THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 2/ 



the hill-pasture. This was where Mr. Merton's oxen were 

 turned out to lie in the grass when they were not in 

 use. One splendid pair were lying there now, and they 

 lifted their large eyes drowsily as the boys ran past them. 

 Tom was in hot pursuit of a great butterfly he had just 

 started up from a bunch of Clover. He raced over to 

 the farther side of the pasture, and clearing the wall at 

 one bound, disappeared on the other side. Soon Hal saw 

 his net flying along far up the road, and at last go out 

 of sight behind a big cluster of Willows. 



Hal himself soon found several of the butterflies he had 

 come out to hunt for hovering round the margin of a 

 shallow pool in the pasture ; and after creeping about 

 slyly for some time, he succeeded in capturing several 

 fine specimens. He gave them a dose of ether, and then 

 climbed over into the road on the opposite side of the 

 pasture from where he had entered it. Then he sat down 

 on a big stone to arrange the wings of his butterflies and 

 to wait for Tom's reappearance. 



Before long Tom came back, his face flushed with his 

 long race. He carried his little box very carefully in his 

 hand. 



"O Hal!" said he, as soon as he came near enough to 

 speak, " I 've caught a splendid fellow ! Look here," 



He opened his box and displayed a large black butterfly 

 with brilliant dots on its wings. 



