"That's Ap Plunkit's work—I know," declared Fred, with conviction. "He climbs trees like a monkey. You see how long his arms are. I've seen him go up a taller tree than this."
"Maybe he's taken your clothes up there, too," said Bobby, going to the trunk of the tree.
"The mean scamp!" exclaimed Fred. "How'll we get them, Bob? I—I can't climb that tree this way."
"Neither can I," admitted his friend. "But wait till I run and get my clothes on—"
"And you'd better run, too!" exclaimed Fred, suddenly, "or you won't find the rest of your clothes."
Thus advised, Bobby Blake set out at once for the spot where he had been dressing. There was no sign of Applethwaite Plunkit about—or of any other marauder. Just the same, when Bobby was dressed and went down the creek side again to Fred, he carried all their possessions with him.
That chestnut was a hard tree for Bobby to climb—especially barefooted. There were so many prickly burrs that had dropped into the crotches of the limbs, and, drying, had become quite stiff and sharp. He had to stop several times as he mounted upward to pick the thorns from his feet.
But he got the shoes and stockings, and, hanging them around his neck, came down as swiftly as he could. Both boys at once sat down and put on this part of their apparel. Fred was almost tempted to cry; but then, he was too angry to "boo-hoo" much.
"I'll catch that Ap Plunkit, and I'll do something to him yet," he declared. "I'll have him arrested for stealing my clothes, anyway."
"How can we prove he took them? We didn't see him," said Bobby, thoughtfully.