Culter Academy Library 



250 DAYS IN THE OPEN 



to slide as a boy. Slowly and with exceeding cau- 

 tion the adventurer made his way inch by inch 

 along the log until he had reached a point from 

 which he could drop his hook into that most attrac- 

 tive opening in the brush. Balancing himself care- 

 fully, he allowed that mass of wriggling worms to 

 touch the surface of the water when but now 

 we'll go back to the Bully. 



When he saw that bunch of angleworms just 

 above him he forgot the crooked worm which had 

 pricked him in his childhood. He was sure that 

 here was the most satisfying morsel that had ever 

 come his way and rushed for it. He closed his 

 jaws on only a part of the mass, and the rest dis- 

 appeared, much to his disappointment. What he 

 secured made him eager for more. It was dis- 

 tinctly more palatable than anything he had tasted 

 for many a moon. Just as he was longing for more 

 of the same kind behold ! another bunch of wrig- 

 gling, squirming worms appeared in almost the 

 same spot. This time he did not propose to lose 

 any of this meal so providentially provided, and 

 he made a rush that enabled him not only to grab 

 the entire mass, but to get it well back in his mouth. 

 Then came that upward pull which he had felt in 

 former experiences. He kicked and struggled and 

 threshed, making the water boil about him. For 

 a little his upward progress seemed to be stayed 

 and he imagined that he would get free after all. 

 Then his ascent began again and continued, despite 



