"That's a sky ball, sure enough, Garry," chuckled Ted, then broke off and stared in amazement. The ball, ever mounting, was directly over the roof of a house near the field. As the boys watched, it settled gently and landed on the top of the chimney! "Jumping Jupiter! Now you've gone and done it, Garry!" cried Nick Danter. "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" crowed Rooster. "I may be a high kicker, Garry, my lad; but I've never aimed for a chimney top yet." "Some peachy kick," grinned Bill. "How in the world did you do it, old boy!" Garry, staring at this new achievement, shook his head. "You can search me!" he muttered. "Though you've got to admit it's a high kick," he added, with a grin. "The question now is--how are we going to get the ball down again!" "Yeah, that's the question," said Rooster, coming to stand by Garry and squinting up at the football. "If we had wings now, it would be perfectly simple." "It's simple, anyway," rejoined Nick. "Some one go to the door of that house and ask to be allowed to go on the roof. Once there, the rest is easy." "Yes, once there," admitted Garry, scratching his head in perplexity. "It's plain to be seen that you don't know who owns that house." "Well, who does!" asked Ted, puzzled. "An old crab who's likely to set his dog on us for trespassing," explained Garry. "He hates all sorts of sports on principle, and especially football. It's old Jacob Fish, the retired banker. He was in to see my dad about it once, and said that if he had his way he'd make a law forbidding football practice so close to private dwellings. To shut him up, dad told him that he would be personally responsible for any damage we might do." The boys looked thoughtful. "That sure complicates matters," affirmed Rooster. "But we've got to get that ball, whatever happens." "Sure we have," agreed Garry. "But we might as well be foxy. I've got an idea." "Hold on to it," begged Nick. "Shoot and let us know the worst," urged Ted. "We've got a ladder back of our house," explained Garry, growing more confident as his plans took shape. "If I can get that around to old Fish's house without being seen, I can climb up the back to the roof." "Simple as rolling off a log," admitted Nick. "Let's hope you don't roll off the roof," grinned Rooster, but Garry had already started off full tilt for the house. The other boys went with him and helped him with the greatest caution to carry the ladder around to the back of the retired banker's house. Having accomplished this without discovery, they felt elated. It would take only a few seconds now to climb the ladder, scramble up the sloping roof, and toss the recovered treasure into the field. They placed the ladder very cautiously against the house, making as little noise as possible. Rooster and Bill held it steady, while Garry swarmed up it like a monkey.