212 CliUSOE'S ISLAND. 



contained the closely-guarded treasure, for his mouth 

 worked nervously and his eyes sparkled with anticipa- 

 tory triumph. 



Removing the cover, he stood back to enjoy my 

 surprise, which was real, and my praise, which was 

 heartily bestowed ; for, temptingly disposed on slices 

 of crisp brown toast, were those delicacies so sought 

 by the gourmet and assiduously hunted by the French 

 chef when he wishes to crown some menu with glory 

 — ^frog's legs ! 



" Um tink yo' like de crapaud^ ma massa, an' me 

 hunt all de night fo' um. Him berry hard to fin', 

 lemme tell yo' ; but when um fin' um he fat, fat, fat, 

 like yo' see um." 



The crapaudy or great frog, lives in the woods in 

 holes out of sight, coming out only at night, and to 

 be successfully hunted must be looked for by torch- 

 light. He is attracted by the light and hops toward 

 it, uttering a faint squeak at the same time. The 

 hunter picks him up and puts him in a bag, and then 

 goes on for another. 



" Da' same crapaud, sah, him bery wise,"' said 

 Thomas Ned. " Yo' neber lieah 'bout de men what 

 went roun' crapaud huntin', an' done pick up de same 

 old crapaud de whole night t'rough ? No ? Well, 

 den, dey was two men went out one night, t'inkin' 

 fo' to fill um bag wiv fine fat crapaud. Dey go to 

 local'ty where dey plenty crapaud, an' bimeby one 

 see big fellow, he grab um, put um in bag, an' go 

 on ; bimehy hear nudder one squak^ grab um, put 

 he in bag, go on ; no sooner done turn roun' befo' 



