The boys, however, easily eluded their pursuers. Shouting taunts, they darted down and seized the abandoned sack of walnuts.
“Oh, they’re going off with them!” cried Veve in dismay.
Four boys were in the group. One was tall and large enough to be fifteen years of age. The others, who seemed to follow his orders, were younger.
“Ya! Ya! Ya!” they mocked the Brownies. “Stealing walnuts! Stealing walnuts!”
“That’s not so!” shouted Jane. “You’re the ones who mixed up the park signs!”
“Put that sack of nuts down!” ordered Veve. “Don’t you dare—”
The older boy, who had slung the sack over his shoulder, deliberately untied the cord as if to empty the contents upon the ground.
Miss Gordon tried to reason with him, but he paid no attention to anything she said.
“Take one step down the slope, and I’ll dump ’em all!” he challenged.
“What possible fun can you see in making work for a nice lady?” Miss Gordon asked, edging a little closer. “Did she ever make any trouble for you?”