136 THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 



making excursions round on the mountains whenever they 

 felt inclined. When their week was up they could go 

 directly home in the steam-cars. The boys all agreed 

 heartily to this plan, for they had not seen half enough 

 of the gorge nor of the mountains around it. 



"I think I should like to pedestrian a Httle longer," 

 said Frank, with a comical smile ; " but I 'm willing to 

 stay here, as Ben is so tired." 



They all laughed at Frank's ready jokes, and Ben joined, 

 with them. 



"I shall always after this vote for Frank," said he, "for 

 you can neither drown him nor get him tired. I dare 

 say his feet have not a single blister on them." 



After a few more days of delightful scrambling over the 

 rocks, Mr. Benedict and his young pupils bid good by 

 to the mountains and reached home in safety. Then came 

 four long weeks of vacation. The teacher was away, and 

 many of the boys had gone off in various directions. Tom 

 and Hal were too much interested in Annie to care to 

 leave her again. Of course Johnny stayed at home, and 

 the three boys, together with Rose, spent many long quiet 

 hours in Annie's room. They brought all their butterflies 

 here and arranged them neatly in the cases they had 

 made for their collection. These cases were large, deep 

 frames, with corks firmly glued on to the back at suitable 

 intervals for the different sized butterflies. They placed 



