CHAPTER VII
A CURIOUS RACE
"What's the matter?"
"Is anybody killed?"
"Oh, there's some one under the locomotive! A child!"
"I'm going to faint! I know I'm going to faint!" exclaimed a very fatlady, making her voice heard above the others who had given utteranceto the excited expressions. "Catch me, some one!"
But as no one seemed capable of sustaining her weight, the fat ladyconcluded not to faint. Meanwhile there was considerable excitement,for the professor continued to kneel beside the locomotive, makingsignals to the engineer to bring the ponderous machine to a stop.
And the engineer did. With a face that went white under its coatingof oil and grime he slapped on the air brakes with a suddenness thatbrought the train up with a smashing bang. Then, as the released airhissed through the valves, the driver leaned from the cab window andhoarsely asked:
"How'd he get under there? I didn't see him. Did I run over him?"
"Not quite, but almost!" exclaimed Professor Snodgrass, as he reachedunder the great driving wheels and lifted something out. "It was anarrow escape. If you had run over this bug you would have killed itsure, and it's worth at least seven dollars for my collection."
"Bug!" fairly yelled the engineer. "Do you mean to say you made allthat fuss, and stopped the train on account of a bug?"
"Certainly," replied the scientist coolly. "It is a very rare specimenof a red beetle, seldom seen in this part of the country. I saw it onthe track just as you were about to run over it. Fortunately I stoppedyou in time," and he carefully put the beetle in one of his specimenboxes, and looked around for the boys.
"Stopped me in time! I should say you did!" gasped the now angryengineer. "I slapped on the emergency air when I heard you yellingthat way. I thought it was a kid under the machine. And all for abug--a bug! I guess that ain't the _only_ bug around here, either,"and he looked significantly at the professor who, however, was calmlyunconscious of the glance. "Can I start now?" sarcastically enquiredthe engineer, "or is there more live stock under my driving wheels?Hey?"
"No more--unfortunately," replied the professor, with great goodnature, after a glance under the locomotive, to make certain. "I wishthere was, but I will have to be content with this one. Now boys, I'mglad to see you," and he turned to greet the three chums, who up tothis time had been too surprised at the sudden and odd turn of eventsto speak to their friend.
"We're glad to see you!" exclaimed Jerry, holding out his hand.
"And I you!" cried the scientist. "I always have good luck when I'mwith you boys, and it has started early this time."
"So we see," observed Ned.
"You haven't changed any since our last trip," remarked Bob. "You'restill after specimens."
"And I will be, as long as I can see, and handle my butterfly net,"declared Mr. Snodgrass. "Ah, there is our little excitable friend, AndyRush. Glad to see you, Andy."
"How are you Mr. Snodgrass? My--a bug on the rail--almost runover--great excitement--woman nearly fainted--slam on the breaks--blowup the boiler--hold down the safety valve--sand the tracks--get thebug--whoop!"
"Yes--er--ah--um!" murmured the professor, looking over the top of hisspectacles at Andy. "You haven't changed either."
"We've got the auto all ready for you," explained Jerry, as he led theway to the waiting car. "You came in good season, Professor Snodgrass,as we're about to start off on another little air-trip."
"Not over the ocean I hope this time," exclaimed the scientist, "forthe specimen I am now after is not to be found at sea. So if you'regoing over the water I'm afraid I can't be with you."
"What are you after this trip?" asked Ned.
"A green flying frog," explained the professor gravely. "The museumby which I am employed needs one of these rare specimens, and I haveengaged to spend my entire vacation looking for it. They are only to befound inland, however, and, so far as is known, such frogs only existin Java. But I have made a study of the creature, and I see no reasonwhy it should not be discovered in this country, especially fartherwest, in some of the great forests.
"This frog has a sort of membrane between its legs, like a flyingsquirrel, and in addition to that feature it has the power of changingits color like the chameleon. Ordinarily it is light green on top, andwhite on the under parts, but it may become orange-hued, or even pinkor brown. I have great hopes of finding one, and if I do, I will berichly repaid for my trouble, and our museum will have a great prize."
"Well, I don't know as we're going any place where there are flyingfrogs," said Jerry, "but we are going to an aviation meet, and afterthat we have made no plans. We'd be glad to have you go with us."
"I'll certainly go," promised the professor, as they got in the auto,and started toward Jerry's house, where the little scientist was tomake a visit. "Do you suppose you'll head for the middle west?"
"Very likely," said Bob. "We haven't been out there in some time, andit might be well to make a trip to see how our gold mine is coming on."
"Oh, I guess it's going all right," came from Jerry, as he speeded upthe car. "We get our dividends regularly."
The professor was busy arranging his specimen boxes about him inthe tonneau of the car, where he sat with Bob and Andy Rush. Thelong-handled butterfly net was thrust down behind the lap-robe rail,and the cloth part fluttered in the air like a flag of distress,causing on the part of pedestrians several curious glances at the auto.But the professor little cared for that.
"Would you mind slackening speed somewhat," begged the scientist asthey neared Jerry's house.
"Why?" inquired the tall youth.
"Well, I can't tell whether or not we are passing any valuable insectson the bushes," explained the professor, as he peered through hispowerful spectacles at the shrubbery that lined the roadway. "I mustlose no chances of getting specimens," he innocently explained, "so Ithought if you could run more slowly I might sight a rare bug or worm:Ha--there! Stop if you please, Jerry!"
Jerry brought the car up with a jerk, and, almost before it had ceasedmoving the professor was out, and had darted to a blackberry bush, netin hand.
He made a swoop, gathered a part of the net in his fingers, lookedclosely at what was in it, and then exclaimed:
"Oh, pshaw! it's only a common June bug. I thought I had a sevenwinged dragon fly. Go ahead Jerry. I hope I have better luck when Ilook for the flying frog?"
During this time Andy Rush had said little, but the manner in which hefidgeted about on the seat, and the way in which his lips moved, showedthat he was holding something back with a great effort.
Jerry swung the car up in front of his house, and as he and his chumsand their guest alighted, the excitable little chap asked:
"Say, professor, is there really a flying frog--one that sails throughthe air--like an aeroplane--over the trees--'round in a circle--fasterand faster--is there really--whoop!"
Andy ended up with a vigorous swinging of his arms. The professorlooked curiously at him, and then, without a word, made a jump for thesmall chap.
Surprise manifested on his face, Andy leaped back out of reach of thebutterfly net that was extended toward him. The scientist took anotherforward step. Andy leaped back still more, and then, as if alarmed atthe manner of the bug-collector, the boy turned and ran down the street.
"Hold on! Come back here at once! I want you! You must not get awayfrom me! Stop I say!"
The race was on, each one running at top speed.
"Don't let him catch me! Don't!" yelled Andy, working his legs to theirlimit. "I didn't mean anything! I wasn't making fun of the flying frog!Don't catch me!"
"Stop! Stop I say!" ordered the professor imperiously.
"By Jove!" exclaimed Jerry. "The professor is angry at Andy. He thinkshe's been making game of him. If he catches him he may hurt the littlefellow."
"What, the professor? He wouldn't hurt a fly unless he wanted it for aspecimen," spoke Ned.
"Maybe that's what he wants of A
ndy--he's so little," ventured Bob.
"Well, he'll soon have him at the rate he's going," predicted Jerry,for the scientist was now almost up to the small fellow, who was stillbegging to be let alone, while the professor was shouting:
"Stop! Stop I say! Come back here at once!"