The three students approached the orchard from the rear and after looking around located the silken kite in the limbs of an apple tree. The tree was bare of fruit, but close at hand were other trees loaded with golden russets.
"Wonder if we can get that kite without being seen," mused Phil, as he gazed longingly at his property, dangling downward by its gorgeous tail of fancy ribbons.
"I don't see anybody around," answered Dave. "And I don't hear any of his dogs either."
"You want to go slow," cautioned the senator's son. "He may be around, watching us on the sly."
"Perhaps we had better go around to the road and ask for the kite," said Dave.
"No, he won't give it to us," answered Phil. "He is too mean—I know him. I'd rather try to get it on the sly."
The wind was still blowing and it was growing dark. They took another careful look around and then leaped the fence of the orchard. Soon they were at the tree from which the kite dangled, and Phil climbed up.
"Catch it!" he called, as he loosened the tail, but just then the wind caught the kite and carried it to the other side of the orchard.
"There it goes!" cried Dave, and made a run after the object. The others followed, and presently they had the kite in their possession. In running through the orchard Dave caught his foot on a tree root and fell headlong but did not hurt himself.
With the kite in their possession the three students left the orchard as quickly as they had entered it. It was now so late that they were afraid they could not get back to Oak Hall in time for supper and so set off at a brisk pace. But suddenly Dave came to a stop.