"For if I hear of your stealing fruit again," said
he, "I shall get a warrant and have you arrested for what you have done
to-night. Here are four witnesses ready to testify against you."
Alfred and Harvey put their names to the paper while I held the lantern.
"Now give it to 'em, Squire!" said Jim, when the boys had signed.
From the first Addison and I had had little idea that the old Squire
would whip the boys. It was never easy to induce him to whip even a
refractory horse or ox. Now he took the paper, read their names, then
folded it and put it into his pocket.
"I guess this will hold you straight, boys," he said. "Now you can go
home."
"What, ain't ye goin' to lick 'em?" Jim exclaimed.
"Not this time," said the old gentleman. "Untie them and let them go."
Jim and Asa were greatly disappointed. "Let me give 'em jest a few
licks," Jim begged, with a longing glance at the whip.
"Not this time," the old Squire replied. "If we catch them at this
again, I'll see about it. And, boys," he said to them, as Jim and Asa
very reluctantly untied the knots of their bonds, "any time you want a
pocketful of pears to eat just come and ask me.
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