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j ." SOCIOmGY
~ THE ESSENTIALS
.w J

" ~ R-~," tenth tuition

Margaret L. Andersen
University of Delaware

Howard F. Taylor
Princeton University

~- tr~ CENGAGE
Sociology: The Essentials, Tenth Editio n 0 2020, 2017, Ceng ag e Learnin g, Inc.
Ma rg a re t L. An d e rsen an d H o w a rd F. Tayl o r
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BRIEF CONTENTS

PART ONE Introducing the Sociological Imagination


1 The Sociological Perspective 1

PART TWO Studying Society and Social Structure


2 Culture 27

3 Doing Sociological Research s9

4 Socialization and the Life Course 79

5 Social Structure and Social Interaction 104

6 Groups and Organizations 126

7 Deviance and Crime 149

PART THREE Social Inequalities


8 Social Class and Social Stratification 175

9 Global Stratification 208

10 Race and Ethnicity 235

11 Gender 268

12 Sexuality 298

PART FOUR Social Institutions


13 Families and Religion 325

14 Education and Health Care 362

15 Economy and Politics 391

PART FIVE Social Change


16 Environment, Population, and Social Change 425
CONTENTS

PART ONE Introducing the Sociological Imagination

1 The Sociological Perspective 1 did


What Is Sociology? 2 Conflict Theory 21
Symbolic Interaction 22
The Sociological Perspective 4 Feminist Theory 23
Discovering Unsettling Facts 6 Chapter Summary 25
Debunking in Sociology 8
Establishing Critical Distance 10 Key Sociological Concepts 3
The Significance of Diversity 10 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Getting Pregnant: A Very
Defining Diversity 10
Social Act 5
Society in Global Perspective 14
Doing Sociological Research
The Development of Sociological
Evicted 9
Theory 14
Understanding Diversity
The Influence of the Enlightenment 15 Become a Sociologist 12
Classical Sociological Theory 15
Sociology in the United States 18 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Suicide among Veterans 16
Theoretical Frameworks in Sociology 19
Careers in Sociology 24
Functionalism 19

PART TWO Studying Society and Social Structure

2 wore a "UEOIl
Defining Culture 28 Theoretical Perspectives on Culture and the
The Power of Culture: Ethnocentrism, Media 51
Cultural Relativism, and Culture Culture and Group Solidarity 52
Shock 30 Culture, Power, and Social Conflict 53
Characteristics of Culture 32 Symbolic Interaction and the Study
The Elements of Culture 35 of Culture 54
Feminist Theory and Culture 54
Language 35
Norms 38 Cultural Chang e 55
Beliefs 39 Culture Lag 55
Values 39 Sources of Cultural Change 55
Cultural Diversity 41 Chapter Summary 57
Dominant Culture 41 Doing Sociological Research
Subcultures 43 Tattoos: Status Risk or Status Symbol? 34
Countercultures 44
The Globalization of Culture 44 Understanding Diversity
The Social Meaning of Language 39
The Mass Media and Popular Culture 45
A Sociological Eye on the Media
The Organization ofMass Media 48 Death of a Superstar 46
Race, Gender, and Class in the Media 49

-
€ontents -

3 Doing Sociological Research 59

The Research Process 60 Participant Observation 70


Sociology and the Scientific Method 61 Controlled Experiments 71
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning 62 Content Analysis 74
Historical Research 75
Research Design 63 Evaluation Research 75
Developing a Research Question 63 Research Ethics: Is Sociology Value Free? 76
Creating a Research Design 65
Quantitative versus Qualitative Research 66 Chapter Summary 77
Gathering Data 68
Analyzing the Data 68 Doing Sociological Research
Reaching Conclusions and Reporting Results 69 Lives in Limbo 60
A Sociological Eye on the Media
The Tools of Sociological Research 69
Fake News, Research, and the Media 63
The Survey: Polls, Questionnaires, and
Statistics in Sociology 72
Interviews 69

4socializati on and the Life course 7s

The Socialization Process 8 0 Aging and the Life Course 94


The Nature-Nurture Controversy 81 Childhood 94
Socialization as Social Control 8 1 Adolescence 95
Conformity and Individuality 8 2 Adulthood 96
The Consequences of Socialization 82 Age and Aging 97
Agents of Socialization 83 Rites of Passage 100
The Family 84 Resocialization 101
The Media 85 The Process ofConversion 102
Peers 85 The Brainwashing Debate 102
Religion 86
Chapter Summary 103
Sports 8 7
Schools 8 8 Understanding Diversity
Theories of Socialization 88 International Adoption 81
Social Leaming Theory 8 9 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Functionalism 8 9 Children and Disasters 86
Conflict Theory 8 9 Doing Sociological Research
Symbolic Interaction Theory 9 0 Resilience among Undocumented Students 93

Growing Up in a Diverse Society 92

What Is Society? 105 Roles 115


Macroanalysis and Microanalysis 105 Everyday Social Interaction 116
Social Institutions 106 Theories about Analyzing Social Interaction 119
Social Structure 10 7 The Social Construction ofReality 119
What Holds Society Together? 10 8 Ethnomethodology 12 0
Mechanical and Organic Solidarity 10 8 Impression Management and Dramaturgy 12 1
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft 10 8 Social Exchange Theory 12 2
Types of Societies 109 Interaction in Cyberspace 12 3
Preindustrial Societies 109
Industrial Societies 111 Chapter Summary 12 5

Postindustrial Societies 112 Doing Sociological Research


Social Interaction and Society 112 Vegetarians versus Omnivores: A Case Study of
Groups 112 Impression Management 12 2
Status 113 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Cyberbullying 123
- eontents

6 Groups and Organizations 126

Types of Groups 127 Types of Organizations 140


Dyads and Triads: Group Size Effeets 128 Bureaucracy 141
Primary and Secondary Groups 129 Bureaucracy's "Other Face" 142
Reference Groups 131 Problems of Bureaucracies 142
In-Groups, @ut-Groups, and Attribution The McDonaldization ofSociety 143
Error 131 Diversity in Organizations 144
Social Networks Bl! Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic
Social Networks as "Small Worlds" 133 Interaction: Theoretical Perspe ctives 146
Social lnflwence in Groups 134 Chapter Summary 147
The Asch Conformity Experiment 135
The Milgram Obedience Studies 135 Doing Sociological Research
The Iraqi Prisoners al Abu Ghraib: Research Sharing the Journey 130
Predicts Reality? 137 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Groupthink Bil Finding a Job: The Invisible Hand 133
Risky Shift 138 Understanding Diversity
Formal Organizations and Bureaucracies 139 Whitening Job Resumes 145

