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 "No, I thank you," answered Gerald. "You would be nowhere near to help me fight them." A determined flash came into the boy's countenance, such as he had shown when he caught up the bit of rock in defiance of the ragged Sip.

"O, I beg your pardon," he went on in his odd, rather grown-up manner; "I haven't said how much obliged to you I am for coming down there."

"You are quite welcome," laughed his new friend, looking down with frank eyes upon the younger boy.

"Perfectly welcome, 'Gerald,' you were going to say," added his companion, simply, feeling as if he had known for years this winning new-comer, who seemed not so much boy or man, but a confusion of both, that made up some one with whom he could speedily be on familiar terms. "Hark! Mrs. Wooden is calling you. That horse of yours is eating an apple out of Miss Beauchamp's hand, too."

The two Woodens and their boarder, Miss Beauchamp, walked forward to meet the boys as they advanced from the lane.

"Well, Philip," was the white-headed old farmer's greeting, "where did you fly to so