ve your receipt in full."

Jack did not much like the appearance of things.

"My good man," said he, "it is quite a prejudice on your part to imagine
that apples were not given, as well as all other fruit, for the benefit
of us all--they are common property, believe me."

"That's a matter of opinion, my lad, and I may be allowed to have my
own."

"You'll find it in the Bible," says Jack.

"I never did yet, and I've read it through and through all, bating the
'Pocryfar."

"Then," said Jack, "go home and fetch the Bible, and I'll prove it to
you."

"I suspect you'll not wait till I come back again. No, no; I have lost
plenty of apples, and have long wanted to find the robbers out; now I've
caught one I'll take care that he don't 'scape without apple-sauce, at
all events--so come down, you young thief, come down directly--or it
will be all the worse for you."

"Thank you," said Jack, "but I am very well here. I will, if you
please, argue the point from where I am."

"I've no time to argue the point, my lad; I've plenty to do, but do not
think I'll let you off. If you don't choose to come down, why then you
may stay there, and I'll answer for it, as soon as work is done I shall
find you safe enough."

"What can be done," thought Jack, "with a man who will not listen to
argument? What a world is this!--however, he'll not find me here when
he comes back, I've a notion."

But in this Jack was mistaken. The farmer walked to the hedge, and
called to a boy, who took his orders and ran to the farm-house. In a
minute or two a large bull-dog was seen bounding along the orchard to
his master. "Mark him, Caesar," said the farmer to the dog, "mark him."
The dog crouched down on the grass, with his head up, and eyes glaring
at Jack, showing a range of teeth, that drove all our hero's philosophy
out of his head.

"I can't wait here, but Caesar can, and I will tell you, as a friend,
that if he gets hold of you, he'll not leave a limb of you together--
when work's done I'll come back." So saying, the farmer walked off,
leaving Jack and the dog to argue the point, if so inclined. What a sad
jade must philosophy be, to put her votaries in such predicaments!

After a while the dog laid his head down and closed his eyes as if
asleep, but Jack observed, that at the least movement on his part one
eye was seen to partially unclose; so Jack, like a prudent man, resolved
to remain where he was. He picked a few more apples