he said, "We have just been down to
Espy's and have bought the squirrel, and have now come to take him
home."

The boy did not move from the place where he stood, and he showed very
plainly by his countenance and his manner, that he did not mean to
give the squirrel up. Presently they heard him mutter to the small
boys,

"I don't believe they have bought him, and they shan't have him."

"Let us go down and take the squirrel away from them," said Phonny, in
a low tone to Wallace; "I don't believe they will give him up, unless
we do."

"We can not do that," said Wallace. "We might take the trap away,
perhaps, but they would first open the trap and let the squirrel go."

"What shall we do, then?" asked Phonny.

Wallace did not answer this question, directly, but called out again
to the boy who held the trap, saying,

"We found the squirrel here in the woods, and then went down to tell
Espy, and we bought the squirrel of him. But we can't carry him home
very well on horseback, at least till we get out of the woods, because
the road is so steep and rough. Now if you will carry him down the
road for us, till we get out of the woods, I will give you six cents."

"Well," said the boy, "I will."

He immediately began to come toward Wallace and Phonny, so as to go
back with them into the road which they were to take. Wallace and
Phonny led the way, and he followed. As soon as he came within
convenient distance for talking, Phonny asked him what sort of a
squirrel it was.

"A gray squirrel," said he. "The prettiest gray squirrel that ever I
saw."

Phonny was very much elated at hearing this intelligence, and wanted
to get off his horse at once, and take a peep at the squirrel; but
Wallace advised him to do no such thing. In due time the whole party
got out of the woods. Wallace gave the boy his six cents, and the boy
handed the trap up to Phonny. Phonny held it upon the pommel of the
saddle, directly before him. He found that the squirrel had gnawed
through the board so as to get his nose out, but he could not gnaw any
more, now that the box was all the time in motion. So he gave it up in
despair, and remained crouched down in a corner of the trap during the
remainder of the ride, wondering all the time what the people outside
were doing with him.

"You managed that boy finely," said Phonny. "He is one of the worst
boys in town."

"It is generally best," said Wallace, "in dealing with people, to
contrive some wa