StNicholas [serial] . uldeven hear the swish of a grasshoppers wings inthe dry grass where the sun beat down, and afaint chirp from across the stream suggested thesong of a cricket. Once Donald turned an in-quiring eye in the direction of the sound. Itmight mean only a cricket, and again it might bethe Boy. But the faint undertone whirred on,and no other sound indicated the presence of hisfriend. I hope that he can come to-day, the little fel-low said aloud. It s three days now since hewas here. A hoarse croak from the fern-hung bank madethe little boy start. i9io.] THE NONSENSE BOY 983 Rather
StNicholas [serial] . uldeven hear the swish of a grasshoppers wings inthe dry grass where the sun beat down, and afaint chirp from across the stream suggested thesong of a cricket. Once Donald turned an in-quiring eye in the direction of the sound. Itmight mean only a cricket, and again it might bethe Boy. But the faint undertone whirred on,and no other sound indicated the presence of hisfriend. I hope that he can come to-day, the little fel-low said aloud. It s three days now since hewas here. A hoarse croak from the fern-hung bank madethe little boy start. i9io.] THE NONSENSE BOY 983 Rather anxiously he peered down into the shady You dont really care much about frogs, do clump of green ferns. As he watched them the you? he ventured at length. I mean —that croaking sounded again, an alarming croak, to you re not—not—specially good friends with say the least; the ferns bent, straightened, and them, are you ? slowly rose. A pair of shining brown eyes peered No frog shall ever say that I am his enemy,. 0 v THE KNIGHT PROMPTLY SPRANG TO THE LITTLE SLAVES RESCUE. (SEE NEXT PAGE.) under the leaves, and Donald clapped his handsin glee as he recognized the Boy. Come along! he shouted jubilantly. I foundyou! Please come up, and stop being a frog. Why, Donald, I m surprised, reproached theBoy, teasingly. May I ask, he went on in avery dignified tone, just what are your objec-tions to frogs? The little chap, sunk in his chair, seemed some-what crestfallen. grandly announced the Boy, and then the distresson his little friends face suddenly became clearto him. Instantly he dropped his cloak of non-sense. Oh, say, Don, old man, you know I monly joking. You dont have to like frogs orany other old thing to be a chum of mine. The clouds sped away from the sensitive littleface, and a flush of pride swept brow and cheek. I m glad to be your chum, he said, becauseyou can do so many wonderful things. Funny 984 THE NONSENSE BOY [Sept., how you can make words jingle as you do, hew
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