nger and thumb laid thoughtfully against his lip. "Want
wopses now. You get 'em for me."

William roused himself from his bewilderment.

"How--how do you catch 'em?" he said.

"Wings," replied Thomas. "Get hold of their wings an' they don't
sting. Sometimes they do, though," he added casually. "Then your hands
go big."

A wasp settled near him, and very neatly the young naturalist picked
him up and put him in his paper prison.

"Now you get one," he ordered William.

William determined not to be outshone by this minute but dauntless
stranger. As a wasp obligingly settled on a flower near him, he put
out his hand, only to withdraw it with a yell of pain and apply it to
his mouth.

"Oo--ou!" he said. "Crumbs!"

Thomas emitted a peal of laughter.

"You stung?" he said. "Did it sting you? _Funny_!"

William's expression of rage and pain was exquisite to him.

"Come on, boy!" he ordered at last. "Let's go somewhere else."

William's bewildered dignity made a last stand.

"_You_ can go," he said. "I'm playin' by myself."

"All right!" agreed Thomas. "You play by you'self an' me play by
myself, an' we'll be together--playin' by ourselves."

He set off down a path, and meekly William followed.

It must be jolly late--almost tea-time.

"I'm hungry," said Thomas suddenly. "Give me some brekfust."

"I haven't got any," said William irritably.

"Well, find some," persisted the infant.

"I can't. There isn't any to find."

"Well, buy some!"

"I haven't any money."

"Well, buy some money."

Goaded, William turned on him.

"Go away!" he bellowed.

Thomas's blue eyes, beneath a mop of curls, met his coldly.

"Don't talk so loud," he said sternly. "There's some blackberries
there. You can get me some blackberries."

William began to walk away, but Thomas trotted by his side.

"There!" he persisted. "Jus' where I'm pointing. Lovely great big suge
ones. Get 'em for my brekfust."

Reluctantly the scout turned to perform his deed of kindness.

Thomas consumed blackberries faster than William could gather them.

"Up there," he commanded. "No, the one right up there I want. I want
it _kick_. I've etten all the others."

William was scratched and breathless, and his shirt was torn when at
last the rapacious Thomas was satisfied. Then he partook of a little
refreshment himself, while Thomas turned out his pockets.

"I'll let 'em go now," he said.

One of his wood-lice, however, stayed motionless whe