"Hasn't he got an orchard or melon-patch that we could visit?" inquired Charles.
"No," answered one of the Rangers; "but he's got as nice a strawberry-patch as ever laid out-doors. But it's a little too early for strawberries."
"Who cares for that?" said Charles. "We don't go to get the fruit; we only want to pay him for defending the Hiller—meddling with other people's business. It's too late to do any thing to-night," he added, glancing at his watch, "but let us go there to-morrow night, and pull up every strawberry-plant we can lay our hands on. You know, we can do as much mischief of that kind as we please, and it will all be laid to the Hillers."
"Where shall we meet?" inquired one of the Rangers.
"Come here at precisely seven o'clock; and, remember, don't lisp a single word to any one about it, for, if you do, we shall be found out."
The Rangers were about to disperse, when one of them suddenly inquired,
"Will not folks mistrust that something is in the wind, if they see us all starting up the road at that time of night?"
"That's a fact," said William Gage. "Wouldn't it be a better plan for us to meet in the woods, at the back of Mrs. Nelson's lot? Let us all be there at eight o'clock; and, if no two of us go in company, no one will be the wiser for it."
"That is the best plan," said Charles. "Now, remember, don't say any thing about it."
"All right!" was the answer; and, in a few moments more, the Rangers were on their way home.