down and proceeded to move it, so as to get to another part of the
tree.

It was easy enough, after I had got it free of the twigs, to pull the
ladder upright, and this done I looked at the place where I meant to put
it next, and getting hold of it tightly, began to lift it by the spokes
just as I had seen Ike manage it.

The fact did not occur to me that I was a mere boy and he a muscular
man, for I'm afraid I had plenty of conceit, and, drawing in a long
breath, I lifted the ladder straight up easily enough, took a couple of
steps in the right direction, and then felt to my horror that the
strength of my arms was as nothing as soon as the balance ceased to be
preserved, for in spite of my efforts the top of the ladder began to go
over slowly, then faster and faster, then there was a sharp whishing
crash as the bough of a pear-tree was literally cut off and a bump and a
sharp crack.

The top of the ladder had struck the ground, breaking several feet right
off, and I was clinging to the bottom.

One minute I was happy and in the highest of spirits; now I was plunged
into a state of hopeless despair as I wondered what Old Brownsmith would
say, and how much it would cost to repair that ladder.

I was so prostrated by my accident that for a minute or so I stood
holding on to the broken ladder, ruefully gazing at my work, and once I
actually found myself looking towards the wall where the trained
plum-trees formed a ladder easy of ascent for Shock, and just as easy
for me to get over and run for it--anywhere so as not to have to meet
Old Brownsmith after destroying his property.

"Well, you've been and gone and done it now, young 'un, and no mistake,"
said a gruff voice; and I found that Ike had come softly up behind me.
"I thought it was you tumbling and breaking of yourself again; but the
ladder. Oh my!"

"I couldn't help it," I cried piteously; "the top was so heavy, it
seemed to pull it over when I tried to move it. Please how much will a
new one cost?"

"Cost!" said Ike grimly, as he stood looking with one eye at the ladder,
with the other at me--"hundred--hundred and twenty--say a hundred pound
at the very outside."

"A hundred pounds!" I cried aghast.

"Well, not more'n that," said Ike. "Trying to move it, was you? and--
why, you've smashed that branch off the pear-tree. I say, hadn't you
better cut and run?"

"I don't know, Ike," I said hopelessly; "had I?"

"Well, I don't think I would this tim