"I reckon the badger at the end o' that chain won't hurt us much," responded Billy, airily. But Dick had to turn his face away to hide the laughter with which he was now almost bursting. "Wal, boys, if I pull 'm out, you'll ketch 'm, will ye, an' shove 'm in the box?" "Right you are, Jim. You jest pull, and we'll grab." "But p'r'aps you'd be safer to let me come an' help ye hold the critter," added the trapper, shaking his head doubtfully. "Help be blowed," cried Billy. "I reckon we don't need no help to manage this 'ere outfit, eh, Dick?" And the boys laughed in each other's faces, as they carried the box close up to the kennel, and opened the lid in readiness. "Right ye are, sonnies," replied Jim. "Have yer own way. But don't ye forget I gave ye fair warnin'." [Illustration: "BOYS AND BADGER WERE MIXED UP IN A SQUIRMING HEAP."] "We can look after ourselves, you bet," answered Billy, impatiently. "Jest you haul away." "Wal, here we go," said Jim, a faint smile showing on his thin lips. "Grip him the moment he shows his nose. Don't be frightened at the sight of his claws." The lads were stooping ready to grab at the old iron kettle the moment it should make its appearance. Both were chuckling with glee. And the best of the joke was that Grizzly Jim had brought the whole thing right upon himself! "Hoop, la!" cried Jim, and with a pull that would have dragged a camel off its legs, he jerked the occupant of the kennel into the open. In their eagerness as to who should hold aloft the spurious badger before the astonished eyes of Grizzly Jim, the boys fairly flung themselves upon the black object at the end of the chain. Then there followed, oh! such a yelling and a screeching, such a snapping and a snarling! Dick rolled over Billy, and boys and badger were mixed up in a squirming heap. "Shall I come and help ye hold the critter?" called out the trapper, cheerfully. "No, but come and help us let him go," screamed Dick. "My sakes!" roared Billy; "he's got me by the leg." But at this stage Grizzly Jim came to the rescue. The young badger was quickly caught, and popped into the box, while the disconcerted and crestfallen urchins struggled to their feet. "Guess badgers are kind o' more savage beasties than ye reckoned on," remarked the trapper, with dry sarcasm. "No wonder the schoolmaster and the passon were skeered," laughed the hotel-keeper, who had enjoyed the whole scene from a little distance. Then it dawned upon the youngsters how neatly the tables had been turned on them; so, in spite of torn clothes and scratched skins, they did their best like true sportsmen to grin and look pleasant. But it will be some time before they try to take another rise out of Grizzly Jim. _A Common Crystal._ By John R. Watkins.