et even with Shep, and when the
other was not looking, dove down and caught the doctor's son by
the foot. Shep was just shouting to Giant and had his mouth wide
open, and as a consequence swallowed a lot of water. When he and
Whopper came up they indulged in a splashing contest lasting several
minutes.

"What's the matter with swimming across the river?" suggested Snap,
presently.

"It's a pretty good distance," answered Giant. "And you must
remember the current is rather swift."

"I'll go, Snap," said Shep, who was always ready to follow his "twin."

"I don't think I'll try it to-day," put in Whopper. "I'll stay on
this side with Giant. If you find anything good to eat over there
bring it along," he added.

"Might find some berries," said Snap.

At this point the river, from the outer edge of the cove, was
about a hundred yards wide. The boys had frequently swum across,
so Snap's proposal to go over was nothing unusual. Side by side
the boys started out and took their time. They did not attempt
to stem the current but allowed it to carry them down the river
for several hundred feet. They landed where there was an old
orchard, backed up by a large strawberry patch.

"No apples ripe around here," said Snap, as he and his chum walked
up the river bank, to a point opposite where they had left Giant
and Whopper.

"Let us go over to the strawberry patch," suggested Shep. "We
may find some strawberries worth eating."

As nobody was in sight, the proposition was readily accepted,
and the boys picked their way carefully along, for they had no
desire to hurt their bare feet. Reaching the patch, they began
a hunt and soon discovered a corner where the berries were thick
and sweet.

"Say, this is prime!" observed the doctor's son, smacking his lips.
"This would suit Giant and Whopper to a T!"

"Wonder if we can carry any over to them, Shep?"

"I don't see why not. A little water won't hurt them. In fact
they ought to be washed, they are that full of sand."

"Who owns this patch?"

"Old Tom Ashenbury."

"Well, we had better keep out of his sight, or he'll be after us with
his gun. Don't you remember how he chased us once, when we were
walking through his peach orchard?"

"Indeed I do. But we are doing little harm here. In a few days
all these berries will be rotten. I guess he has given up picking
them."

In moving around the boys had found a couple of old berry baskets,
and these they now