7 Deviance and Crime 149 .................. 'J~


Deviance: What Is It? 150 Organized Crime 163
More Than Individual Behavior 151 Terrorism 163
Deviant Identities, Careers, and The Criminal Justice System 163
Communities 154 The Policing of Minorities 163
The Sociology ofi Stigma 155 Arrest and Sentencing 164
Deviant Careers 155 Explaining Crime and Deviance 167
Deviant Communities 156 The Functions of Crime and Deviance 167
Counting Crime 156 Deviance, Power, and Social Inequality 170
Symbolic Interaction Theories of Deviance 172
Types of Crime 160 Labeling Theory 172
Personal and Property Crimes 160 chapter Summary 174
Hate Crimes 160
Hurn g 161 A Sociological Eye on the Media
Gend lence 161 Images of Violent Crime 160
Cybe Doing Sociological Research
Vi · ess runes 162 Race, Employment, and Prison Release 166
Elite and White-Collar Crime 162 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Corporate Crime 162 Prison Rehabilitation 173

PART THREE Social Inequalities

8 Social Class and Social Stratification 175

Social Differentiation and Social Class as a Ladder 184


Stratification 176 Class Conflict 189
Estate, Caste, and Class 178 Diverse Sources of Stratification 190
The Class Structure of the United States: Social Mobility: Myths and Realities 193
Growing Ine quality 180 Defining Social Mobility 193
Toe Extent of Social Mobility 194
The Distribution of Income and Wealth 181 Class Consciousness 194
Analyzing Social Class 184 Why Is There Ine quality? 195
Clo n ten ts -

Karl Marx: Class and Capitalism 195 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Max Weber: Class, Status, and Party 196 Social Class and Sports 177
Functionalism and Conflict Theory: The Understanding Diversity
Continuing Debate 197 The Student Debt Crisis 18 5
Poverty 198 Doing Sociological Research
Defining Poverty 199 The Fragile Mi ddle Class 18 6
Who Are the Poor? 199 A Sociological Eye On the Media
Causes of Poverty 202 Reproducin g Class Stereotypes 193
Welfare and Social Policy 204
Chapter Summary 206

9 Global Stratification 2os


g.,t d

Global Stratification 209 World Poverty 227


Rich and Poor 210 Wh o Are the World's Poor? 228
The International Division of Labor: A World Women and Children in Poverty 229
Divided by Race and Gender 213 Poverty and Hunger 230
The World on the Move: International Causes of World Poverty 232
Migration 215 Globalization and Social Change 232
Theories of Global Stratification 216
Chapter Summary 234
Modernization Theory 216
Dependency Theory 217 Doing Sociological Research
World Systems Theory 218 Servants of Globalization: Wh o Does the
Consequences of Global Stratification 221 Domestic Work? 219
Understanding Diversity
Population 222
Refugee Women and the Intersection of Race and
Health and the Environment 222
Gender 225
Education and Illiteracy 223
Gender Inequality 224 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Terrorism 226 Human Traffi ckin g 229

The Social Construction of Race Asian Americans 251


and Ethnicity 2 3 6 Mi ddle Easterners 252
Defining Race 236 White Ethnic Groups 253
Racial Formation 238 Jewish Americans 254
Multiracial Identity 238 Contemporary Immi gration: The New Civil Rights
Ethnicity 239 Challeng e 25 4
Panethnicity 240 Racial Stratification: A Current
Minority/Majority Groups 241 Portrait 256
Prejudice, Discrimination, and Economic Inequality 25 6
Stereotypes 241 Racial Segregation 258
Prejudice 241 Explaining Racial and Ethnic
Discrimination 242 Inequality 259
Stereotypes 2 4 2 Assimilation Theory 259
Racism: Its Many Forms 245 The Cul ture-Structure Debate 260
Is It Class or Is It Race? 26 1
Diverse Groups, Diverse Histories 246 Intersectional Theory: Connectin g Race, Class,
Native Americans: The First of and Gender 2 6 2
This Land 246
Racial Justice: Changes and Challenges 263
African Americans 248
Latinos/as 249 The Civil Rights Movement 263
Contents

Power and Militancy in the Movement for Racial Chapter Summary 267
Justice 264 Doing Sociological Research
#BlackLivesMatter 264 Halloween Costumes: Reproducing Racial
Strategies for Change: Race-Blind or Color-
Stereotypes 243
Conscious? 265
Where Do We Go From Here? 266

11 cender » h9£&@,
The Social Construction of Gender 270 Theories of Gender 289
Defining Sex and Gender 271 Feminist Theory and the Women's
Sex Differences: Nature or Nurture? 271 Movement 289
Gender Socialization 273 Gender in Global Perspective 292
The Formation ofGender Identity 274 Gender and Social Chang e 293
Sources ofGender Socialization 274
The Price ofConformity 277 Contemporary Attitudes 294
Gender Socialization and Homophobia 278 Legislative Change 294
Race, Gender, and Identity 279 Chapter Summary 296
The Institutional Basis ofGender 280
A Sociological Eye on the Media
Gender Stratification 281 Women in the Media: Where Are Women's
Sexism: The Biased Consequences ofBeliefs 282 Voices? 272
Women's Worth: Still Unequal 283 Doing Sociological Research
The Devaluation ofWomen's Work 288 Eating Disorders: Gender, Race, and
Balancing Work and Family 289 the Body 278

Sex and Culture 299 Sex and Social Issues 313


Sex: Is It Natural? 299 Birth Control 313
The Social Basis ofSexuality 300 New Reproductive Technologies 315
Contemporary Sexual Attitudes and Abortion 315
Behavior 303 Pornography and the Sexualization of
Culture 317
Changing Sexual Values 303
Teen Pregnancy 319
Sexual Practices ofthe U.S. Public 304
Sexual Violence 321
Sex and Inequality: Gender, Race, and
Sex and Social Change 322
Class 304
The Sexual Revolution: Is It Over? 322
Sexuality: Sociological and Feminist Technology, Sex, and Cybersex 322
Theory 306 Commercializing Sex 323
Sex: Functional or Conflict-Based? 306 Chapter Summary 323
Symbolic Interaction and the Social Construction
ofSexual Identity 308 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Feminist Theory: Sex, Power, and Sex and Popular Culture 305
Inequality 309 Doing Sociological Research
A Global Perspective on Sexuality 310 Is Hooking Up Bad for Women? 307
Understanding Gay and lesbian Understanding Diversity
Experience 312 Sexuality and Disability: Understanding
Marginalized" Masculinity 313
Contents -

