THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 



Ill 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE BOATING-PARTY. — DRAGON-FLIES. 



^^JNE pleasant afternoon the boys all met in 



the grove on the shore of the pond. 



Frank, as usual, was skipping about, and 



had just tumbled and rolled over and over 



on the grass when Mr. Benedict came up 



the lane and joined the party. 



"Take care, Frankie," said he; "if you stand on your 



little feet in that fashion we shall have to leave you at 



home." 



"O, I '11 do just what you tell me to," said Frank. 

 Just then a splendid green Dragon-Fly darted past them, 

 and Frank with a great flourish threw his net. " Hurrah 

 for the first specimen ! " said he ; but he looked suddenly 

 very blank as the insect quietly soared off over his head. 

 " Why did n't you catch him, Frankie ? " said Tom. 

 "You try, and then you will know without asking," re- 

 plied Frank. " But only see how many Dragon-Flies there 

 are off over those blue Pickerel-Weed blossoms in the 

 water." 



" What did you call those blue flowers, Frank ? " asked 

 Tom. 



