“I’m up here in a tree,” said Jim, poking his black thatched head as far through its frame of apple blossoms as he dared. “The bull won’t let me climb down.”
“Treed are you?” asked the man, laughing at what Jim didn’t think was a funny situation. “Just how mean is that bull?”
“Dad handles him without any trouble,” replied Jim. “Once in a while he has to hit him on the nose with a stick.”
“Be with you in a minute.” The stranger hunted around until he found a big piece of wood for a club.
The bull decided he wasn’t quite so ferocious when he saw a determined man approaching with a sizable club. He gave a few disgruntled snorts and then ambled off to the far end of the orchard. Thankfully Jim climbed down from his uncomfortable haven.
“Thanks, Mister,” he said with feeling. “Now I’ve got to find my watch.”
He hurried back along the path of his recent flight from the bull, searching the ground anxiously. About thirty feet from the tree he found his watch, lying bright and shining in the sun. He picked it up and held it to his ear. It was ticking away merrily. With a huge sigh of relief, Jim put the watch in his pocket.
“You really got me out of a mess,” he said, as they walked toward the gate. “I was trapped in that tree, the orchard gate was open, and my watch was lying on the ground.”
“That looks like a pretty good watch to be carrying around in your overalls.”
“It’s about the best watch in the world I guess,” said Jim proudly. “I don’t usually carry it every day.”