Just after they had started Dale came to Jack.
“Baxter is going up to Top Rock Hill,” said he. “I believe that is private property.”
“I was going there myself,” said the young major, “but not on private grounds. There are a good many trees outside of the inclosures.”
“I’ll wager Baxter gets into trouble,” said Dale. And he was right, as later events proved.
CHAPTER XIX
THE RESULT OF THE NUTTING PARTY
All the boys who accompanied Jack were good walkers, and it was not long before they were deep in the woods back of Putnam Hall. The clear, bracing air put them in good spirits, and more than one began to whistle as they went on their way.
“There is a barbed wire fence!” cried Pepper, as they began to ascend Top Rock Hill. “We can’t go over that, I suppose.”
“Here is a path to the left,” answered Andy. “And I don’t know but what it is the better of the two.”
Not long after that they struck the first nut tree. They sent up a dozen sticks and stones, and down came a perfect shower of chestnuts, so thick in fact that they had to “stand from under” until the nuts stopped coming down.
“We’ve struck a bonanza, first trip,” cried Dale. “This will fill one-third of our bags at least.”