PART FOUR Social Institutions

13 Families and Religion 325

Defining the Family 327 Defining Religion 347


Extended Families 328 The Significance of Religion in the United
Nuclear Families 329
States 350
Sociological Theory and Families 331
The Dominance of Christianity 350
Functionalist Theory and Families 331 Measuring Religious Faith 350
Conflict Theory and Families 332 Forms of Religion 350
Symbolic Interaction Theory and Families 332
Sociological Theories of Religion 352
Feminist Theory and Families 332
Emile Durkheim: The Functions
Diversity among Contemporary American of Religion 352
Families 333 Max Weber: The Protestant Ethic
Female-Headed Households 333 and the Spirit of Capitalism 353
Married-Couple Families 334 Karl Marx: Religion, Social Conflict, and
Stepfamilies 334 Oppression 353
Same-Sex Families 335 Symbolic Interaction: Becoming
Single People 336 Religious 354
Marriage and Divorce 337 Diversity and Religious Belief 354
Marriage 337 The Influence of Race and
Divorce 338 Ethnicity 355
Family Violence 341 Religious Organizations 357
Domestic Violence and Abuse 342
Religion and Social Change 359
Child Abuse 342
Incest 343 Chapter Summary 359
Elder Abuse 343
Understanding Diversity
Changing Families in a Changing Society 343 Interracial Datin g and Marriage 330
Global Changes in Family Life 344 Doing Sociological Research
Families and Social Policy 345 Men's Caregiving 340
Balancing Work and Family 345 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Child Care 346 The Rise of Religious Fundamentalism 358
Elder Care 347

Schooling and Society 363 Educational Reform 376


Does Schooling Matter? 366 Health Care in the United States 377
Education and Social Mobility 367
The Sociology of Health and Illness 379
Education and Inequality 368
Health Disparities and Social Inequality 380
Segregation and Resegregation 368
Testing and Accountability 369 Race, Ethnicity, and Health Care 381
Education in Global Perspective 372 Social Class and Health Care 382
Gender and Health Care 382
Sociological Theories of Education 372 LGBTQ Health 383
Functionalist Theory 373 Health and Disability 383
Conflict Theory 373 Age and Health Care 384
Symbolic Interaction Theory 374
The Social Organization of Health Care 384
Contents

Theoretical Perspectives on Health Care 385 Chapter Summary 389


Functionalist Theory 385 Understanding Diversity
Conflict Theory 386 Social Class and the College Party Scene 367
Symbolic Interaction Theory 386
Doing Sociological Research
Health Care Reform 387 Homeroom Security 375

15 Economy and Politics 391 ~

Economy and Society 392 Power, Authority, and Bureaucracy 409


The Industrial Revolution 392 Typ es of Authority 410
Comparing Economic Systems 393 The Growth of Bureaucracies 410
The Changing Global Economy 393 Theories of Power 411
A More Eliverse Workplace 394 The Pluralist Model 411
Dein dustrialization 395 The Power Elite Model 412
Technological Change 396 The Autonomous State Model 413
Immi gration 397 Feminist Theories of the State 414
Social Organization of the Workplace 398 Govern ment: Power and Politics in a Diverse
The Division of Labor 399 Society 414
The Occupational System and the tabor Diverse Patterns of Political
Market 400 Participation 414
Diverse Groups/Diverse Work Political Power: Who's in Charge? 416
Experiences 402 Women and Minorities in Government 418

Unemployment and Joblessness 402 The Military as a Social Institution 419


Sexual Harassment 404 Race and the Military 420
Gays and lesbians in the Workplace 405 Women in the Military 421
Disability and Work 405 Gays and Ji.esbians in the Military 422
Sociological Theories of Economy Military Veterans 422
and Work 406 Chapter Summary 423
Functionalism 406 Doing Sociological Research
Conflict Theory 407 Precari ous Work: The Shifting Conditions of Work
Symbo lic Interaction Theory 407 in Society 396
Power, Politics, and Government 407 Understanding Diversity
State and Society 407 Diversify in the Power Elite 419
The State and Social Order 408
Global Interdependence and the State 409

PART FIVE Social Change

16 Environment, Population. and social change as iId@Ege"2


A Climate in Crisis: Environmental Birthrate 435
Sociology 426 Eleath Rate 435
Migration 436
Society at Risk: Afr, Water, and Energy 426
Disasters: At the Interface of Social and Physical Diversity and Population Change 437
Life 430 Population Growth: Are There Too Many
Environmental Ine quality and Environmental People? 440
Justice 431 A Population Bomb ? 440
Demographic Transition iLlheory
Counting People: Population Studies 433 441
Change: A Multidimensional Process 442 What Would a Sociologist Say?
Sources of Social Change 443 The End of the White Majority? 438
Doin g Sociological Research
Theories of Social Change 447
Who Cares and Why? Fair Trade and Organic
Functionalist Theory 447 Food 445
Conflict Theory 448
Understanding Diversity
Symbolic Interaction Theory 448
The CosmopolitanCanopy 451
Globalization and Modernization: Shaping Our
Lives 449 Glossary 454
From Community to Society 449
References 461
Urbanization 450
Social Inequality, Powerlessness, and the Name Index 484
Individual 451
Subject Index 492
Chapter Summary 452
I doing sociological research
Evicted 9 Halloween Costumes: Reproducing Racial
Tattoos: Status Risk or Status Symbol? 34 Stereotypes 243
Lives in Limbo 60 Eating Disorders: Gender, Race, and the Body 278
Resilience among Undocumented Students 93 Is Hooking Up Bad for Women? 307
Vegetarians versus Omnivores: A Case Study of Impression Men's Caregiving 340
Management 122 Homeroom Security 375
Sharing the Journey 130 Precarious Work: The Shifting Conditions of Work in
Race, Employment, and Prison Release 166 Society 396
The Fragile Middle Class 186 Who Cares and Why? Fair Trade and Organic Food 445
Servants of Globalizati on: Who Does the Domestic
Work? 219

I what would a sociologist say?


Getting Pregnant: A Very Social Act 5 Social Class and Sports 177
Suicide among Veterans 16 Human Trafficking 229
Children and Disasters 86 Sex and Popular Culture 305
Cyberbullying 123 The Rise of Religious Fundamentalism 358
Finding a Job: The Invisible Hand 133 The End of the White Majority? 438

