“Well, there’s a badger and a fisher cat, besides an otter,” replied Arthur, meditatively. “I know it isn’t made by a muskrat, because I’ve seen heaps of their tracks, and I showed you several.”
“We must tell Billy Worth about the big greenback frogs there are up here along the shores of this creek in places,” remarked Harold, as they started down the winding creek, so as to strike its junction with the river, as that would be the easiest way to keep from getting lost, something Harold seemed to dislike the very thought of.
“Why, yes, Billy was always wild over his favorite dish of frog legs,” Arthur admitted. “I’ve known him to spend half a day prowling about in a marsh and working like everything, only to fetch in a couple of measly little saddles that gave him just a few bites.”
“These fellows are whoppers up here,” the tenderfoot continued, “and he could get a dozen if only he made decent shots with that little Flobert rifle he carries with him. Now, I own up I don’t think I’d like frog legs for a meal. I never tasted any, but then I haven’t been much of a hand for eating oysters or clams, though I do like fish; and I hope the boys manage to catch a mess to-day.”
“I’m in the same boat with you, Harold,” agreed the second scout; “but if I get the chance, I’d like to try a taste. Hugh tells me they’re as fine as spring chicken. It seems cruel to kill frogs, but when you want them to eat what difference is it from stepping out in the barnyard and chopping the head off the old family pet of a rooster when the parson comes to dinner?”
Meanwhile the other boys had spent the fine summer morning in pursuits that appealed especially to them. Two of them roamed the neighborhood looking for birds of every description. They were deeply interested in classifying the various species found in New England during the season, with something of their habits as observed by amateur ornithologists.
This sort of thing entailed considerable work. It became necessary to do more or less running in order to make observations, consultations over the guide book that was carried along for reference, and climbing of trees when a nest was discovered; so that, taken all in all, the morning proved to be an exhausting one, even though enjoyable in the extreme.
Then there was another lot who had made a hobby of photography, and they were forever getting some of the others to pose; or else seeking what they termed wonderful views that might take the prize in a competition.
Hugh was interested in many things. He could have entered into each and every separate pursuit undertaken by the others—from fishing, animal tracking, bird lore, and even taking snapshot pictures; for at times he had pursued each and every one of these with his usual vim.
On this morning, however, Hugh was apparently hardly feeling in a humor to undertake any of these attractive things. He hung about the camp doing many little chores that were calculated to add to the attractiveness and comfort of the place during their term of occupation.