The three chums piled into the professor’s room, and in the light of Bob’s lamp saw a curious sight.
[Dancing about in fear and pain was Mr. Buttle.] Fast to the thumb of each hand was an enormous, pinching, black beetle, some of the specimens recently gathered by the professor. The boxes were scattered about the room, and the scientist with apprehension on his face was scurrying about, gathering up several choice insects which had been released by the intruder.
[DANCING ABOUT IN FEAR AND PAIN WAS MR. BUTTLE.]
“Take these beasts off me or I’ll sue ye!” cried Mr. Buttle. “Take ’em away ’fore they eat my thumbs off! Wow! Jehoshaphat, how they pinch!”
[CHAPTER VIII]
A DISAPPOINTMENT
For a few moments the boys stood there almost spellbound, gazing at the startled farmer, on whose face the look of pain increased.
“How did it happen?” demanded Jerry, when the intruder into the professor’s room had succeeded in shaking off the two beetles, and was looking critically at his injured thumbs. The insects had drawn blood.