Page:Fairview Boys and their Rivals.djvu/91

Rh road where Jed and his friends had left them earlier in the morning. As they came up to a farmhouse Dick said:

"Farmer Griggs lives here. We'll go in and get a good cool drink of well water."

They trooped into the farm-yard. They were all gathered about the well when an old man came out from the house.

"How'dy, Dick," he said. "Mornin', lads. Hey, lost any of your friends?"

"Have you found any, Mr. Griggs?" asked Dick.

"I have, for a fact," replied the farmer, with a grin, "six of them."

"He means Jed and the others," said Frank.

"I shouldn't wonder," answered Bob.

"Where are the friends you spoke of, Mr. Griggs?" asked Dick, guessing.

"Treed. Just step this way, so you can see the orchard, and you'll understand what I mean," replied the farmer, with a grim chuckle.

The boys trooped eagerly after the farmer. Behind the barns of the place was a small fenced-in orchard. The trees hung heavy with red, luscious fruit. More than one of the boys knew of the fine fruit that came from the Griggs farm and was on sale in the village every fall and winter.

"After you've looked a bit, lads," said the farmer, "you can go and eat your fill. I've no objection to any orderly boys helping themselves to an apple or two, but when it comes to stealing bagfuls, though, and breaking whole limbs off the trees, I can't stand it. There's the fellows I spoke of," added Mr. Griggs, coming to a halt.

Inside the orchard were four big dogs. They did not look so fierce and ugly, but there was something about them that told one they knew how to protect the property of their owner.