Soon after their arrival at Red Rock Lakes, Louis resolves to learn how to read and write in order to communicate with others. Although he is well liked by the other water birds and his family, he still feels compelled to develop “along other lines” (53). To achieve his goal, Louis decides to find Sam Beaver and ask him for help. The next day, he takes off in a northeasterly direction. When he does not see Sam among the children of the first schoolhouse he lands next, he flies to the next town and spots Sam chopping wood outside a ranch house.

Louis greets Sam by pulling the boy’s shoelace, and Sam recognizes him as the cygnet that never spoke at the pond. Sam invites Louis to stay overnight with his family and guesses that there is something wrong with the young swan’s voice. When Mr. Beaver comes home, Sam explains the situation to his father and asks for permission to keep Louis in the house. After calling the local game warden for advice, Mr. Beaver agrees that Sam can care for the bird for a short period of time. Mrs.