Each boy held his breath as Linn drew closer and closer to the chair
which held the pumpkin. Then as his knees struck against the edge of it
he stopped and placed the stem on the top of the pumpkin.

"Good for you, Linn," cried Toad. "I didn't think you could do it."

"Oh, it was easy," boasted Linn. "The heat of the fire told me where the
fireplace was, then when I turned and faced the other way I knew I only
had to walk to the left to reach this corner."

"Here's the prize," announced Chuck, stepping up to Linn and handing him
a box.

"Hurry up and open it," cried Hopie, "we want to see what's in it." And
as the lid came off the box, Linn exclaimed:

"A baseball, just what I've been wanting," and he tossed it up into the
air.

"That's as lively as a cricket," commented Herbie, as he caught the ball
and bounced it on the floor.




CHAPTER III

THE SWINGING APPLES