             ,,*APT] ,,II4
  ,WE W5T TIPTOE+ AL;G A PA? AM;G/ !
TREES BACK T[>DS ! 5D (! WID['S G>D51
/OOP+ D[N S Z ! BRAN*ES WDN'T SCRAPE \R
H1DS4 ,:5 WE 0 PASS+ 0! KIT*5 ,I FELL
OV] A ROOT & MADE A NOISE4 ,WE SCR\*$
D[N & LAID /4 ,MISS ,WATSON'S BIG NI7]1
"ND ,JIM1 0 SETT+ 9 ! KIT*5 DOOR2 WE CD
SEE HM PRETTY CLE>1 2C "! 0 A LI<T 2H
HM4 ,HE GOT UP & /RET*$ 8 NECK \ AB A
M9UTE1 LI/5+4 ,!N HE SAYS3
  8,:O DAH80
  ,HE LI/5$ "S M2 !N HE -E TIPTOE+ D[N &
/OOD "R 2T U2 WE CD A T\*$ HM1 NE>LY4
,WELL1 LIKELY X 0 M9UTES & M9UTES T "!
W>N'T A S.D1 & WE ALL "! S CLOSE TGR4
,"! 0 A PLACE ON MY ANKLE T GOT 6IT*+1 B
,I DASN'T SCRAT* X2 & !N MY E> 2GUN
6IT*2 & NEXT MY BACK1 "R 2T MY %\LD]S4
,SEEM$ L ,I'D DIE IF ,I CDN'T SCRAT*4
,WELL1 ,I'VE NOTIC$ T ?+ PL5TY "TS S9CE4
,IF Y >E )! QUAL;Y1 OR AT A FUN]AL1 OR
TRY+ 6G 6SLEEP :5 Y A9'T SLEEPY--IF Y >E
ANY":S ": X WON'T D = Y 6SCRAT*1 :Y Y W
IT* ALL OV] 9 UPW>DS (A ?\S& PLACES4
,PRETTY SOON ,JIM SAYS3
  8,SAY1 :O IS Y8 ,:> IS Y8 ,DOG MY CATS
EF ,I DIDN0' HE> SUMF'N4 ,WELL1 ,I "K
:AT ;,I'S GWYNE 6D3 ;,I'S GWYNE 6SET D[N
"H & LI/5 TELL ,I HE>S X AG940
  ,S HE SET D[N ON ! GR.D 2TWIXT ME &
,TOM4 ,HE L1N$ 8 BACK UP AG/ A TREE1 &
/RET*$ 8 LEGS \ TILL "O ( !M MO/ T\*$ "O
( M9E4 ,MY NOSE 2GUN 6IT*4 ,X IT*$ TILL
! TE>S -E 96MY EYES4 ,B ,I DASN'T
SCRAT*4 ,!N X 2GUN 6IT* ON ! 9SIDE4
,NEXT ,I GOT 6IT*+ "UN1?4 ,I DIDN'T "K
H[ ,I 0 GO+ 6SET /4 ,? MIS]A#;S W5T ON Z
M* Z SIX OR SEV5 M9UTES2 B X SEEM$ A
SI<T L;G] ?AN T4 ,I 0 IT*+ 9 ELEV5
DI6]5T PLACES N[4 ,I RECKON$ ,I CDN'T /&
X MORE'N A M9UTE L;G]1 B ,I SET MY TEE?
