208 



In Quesl of 

 ^Waptonk 



ii 



asm* 



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steadily across the shore, with a funny effect 

 of carrying their knees up close to their 

 shoulders, and glided easily into the friendly 

 waters. There was another low call from 

 the gray mate; then Waptonk, though he 

 had not turned his head nor taken his keen 

 eyes for an instant from my face, turned 

 swiftly aside and threw himself into the 

 water. A push or two from his powerful 

 webs, and he was floating safely far beyond 

 my reach, still looking back at me alertly 

 over his shoulder as he surged away. 



The little family glided swiftly along the 

 pond shore, the mother leading them and 

 talking to them reassuringly. Between them 

 and me hovered Waptonk, swinging back 

 and forth on his watchful patrol, till they 

 disappeared from sight; then he glided 

 silently after them into a muddy lagoon 

 v-:: rx where the treacherous bogs for- 

 \mP' i 4$8&?k bade any human 



ifey f 





foot to follow. 





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