ne per tree？〃
〃With a tree this size； there'll be enough sap for two。 Here； you slide
this one in； while I get more buckets。〃
By the time he returned； she had done as he asked。 He fit a bucket on
the spout。
〃A sliding lid？〃 she asked； studying it。 〃I've never seen lids on sap
buckets； period。〃
A smile touched the corners of his mouth。 〃Then you've never seen a
stray horse or a field mouse drink the sap as it collects。〃
She laughed。 〃No； I haven't。〃
〃This lid doesn't always keep them out。 A persistent animal can get what
he wants。 But it helps。〃
They picked up the equipment and moved on to the next tree。
〃How much sap will we get？〃 she asked； but she was distracted watching
him as he debated where to drill。 He was a sight to behold； larger and
more rugged…looking than ever in a high…collared sheepskin jacket and
faded jeans。
He knelt before the tree and applied the drill。 〃On a good day the
bucket will fill and overflow。 On a poor day we'll get only a few
inches。〃
He grunted as he pushed the bit forward into the tree。 〃If we were to
continue for the entire length of the sapping season； we might get ten
or twenty gallons from each tree。〃
She was startled。 〃That much？ Whoa。 What would we ever do with all that
sap？〃
The hole drilled； he straightened and motioned with his finger for her
to insert the spout； which she deftly did this time with the aid of a
hammer。
〃〃All that sap；〃' he said； 〃boils down to very little。 To get one gallon
of syrup； you have to boil down anywhere from thirty…five to fifty
gallons of sap。〃
〃Ah。 That explains why genuine maple syrup co
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