They refrained from making
comments, which rather surprised Akka.
Evidently Daylight had noted their misbehaviour in the past and had told
the swans that they must conduct themselves in a proper manner--so
thought the leader-goose.
But just as the swans were making an effort to observe the rules of
etiquette, they caught sight of the goosey-gander, who swam last in the
long goose-line. Then there was a murmur of disapproval, even of
threats, among the swans, and at once there was an end to their good
deportment!
"What's this?" shrieked one. "Do the wild geese intend to dress up in
white feathers?"
"They needn't think that will make swans of them," cried another.
They began shrieking--one louder than another--in their strong, resonant
voices. It was impossible to explain that a tame goosey-gander had come
with the wild geese.
"That must be the goose-king himself coming along," they said
tauntingly. "There's no limit to their audacity!"
"That's no goose, it's only a tame duck."
The big white gander remembered Akka's admonition to pay no attention,
no matter what he might hear. He kept quiet and swam ahead as fast he
could, but it did no good. The swans became more and more impertinent.
"What kind of a frog does he carry on his back?" asked one. "They must
think we don't see it's a frog because it is dressed like a human
being.
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