"What's the matter with swimming across the river?" suggested Snap,
presently.

"It's a pretty good distance," answered Giant. "And you must
remember the current is rather swift."

"I'll go, Snap," said Shep, who was always ready to follow his "twin."

"I don't think I'll try it to-day," put in Whopper. "I'll stay on
this side with Giant. If you find anything good to eat over there
bring it along," he added.

"Might find some berries," said Snap.

At this point the river, from the outer edge of the cove, was
about a hundred yards wide. The boys had frequently swum across,
so Snap's proposal to go over was nothing unusual. Side by side
the boys started out and took their time. They did not attempt
to stem the current but allowed it to carry them down the river
for several hundred feet. They landed where there was an old
orchard, backed up by a large strawberry patch.

"No apples ripe around here," said Snap, as he and his chum walked
up the river bank, to a point opposite where they had left Giant
and Whopper.

"Let us go over to the strawberry patch," suggested Shep. "We
may find some strawberries worth eating."

As nobody was in sight, the proposition was readily accepted,