"Mr. Lundy, supposing we agree to pay you for the apples?" questioned
Snap, after an awkward pause.

"How much?" demanded the farmer, cautiously. He was a good deal
of a miser and money was very dear to him.

"Oh, a fair price."

"Don't pay him a cent," whispered Giant. "Let us all drop and
run for it."

"If we do that he may report the matter at home and make trouble
that way," went on Snap. "He can't charge us only a few cents
for what we have taken."

"Will ye give me a dollar fer the apples?" asked Pop Lundy.

"A dollar!" ejaculated Whopper. "Humph! I can get a barrel of
these apples for a dollar!"

"No, yeou can't! I'm a-goin' to git six dollars fer 'em---they're
the best in these air parts. Make it a dollar an' I'll let ye go."

"This is a regular hold-up," muttered Shep. "Offer him twenty-five
cents."

At that moment came a loud cry from the direction of the farmhouse,
which was located at the upper end of the orchard.

"Help! help! Simon! Simon! Help me!" came in the voice of a woman.