226 DAYS IN THE OPEN 



The two, father and boy, had left the log cabin 

 among the pines soon after breakfast in search of 

 minnows for use in fishing. When they started out 

 the boy went along simply because the two were 

 chums and almost inseparable companions. The 

 father had no thought of what that stream might 

 mean to the lad, and he learned a lesson that morn- 

 ing which he will never forget. He had spent his 

 boyhood in the country and had never stopped to 

 think that the sights and sounds along this stream 

 would all be unfamiliar to his city-bred son. 



They had not gone far up the stream before an- 

 other discovery was made, and two baby snails 

 joined the clam on the seat. Then a crawfish was 

 seen scuttling over the gravel and was added to the 

 collection. By this time the boy was bubbling over 

 with interest and enthusiasm, but when, rounding 

 a bend in the stream, a turtle was discovered sun- 

 ning himself on a bit of drift-wood, it was evident 

 that the wonders of this wonderful stream had 

 reached their climax. Cautiously the boat was 

 moved toward the turtle's resting-place, but just be- 

 fore he was reached he quietly slid off into the 

 water. It would not do to leave the lad in such an 

 ocean of disappointment as swallowed him up when 

 that turtle disappeared, so, with landing net in 

 hand, they watched for his reappearance. It seemed 

 hours to the boy before the beady eyes of the turtle 

 were seen looking up at them from the moss where 

 he had found a hiding-place. Then a careful man- 



