“Yes, I guess I can,” Bert assented. “Is the horse named Tramper?” he inquired.
“That’s his name,” replied Zeek, with a laugh. “I named him that myself,” he added.
“Won’t Nan and the others be surprised when they see me driving up all alone?” exclaimed Bert, with a happy laugh as he climbed up to the seat of the cart and looked at the pile of soft peaches behind him.
“Well, don’t give ’em too much of a surprise,” advised Zeek.
“Do you mean Tramper might run away?” the boy asked.
“Oh, no danger of that!” chuckled the hired man. “But don’t upset the cart before you get to the barn. After you get there it doesn’t matter much what happens.”
“Oh, I won’t upset!” promised Bert. “I know how to drive.”
For a time all went well. There was a level road leading into and out of the orchard, and along this Bert guided the steady old horse. On either side were men and women up on ladders picking the peaches, and Bert felt that they were all looking at him as he went along.
“Go on there, Tramper!” he called to the horse. But the patient old animal did not pay much attention to anything. He never went a bit faster for all Bert’s talk.
The lad guided the horse and cart safely out on the main road, and along that to the lane which led to the barn where the sorting was going on.