H>D & GOT R1DY 6TRY4 ,J !N ,JIM 2GUN
6BR1! H1VY2 NEXT HE 2GUN 6SNORE--& !N ,I
0 PRETTY SOON -=TA# AG4
  ,TOM HE MADE A SIGN 6ME--K9D (A LL
NOISE ) 8 M\?--& WE W5T CREEP+ AWAY ON
\R H&S & KNEES4 ,:5 WE 0 T5 FOOT (F ,TOM
:ISP]$ 6ME1 & WANT$ 6TIE ,JIM 6! TREE =
FUN4 ,B ,I SD NO2 HE MI<T WAKE & MAKE A
4TURB.E1 & !N !Y'D F9D \ ,I W>N'T IN4
,!N ,TOM SD HE _HN'T GOT C&LES 5\<1 & HE
WD SLIP 9 ! KIT*5 & GET "S M4 ,I DIDN'T
WANT HM 6TRY4 ,I SD ,JIM MI<T WAKE UP &
-E4 ,B ,TOM WANT$ 6RESK X2 S WE SLID 9
"! & GOT ?REE C&LES1 & ,TOM LAID FIVE
C5TS ON ! TA# = PAY4 ,!N WE GOT \1 & ,I
0 9 A SW1T 6GET AWAY2 B NO?+ WD D ,TOM B
HE M/ CRAWL 6": ,JIM WAS1 ON 8 H&S &
KNEES1 & PLAY "S?+ ON HM4 ,I WAIT$1 & X
SEEM$ A GD :ILE1 "EY?+ 0 S / & L"O"S4
  ,Z SOON Z ,TOM 0 BACK WE CUT AL;G !
PA?1 >.D ! G>D5 F;E1 & BY & BY FET*$ UP
ON ! /EEP TOP (! HILL ! O!R SIDE (!
H\SE4 ,TOM SD HE SLIPP$ ,JIM'S HAT (F (
8 H1D & HUNG X ON A LIMB "R OV] HM1 &
,JIM /IRR$ A LL1 B HE DIDN'T WAKE4 ,AFWS
,JIM SD ! WIT*ES 2WIT*$ HM & PUT HM 9 A
TR.E1 & RODE HM ALL OV] ! ,/ATE1 & !N
SET HM "U ! TREES AG1 & HUNG 8 HAT ON A
LIMB 6%[ :O D"O X4 ,& NEXT "T ,JIM TOLD
X HE SD !Y RODE HM D[N 6,NEW ,ORL1NS2 &1
AF T1 E "T HE TOLD X HE SPR1D X M & M1
TILL BY & BY HE SD !Y RODE HM ALL OV] !
_W1 & TIR$ HM MO/ 6D1?1 & 8 BACK 0 ALL
OV] SA4LE-BOILS4 ,JIM 0 MON/R\S PR\D AB
X1 & HE GOT S HE WDN'T H>DLY NOTICE !
O!R NI7]S4 ,NI7]S WD -E MILES 6HE> ,JIM
TELL AB X1 & HE 0 M LOOK$ UP 6?AN ANY
NI7] 9 T C.TRY4 ,/RANGE NI7]S WD /& ) _!
M\?S OP5 & LOOK HM ALL OV]1 SAME Z IF HE
0 A WOND]4 ,NI7]S IS ALW TALK+ AB WIT*ES
9 ! D>K 0! KIT*5 FIRE2 B :5"E "O 0 TALK+
& LETT+ ON 6"K ALL AB S* ?+S1 ,JIM WD
HAPP5 9 & SAY1 8,H'M6 ,:AT Y "K ,8B\T
WIT*ES80 & T NI7] 0 CORK$ UP & _H 6TAKE
A BACK S1T4 ,JIM ALW KEPT T FIVE-C5T]
PIECE R.D 8 NECK )A /R+1 & SD X 0 A *>M
! DEVIL GIVE 6HM ) 8 [N H&S1 & TOLD HM
HE CD CURE ANYBODY ) X & FET* WIT*ES
:5"E HE WANT$ 6J 0SAY+ "S?+ 6X2 B HE N"E
TOLD :AT X 0 HE SD 6X4 ,NI7]S WD -E F
ALL >.D "! & GIVE ,JIM ANY?+ !Y _H1 J =A
SI<T ( T FIVE- C5T] PIECE2 B !Y WDN'T
T\* X1 2C ! DEVIL _H _H 8 H&S ON X4 ,JIM
0 MO/ RU9$ =A S]VANT1 2C HE GOT /UCK UP
ON A3.T ( HAV+ SE5 ! DEVIL & BE5 RODE
0WIT*ES4
  ,WELL1 :5 ,TOM & ME GOT 6! $GE (!
