2;4 



RECREATION. 



broken by a big voice that seemed some- 

 where between me and the shore: 



"Zee dar!" (cedar?). 



"Made-of-oak," promptly asserted a 

 grum voice on the other hand, and a little 

 nearer. 



Were the inhabitants of this forest-bound 

 cove making comments on the material of 

 my boat? 



The Doctor had related that, one morn- 

 ing in the spring, while angling with a 

 worm, in this part of the pond, for min- 

 nows to serve as bait for salmon trout, 

 he had noted a large bullfrog perched on 

 a half sunken log near the margin. When 



PERCHED ON A HALF SUNKEN LOG. 



he pulled up a shiner the amphibian on the 

 log watched the little fish intently as it 

 swung about, wriggling on the hook. The 

 rod was given a movement which brought 

 the minnow within about a foot of the frog. 

 Instantly he made a leap and caught the 

 bait in his capacious mouth. The Doctor 

 partially wound in his line and attempted 

 to lift his catch into the boat, but the frog 

 threw his fore legs about the hook and 

 struggled violently. Finally, he let go of 

 the fish, dropped into the water and disap- 

 peared. 



The Doctor said this frog was of about 

 the average size of a full grown individual 

 of his species, his body measuring 6 inches 

 in length and half that in width, while his 

 length from the end of his nose to the tips 

 of his toes was about 13 inches. The up- 

 per portions of the body and legs were of a 

 dull green color, with numerous obscure 

 dark spots. 



When my craft drifted against the lily 

 pads, the shock caused a violent move- 

 ment of the water and a beating of the 

 leaves against one another, silencing the 

 frogs again. Then, held by the pads, the 

 boat ceased to drift, the water subsided to 



a gentle rocking which made me sleepy, 

 and I lay down in the bottom of the boat. 



I heard the frogs say almost simultan- 

 eously, something which sounded like 



"Resume; re-soo-oome." 



The Doctor's story was slowly drifting 

 through my drowsy brain. Was I recalling 

 my friend's story, or hearing the frog's 

 version of the affair? If not the latter, 

 why should 1 have heard the other frogs 

 exclaiming just then, as if in sympathy 

 with their comrade, 



"Blude-an-ouns! Zounds! Resoo-oome." 



The goggle-eyed babbler lifted his head 

 farther out of water by placing his webbed 

 fingers on the edge of a broad lily leaf, 

 cleared his throat, "Hm-m-m," and be- 

 gan to mumble something which may, 

 perhaps, have been the continuation of his 

 story. I shall not attempt to follow him, 

 but give you his captor's version of the 

 affair, as nearly as I am able. 



In a few moments after his escape from 

 the hook, the green nose of the frog again 

 rose above water close at the side of the 

 log, and he shortly climbed to his former 

 perch. Subsequently, for several days he 

 was found occupying the same log, and 

 was treated regularly to a breakfast of 

 minnows, which were conveyed to him by^ 

 a rod and line, attached in such manner 

 that Reggy, as he had been named, could 

 readily take the fish without being hooked. 

 A favorable acquaintance being thus 

 brought about, the frog was taken into the 

 boat by means of a little fish on a large, 

 dull hook. He was disengaged without 

 apparent injury, but much alarmed at be- 

 ing handled. After about half an honr's 

 detention in the boat he was permitted to 

 plunge into the water. 



REGGY. 



A few days later Reggy was induced to 

 mount the blade of the oar, as it rested 

 on the log, to take his fish; and soon 

 he would remain on it while he was swung 

 into the boat, where he would alight ana 

 gather up the wriggling minnow. Finally, 

 he became so tame, he would go on board 

 in that manner without the . enticement of 

 any visible bait; and then would search 



