THE TALE OF A FROG. 



275 



OVER THE EDGE OF THE HOGSHEAD. 



about for his accustomed repast. To end 

 his visit, he again mounted the blade of the 

 oar and sat there while he was swung back 

 to the log. Next, he ventured to take 



shiners offered from the hand. Soon he 

 timidly permitted himself to be handled a 

 little, and seemed, after a while, to enjoy 

 a gentle stroking. 



One morning, when Reggy had come on 

 board, as usual, the Doctor rowed with 

 him across the pond to his house, trans- 

 ferring his captive to a headless hogshead 

 set in shallow water. A stone was placed 

 in the center, rising a little above the 

 water, to serve the prisoner for a dry seat, 

 when he desired one. 



There the frog remained a few day^ tak- 

 ing food from his keeper's hand; but one 

 morning he was missing. The first sur- 

 mise was that Reggy had been devoured 

 by a mink or an otter, though the top 

 of the great cask appeared too high for 

 a mink to leap over; but on examining the 

 shore the frog was discovered perched on 

 a decayed stump that was partly under 

 water. When his name was called the frog 

 showed signs of recognition; and he made 

 no opposition to being taken in the hand 

 and carried back to his lonely and con- 

 tracted quarters. Reggy was missing the 

 next morning, also, but was found a short 

 distance from the same old stump. 



The manner of these escapes was a mys- 

 tery. The first thought was that he had 

 burrowed under the cask — though its 

 lower chimb had been ground several inch- 

 es into the sand. Having replaced Reg- 

 gy in the hogshead after his second escape, 

 — and without feeding him — the Doctor 

 stood behind some bushes near and 

 watched. In a few minutes out came the 



CALLING UP HIS BREAKFAST. 



