His leap proved quicker than the bird's strike. The bill struck a now vacant log with a loud clack, but by that time James kicked his webbed hind legs and swam farther out into the pond's still waters.
The bird flapped its wings and ruffled its feathers, clearly irritated at missing its dinner.
In his little green chest, his little amphibious heart was beating wildly. "That was too close!" James thought.
His body was naturally buoyant, but he still needed to kick his webbed feet from time to time to keep treading water. He stared with his bulbous eyes as the heron slipped back into the tall reeds and disappeared.
James wasn't going to be fooled twice. He suspected the bird was lurking under cover, ready for him to let down his guard again.
All the time, the movement as he kicked his little webbed feet attracted some attention from below...