Frank, the Young Naturalist

pend the

rmchair, was soon deeply interested in one of Bayard Taylor's works. While thus engaged, a light

gan, "I don't want y

t?" he

y after to-morrow is t

your fire-works yet

it, ex

book, "then, I suppose, I shall have to go down t

gs that are written

crackers, four boxes of torpedoes, three Roman candl

ket, "that's what I should call going it strong! Well, I'll tell Mr.

next moment, Frank and Brave were out

common with a game of ball. At length it grew too dark for their sport to continue, and one

ons had sustained, they were present; and the former, who had been maki

go hu

" shoute

of year, Charley," said James Porter, who, although he cor

ugh, during the whole afternoon, he had been endeavoring to work himself into their favor, he was angry, in an instant, at the manner in which they opposed his proposition. He had been considerably abashed at his recent defeat, and he knew t

he determined to seize the first opportunity

eared, were still absent. This was exactly what he had wished for. With the assistance of his companions, the Range

James, he continued,

o eat, you blockhead, but only

e, not the least disconcerted by the other's

do just as I please. Besides, I ne

ictate at all, Charle

still," roared the bull

to advance

striding up, and placing himself directly in fr

and, turning to the Rangers, he continued, "Come on, boy

. "Here comes Frank. Now you had b

n an instant; and, hastily whispering a f

and Harry, arrived, and the boys, in a few wo

fore long, how unreasonably he acts. He makes hi

ho go with him are very foolish. However, we can't help it. But, come," h

nic on Strawberry

iting," said another "

, "let's hear what you have g

king, for two or three days, of something which, I believe, will afford us a great deal of s

rse," answer

Frank, "is to ascertain how

bring

called out s

Johnson, who always liked to see things go off in orde

s came up, a

y, and, of course, we wa

cour

he provisions into their charge, and call them smugglers, and let the other boats play the part of revenue-cutters, o

ital!" shou

oting game, at this t

that tyrant," observed another, w

ts," said William, "and I move that we adjourn to

e way, followed by all the boys, who were highly

t of the meeting, and, in less than half a

ovisions, of which each boy was expected to furnish his share, were all to be left at Mr. Butler's boat-house by six o'clock on the following evening, where they were to be taken charge of by the smugglers, of whom Frank was chosen l

er the command of Charles Sheldon, a shrewd, cunning fellow, who had the repu

divisions of three boats each, and a c

the prospect of the exciting times that would occur during the race, they were confident that the smugglers could be easily ca

to break up, one of the

y times catchin

tler. "It would be funny if you s

other, "for we've got thir

rles Sheldon, "don't you

boys," he continued, "remember that we want all the refreshments

o be on hand, and t

slowly toward home, talking the matter over, and congratulating themselves on

and, as soon as the others were

we can give

st not think of beating them in sailing, because t

ropose to do?"

in the morning

get up at twelve o'clo

all night than have th

to-morrow night. Some of us will be sure to wake up early, and, I thi

ver their plans, and, finally, reluct