Hearing this, the boy came out of the thicket entirely, and scrambled up the bank. He stood at the top of the bank, looking toward Wallace and Phonny, but did not advance. His hand was extended toward a branch of the tree which he had taken hold of to help him in climbing up the bank. He continued to keep hold of this tree, showing by his attitude that he did not mean to come any farther. He was in fact a little awed at the sight of Wallace, who was a stranger to him. He did not know whether he was wanted for any good purpose, or was going to be called to account for some of his misdeeds. "Come here a minute," said Phonny. Espy did not move. "Is that your trap up in the woods?" asked Phonny. "Yes," said Espy. "There is a squirrel in it," rejoined Phonny, "and I want to buy him." Hearing this, the boys who had been playing with the dog began to move up toward Wallace and Phonny. Espy himself taking his hand down from the tree, came forward a few steps. Wallace and Phonny too advanced a little with their horses toward the stream, and thus the whole party came nearer together. "There is a squirrel in your trap," repeated Phonny, "if he has not gnawed out;--and I want to buy him. What will you sell him for?" "What kind of a squirrel is it?" asked Espy. "I don't know," said Phonny. "I couldn't see any thing but his eyes." "If it's a gray squirrel," said Espy, "he is worth a quarter. If it's a red squirrel you may have him for four pence-- "Or for nothing at all," continued Espy, after a moment's pause, "just as you please." Wallace laughed. "What will you sell him for just as he is," asked Wallace, "and we take the risk of his being red or gray?" "Don't you know which it is?" asked Espy. "No," said Wallace, "_I_ do not. I did not go near the cage, and Phonny did not open it. He says he could only see his eyes." "And his nose," said Phonny, "I saw his nose,--but I don't know at all, what kind of a squirrel it is." "You may have him for eighteen cents," said Espy. "But perhaps he has gnawed out," said Phonny. "He was gnawing out as fast as he could when we saw him." "Why, if he has gnawed out," said Espy, "you will not have anything to pay, of course; because then you won't get him. "Or," continued Espy, "you may have him for ten cents, and you take the risk of his gnawing out. You give me ten cents now, and you may have him if he is there, red or gray. If he is not there, I keep the ten cents, and you get nothing." "Well," said Phonny. "Would you, Wallace?" "I don't know," said Wallace. "You must decide. There is considerable risk. I can't judge." "I have not got any ten cents," said Phonny--"only a quarter of a dollar." "Oh, I can pay," said Wallace, "and then you can pay me some other time." "Well," said Phonny, "I believe I will take him." "You must lend me the trap," said Phonny, again addressing Espy,--"to carry the squirrel home in, and I will bring it back here some day." "Well," said Espy.