I understanding diversity
Become a Sociologist 12 Sexuality and Disability: Understanding "Marginalized"
The Social Meaning of Language 39 Masculinity 313
Internati onal Adopti on 81 Interracial Dating and Marriage 330
Whiteni ng Job Resumes 145 Social Class and the College Party Scene 367
The Student Debt Crisis 185 Diversity in the Power Elite 419
Refugee Women and the Intersection of Race and The Cosmopolitan Canopy 451
Gender 225

a sociological eye on the media


Death of a Superstar 46 Reproducing Class Stereotypes 193
Fake News, Research, and the Media 63 Women in the Media: Where Are Women's
Images of Violent Crime 160 Voices? 272
features -

maps
Mapping America's Diversity Viewing Society in Global Perspective
MAP 1-1 A C h a n g in g Po p u latio n 11 MAP 3 -1 Human De ve lo p me nt In d e x 67
MAP 2 -1 En glish La n g u ag e No t Sp o ke n at Ho me 42 MAP 9 -1 The Wo rld Se en thro ug h th e Distrib utio n of
MAP 8 -1 Po vert y in th e Un ited State s 202 Wea lth 211
MAP 1O-1 Ame rican In d ia n and Ala ska Native Re sid e n ce 247 MAP 9 -2 Rich an d Po o r 212
MAP 1O-2 Foreign-Born Popula tion 250 MAP 9 -3 Migration 215
MAP 12 -1 Acce ss to Ab o rtio n Clin ics 316 MAP 9 -4 World Po verty 227
MAP 13 -2 Religio us D ive rsity in the Un ited State s 356 MAP 11-1 Where' s th e Best Place to Be a Woma n ? 292
MAPS 15 -1 and 15 -2 Ele ctoral Vo te by State an d Co u n ty 417 MAP 13 -1 World Relig io ns 355
MAP 15 -3 Wom en He ad s of State 418
MAP 16 -1 Global Warming : View ing the Earth's
Temp e rature 427
PREFACE
You might that think an author would get bored writing yet another edition of a book,

E but someone once said that if you truly understood the sociological perspective, you

. could never be bored.' For us as authors of this new edition, we are hardly bored by the
tenth edition of Sociology: The Essentials. Sociology is endlessly fascinating, and we
Ir are lucky to have the opportunity to revise this book every few years so we can capture
what is so compelling about the subject matter of sociology. With each new edition,
we are reminded of the ever-changing nature of society, the new challenges that come
from our nation's social issues, and the excitement of ongoing research on sociological
M subjects.
ye Sociology: The Essentials teaches students the basic concepts, theories, and insights
of the sociological perspective. With each new edition come different challenges: new
SL topics of study; new generations of students with different learning styles; increasing
diversity among those who will read this book; and new formats for delivering course
content to students. We know that how students learn and how they engage with
their course material comes increasingly in the form of electronic and online learning
resources.
Sociology: The Essentials, tenth edition, takes full advantage of these changes by
having a fully electronic version of the book available, allowing for personalized, fully
online digital learning. The platform of learning resources provided here engages
students in an interactive mode, while also offering instructors the opportunity to
make individualized configurations of course work. Those who want to enhance their
curriculum through online resources will also be able to utilize MindTap Sociology in the
way that best suits their course.
However the book is used, we have revised this edition to reflect the latest changes
in society and new work in sociological scholarship. We are somewhat amazed, even
as sociologists, to see how much change occurs, even in the relatively short period of
time between editions. Our book adapts to these changes with each new edition. In this
B edition, we have maintained and strengthened the themes that have been the book's
hallmark from the start: a focus on diversity in society, attention to society as both
enduring and changing, the significance of social context in explaining human behavior,
the increasing impact of globalization on all aspects of society, and a focus on critical
w thinking and an analysis of society fostered through sociological research and theory.
we know that studying sociology opens new ways of looking at the world. As we
teach our students, sociology is grounded in careful observation of social facts, as well
as in the analysis of how society operates. For students and faculty alike, studying
sociology can be exciting, interesting, and downnght fun, even though it also deals with
sobering social issues, such as the growing inequality, racism, and sexism that continue
to mark our time.

Jordan, June. 1981 Civil Wars. Boston: Beacon Press, p. JOO.

