Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/202

182 "Do you know, I really believe he is ugly," said Dave, to Buster, in a low tone.

"Oh, I reckon not," was the answer. But just then the turtle made a fierce snap at another boy, who gave a yell to be heard all over the hotel.

By this time the dining room was in an uproar. Several began to throw things at the snapping turtle, and this made the creature more ugly than ever. From one table he charged to another, until nobody dared to remain on the floor.

"A dollar reward for capturing the turtle!" sang out Phil. "Come now, don't all speak at once."

"You had better win that reward yourself!" came tartly from a man at a near by table.

"Anybody here belonging to a menagerie?" asked Roger. "If so, please speak up and take the turtle away."

The turtle now made another charge, and did this so fiercely that the chair on which Ben was standing went over, casting the lad headlong to the floor. Before he could arise, the snapping turtle had him by the knee of his trousers and was holding on grimly.

"Let go, you beast!" gasped poor Ben. "Let go! Somebody make him let go!" And he continued to struggle.

Fearful that the snapping turtle had his friend by the knee-cap, Dave leaped behind the creature,