Chapter 7 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 fat lady, making her voice heard above the others who had given utterance to the excited expressions. "Catch me, some one!"

But as no one seemed capable of sustaining her weight, the fat lady concluded not to faint. Meanwhile there was considerable excitement, for the professor continued to kneel beside the locomotive, making signals to the engineer to bring the ponderous machine to a stop.

And the engineer did. With a face that went white under its coating of oil and grime he slapped on the air brakes with a suddenness that brought the train up with a smashing bang. Then, as the released air hissed through the valves, the driver leaned from the cab window and hoarsely 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 reached under the great driving wheels and lifted something out. "It was a narrow escape. If you had run over this bug you would have killed it sure, and it's worth at least seven dollars for my collection."

"Bug!" fairly yelled the engineer. "Do you mean to say you made all that fuss, and stopped the train on account of a bug?"

"Certainly," replied the scientist coolly. "It is a very rare specimen of a red beetle, seldom seen in this part of the country. I saw it on the track just as you were about to run over it. Fortunately I stopped you in time," and he carefully put the beetle in one of his specimen boxes, and looked around for the boys.

"Stopped me in time! I should say you did!" gasped the now angry engineer. "I slapped on the emergency air when I heard you yelling that way. I thought it was a kid under the machine. And all for a bug-a bug! I guess that ain't the only bug around here, either," and he looked significantly at the professor who, however, was calmly unconscious of the glance. "Can I start now?" sarcastically enquired the engineer, "or is there more live stock under my driving wheels? Hey?"

"No more-unfortunately," replied the professor, with great good nature, after a glance under the locomotive, to make certain. "I wish there was, but I will have to be content with this one. Now boys, I'm glad to see you," and he turned to greet the three chums, who up to this time had been too surprised at the sudden and odd turn of events to 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'm with 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're still 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, Andy Rush. Glad to see you, Andy."

"How are you Mr. Snodgrass? My-a bug on the rail-almost run over-great excitement-woman nearly fainted-slam on the breaks-blow up the boiler-hold down the safety valve-sand the tracks-get the bug-whoop!"

"Yes-er-ah-um!" murmured the professor, looking over the top of his spectacles at Andy. "You haven't changed either."

"We've got the auto all ready for you," explained Jerry, as he led the way 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, "for the specimen I am now after is not to be found at sea. So if you're going 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 museum by which I am employed needs one of these rare specimens, and I have engaged to spend my entire vacation looking for it. They are only to be found inland, however, and, so far as is known, such frogs only exist in Java. But I have made a study of the creature, and I see no reason why it should not be discovered in this country, especially farther west, in some of the great forests.

"This frog has a sort of membrane between its legs, like a flying squirrel, and in addition to that feature it has the power of changing its color like the chameleon. Ordinarily it is light green on top, and white on the under parts, but it may become orange-hued, or even pink or brown. I have great hopes of finding one, and if I do, I will be richly 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 flying frogs," said Jerry, "but we are going to an aviation meet, and after that 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 to make 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, and it 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 up the car. "We get our dividends regularly."

The professor was busy arranging his specimen boxes about him in the tonneau of the car, where he sat with Bob and Andy Rush. The long-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 as they neared Jerry's house.

"Why?" inquired the tall youth.

"Well, I can't tell whether or not we are passing any valuable insects on the bushes," explained the professor, as he peered through his powerful spectacles at the shrubbery that lined the roadway. "I must lose no chances of getting specimens," he innocently explained, "so I thought 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 ceased moving the professor was out, and had darted to a blackberry bush, net in hand.

He made a swoop, gathered a part of the net in his fingers, looked closely at what was in it, and then exclaimed:

"Oh, pshaw! it's only a common June bug. I thought I had a seven winged dragon fly. Go ahead Jerry. I hope I have better luck when I look for the flying frog?"

During this time Andy Rush had said little, but the manner in which he fidgeted about on the seat, and the way in which his lips moved, showed that he was holding something back with a great effort.

Jerry swung the car up in front of his house, and as he and his chums and their guest alighted, the excitable little chap asked:

"Say, professor, is there really a flying frog-one that sails through the air-like an aeroplane-over the trees-'round in a circle-faster and faster-is there really-whoop!"

Andy ended up with a vigorous swinging of his arms. The professor looked curiously at him, and then, without a word, made a jump for the small chap.

Surprise manifested on his face, Andy leaped back out of reach of the butterfly net that was extended toward him. The scientist took another forward step. Andy leaped back still more, and then, as if alarmed at the 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 away from 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 their limit. "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 thinks he's been making game of him. If he catches him he may hurt the little fellow."

"What, the professor? He wouldn't hurt a fly unless he wanted it for a specimen," spoke Ned.

"Maybe that's what he wants of Andy-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 still begging to be let alone, while the professor was shouting:

"Stop! Stop I say! Come back here at once!"

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