them just to eat, thinking that you would not miss such a small number.
But I did not like to go by myself; so I asked Fred Morris if he would
go with me. He said, 'O yes; he would go anywhere, or do anything, to
get some apricots.' He did not know of your tree, he added; or he should
have paid it a visit before. I began to be sorry I had told him, and
made him promise that he would not take more than three. When it got
dark, and we were set out, I felt that I was doing very wrong. I wished
to turn back; but Fred would not let me. He said I need not take any
fruit myself if I wanted to back out; but that if I did not go with him
to show him the tree, he would beat me within an inch of my life. So we
came to the wicket together; it was fastened, and we clambered over the
hedge. Fred had a large basket with him, which I had several times asked
him about, and tried to make him say what he brought it for. He told me
that I should see when the time came. As soon as he got to the tree, he
began gathering the apricots as fast as he could, and putting them into
his basket. I tried to hinder him, and said I would shout and wake you;
but he declared that, if I did, he would kill me; and you know, Ned, he
is nearly twice as big as I am, and terribly violent; so all I could do
was to hold my tongue, and let him alone. Just as we were going away, he
caught up a saw that was lying in the garden, and spoiled the tree with
it. I do believe he did this just for the love of mischief, or maybe
partly to spite me, because I had told him not to steal all the
apricots. He would not let me have one for my share; though I do not
think I could have eaten it if he had, I was so much frightened, and so
surprised at him for stealing all your fruit. He besides ordered me not
to tell what he had done, and bullied me a great deal about it, till at
last I got away from him. I was too much afraid to tell you for a good
while, but I could not bear that you should think I had been so very
wicked; and at last I made up my mind to tell you exactly how it was.