I
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“Well, I hardly know how to answer that,” confessed the other. “If I
wanted to speak of them, I’d likely say baby mink, or youngsters. It
would be a feather in your cap, Ralph, if you did succeed where so
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“That’s right!” declared Tubby, emphatically. “I admire pluck
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“You see, the woods are pretty dense over in this section,”
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some day and found that my mink colony had been cleaned out.”
As though his words had been carried to hostile ears and aroused
a storm of protest, at that very moment there came a growl so
savage that it made Tubby tremble. He stared straight up into the
tree from which the sound seemed to proceed, pointed a quivering
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“Wildcat!”
Chapter VI
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Tubby knew that when Rob Blake spoke in that tense way he
meant what he said; so, although he felt an inclination to shrink back
from that terrible vision of an enraged bobcat, he managed to grit his
teeth together and hold his ground.
Ralph, Sim and Andy took the admonition to heart as well as did
the fat boy, for they seemed rooted to their tracks, all staring as hard
as they could up into the lower branches of the tree just in front.
The cat could be plainly seen crouching there, with its ears
flattened against its head, after the manner of all enraged felines. It
was a pretty “hefty” specimen of its kind, too, Rob saw, much larger
and more powerful than the ordinary cat.
Undoubtedly, it “sensed” a feast beyond the boundary fence, and
had started to pay a neighborly visit with dinner in mind when
interrupted by the approach of the five boys. Being accustomed to
lording it over other animals in its native forests, the wildcat did not
fancy beating a retreat simply because some of those two-legged
creatures chose to cross its path.
That ominous growl was meant as a warning to them to beware
how they incurred its animosity. From the way in which its haunches
had settled upon the limb, it appeared as though the beast might be
in readiness to make a leap; and it was because of this that Rob had
instantly hissed those words.
At the time it chanced he was just a little in the advance; hence
his position was more inclined to be a perilous one than could be
said of his companions. None of them had any weapon handy with
which to defend themselves in case the animal really attacked them;
though Sim and Andy immediately began to use their eyes to
advantage in the hope of being able to see a club of some sort,
always the first resort of a boy in trouble.
“Tell us what to do, Rob!” urged Sim, who had actually discovered
the cudgel he wanted to possess, yet did not dare make a move
toward getting it in his grip lest by so doing he tempt the savage
beast to spring.
“Stand perfectly still!” ordered the patrol leader. “You can do more
good that way than by moving. If we all just stare at him, he’ll soon
get uneasy, not knowing what to make of such a mysterious crowd.
Animals hate to look into human eyes, they say. I’ve stared a dog out
of countenance that way myself.”
“Huh!” grunted Tubby, remembering how he had once tried that
same game himself with a barking puppy, getting down on his hands
and knees to manage better, only to have the little varmint instantly
seize hold of his nose and hang on.
“How would it do for all to give a big yell together?” suggested
Ralph.
“That might make him jump, I take it,” replied Andy Bowles,
wishing he had his bugle handy, for with it he could sound a shrill
blast that would surely cause the impudent cat to retreat in haste.
“Yes, it would startle him, all right,” admitted Rob, “but he might
jump the wrong way, and at us. Better try my scheme; it can do no
harm, and I don’t think he’ll attack us unless we begin the fight.”
“I see a bully club close by my feet, Rob.”
“Well, don’t bother trying to get hold of it just yet,” urged the other.
“But if he should leap at me, see to it you grab that club in a big
hurry, and let him have it with a smack. Steady, now, you can see the
beast’s beginning to get uneasy right along.”
“Yes, you’re right, he is, Rob,” admitted Ralph, with a vein of relief
in his voice, for no fellow can entertain the idea of battling bare-
handed with a fierce four-footed adversary without shivering; and
Ralph knew only too well how even a scratch from the claws of a
carnivorous animal may cause blood poisoning if not properly treated
in time.
So they all continued to stand there as nearly like statues as their
various dispositions would allow, keeping up a battery of staring
looks that must have more or less bewildered the intruder.
Tubby heaved a great sigh. It was additionally hard on him, this
trying to keep absolutely still, lest by moving an attack be
precipitated, the end of which none of them could see.
“Gee whiz! isn’t he ever going to skip out?” he groaned, feeling
the drops of perspiration gathering on his forehead, and running
down his stubby nose, yet being deprived of the satisfaction of taking
out his red bandanna and wiping his streaming face as he would
have liked.
“Have a little more patience, Tubby,” pleaded Sim. “He’s getting
ready to vamoose the ranch, I tell you. There, didn’t you see how he
took a quick peek behind him? They say that in a fight the man who
looks back is the one who is getting whipped, because he’s thinking
of beating it. Watch, now, and be ready to give him a parting whoop
if he does jump over the fence again.”
The strange bobcat somehow found it unpleasant to remain there
on private grounds, and with those five queer creatures facing him
so mutely. They meant him harm, of that he must have concluded,
and perhaps he had better postpone his intended feast on plump fox
cubs or young mink. Night would be a better time for his hunting; and
a retreat could not be called dishonorable when the enemy counted
five against one.
So, finally, he made a quick backward jump that allowed of a new
perch just over the dividing fence. This movement was the signal for
a sudden change of policy on the part of the boys, for they burst into
a series of loud shouts, and Sim instantly darted forward to secure
the coveted club.
The wildcat, having concluded to pull out and evidently not liking
those aggressive sounds, continued its flight, growling savagely as it
went, and looking back once before finally disappearing amidst the
foliage of the trees beyond the high fence.
“That was an adventure, sure enough!” exclaimed Sim, breathing
hard after his recent exertions. “Just to think of our running across
such a tough customer when Ralph here was speaking about
troublesome pests. Do you reckon this was his first visit to your
pens, Ralph?”
“I hope and believe so,” the other replied, frowning at the same
time. “I would hate to learn that it had become a habit with him.
Besides, we have seen no signs around to indicate that he’d ever
been here before. But the rascal has scented my pets, and will give
us no peace until he’s done for.”
“I should say the same thing!” declared Rob. “It’s just like a wolf
that threatens a sheep-fold, there can be no safety until he’s been
potted.”
“I’ll see Pete at once,” continued the other, with a look of
determination on his strong face, “and start him out with the dogs. If
they’re lucky they’ll get on the track of the beast before sundown
and, I hope, knock him over.”
The conversation then was mostly of the woods, and Ralph as
well as some of the others mentioned a number of curious
circumstances that had come under their observation while camping
out. Ralph had formerly been quite a hunter and trapper whenever
he had an opportunity, though, as he confessed, latterly the sport
seemed to be palling upon him somewhat.
“To tell the truth, Sim,” he said, as they strolled back toward the
distant farmhouse, after seeing Pete and starting him off with the
dogs to look for traces of the feline thief, “I’m getting to be interested
in that scheme of hunting with a camera, and I think I’ll take it up
soon. There are plenty of good chances for doing something of that
sort around here, you know. I want you to put me wise to all the
wrinkles of the game before you say goodbye, which I hope won’t be
for quite some time yet.”
“What are we going to do this afternoon, boys?” asked Andy.
“Well, if that question is aimed at me,” ventured Tubby, quickly, “I
know what I’d like to do, that is if Ralph happens to have plenty of
ammunition for that bully little Flobert rifle of his. Frogs for mine,
thank you. One thing I like about this scheme of shooting the
jumpers is it doesn’t seem half as cruel as catching them with a
hook, even if you do intend to put them out of their misery soon
afterwards.”
Tubby was known to have a tender heart, and would not hurt
anything if he could possibly help it.
Ralph proposed that if the others felt inclined, they might make a
run out to a certain lake he knew, where they would likely have a
pleasant time.
“Whether we get any bass or not we’ll certainly enjoy the run with
you, Ralph,” Rob told him. “As we’ve gone to the trouble to fetch
some rods and fishing tackle along, it would be a pity not to wet the
lines just once. So far as I’m concerned, I only too gladly say ‘yes’ to
your proposition.”
Sim and Andy immediately voiced their sentiments in the same
way, and so it was settled. Tubby would be fixed out with the small
Flobert rifle and a supply of ammunition, also rubber boots, for he
might have to do some wading in order to retrieve his game after
shooting it. He promised to have a mess of frogs’ legs ready for the
evening meal when the boys came back.
“See to it that you fellows do your duty with the gamey bass!” he
called out as the other four piled into the big car, ready to start forth.
“I heard you call that young chap, who was filling the gas tank,
Peleg; is he one of the workmen on the farm, Ralph?” Rob asked
after they had gotten fairly started, for he chanced to be sitting
alongside the driver at the time, the other boys occupying the rear
seat.
He saw that Ralph had a slight frown on his face, as though
something unpleasant had come into his mind just then, possibly
induced by mention of the name.
“Yes, his name is Peleg Pinder,” he replied in jerky sentences.
