14 THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 



CHAPTER III. 



FLOWERS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



EVER A L weeks after the first hunt for the 

 Antiopa, Tom and Hal, together with Hal's 

 cousin, Johnny Webb, started off one bright 

 May morning to hunt for the small yellow 

 butterflies, which Mr. Benedict had said they 

 would find flying about in the sunny fields. 



It was yet too early in the morning for butterflies to 

 be out, for they keep very quiet until the sun has dried 

 the dew from the grass and flowers, so that they can fly 

 without fear of injuring their delicate wings. But the 

 boys had started off early to have a hunt for flowers and 

 moss for Rose to arrange in her vases. They crossed the 

 road in front of Mr. Merton's house, and climbed over 

 the wall into the pasture. A lot of sleek, sober-looking 

 cows were nipping the short green grass, and lifted their 

 noses with a good-morning sniff as the boys passed. 



"Let 's walk all round by the wall," said Johnny, "and 

 when we get to the farther corner, where the nut-trees 

 are, we '11 climb over into the Birch-grove. Early Saxi- 

 frage grows there, and I told Rose I 'd bring her home 

 a bunch of it." 



