Not a perch for birds, but for House People--narrow board seats fitted in between the largest branches and a bar fastened across some of the highest ones, so that it was quite safe to climb up and look out of the top of the tree.

The branches had been trimmed away here and there, so that a good view could be had of what was happening elsewhere in the orchard.

A scream of surprise and delight came from the group, in which Olive joined.

Quickly as the children scrambled into the tree, the Doctor was up there first, laughing and saying that it was thirty years since he had climbed that apple tree; for after he went away to college the old seats had decayed and fallen down.
"Give me your hand and I'll help you up," called Nat to Rap, who had dropped his crutch and was looking up at the others.
"No, you needn't," said Rap.

"I can climb all right.