“His father was a sort of hard case in Wyoming, and the family
seemed to be always in a peck of trouble. Some folks said the
children’d all be worthless, just like their good-for-nothing dad. Then
there was a fire, and Peleg’s father was burned trying to save an old
crippled woman. Somehow people thought better of him after he
died. The children scattered. One girl is working for a farmer seven
miles away. My father took Peleg in, and gave him a home. Been
with us six months or so now.”
“How about his work—he seems lively enough, and good-natured.
In fact,” continued Rob, “I rather like the sparkle in his eyes.”
“Yes, he fooled me right along, too,” said Ralph, with a trace of a
sneer in his tone. “He does his work so you couldn’t really find any
fault; but then it’s hard to shake off a bad name, and the Pinders
always were shiftless and deceitful, Wyoming folks believe.”
Rob was interested at once, and for a reason. He hated to see
any one “picked on” simply because “people” chose to believe no
good could come out of a family that had a shirker for a father. Why,
the very fact that poor Pinder had died while performing an act of
heroism ought to be enough to prove that such a wholesale
condemnation was utterly wrong.
“You’ve got some sort of reason for saying that, I imagine, Ralph?”
he continued, bent on discovering the truth now that he was at it.
“Well, I have, though I didn’t mean to mention it to any of you,
because for one thing I wanted you to have a jolly time of it here, and
without bothering about any of my troubles. Then, again, I hate to
speak ill of anybody, even Peleg Pinder.”
“What has he been doing, then, to make you suspect him?”
demanded Rob.
After hesitating for a brief interval, as though he hardly knew just
how much to say, Ralph went on to explain.
“Hang it all,” he commenced, “I hate to say a word about it,
because it makes me feel mean, just as if I might be picking on a
poor chap who hadn’t any other friends but my folks, and who’s got a
heavy enough load as it is. Believe me, I haven’t so much as
breathed a word of this to dad. He’d fire Peleg if he knew, and then I
might be sorry. But I’m honestly up a stump trying to decide what I
ought to do.”
“Tell me about it then, Ralph; perhaps I might be able to help you
out?” suggested the other.
“All right, then, I will!” declared the driver, as he skillfully avoided a
hole in the road ahead. “About three days ago I made a little
discovery that bothered me. It seemed that some one was helping
themselves to some things I kept in that room out in the barn, a
place I had fitted up a long while ago as a sort of boy’s den, you
know, where I kept all my treasures, books, games, stamp collection
and coins, as well as a lot of other things.”
“Yes, I remember you showing us, though you didn’t stay in there
long, I noticed,” Rob went on to remark, significantly.
“That was because I felt bad about something,” explained Ralph.
“Fact is, I had just made an unpleasant discovery, which was to the
effect that some one had for the second time been poking around
among my things, and carried off a number of packets of valuable
stamps that I knew positively I had left there on the desk, meaning to
return them to the dealer.”
“But if this happened once before,” said Rob, “how did it come you
neglected to put a padlock on the door?”
“I had my reasons,” answered Ralph stoutly, and with a flash of
fire in his eyes. “First, because I hated to think that anything had to
be locked up so as to keep employees about the place from helping
themselves. Second, I wasn’t quite sure that my first loss was a
certainty. Then again, Rob, I was figuring on laying some sort of trap
so as to catch the rascal in the act, and settle the business.”
“But now you are sure a light-handed fellow has taken your things,
what do you expect to do about it?” queried Rob.
“I ought to warn my father,” said the other, regretfully. “He hates a
thief above all things. I’m sure he would discharge Peleg in a hurry.
You see, Peleg has always been allowed to enter my den as he
pleased; in fact, anybody could, because I trust the men who work
for us.”
“Well,” Rob continued, significantly, “I hope before you tell your
father you let me try to identify the thief, because I don’t believe it
can be Peleg Pinder.”
Chapter VII
Turning It Over to Rob
Ralph turned hastily and gave Rob a strange look. Unconsciously
he was already beginning to realize that Rob Blake could always be
depended on to do the right thing when it came to a question of
action.
“You’ve got a reason for talking like that, I’m sure, Rob?” he
observed.
“I admit it,” came the answer, without the slightest hesitation. “Tell
me first if you positively know that Peleg took your things?”
“Well, the evidence is only what you might call circumstantial,”
admitted the other. “I remembered seeing him going hurriedly out of
the barn an hour before I showed you and the rest of the fellows
through there. He acted a bit guilty. I thought he avoided us; but the
poor fellow has always been somewhat shy about meeting
strangers, because he must know some mention will be made of his
history, and that of his family. No, I can’t say I’ve got any positive
proof he is the guilty one, if that’s what you mean.”
“I’ll tell you something, Ralph,” said the patrol leader, quietly.
“Perhaps it may not mean much to you; but when a fellow becomes
a scout, you see, he begins to study character, and notices a good
many little things that show which way the wind blows, just as straws
are said to do.”
“Go on, then, please; I’ll be glad to hear what you have to say,
Rob.”
“It happened that when I was alone this morning I took a little stroll
back of the barns, just to amuse myself by looking at the pigs, for
they’re always amusing, in my mind. There I ran across Peleg,
though at the time I didn’t know that was his name, or anything about
him. What do you suppose the boy was doing?”
“Oh! I couldn’t guess in a year,” replied the other.
“Well, he had managed to pick up a young crow that had in some
way broken its wing and couldn’t fly,” continued Rob, with a smile. “I
suppose it would have been put out of its misery in a hurry by any
ordinary farm hand; and perhaps Peleg himself might have fired at
the black thieves if he found them getting at the corn in the field. But
a wounded bird, and one in pain, distressed him. He was trying to
mend that broken wing, and I found myself interested in watching
how he succeeded.”
“That’s sure a queer thing for a farm boy to do,” admitted Ralph.
“What could have been his idea, do you think?”
“I imagine he had more than one,” Rob replied, soberly enough.
“In the first place, he was sorry for the poor thing, for he handled it as
tenderly as if it had been a human being. Then I actually suspect that
the boy has, deep down in his heart, a vague desire to do surgical
work, though you might find it hard to believe.”
Ralph whistled.
“You don’t say?” he ejaculated, looking as though he hardly knew
whether to laugh at the idea, or take what Rob was explaining
seriously.
“I told you I was interested,” the other went on, “and I asked him a
number of questions as to who had showed him how to go about
mending a bird’s broken wing in that way. He said no one had, but it
just seemed to be the natural thing for him to do. Honestly, Ralph,
when I saw what a clever job he made of it I knew that boy had the
making of a grand surgeon in him, if ever he found a chance to do
the proper studying. It’s a gift, you know, with some people, and
money can never purchase it. Clever surgeons are born, not made.”
Again Ralph puckered up his lips, and gave vent to a whistle,
which seemed to be his pet way of expressing surprise.
“All that is mighty interesting, I own up, Rob,” he said, presently,
after he had taken a little time to think matters over. “If it hadn’t been
for this unfortunate happening, I’d be tickled half to death to try and
encourage Peleg if he had secret ambitions that way. But why do
you think, because he bothered mending a broken wing for a young
crow, that he couldn’t have robbed me?”
“For this reason,” replied Rob. “Remember, I may turn out wrong,
but I’m going on general principles when I say that I never yet have
found that a fellow with such a tender heart could really be a bad
case. So, on the strength of my observations, I want you to promise
me that you’ll suspend sentence on Peleg until you have more
positive proof.”
“I agree, and only too willingly,” said Ralph. “In fact, I’ll be glad to
turn the whole case over into your hands for settlement. Do just
whatever you think best about it. If you need any help, call on me. I’d
be mighty glad to learn I was doing Peleg an injustice; for I’d try and
make it up to him in every way I could. Shake hands on that, Rob,
will you?”
So the agreement was ratified, and the other boys in the back
seat did not even know what their chums had been discussing. It
happened that Sim and Andy were engaged in a heated argument
concerning something that they did not think the same about.
Shortly afterwards they arrived at the lake where they expected to
do their fishing. A boat was procured, and after they had purchased
some live bait from a man who lived near the water they started
forth.
This was a sport which Rob and his two chums always enjoyed
very much. Perhaps they might not meet with such good luck as if
they had come early in the morning; but, then, no one can tell when
the bass will take hold. It often happens that on a hot and still day
nothing may be done until along about four in the afternoon when a
breeze arises, with a spatter of rain in the bargain. Somehow, every
fish in the lake seems to get ravenously hungry all at once, judging
from the way in which they snap at any kind of bait.
“Let’s hope some such good luck comes our way, then,” remarked
Sim, when Ralph had mentioned this peculiarity in connection with
the gamiest fish that swims in fresh water, barring none. “The day
has been warm and still enough, for that matter. There are signs of a
shower later on, if those clouds mean anything over in the
southwest. I guess we’d better not go too far away, Ralph, because
for one I’d hate to get soaked through and through.”
“I’m taking the waterproof coverings from the car along, so that in
case it does rain we can keep fairly dry,” explained Ralph, as they
started forth.
For an hour they had very little luck. Then the conditions
