The Swan is a short story from Roald Dahl, often read published within The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More (1977) . It relates the tale of the boys Ernie and his friend Raymond, who like to bully Peter Watson. When Ernie receives a rifle for his fifteenth birthday, they both decide to go to the rabbit field, shooting birds on their way. There, they quarrel with Peter, and something entirely unexpected takes place.