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.
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