No sooner, however, had Ned and Jerry gotten a good hold, and were about to haul in, than the professor, with a combination wiggle and squirm turned over, hitched himself along the deck, sat upright and yelled:
“I’ve got it! I’ve got it! Oh, you little beauty! Oh, you prize! I thought you’d never come near enough but you did, and now you’re mine!”
Over his head he swung his large butterfly net, with a long handle, and before the astonished boys could ask what was the meaning of his conduct, the scientist gathered into a small space in a pocket in the bottom of the net, a tiny insect, something like a dragon-fly. Then, having insured the safety of his specimen, Mr. Snodgrass looked calmly at the boys who stood regarding him with amazement and fear mingled on their faces.
“Well, I got it,” said the scientist coolly.
“Got what?” asked Jerry, a little provoked at the scare they had received.
“This high-flying June bug. That’s not the scientific name for it, but the Latin one is so long you wouldn’t understand it. I’ve got him!” and the professor eagerly peered at his prize.
“We thought we had lost you,” spoke Ned significantly.
“Lost me—how?”
“Why, when we saw you lying over the edge of the deck we were afraid you had nearly fallen overboard.”