THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 1 23 



The morning they were to start, about a dozen boys 

 came to Mr. Benedict's room. Each boy had a small 

 leather wallet slung on one side to hold his luncheon, 

 and in addition they all carried their butterfly-nets, for 

 they depended upon enriching their collection while they 

 were away, if not with new varieties still with more perfect 

 specimens of what they already had. Frank was going 

 too. He was very sure he could walk as far as any of 

 them. 



It was a very fair morning for such a start. To save 

 time they took the cars for the first twenty miles, and 

 then, leaving the towns and villages behind them, they 

 entered the mountains. They were all in fine spirits, and 

 walked with a very quick step. 



" I say, boys," said Mr. Benedict at length, " we must 

 walk slower. You start as though you were only going to 

 the class-room. At this rate we shall all give out before 

 noon, and you know we are starting for a whole day's 

 tramp." 



Frank was more excited than any of the others. He 

 talked all the time, and asked questions about everything 

 they saw along the road. 



" Frank seems to think every new place is full of new 

 things," said Ben, who was still a little out of humor that 

 so small a boy should be one of the party. 



"Well, I think you are always cross, Ben," said Frank, 

 "and I don't think that is anything new." 



