Mrs. Duck stood on the bank for one minute to talk to her ducklings.

“Follow me,” she said, “and do what I do.  Swimming is the easiest thing in the world.

“When I count three we will all go into the water together.”

“I think I will wait and see how you do it,” said Bunny.  “That will be the best way for me to learn.”

So Bunny sat down on the bank, and the little ducks stood in a row behind their mother.

“Now,” said Mrs. Duck, “one, two, three,—­go!”

At the word “go” they all waddled into the water.

Paddle, paddle, paddle!  Mrs. Duck made her feet go so fast that she was soon in the middle of the brook.

Paddle, paddle, paddle, went all the little ducks, and they were swimming after their mother.

“Oh, what fun this is!” said the littlest duck.

“How cool the water is,” said the biggest duck.

“Come in, Bunny,” called all the ducks.  “Swimming is the easiest thing in the world.”

“Why don’t you try it, Bunny?” asked Mr. Green Frog, who was sitting on a rock close by.

“The water is cool, and swimming is the easiest thing in the world.”

II

Bunny sat still on the bank, but he did not say a word.

He watched the ducks swimming round and round in the water.

“All they have to do is to paddle their feet,” he said to himself.

“I am sure I can do that.  But I do wish the water was not so wet.”

“Are you afraid to come in?” asked Mrs. Duck.

“Are you afraid to come in?” asked Mr. Green Frog.

Of course Bunny was afraid, but he did not like to say so.

At last he stood up and went down to the edge of the brook.

He put one foot in the water, but he pulled it out again very quickly.

[Illustration:  He put one foot in the water.]

“Oh, dear!” he said, “the water is so wet.”

“You can’t swim on dry land,” said Mrs. Duck.  “Jump in, and you will like it, I know.”

“Jump in!” said Mr. Green Frog.

Bunny went a step nearer and put two feet in the water.

“Oh, dear!” he thought to himself.  “I never can learn to swim.  I wish I were back under the tree, fast asleep.”

Splash, splash!  Mr. Green Frog jumped into the water close to Bunny’s feet.

It frightened the poor little rabbit and he slipped into the water, too.

“Paddle your feet, paddle your feet!” Mrs. Duck called to him.

But, of course, Bunny did not know how to paddle his feet.

He kicked and kicked and scrambled and splashed around in the brook.

The water ran into his eyes and he could not see.

The water ran into his ears and he could not hear.

The water ran into his mouth and he could not speak.

He kicked and splashed and scrambled until at last he felt his feet touch the ground.