sleds had polished runners, and slid over the river surface so easily
that pulling was more sport than work.

The course was down the river towards Lake Cameron, and in a very few
minutes the town neighborhood was left behind. On either side of the
frozen stream were trees and bushes, with here and there a cleared
patch or an orchard. Some boys accompanied them a short distance, but
then these dropped back, and our four young friends were left to
themselves.

"Do you remember how we stopped at Pop Lundy's orchard when we went to
the camp in the rowboat?" observed Shep.

"Yes, and how he caught us and then got us to go after the negro who
stole the watch," put in Whopper.

"I shouldn't mind having some of his apples now," said Giant. "We
ought to have taken apples along."

"There is the orchard now," cried Snap. "But there are no apples to be
had this time of year."

"As if we would dare to take them," said Whopper, with a wink of his
eye.

As they neared the spot where the orchard ran down to the river shore
they heard the sound of an axe and saw Simon Lundy chopping down an
old apple tree for firewood. The man was a very close-fisted farmer
and was rarely known to do a charitable act.