"Fibber!" whispered Ned, though not so low but what they all heard,
and the girls burst into laughter.

"Never mind," spoke Olivia. "Come on, Bob. I'll take care of you. The
cook and I are great friends," and the girl and Bob walked on ahead.

"I suppose you came out here to study some new kind of plant or
flowers, didn't you?" asked Mr. Seabury, of the professor.

"Not exactly," replied the scientist, "though I shall examine them
with much interest. What I came down for was to secure some specimens
of horned toads for the museum. I--"

"Horned toads!" exclaimed Nellie, who was walking with Jerry, while
Rose had volunteered to show Ned the beauties of the Mexican garden.
"Horned toads! Ugh! The horrible things. I hope you don't bring them
around where I am, Professor. Horned toads! Why don't you search after
something beautiful, like the wonderful butterfly you found in
Florida?"

"A horned toad is just as beautiful as a butterfly," said Mr.
Snodgrass gravely. "The only difference is, people don't appreciate
the toad. I do, and, some day, I hope to write a history of that
creature. I have my notes ready for the first volume, which will be a
sort of introduction."

"How many volumes do you expect to write?" asked Mr. Seabury,
curiously.

"Twelve," replied the scientist calmly. "Even then I will have to omit