One I had a tremendous job to reach, after going a little lower to where my basket hung to empty my pockets before climbing again.

It was a splendid fellow, the biggest yet, and growing right at the top of a twig.
It seemed dangerous to get up there, for it meant holding on by the branch, and standing on the very top round of the ladder, and I hesitated.

Still I did not like to be beaten, and with the branch bending I held on and went up and up, till I stood right at the top of the ladder, and then cautiously raising my hand I was about to reach up at and try to pick the apple, when something induced me to turn my head and look in the direction of Shock's tree.
Sure enough he was watching me.

I saw his face right up in the top; but he turned it quickly, and there was a rustle and a crack as if he had nearly fallen.
For a few moments this unsteadied me, and for the first time I began to think that I was running great risks, and that I should fall.

So peculiar was the feeling that I clung tightly to the swaying bending branch and shut my eyes.
The feeling went off as quickly as it came, for I set my teeth, and, knowing that Shock was watching me, determined that he should not see I was afraid.
The next moment I was reaching up cautiously, and by degrees got my hand just under the apple, but could get no higher.