mentioned by Ralph seemed to suddenly come about, for the clouds
covered the heavens, a breeze sprang up, and drops of rain began
to fall.
“I’ve got one, and a hard fighter!” shouted Sim, as he bent his
energies to the task of successfully playing his victim in order to tire
the fish out, so a landing net might be successfully used.
“Here’s another, and just as big as yours, Sim!” ejaculated Andy
from the bow.
By the time Sim managed to boat his catch, Rob was busily
engaged; and, in turn, Ralph found plenty to do in handling an even
more vicious fighter.
“Say, this is the best fishing I ever struck!” admitted Sim, some
time later, as he cracked another capture on the head with a billet of
wood in order to put it out of suffering, and then deposited the victim
with a dozen others lying in the bottom of the boat.
The fun kept up furiously for half an hour more. Then the bass
ceased biting almost as suddenly as they had commenced. Perhaps
the fact that the clouds had broken, allowing the sun to shine again,
had something to do with this change.
“We ought to be satisfied!” declared Andy, “after all that fun. I
reckon we must have as many as twenty bass in the boat, running
as high as three pounds, and enough to make a meal for two
families.”
“Dandy fighters every one of ’em!” added Sim, “and I’ll remember
this afternoon, I tell you, Ralph. This is a great little lake, and doesn’t
seem to be fished to death, either.”
“No, the people down at Wyoming seem to prefer going to several
other lakes and streams nearer at home,” the other explained.
“Besides that, most of them are born trout fishermen. You know,
some fellows pretend to look down on black bass as game fish.”
“Well, they don’t know what a fighter is, then, that’s all,” asserted
Andy. “My stout rod bent nearly double many a time when they bore
down. ’Course a bass doesn’t jump for a fly like a trout, just sucks it
in; but once hooked I’ll match him against anything that wears fins
and scales.”
They were now ready to quit and start for home. Ralph wanted to
stop on the way and leave a portion of the catch with a poor widow
who had a brood of children.
“We couldn’t begin to eat them all, you know,” he told the others.
“I’m sportsman enough to stop taking fish when some one can’t use
them. Mrs. Murphy has a hard time getting on with her family. We all
like to give her a hand when we can. Many’s the string of fish I’ve left
at her door, even when I had to go home without any myself. But,
then, I’m not very fond of bass for eating, much as I love to feel them
pull at the end of my line.”
“What was that you were saying about our going in to town
tomorrow, Ralph?” asked Sim, when they were well on their way
home.
“Why, there’s going to be a pretty fine entertainment, and I thought
you’d like to hear that girl sing dad was telling you about. We believe
she’s going to make her mark on the opera stage some of these
days. So, if you’re agreeable, we’ll run in.”
It was decided that way, and not one of them dreamed how a
strange Destiny was shaping her ends in beckoning them toward the
town of Wyoming after nightfall, yet such really proved to be the
case.
Chapter VIII
A Great Day for Water Sport
“I guess you’re taking us home by another road, eh, Ralph?”
remarked Sim.
“Noticed where I cut loose from the main line, did you?” laughed
the pilot. “Well, we can strike it again further on.”
“Want us to see more of the country; or is there something special
up this way?” queried the visiting Jeffords boy.
“Well, partly that. Mrs. Murphy lives on this dirt road, you see; and
I’ve got that nice string of fish to leave at her house. There, you can
see the cottage over yonder. She’s always so glad to have a batch of
bass. As I said before, she has a big family, and not much money to
run it on.”
Soon afterwards they stopped in front of a modest cottage, where
several half-grown children were playing in the yard. Immediately
loud shouts attested to the fact that they had recognized Ralph.
Accordingly, there was a rush for the road, so that when the widow
came out, attracted by their cries, the entire family surrounded the
car.
The fish were duly delivered, and Mrs. Murphy, as usual, was
lavish with her sincere thanks. Rob and his chums were interested.
This sort of thing happened to be along the lines of their own doings;
since nothing pleased them more than to do something for those
who were in need of assistance.
Besides, it raised Ralph higher in their esteem than before. Rob
privately made up his mind that a fellow who could be thinking of
others so much of the time as Ralph did, and who delighted to be of
help to those in need, would make the finest sort of a scout leader.
He was more determined than ever that before leaving the Jeffords
farm he must convert Ralph, and start him on the road to organize a
troop of scouts in Wyoming, this time along true lines, so that the
town would be proud to acknowledge them as representing the best
that was in American boys.
Just as the pilot had said, they soon came out again on the main
road, and in due time arrived home. The first thing they saw was
Tubby, sitting there on the front steps leading to the long porch,
where he might just as well have occupied a comfortable chair, but,
being a boy, he chose to camp out on the steps.
He waved a hand at them, and seemed to be smiling broadly,
from which those who knew Tubby so well were able to draw certain
conclusions.
“I wager Tubby’s had a fine afternoon’s sport,” remarked Andy
Bowles.
“Oh! it doesn’t take so very much to make him grin from ear to
ear; and it’s some stretch, at that,” chuckled Sim.
“I think he’s a mighty fine fellow, if you asked my opinion,”
remarked Ralph.
“You wouldn’t be a bit off the road there, either,” Rob told him.
“Tubby has the best disposition of any boy I know. There isn’t
anything he wouldn’t do for another fellow; and the best of it is he
never stops to consider whether it’s a friend or an enemy he’s trying
to help; though, for that matter, Tubby has so few enemies they
hardly count.”
The object of this side talk now sauntered up. He looked rather
the worse for wear, his trousers being muddy, and his face still rosy
from exertion.
“Got a pretty nice mess of bass, didn’t you, fellows?” he remarked,
as Sim lifted the string, and tossed the catch out of the car.
“Oh! that’s just half of all we took,” Andy hastened to explain. “You
see, there were too many for our own use, and Ralph here had an
old lady friend with a big family on her hands, who looks to him to
keep her supplied with fresh fish; so we dropped the other string at
her house on the way home. How did you come out with your frog
hunting, Tubby?”
“I had just a glorious time of it, Andy,” the other replied. “Come
over to the ice-house and see, for they’re keeping cool until it’s time
to cook them for our supper. Better fetch the fish along with you, too,
while about it.”
All of them followed him across the yard to the ice-house. This
was so built that it could be used to take the place of a refrigerator;
and fresh meat, butter and such things were kept there nice and
sweet.
Tubby swooped down and lifted a platter that was covered with
green leaves. As he removed these there were revealed several
rows of “saddles,” as the long hindlegs of bullfrogs are called in the
market, where they bring as much as eighty cents a pound,
sometimes even more, according to supply and demand, and are
considered a great delicacy by epicures.
“They look pretty fine to me, Tubby,” said Rob, admiringly. “How
many did you knock over with the little Flobert rifle?”
“Well, you know, I’m kind of systematic in my ways, boys,” Tubby
explained. “So in the beginning I set a limit, and when I got to the
twenty-five mark I quit business. Jiminy crickets! I could have had a
hundred as well as not, if I had been greedy; but you know that isn’t
in my line. They are such busters, too; why, a fellow couldn’t get
away with more than four such monster saddles unless he turned out
to be a hog.”
“Only four apiece,” said Sim, pretending to look sad.
“But some people don’t care for frogs’ legs, I’m told,” Tubby
admonished him, as he shot a look toward Ralph, who not long
before had said something to that effect, it may be remembered.
“You’ve got something else on your mind,” suggested Andy, who
knew the signs; “better open up and tell us what’s happened while
we were gone. You never were built to keep a secret; it shows in
your face right away.”
“Oh! well, I meant to tell you about it, boys. Look here, what do
you think of this?” and as he spoke Tubby turned around, pushed a
piece of burlap aside, and showed them an object hanging by a
piece of rope, a rather ghastly object, too.
“Wow! a turtle, with its throat cut!” exclaimed Andy, staring as
though he could hardly believe his eyes.
“Did you shoot that big snapper?” demanded Ralph. “Why, he
would have taken a piece out of your leg if ever he managed to get a
hold. A fellow has to be pretty careful how he handles a snapping
turtle.”
“Well, he just missed me by an inch,” said Tubby, proudly. “After
that I was fighting shy of that head when it darted at you like
lightning. You see, I came on this whopper while I was moving
around the pond, trying to see some of the frogs squatting among
the grass and reeds and moss. I don’t know why a turtle should be
out of the water and up on the bank, except it comes out to lay its
eggs, they say, and then in the Spring; but there it was, and when I
almost stepped on it, it gave a wicked lunge at me.”
“Quite exciting, wasn’t it, Tubby?” laughed Andy.
“To me it was,” admitted the fat boy, unconcernedly. “I made up
my mind I ought to capture that fellow. They say snappers are death
to frogs, and ducks, and even fish; but as I didn’t dare touch the
crawler, I hunted up a stout stick and tried to turn him over. My stars!
he struck it hard, and held on like a bulldog, but I managed to drag
him further up on the bank. I was wondering what I should do with
him when Peleg came along, and saw what I had found. He told me
you could eat snappers; and while I drew his head as far out as I
could,—I mean the turtle’s, of course,—him holding on to the stick
like grim death, why, Peleg used his knife to end his troubles. So
here he is or she is, I don’t know which; and if Ralph says the same
as Peleg did, and that snappers can be eaten, why we stand to have
turtle steak and turtle soup.”
“He held on like a bull-dog.”

