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For the next fortnight ere all very busy picking and packing fruit,

and Ike was off every night about eleven or twelve with his load, co a little work in the

garden of an afternoon, and seeing to the packing ready for a fresh

start in the night

The weather was glorious, and the pears ca so that they htful tione off I was able to

do my ith ease I did not try to move the ladder any h I slipped once or twice, I was

able to save an to feel quite at home up in the trees

Every now and then if Shock was anywhere near he played sohtenBut he never succeeded now, for I

knew hi at times, when he

threw himself backwards on the ladder and slid down head fores, I did not run to his help

In spite of the conversation I had had with him in the shed, ere no

better friends next time we met, or rather e nearlyhe turned his back and went off in another

direction

As I said, a fortnight had passed, and the fruit-picking was at its