You go and see the boys themselves and try to talk to them. You point out how wrong and immoral it is to steal other people's property, how much work you have put into the care of your apple tree, and how unfair they are being. Your appeal to their better nature fails, however, because it seems these boys just do not have a better nature.
They laugh at you, and one of them sprays you in the face with a water pistol. You walk off hurriedly when you see the other two taking out their catapults. Your attempts at diplomacy and reason have failed miserably, and you have no choice but to start again ...