Read Bartleby of the Big Bad Bayou for Free Online Page B

scramble to keep up with the nimble creature. Atop Seezer’s back, Bartleby was bounced and rocked. His poor head was starting to spin when he heard Seezer’s webs make sucking sounds. “The ground is growing muddy,” he told himself. “There must be water nearby.” A bubble of hope rose above his plastron.
    Just as the sun began to rise, they came upon the strangest water place Bartleby had ever seen. It looked like a forest. But instead of being rooted in solid ground, the trees were standing in dark, glossy water. Bartleby studied the quiet surface. More than anything, he was hoping to meet other red-eared turtles at this new water place. But he didn’t see a single creature floating or basking.
    â€œDoesn’t anyone live here?” he asked.
    Quickfoot flexed a soft, brown ear. “Oh, yes, the swamp is full of creatures. They’re hiding because of Seezer and Grub. There haven’t been any alligators in this swamp for a while. The last ones left during the dry spell.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œA terrible time of great heat and no rain that makes the water disappear.”
    Standing at the edge of the flooded forest, Bartleby couldn’t imagine how the water could disappear. It was everywhere he looked. Dry land seemed to be the thing that had vanished.
    Suddenly a fish leaped up and splashed down.
    â€œSssweet Ssswampland, what a fat, frisky creature! I had better ssseize it before it disappears!” Seezer dove into the water.
    â€œSave some for me, bro’,” Grub exclaimed as he followed after him.
    Bartleby was too anxious to be hungry. “I’d like to look for red-eared turtles. Do you have any idea where they might be?” he asked Quickfoot.
    The swamp rabbit wiggled her fluffy tail. “Let’s try the water-lettuce patch first. They often breakfast there.” To Bartleby’s surprise, she jumped right in.
    â€œI’ve never seen a rabbit swim,” he exclaimed as he slipped in after her.
    She flashed a paw above the surface. “That’s because we swampers are the only rabbits with webs between our toes”—she dove underwater and came up quickly—“and coats thick enough to keep us dry.”
    Bartleby took a good look at her dun-colored fur. Sure enough, water trailed off it in little streams, just like water off a duck’s back.
    In and out of the weird, swamped trees, Bartleby followed Quickfoot. Once, when he turned his head toward a splashing sound, he bumped into one of the woody bumps that surrounded a tall trunk.
    â€œUgh!” A soft grunt escaped from his throat. “Better watch out for those cypress knees,” Quickfoot warned. “They’re all over the swamp.”
    Bartleby’s insides clenched up tightly. The trees here had knees. Rabbits could swim. And a watery forest could disappear. Everything in bayou country seemed so strange. Maybe the red-ears would be different, too. He looked around for Seezer and Grub, but there was no sign of his friends. There was nothing to do but follow Quickfoot. He began paddling faster so he wouldn’t fall behind.

9
    Swamp Sense
    The water lettuce was floating in the center of a large cluster of cypress trees with many woody knees. Bartleby’s spirits lifted a bit at the sight of the big leafy plants. Each lettuce was shaped like a giant flower with lots of overlapping petals. He couldn’t resist trying a bite. The thick, soft leaf was tender and succulent, and slightly hairy. It tickled the roof of his mouth.
    â€œOh, this is even better than the lettuce where I used to live,” he exclaimed.
    â€œWhere is that?”
    Bartleby paddled around. In among a patch of duckweed, three red-ears popped up their heads. The way they stared made him feel as if he’d suddenly grown wings or long, floppy ears. “I’m Bartleby. I came from a place in the north called New York. But bayou country is my true