“Jiminy!” exclaimed Hal.
“Shut up!” cautioned Ned.
And they were among the vines!
The only thing they could do was, carry off as many melons as they were able—one under each arm—and eat them. The chief reward would be the glory of having got ahead of Squire Belton. How mad he would be when he found, in the morning, that he had been outwitted!
The boys groped about on the ground, with hands and feet as happened to be most convenient. What is apt to be the case, the fruit which they felt now here, now there, did not quite suit them. They fancied that a bit farther on they would come across some better in quality. Since they could take only a small quantity, they wanted it to be high in quality.
So they proceeded, step by step, always in the hope that they would light upon the melon, a melon worth while.
“Cr-rash!”
“Oh, thunder!”
Hal had tripped on a vine, and had been sent sprawling.
“Bow-wow-wow! Bow-wow-wow-wow! Bow!”