The proprietor no doubt had gone with his family to some town and the apples would have rotted on the ground had the young officers not found them.
"There must be bushels and bushels here," said St.Clair.

"We'll fill up our sacks first and then call the other men." They had brought sacks with them for the corn, but the few ears they had found took up but little space.
"I'll climb the trees, and shake 'em down," said Harry.

He was up a tree in an instant, all his boyhood coming back to him, and, as he shook with his whole strength, the red apples, held now by twigs nearly dead, rained down.

They passed from tree to tree and soon their sacks were filled.
"Now for the colonels," said St.Clair, "and on our way we'll tell the others." Bending under the weight of the sacks, they took their course toward a snug cove in the first slope of the Massanuttons, hailing friends on the way and sending them with swift steps toward the welcome orchard.
They passed within the shadow of a grove, and then entered a small open space, where two men sat on neighboring stumps, with an empty box between them.

Upon the box reposed a board of chessmen and at intervals the two intent players spoke.
"If you expect to capture my remaining knight, Hector, you'll have to hurry.