HILLTOP WE LOOK$ AWAY D[N 96! VILLAGE &
CD SEE ?REE OR F\R LI<TS TW9KL+1 ": "! 0
SICK FOLKS1 MAYBE2 &! />S OV] U 0 SP>KL+
"E S F9E2 & D[N 0! VILLAGE 0 ! RIV]1 A
:OLE MILE BROAD1 & AW;L / & GR&4 ,WE W5T
D[N ! HILL & F.D ,JO ,H>P] & ,B5 ,ROG]S1
& TWO OR ?REE M (! BOYS1 HID 9 ! OLD
TANY>D4 ,S WE UNHIT*$ A SKIFF & PULL$
D[N ! RIV] TWO MILE &A HALF1 6! BIG SC>
ON ! HILLSIDE1 & W5T A%ORE4
  ,WE W5T 6A CLUMP ( BU%ES1 & ,TOM MADE
"EYBODY SWE> 6KEEP ! SECRET1 & !N %[$ !M
A HOLE 9 ! HILL1 "R 9 ! ?ICKE/ "P (!
BU%ES4 ,!N WE LIT ! C&LES1 & CRAWL$ 9 ON
\R H&S & KNEES4 ,WE W5T AB TWO HUNDR$
Y>DS1 & !N ! CAVE OP5$ UP4 ,TOM POK$ AB
AM;G/ ! PASSAGES1 & PRETTY SOON DUCK$ "U
A WALL ": Y WDN'T A NOTIC$ T "! 0 A
HOLE4 ,WE W5T AL;G A N>R[ PLACE & GOT
96A K9D ( ROOM1 ALL DAMP & SW1TY & COLD1
& "! WE /OPP$4 ,TOM SAYS3
  8,N[1 WE'LL />T ? B& ( RO2]S & CALL X
,TOM ,SAWY]'S ,GANG4 ,"EYBODY T WANTS
6JO9 HAS GOT 6TAKE AN OA?1 & WRITE 8 "N
9 BLOOD40
  ,"EYBODY 0 WILL+4 ,S ,TOM GOT \ A %EET
( PAP] T HE _H WROTE ! OA? ON1 & R1D X4
,X SWORE E BOY 6/ICK 6! B&1 & N"E TELL
ANY (! SECRETS2 & IF ANYBODY D"O ANY?+
6ANY BOY 9 ! B&1 :I*"E BOY 0 ORD]$ 6KILL
T P]SON & 8 FAMILY M/ D X1 & HE M/N'T
EAT & HE M/N'T SLEEP TILL HE _H KILL$ !M
& HACK$ A CROSS 9 _! BR1/S1 : 0 ! SIGN (
! B&4 ,& NOBODY T DIDN'T 2L;G 6! B& CD
USE T M>K1 & IF HE DID HE M/ 2 SU$2 & IF
HE D"O X AG HE M/ 2 KILL$4 ,& IF ANYBODY
T 2L;G$ 6! B& TOLD ! SECRETS1 HE M/ H 8
?ROAT CUT1 & !N H 8 C>CASS BURNT UP &!
