THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 7 



is over I shall go straight through mud and water, and 

 so will you. To-day we will only hunt round the barns 

 and woodshed, although Mr. Benedict says the Antiopa 

 is often found in warm, sunny places in the woods. 



"Who is Mr. Benedict.?" 



" He is our teacher. A real jolly man he is, too, and 

 all the boys like him. But why did n't you bring out 

 your net } " 



" Rose has not finished it yet. I shall catch about as 

 much with the net in her work-basket as if I had it out 

 here." 



" Don't say that, Tom. But as your hands are empty, 

 you may as well carry my box." 



" You don't expect to fill this big box to-day, do you } " 



"The box will hold 07ze, if I have the luck to catch it," 

 said Hal, laughing. " But, you see, perhaps we shall hunt 

 for nothing all day. Butterfly-hunting takes just as much 

 patience and skill as fishing, only it is more active sport." 



While they were talking, the two boys walked leisurely 

 along through the yard back of Mr. Merton's house. They 

 climbed over the bars, and went down the lane to the 

 barn. 



" Hal, what are you going to do with this ether ? " 

 asked Tom. "The smell makes me feel just as if I was 

 going to have a tooth pulled." 



" I am going to serve the butterflies just as the dentist 



