I wish I were near enough, I could snatch him up
like anything."
"I wouldn't advise you to," said Molly. "Grandfather says that
water-beetles have got daggers in their tails. Besides, some of the
beetles are very greedy and eat the fish."
"The Big Black one doesn't," said Francis. "He said so. _Hydroeus piceus_
is the name, and I dare say that's the one. It's the biggest of all the
water-beetles and very harmless."
"He _may_ be a good one," said Molly, looking thoughtfully and
unmistakably at me, "but then he may be one of the bad ones; and if he
is, he'll eat everything before him."
But by this time Francis was dipping the colander in and out on the
opposite side, and she was left to struggle with the Water-Soldier.
"He's up at last," she announced, and the Soldier was landed on the
bank.
"Come round," said the boy; "I've filled three jars."
"I hope you've been careful, Francis. You know Grandfather says that to
stock a fresh-water aquarium is like the puzzle of the Fox and the Geese
and the bag of seed. It's no use our having things that eat each other."
"They must eat something," said the boy; "they're used to it at home;
and I wish you wouldn't be always cramming Grandfather down my throat.
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