--I 'm going to get over
the fence, and see what they 've got. Those plums over there look as
if they were pretty near ripe. Come, Alf and Oscar, won't you get
over?"

"You two may," said Oscar, "but I 'll stay here with Tiger. He might
bark if we all got over, where he could n't see us."

Edward and Alfred were soon upon the other side of the fence. While
they were exploring the garden, Oscar's attention was attracted to a
dense thicket, from which two or three birds suddenly flew on his
approach. He thought there might be a nest there, and concluded to see
if he could find it. Carefully brushing aside the leaves and twigs, he
began to hunt for the suspected nest, while Tiger stood looking on.
Absorbed in this occupation, he lost sight of his comrades.

[Illustration: Hunting for Birds' Nests.]

After searching for several minutes, Oscar found a small nest, within
his reach, but it was empty. He turned to inform the other boys of his
success, but they were nowhere to be seen. He walked along by the
fence, but could see nothing of them. He was afraid to call to them,
lest the owner of the garden might hear, and take the alarm. He
listened, but could not hear them. He walked along still further, and
kept his eyes wide open, but they were not to be seen. He concluded
they were playing a trick upon him, and had hid themselves. If that
was the game he thought, he would not worry himself about it. He
accordingly turned about, and was going to sit down and wait for them
to make their appearance, when he happened to espy them in a distant
field, running at the top of their speed, with a man in full chase
after them. It was soon evident that the boys were gaining on their
pursuer; but they were approaching a brook, over which there was no
bridge, and the man probably supposed that would bring them to a stand.
It did not, however, for they ran right through the shallow water,
without stopping to think about it. The man did not think it prudent
to follow their example, and he accordingly gave up the chase, and went
back with dry feet.

After Edward and Alfred had got rid of their pursuer, they began to
look around for Oscar. The latter, putting his fingers into his mouth,
gave a loud and shrill whistle, which they immediately recognized, and
answered in a similar way. Oscar started towards them, and taking a
wide sweep through the fields, they all came out together upon the
highway. They did not think it