The Trumpet of the Swan: Chapters 12–16

Nobody thought much of that suggestion. Mr. Brickle didn’t like it at all. He said it was extremely impractical and furthermore he wouldn’t permit it.

The skunk all this time was blundering around, blindly bumping into things.

It was a pitiful sight.

“Congratulations, Sam!” said Mr. Brickle. “You have aided a wild creature and have given Camp Kookooskoos a delicious dash of wild perfume. I’m sure we’ll all remember this malodorous event for a long time to come. I don’t see how we can very well forget it.”

The air was heavy with the rich, musky smell of skunk.

“Quiet!” bellowed the tent leader.

“Leave Rotten Applegate alone!” whispered another boy. And some of the other boys had to pull their pillows over their heads so their snickering couldn’t be heard.

He was all alone, thrashing about and wasting his strength.

“We all saw what happened on the lake today. Applegate Skinner broke a camp rule, took a canoe out alone, and upset. He was drowning when Louis the Swan, rapidly outdistancing all other campers, reached his side, held him up, and saved his life. Let us all give Louis a standing ovation!”

“O.K.,” said Mr. Brickle. “I guess we’ll just have to leave it at that. But the camp is proud of Louis. He is our most distinguished counselor—a great trumpet player, a great bird, a powerful swimmer, and a fine friend. He deserves a medal. In fact, I intend to write a letter recommending that he be given the Lifesaving Medal.”

Sam grinned. “The Swan Boat will hire you, all right, he said. “You’re a real trumpeter now. But with your web cut, swimming will he harder for you. You will have a tendency to swim in circles, because your left foot will push better than your right foot."

The canoes had been hoisted onto racks in the boathouse, the float had been hauled onto the beach, the windows of the lodge had been boarded up against bears and squirrels, mattresses had been packed into zipper bags; everything was snug and ready for the long, silent winter.

The canoes had been hoisted onto racks in the boathouse, the float had been hauled onto the beach, the windows of the lodge had been boarded up against bears and squirrels, mattresses had been packed into zipper bags; everything was snug and ready for the long, silent winter.

One day, he composed a love song for Serena and wrote the words and music on his slate:
Oh, ever in the greening spring,
By bank and bough retiring,
For love shall I be sorrowing
And swans of my desiring

One day, he composed a love song for Serena and wrote the words and music on his slate:
Oh, ever in the greening spring,
By bank and bough retiring,
For love shall I be sorrowing
And swans of my desiring

His plumage was beautiful now, and he felt great.

“Flying is a lot harder than it was before I acquired all these possessions,” thought Louis.

The Swan Boat passengers were beside themselves with joy and excitement. A real live swan, playing a trumpet! Life was a dream, all right. What a lark! What fun! What pleasure!

It was a lovely September morning, hazy and warm.

Business was booming. Another boat was being made ready, to accommodate the crowds.

“Lice?” roared the Boatman. “Did you ever see a cleaner guest in your whole life? Look at him! He’s immaculate.”

Chambermaids in the bedrooms paused in their work to listen to the trumpet. It was a moment of sheer magic. As the song came to an end, people who knew the words sang them softly.

When the steeple bell
Says “Good night, sleep well, ”
We’ll thank the small hotel, together.

He summoned a bellboy and handed him a key. “Take this gentleman to his room!” he ordered.

“Sleep well, Louis!” called the Boatman. “And be ready to come to work promptly in the morning!” Louis nodded.

He felt mussy and dirty, so he went into the bathroom, climbed into the tub, pulled the shower curtain across, and took a shower bath.

This is what he wrote: Dear Sam: I am spending the night at the Ritz in fashionable surroundings.

When he saw the Empire State Building, he veered off to the right, crossed the Hudson River, and followed the railroad tracks to Newark and Trenton and points south.

His face looked shrewd and wise, as though he knew a great many things, many of them not worth knowing.

Welcome to the Philadelphia Zoo, which crawls with rare mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes, including sharks, rays, and other fishlike vertebrates.

Watch out for wild animals—this place is replete with them: snakes, zebras, monkeys, elephants, lions, tigers, wolves, foxes, bears, hippos, rhinos, woodchucks, skunks, hawks, and owls.

“A happy question,” replied Mr. Lucas. “The job will start on October fifteenth. The contract has been finalized. Your place of employment is a nightclub of great renown, across the river—a place of high fashion and low prices, a jumpy joint. You will be called upon to make appearances each evening except Sunday, and play your trumpet for the happy customers...."

"...Wealth and happiness are around the corner for Louis the Swan and Lucky Lucas, the great of heart. My agent’s fee is ten percent, a mere bagatelle.”

Most of the birds that swim on this luxury lagoon have undergone surgery.

Candor compels me to tell you that the tip of one wing is usually removed by the management—a painless operation, popular with zoos the world over. ‘Pinioned’ is the word for it, I believe.

Candor compels me to tell you that the tip of one wing is usually removed by the management—a painless operation, popular with zoos the world over. ‘Pinioned’ is the word for it, I believe.

It detains the water bird and prevents him from leaving the narrow confines of this public park and rising into the air, because when one wing is shorter than the other, the balance of the bird is upset.

It detains the water bird and prevents him from leaving the narrow confines of this public park and rising into the air, because when one wing is shorter than the other, the balance of the bird is upset.

Sensing in advance the revulsion you would feel toward having the tip of one of your powerful wings removed, I approached the Man in Charge of Birds and laid before him a proposition.

Sensing in advance the revulsion you would feel toward having the tip of one of your powerful wings removed, I approached the Man in Charge of Birds and laid before him a proposition.