The guardian and the girls glanced inquiringly at their mercenary visitor.
“What do you mean?”
“Them melons,” answered the farmer, indicating the fruit with a nod.
“I don’t understand you, sir.” The guardian was plainly perplexed. Harriet was smiling broadly. She thought she understood now.
“The melons you stole from my field.”
“Stole from your field?” gasped Miss Elting.
“Yes.”
“Sir, you insult us! We have stolen neither melons nor anything else. I demand that you leave this camp instantly. We shall not endure such accusations.”
“You didn’t steal them, eh?”
“No, we didn’t,” answered Jane, who had stepped forward.