Page:Fairview Boys and their Rivals.djvu/92

88 Each one of the animals lay on the grass under a tree, its head between its paws, its eyes fixed up among the branches overhead. Among these, two in one tree, the boys made out Jed and his companions.

"How long have they been there, Mr. Griggs?" asked Dick, his face on a broad grin.

"About three hours."

"And haven't dared to come down on account of the dogs—I see," said Frank, smiling.

"They may now," answered the farmer. "I guess they've had a good dose this time."

He whistled to the dogs, opened the gate for them to pass out, and waved his hand towards the treed captives.

"Hey, you fellows!" he shouted, "you can go on your way now."

Jed and his friends climbed down from the trees. They sneaked for the further corner of the fence away from their amused schoolmates.

"They look pretty forlorn, for a fact," chuckled Tom.

"Go in and help yourselves, lads," invited Farmer Griggs, opening the gate for Bob and his friends to pass through.

"Oh, say, you're awful kind," cried Sammy.

"Just pick the windfalls," directed the farmer. "Hey!" as the boys rushed gladly for the trees, "as you go over the next fence you'll find a little melon patch. You take two of the late watermelons—no more, mind you."

"I'll see that they obey orders, Mr. Griggs." promised Dick, "and—thank you!"

"Many thanks!" shouted the others.

The boys ate two or three apples apiece and stowed as many more in their pockets. Then there was a rush for the melon patch. Bob and Dick came out into the road, each