“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 worth a quarter. If it’s a red squirrel you may have him for four pence—
“Or for nothing at all,” continued Espy, after a moment’s pause, “just as you please.”
Wallace laughed.