"Trespassing! a fig for trespassing," said John Parker, clearing away
all impediments, and bestriding the narrow ditch, planted a foot firmly
on the opposite bank.
"You may get something not so sweet as a fig for trespassing, John,
though," said his brother Fred, who came up at this moment.
"Man-traps and spring-guns are fictions my lad," said Philip Harcourt, a
boy of much the same turn as John, not easily persuaded any way; "Now
for it, over Parker; be quick, man," and over he jumped.
Then followed Harcourt, White, and another little boy, whose name was
Arthur, leaving Fred and Simon Pure in the middle of the road. The wood
was, undoubtedly, a very delightful place, and more than one fine
pheasant rustled amongst the underwood, and the squirrels leaped from
bough to bough, whilst the music of the birds was charming. Fred,
himself, was tempted as he peeped over the gap, and stood irresolute.
The plantation was far enough from the residence of the owner, nor was
it likely that they could do much mischief beyond frightening the game,
and as it was not sitting time, Fred himself argued it could do no harm,
but little Riches, the boy called Pure, who was a great admirer of Fred,
especially since the affair of the Dahlias, begged him not to go; "Mr.
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