well," returned his father. "And before we go back I must teach Laddie."
"I like to wade in my bare feet," said the smaller boy.