ispiece.]

There were two boys standing upon the bank in one place fishing. Two
other boys were near the water at a little distance, trying to make a
dog jump in, by throwing in sticks and stones.

Just as Wallace and Phonny came along, one of the boys who was
fishing, called out in a loud and authoritative tone to one of those
who were trying to make the dog jump in, saying,

"Hey-e-e, there! Oliver, don't throw sticks into the water; you scare
away all the fish."

"Ned!" said Phonny, calling out to the boy who was fishing.

The boy looked round, without, however, moving his fishing-pole.

"Is Espy down there anywhere?" said Phonny.

Here the boy turned his head again toward the water, without directly
answering Phonny, though he called out at the same time in an audible
voice,

"Espy!"

In answer apparently to his call, a boy came suddenly out of a little
thicket which was near the water, just below where Ned was fishing,
and asked Ned what he wanted.

"There's a fellow out here in the road," said Ned, "calling for you."

Hearing this, the boy came out of the thicket entirely, and scrambled
up the bank. He stood at the top of the bank, looking toward Wallace
and Phonny, but did not advance. His hand was extended toward a
branch of the tree which he had taken hold of to help him in climbing
up the bank. He continued to keep hold of this tree, showing by his
attitude that he did not mean to come any farther.

He was in fact a little awed at the sight of Wallace, who was a
stranger to him. He did not know whether he was wanted for any good
purpose, or was going to be called to account for some of his
misdeeds.

"Come here a minute," said Phonny.

Espy did not move.

"Is that your trap up in the woods?" asked Phonny.

"Yes," said Espy.

"There is a squirrel in it," rejoined Phonny, "and I want to buy him."

Hearing this, the boys who had been playing with the dog began to move
up toward Wallace and Phonny. Espy himself taking his hand down from
the tree, came forward a few steps. Wallace and Phonny too advanced a
little with their horses toward the stream, and thus the whole party
came nearer together.

"There is a squirrel in your trap," repeated Phonny, "if he has not
gnawed out;--and I want to buy him. What will you sell him for?"

"What kind of a squirrel is it?" asked Espy.

"I don't know," said Phonny. "I couldn't see any thing but his eyes."

"If it's a gray squirrel," said Espy, "he is