During this time, Duck as usual made herself busy around the camp, 
tidying up and fixing their meals, doing laundry on the rocks by the river, and 
mending their clothes that had become ragged during their wanderings. Peter 
became restless. He was quick with words, but he had not learned the trick of 
reading, and so the books from King Magpie's library were of no use to him save 
as nest-lining material. He got into the habit of exploring the surrounding 
forests, particularly the ones to the north. At first he would be gone for a 
few hours at a time, but once he stayed away all night and did not come back 
until the following noon. Then he began to go on trips for several days at a 
time.