A%ES SCATT]$ ALL >.D1 & 8 "N BLOTT$ (F (
! LI/ ) BLOOD & N"E M5;N$ AG 0! GANG1 B
H A CURSE PUT ON X & 2 =GOT ="E4
  ,"EYBODY SD X 0 A R1L B1UTI;L OA?1 &
ASK$ ,TOM IF HE GOT X \ ( 8 [N H1D4 ,HE
SD1 "S ( X1 B ! RE/ 0 \ ( PIRATE-BOOKS &
RO2]-BOOKS1 & E GANG T 0 HI<-TON$ _H X4
  ,"S ?"\ X WD 2 GD 6KILL ! ,,FAMILIES (
BOYS T TOLD ! SECRETS4 ,TOM SD X 0 A GD
IDEA1 S HE TOOK A P5CIL & WROTE X IN4
,!N ,B5 ,ROG]S SAYS3
  8,"H'S ,HUCK ,F9N1 HE HA9'T GOT NO
FAMILY2 :AT Y GO+ 6D ,8B\T HM80
  8,WELL1 HA9'T HE GOT A "F80 SAYS ,TOM
,SAWY]4
  8,YES1 HE'S GOT A "F1 B Y C'T N"E F9D
HM ^! "DS4 ,HE US$ 6LAY DRUNK )! HOGS 9
! TANY>D1 B HE HA9'T BE5 SE5 9 ^! "PS =A
YE> OR M40
  ,!Y TALK$ X OV]1 & !Y 0 GO+ 6RULE ME
\1 2C !Y SD E BOY M/ H A FAMILY OR
"SBODY 6KILL1 OR ELSE X WDN'T 2 FAIR &
SQU>E =! O!RS4 ,WELL1 NOBODY CD ?9K (
ANY?+ 6D--"EYBODY 0 /UMP$1 & SET /4 ,I 0
MO/ R1DY 6CRY2 B ALL AT ONCE ,I ?"\ (A
WAY1 & S ,I (F]$ !M ,MISS ,WATSON--!Y CD
KILL H]4 ,"EYBODY SD3
  8,OH1 %E'LL D4 ,T'S ALL "R4 ,HUCK C -E
IN40
  ,!N !Y ALL /UCK A P9 9 _! F+]S 6GET
BLOOD 6SIGN )1 & ,I MADE MY M>K ON !
PAP]4
  8,N[10 SAYS ,B5 ,ROG]S1 8:AT'S ! L9E (
BUSI;S ( ? ,GANG80
  8,NO?+ ONLY RO2]Y & MURD]10 ,TOM SD4
  8,B :O >E WE GO+ 6ROB8--H\SES1 OR
CATTLE1 OR--0
  8,/UFF6 /1L+ CATTLE & S* ?+S A9'T
RO2]Y2 X'S BURGL>Y10 SAYS ,TOM ,SAWY]4
8,WE A9'T BURGL>S4 ,T A9'T NO SORT (
/YLE4 ,WE >E HI<WAYM54 ,WE /OP /AGES &
C>RIAGES ON ! ROAD1 ) MASKS ON1 & KILL !
P & TAKE _! WAT*ES & M"OY40
  8,M/ WE ALW KILL ! P80
  8,OH1 C]TA9LY4 ,X'S BE/4 ,"S
AU?ORITIES ?9K DI6]5T1 B MO/LY X'S
3SID]$ BE/ 6KILL !M--EXCEPT "S T Y BR+
6! CAVE "H1 & KEEP !M TILL !Y'RE
RANSOM$40
  8,RANSOM$8 ,:AT'S T80
  8,I DON'T "K4 ,B T'S :AT !Y D4 ,I'VE
SE5 X 9 BOOKS2 & S ( C\RSE T'S :AT WE'VE
GOT 6D40
  8,B H[ C WE D X IF WE DON'T "K :AT X
IS80
  8,:Y1 BLAME X ALL1 WE'VE ,,GOT 6D X4
,DON'T ,I TELL Y X'S 9 ! BOOKS8 ,D Y
WANT 6G 6DO+ DI6]5T F :AT'S 9 ! BOOKS1 &
GET ?+S ALL MU4L$ UP80
  8,OH1 T'S ALL V F9E 6,,SAY1 ,TOM
,SAWY]1 B H[ 9 ! N,N >E ^! FELL[S GO+
6BE RANSOM$ IF WE DON'T "K H[ 6D X 6!M8
--T'S ! ?+ ,I WANT 6GET AT4 ,N[1 :AT D Y
