Billy, however, had at once seen the possibilities of this new development, and his face lit up instantly with all the keen excitement of a fox-terrier in the act of pouncing on a rat. "We must take a rise out o' Grizzly Jim," he whispered eagerly to his comrade in mischief.
As for Jim, he seemed to play right into the young rascals' hands, for the first remark he made was this: "The schoolmaster has jest bin sayin', boys, that you've got my badger in that 'ere dog-kennel."
"Wal, and what if we have?" asked Billy, boldly.
"Oh! I'm makin' no complaint. But here's his box for the railroad, and I think we'd best put him in it right now. P'raps you'll lend me a hand, youngsters?"
"Right you are, Jim," cried both boys with alacrity, advancing towards the kennel.
"Did jevver know sich luck?" asked Billy, in a whisper, nudging his companion with his elbow.
"It's 'nough to make a feller die with laughin'," chuckled Dick, under his breath.
"Guess, then, yer not afeared o' badgers, you boys?" drawled Jim, setting down the box.
"Not badgers of this sort," replied Billy, with a grimace.
"So you've found out this 'un's only a babby?" continued the trapper; "hasn't got all his teeth yet, eh, an' couldn't scratch very hard if he tried?" As Jim spoke he picked up the slack of the chain, to the boys' intense delight.