"I should say not!" exclaimed another voice, and they looked up to see Uncle Fred standing near them. He had followed Daddy and Mother Bunker to the place where the boys were fishing.
"What is it?" asked Russ.
"That's a snapping turtle—not a mud turtle," went on the ranchman. "They're very hard biters, and if a big one gets hold of your finger or toe he might bite it off, or at least hurt it very much. So keep away from these fellows."
"I thought it didn't look like a mud turtle," said Russ.
"It is something like one, but different in shape," went on Uncle Fred. "We'll just cut this one off your line, Laddie."
The line was cut, and the turtle, that had the hook in its mouth, crawled down toward the creek. It had tried to crawl away before, but could not because the fishing line held it.
"They get their mouth closed tight, and don't like to open their jaws," said Uncle Fred, as the turtle disappeared under the water with a splash. "But I guess this one will open his mouth and let go the hook when he gets off by himself. This is the largest snapper I've seen around here. The Indians say they're good to eat, but I've never tried it."
"Well, I did catch something like a riddle, didn't I?" asked Laddie.
"Yes. And Uncle Fred guessed the riddle," answered Russ. "Now we'll fish some more."
"And I don't want to catch any more snappers," said Laddie, when Uncle Fred had fastened a new hook on his line.