fraid that there
would be some fighting. John and the boy stood looking at each other for
a little while; but at last, the boy seeing that John was not afraid of
him, picked up his hat and walked off, muttering that he did not care
for any body. "He had better go," said John. When his brother began to
grow calm, Thomas told him that he ought not to get so angry, for he
could have driven off the boy just as well, by speaking quietly to him.
"I have seen him once or twice before," added Thomas, "and I hear that
he is a very bad boy."

[Illustration]

CHAPTER IX.

THE HARD BATTLE.

In coming home by some cherry trees that stood near the fence, Samuel
saw a little animal, larger than a bat, fly swiftly from one branch to
another. He asked his cousins if it was not a flying squirrel. Thomas
answered, "Yes. Several nests of them are in these trees. If you could
examine one of these squirrels closely, you would see that its wings, as
they are called, are not like bird's wings."

"They seem more like a bat's wings," said Samuel.

"So they are," replied his cousin; "only thin skins, stretched along the
sides from the fore legs to the hind ones. But these squirrels cannot
fly far, nor stay long in the air, as bats can. They merely dart swiftly
from one branch to another."

"What other kinds of squirrels are there?" asked Samuel.

"The grey squirrel," said Thomas, "much larger than this one. It is not
often found about here. Then the ground squirrel, that lives in the
ground, instead of on the trees. The common squirrel, such as you see
running about the fences and woods; and two or three other kinds. Some
people eat squirrels; but I have never tasted one."

The boys now heard some one screaming, and stopped to listen. "It comes
from that field," said John; "let us run and see what is the matter."
They did so, and soon saw that the big dog they had passed in going to
the creek, had got out, and was chasing a boy. This boy was screaming
with fear; and John perceived that he was the boy who had been stoning
frogs. But the boys ran with all their might to help him, picking up
such stones and sticks as lay on the ground, in their way. When they
reached the boy, he was pale with fear, for the dog was close to him.
Samuel also felt a little afraid; but he joined his two cousins in
trying to beat the dog back. The fierce animal got John's stick in his
mouth, and wrenched it out of his hand; but he kicked it in the jaws