MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



and if I bungle and let it escape, I never will forgive 

 myself. " 



She swung the horse to the other side, and I climbed 

 down. Gathering my skirts, I crossed the ditch as best 

 I could, and reached the lily bed, but I was trembling 

 until my knees wavered. I stepped between the lilies 

 and the cornfield, leaned over breathlessly, and waited 

 in the pelting rain, until the moth again raised its wings 

 above its back. Then with a sweep learned in childhood, 

 I had it. 



While crossing the ditch, I noticed there were numbers 

 of heavy yellow paper bags lying where people had 

 thrown them when emptied of bananas and biscuits, 

 on leaving town. They were too wet to be safe, but to 

 carry the moth in my fingers would spoil it for a study, 

 so I caught up and drained a big bag; carefully set my 

 treasure inside, and handed it to Molly-Cotton. If you 

 consider the word "treasure," too strong to fit the case, 

 offer me your biggest diamond, ruby, or emerald, in 

 recompense for the privilege of striking this chapter, 

 with its accompanying illustration from my book and 

 learn what the answer will be. 



When I entered the carriage and dried my face and 

 hands, we peeped, marvelled, and exclaimed in wonder, 

 for this was the most gorgeous moth of our collections. 

 We hastened to Portland, where we secured a large box 

 at a store. In order that it might not be dark and set 



340 