Ralph admitted that he had partaken of snapping turtle diet on


more than one occasion, and found it fairly to his liking, though he
did not really “hanker” after the dish any more than he did frogs’ legs.
“These other red-marked paddlers are better,” he told them.
“Though I guess none of them come up to the green turtle found in
the Southern waters near the coast, or the diamond-back terrapin of
Maryland and Virginia. But I’m glad you got this one, Tubby, because
these snappers do a heap of damage, and are of no earthly good.
I’ve lost dozens of young goslings and ducks through this fellow and
his kind.”
“One thing sure,” Tubby went on to say, with apparent delight,
“today has been a red-letter day for hauling in a mess of food of all
sorts from the water. Just to think, we’ve got fresh fish, frogs’ legs,
and turtle to choose from.”
“Better jot it down in your diary as Marine Day,” laughed Andy.
“We’ll leave the turtle for tomorrow,” suggested Ralph. “Two kinds
of fish ought to be enough for one meal. I’ll take the bass every time.
But here’s Peleg, ready to do the job of getting them fixed for the
pan,” as the half-grown farm boy made his appearance.
“’Tain’t fair, let me tell you,” complained Tubby. “Here I went and
prepared my catch, all but the turtle, so they could be dipped in
cracker crumbs, and dropped in sizzling hot lard, or else fried
alongside salt port. You fellows get off too easy by having Peleg do
the work.”
He forgot all about this, however, in asking after the particulars of
the fishing trip; and, upon learning how the bass bit so fiercely,
Tubby declared he would like to make one of the next party that
visited the lake.
“Frog hunting is all very fine,” he admitted without a bit of shame;
“but it gets monotonous after a while. I like a little variety in my sport.
Besides, the poor greenbacks haven’t a ghost of a chance before
that little Flobert of yours, Ralph, which shoots so straight you only
have to take aim, pull the trigger, and that ends it. Now a bass on a
light rod makes some excitement; and there’s always a chance for
him to give you the merry ha-ha by breaking away. Yes, next time
count me with you, please.”
They took things easy the rest of the afternoon, having enjoyed
the day very much. All sorts of plans were suggested for the future,
some of which were never to be carried out, for the simple reason
that events, which none of the boys could foresee, were on the eve
of coming to pass.
So the night came on. Supper was somewhat later than usual on
account of Mr. Jeffords having been away on a business trip to town,
and coming home along toward twilight, long after the sun had set in
a blaze of glory.
The feast of frogs’ legs proved quite satisfactory to those who
were fond of such a diet. Besides, there was a fine mess of bass,
done to a turn by the colored mammy in the kitchen, who certainly
knew the secret of making various dishes appear very tempting and
appetizing; as well as roast chicken, corn, new potatoes, and last,
but far from least, two kinds of pies that equalled the product of any
New England kitchen.
All of the boys were hungry when they sat down to the table, but
by the time half an hour had gone by Tubby was seen to hardly
shake his head when asked to have another helping. Andy Bowles
undid his belt when he thought no one was looking his way, both of
which incidents went to tell the story of “enough being as good as a
feast.”
They had just about made up their minds to leave the table when
excited voices reached them. Then Peleg came hurrying in, looking
anxious. He said something to Mr. Jeffords in a low voice, at which
the farmer seemed shocked.
“What is it, Father?” demanded Ralph.
“It’s Mrs. Holcomb come over to tell us that one of her children has
been lost in the woods since early this morning,” said Mr. Jeffords.
“Her husband has been searching everywhere, and now they call on
us to help them find the poor lost darling. Ralph, get the car, and
we’ll take her back with us.”

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