RECKON X IS80
  8,WELL1 ,I DON'T "K4 ,B P]'APS IF WE
KEEP !M TILL !Y'RE RANSOM$1 X M1NS T WE
KEEP !M TILL !Y'RE D1D4 "1
  8,N[1 T'S "S?+ ,,L4 ,T'LL ANSW]4 ,:Y
CDN'T Y SD T 2F8 ,WE'LL KEEP !M TILL
!Y'RE RANSOM$ 6D1?2 &A BO!R"S LOT !Y'LL
BE1 TOO--EAT+ UP "EY?+1 & ALW TRY+ 6GET
LOOSE40
  8,H[ Y TALK1 ,B5 ,ROG]S4 ,H[ C !Y GET
LOOSE :5 "!'S A GU>D OV] !M1 R1DY 6%OOT
!M D[N IF !Y MOVE A PEG80
  8,A GU>D6 ,WELL1 T ,,IS GD4 ,S
"SBODY'S GOT 6SET UP ALL NI<T & N"E GET
ANY SLEEP1 J S Z 6WAT* !M4 ,I ?9K T'S
FOOLI%;S4 ,:Y C'T A BODY TAKE A CLUB &
RANSOM !M Z SOON Z !Y GET "H80
  8,2C X A9'T 9 ! BOOKS S--T'S :Y4 ,N[1
,B5 ,ROG]S1 D Y WANT 6D ?+S REGUL>1 OR
DON'T Y8--T'S ! IDEA4 ,DON'T Y RECKON T
! P T MADE ! BOOKS "KS :AT'S ! CORRECT
?+ 6D8 ,D Y RECKON ,,Y C LE>N 'EM ANY?+8
,N 0A GD D1L4 ,NO1 SIR1 WE'LL J G ON &
RANSOM !M 9 ! REGUL> WAY40
  8,ALL "R4 ,I DON'T M9D2 B ,I SAY X'S A
FOOL WAY1 ANYH[4 ,SAY1 D WE KILL ! WOM51
TOO80
  8,WELL1 ,B5 ,ROG]S1 IF ,I 0 Z IGNORANT
Z Y ,I WDN'T LET ON4 ,KILL ! WOM58 ,NO2
NOBODY "E SAW ANY?+ 9 ! BOOKS L T4 ,Y
FET* !M 6! CAVE1 & Y'RE ALW Z POLITE Z
PIE 6!M2 & BY & BY !Y FALL 9 LOVE ) Y1 &
N"E WANT 6G HOME ANY M40
  8,WELL1 IF T'S ! WAY ,I'M AGRE$1 B ,I
DON'T TAKE NO /OCK 9 X4 ,MI<TY SOON
WE'LL H ! CAVE S CLUTT]$ UP ) WOM51 &
FELL[S WAIT+ 6BE RANSOM$1 T "! WON'T 2
NO PLACE =! RO2]S4 ,B G AH1D1 ,I A9'T
GOT NO?+ 6SAY40
  ,LL ,TOMMY ,B>NES 0 ASLEEP N[1 & :5 !Y
WAK$ HM UP HE 0 SC>$1 & CRI$1 & SD HE
WANT$ 6G HOME 6HIS MA1 & DIDN'T WANT 6BE
A RO2] ANY M4
  ,S !Y ALL MADE FUN ( HM1 & CALL$ HM
CRYBABY1 & T MADE HM MAD1 & HE SD HE WD
G /RAI<T & TELL ALL ! SECRETS4 ,B ,TOM
GIVE HM FIVE C5TS 6KEEP QUIET1 & SD WE
WD ALL G HOME & MEET NEXT WEEK1 & ROB
"SBODY & KILL "S P4
  ,B5 ,ROG]S SD HE CDN'T GET \ M*1 ONLY
,SUN"DS1 & S HE WANT$ 62G9 NEXT ,SUN"D2
B ALL ! BOYS SD X WD 2 WICK$ 6D X ON
,SUN"D1 & T SETTL$ ! ?+4 ,!Y AGRE$ 6GET
TGR & FIX A "D Z SOON Z !Y CD1 & !N WE
ELECT$ ,TOM ,SAWY] F/ CAPTA9 & ,JO ,H>P]
SECOND CAPTA9 (! ,GANG1 & S />T$ HOME4
  ,I CLUMB UP ! %$ & CREPT 96MY W9D[ J
2F "D 0 BR1K+4 ,MY NEW CLO!S 0 ALL GR1S$
UP & CLAYEY1 & ,I 0 DOG-TIR$4
