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cracked, and as the limbs were shaken, the glossy brown nuts came pattering thickly down upon the dry leaves.

Helen forgot her fear in the excitement of filling the luncheon basket, for all the bags were now stuffed to their utmost. "Come on down now, Walter," she called in a few minutes. "We have plenty, all we can carry."

"All right," answered Walter, and there was a rustling and scratching among the branches. Presently the sounds ceased. Helen noticed it.

"Come on, Walter," she called, again; "we can't carry any more."

"All right, in a minute," came from up in the tree, and then all was silent again for a time.

The girls sat on the grass chatting for a few moments, and then Helen grew impatient and getting up, approached the tree, coming close to the trunk and peering up into the branches, "Walter," she called, "why don't you come?"

Walter was sitting on one of the boughs