118 Tom Seven Vears Old.

 

 

but I like them. Perhaps they're tadpoles,
you know. Now I’m going to lift my hands
out. Look!”

Archie and Tom both looked ; but there
was nothing to be seen but a piece of stick,
and a blade of grass, and a lot of muddy
water—not a single tadpole. |

“They’ve no bodies,” said Tom; “they've
nothing but heads and tails. ‘That’s what
makes them so difficult to catch. I’m going
to try again. Put the can nearer.”

Archie did so. Then he watched eagerly.
Though he did not like touching the tadpoles
himself, he liked to look at them if another
person touched them, and thought them quite
as ugly and interesting as Tom did. After
trying several times, they really did catch a
good number.

“Now, said Tom, in a great hurry, “we
must take them home at once. I’ve pulled
the bath out ready. They might turn into
frogs while we are carrying them, if we’re
not quick, and that would be dreadful, be-
cause we wouldn’t see, you know.”