Orchard Thieves A great deal of whispering and rustling was
going on behind the hedge, and I stood still, wondering what was happening. Someone tripped over a tin can, a dog barked and all at once there was a great deal more scuffling. The hedge bulged, a head appeared and someone whimpered that his jacket was torn. The orchard raiders were on the run. The first of them clattered on to the road and took to his heels, and he was followed by another, falling headlong over the hedge and tumbling like a shot rabbit. The fallen one looked at me, sprawled and scuttled to his feet and took off like 'a wild thing, his heelshods throwing sparks as he tore along. Two more broke out. One scrambled after fallen apples and sobbed because his companion had trodden on his fingers. In a minute 1 was alone again. 1 picked up a hard green apple. It was as sour as a crab, I could tell without taking a bite.
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