noon
This place would not do , and I had to ride half a mile back before I found one that seemed as if it might be safe . I fancy my father must have done just the same thing , for Doctor seemed to know the ground , and took to the water the moment I brought him to it . It never reached his belly , but I confess I did not like it . By and by I had to recross , and so on , off and on , till at noon I camped for dinner . Here the dog found me a nest of young ducks , nearly fledged , from which the parent birds tried with great success to decoy me . I fully thought I was going to catch them , but the dog knew better and made straight for the nest , from which he returned immediately with a fine young duck in his mouth , which he laid at my feet , wagging his tail and barking . I took another from the nest and left two for the old birds .