Quoof, The Duckbilled Dog
Chapter 2, Part 1
Quoof Learns To Swim.
{Copyright © J.M. Puttock}
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Quoof woke and felt his face. It had not been a dream, he still had his duckbill.
Quoof didn't know whether to laugh or cry, today he must go to Mrs. Swan to learn to swim. As a dog he hadn't liked going in the water very much and he wondered if having a duck bill would make any difference.
Mrs. Swan was waiting on the river.
"Now first you must learn to get into the water quietly. Slide gently down the bank."
"B.. b.. b.. b but, the water's so cold!" exclaimed Quoof, testing the water with his paw.
Mrs. Swan laughed, "Oh, Quoof," she said, "that is something you must get used to. Come now into the water."
Quoof closed his eyes and slid down the steep bank. ... S P L A S H !!! ...
"Oh Quoof, that will not do. Quoof? Where are you?"
Quoof had completely disappeared.
"I.. I.. I.. I'm here!" spluttered Quoof as his head came above the water for a moment.
"I can't stay up on the water!" he cried as he sank again.
"Oh dear!" said Mrs. Swan, "I had forgotten that your fur would be very heavy when it was wet." Putting her head under the water she took hold of one of Quoof's long floppy ears in her beak and pulled him to the surface.
Quoof shook the water from his coat and lay panting on the river bank.
Mrs. Swan waddled out of the water to sit beside him.
"I'm very sorry Quoof, but I think we'd best find some one who swims and has fur to help us."
Mrs. Water Rat?" she thought aloud. "No! She is too small." she sat thinking. "I know! I'll ask Mr. Platypus; he has fur and a duckbill! Now, you wait here; I won't be long."
Spreading her lovely large wings Mrs. Swan flew low over the water searching the banks for a sign of the home of Mr. Platypus.
Quoof dozed in the warm sunshine.
Mrs. Swan landed and folded her wings.
"Wake up, Quoof!" she pulled at his ear. "Wake up!"
Quoof yawned, stretched and said, "Oh, Mrs. Swan, I am sorry, I hope I haven't kept you waiting?"
"No Quoof. I have only just arrived; I saw Mr. Platypus, he will help you but he sleeps in his burrow all day, he will meet us this evening. Meanwhile he suggests you practice keeping your head under water for a few moments at a time."
Quoof lay in the shallow water of a sand bar and tried putting his head under the water. At first he coughed and spluttered but found if he took a deep breath above the water he could stay under for a short time.
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