            ,,*APT] ,,XXXVI4
  ,,Z SOON Z WE RECKON$ "EYBODY 0 ASLEEP
T NI<T WE W5T D[N ! LI<TN+-ROD1 & %UT
\RVS UP 9 ! L1N-TO1 & GOT \ \R PILE (
FOX-FIRE1 & W5T 6"W4 ,WE CLE>$ "EY?+ \ (
! WAY1 AB F\R OR FIVE FOOT AL;G ! MI4LE
(! BOTTOM LOG4 ,TOM SD WE 0 "R 2H ,JIM'S
B$ N[1 & WE'D DIG 9 "U X1 & :5 WE GOT "?
"! CDN'T NOBODY 9 ! CAB9 "E "K "! 0 ANY
HOLE "!1 2C ,JIM'S C.T]- P9 HUNG D[N MO/
6! GR.D1 & Y'D H 6RAISE X UP & LOOK "U
6SEE ! HOLE4 ,S WE DUG & DUG )! CASE-
KNIVES TILL MO/ MIDNI<T2 & !N WE 0 DOG-
TIR$1 & \R H&S 0 BLI/]$1 & YET Y CDN'T
SEE WE'D D"O ANY?+ H>DLY4 ,AT LA/ ,I
SAYS3
  8,? A9'T NO ?IRTY-SEV5 YE> JOB2 ? IS A
?IRTY-EI<T YE> JOB1 ,TOM ,SAWY]40
  ,HE N"E SD NO?+4 ,B HE SI<$1 & PRETTY
SOON HE /OPP$ DI7+1 & !N =A GD LL :ILE
,I "K$ T HE 0 ?9K+4 ,!N HE SAYS3
  8,X A9'T NO USE1 ,HUCK1 X A9'T A-GO+
6"W4 ,IF WE 0 PRISON]S X WD1 2C !N WE'D
H Z _M YE>S Z WE WANT$1 & NO HURRY2 & WE
WDN'T GET B A FEW M9UTES 6DIG1 E "D1
:ILE !Y 0 *ANG+ WAT*ES1 & S \R H&S WDN'T
GET BLI/]$1 & WE CD KEEP X UP "R AL;G1
YE> 9 & YE> \1 & D X "R1 &! WAY X "\ 6BE
D"O4 ,B ,,WE C'T FOOL AL;G2 WE GOT 6RU%2
WE A9'T GOT NO "T 6SP>E4 ,IF WE 0 6PUT 9
ANO!R NI<T ? WAY WE'D H 6KNOCK (F =A
WEEK 6LET \R H&S GET WELL--CDN'T T\* A
CASE-KNIFE ) !M SOON]40
  8,WELL1 !N1 :AT WE GO+ 6D1 ,TOM80
  8,I'LL TELL Y4 ,X A9'T "R1 & X A9'T
MORAL1 @4 & ,I WDN'T L X 6GET \2 B "!
A9'T ONLY J ! "O WAY3 WE GOT 6DIG HM \ )
! PICKS1 & ,,LET ,,ON X'S CASE-KNIVES40
  8,,N[ Y'RE ,,TALK+60 ,I SAYS2 8YR H1D
GETS LEVEL] & LEVEL] ALL ! "T1 ,TOM
,SAWY]10 ,I SAYS4 8,PICKS IS ! ?+1 MORAL
OR NO MORAL2 & Z = ME1 ,I DON'T C>E
%UCKS =! MORAL;Y ( X1 NOH[4 ,:5 ,I />T 9
6/1L A NI7]1 OR A WAT]MELON1 OR A
,SUN"D-S*OOL BOOK1 ,I A9'T NO WAYS
"PICUL> H[ X'S D"O S X'S D"O4 ,:AT ,I
WANT IS MY NI7]2 OR :AT ,I WANT IS MY
WAT]MELON2 OR :AT ,I WANT IS MY ,SUN"D-
S*OOL BOOK2 & IF A PICK'S ! H&IE/ ?+1
T'S ! ?+ ,I'M A-GO+ 6DIG T NI7] OR T
WAT]MELON OR T ,SUN"D-S*OOL BOOK \ )2 &
,I DON'T GIVE A D1D RAT :AT ! AU?ORITIES
?9KS AB X NU!R40
  8,WELL10 HE SAYS1 8"!'S EXCUSE = PICKS
& LETT+-ON 9 A CASE L ?2 IF X W>N'T S1
,I WDN'T APPROVE ( X1 NOR ,I WDN'T /& BY
& SEE ! RULES BROKE--2C "R IS "R1 & WR;G
IS WR;G1 &A BODY A9'T GOT NO BUSI;S DO+
WR;G :5 HE A9'T IGNORANT & "KS BETT]4 ,X
MI<T ANSW] = ,,Y 6DIG ,JIM \ )A PICK1
,,)\T ANY LETT+ ON1 2C Y DON'T "K NO
BETT]2 B X WDN'T = ME1 2C ,I D "K BETT]4
,GIMME A CASE-KNIFE40
  ,HE _H 8 [N 0HM1 B ,I H&$ HM M9E4 ,HE
FLUNG X D[N1 & SAYS3
  8,GIMME A ,,CASE-KNIFE40
  ,I DIDN'T "K J :AT 6D--B !N ,I ?"\4 ,I
SCRAT*$ >.D AM;G/ ! OLD TOOLS1 & GOT A
PICKAXE & GIVE X 6HM1 & HE TOOK X & W5T
6"W1 & N"E SD A ^W4
  ,HE 0 ALW J T "PICUL>4 ,FULL (
PR9CIPLE4
  ,S !N ,I GOT A %OVEL1 & !N WE PICK$ &
%OVEL$1 TURN AB1 & MADE ! FUR FLY4 ,WE
/UCK 6X AB A HALF AN H\R1 : 0 Z L;G Z WE
CD /& UP2 B WE _H A GD D1L (A HOLE 6%[ =
X4 ,:5 ,I GOT UP /AIRS ,I LOOK$ \ AT !
W9D[ & SEE ,TOM DO+ 8 LEVEL BE/ )!
LI<TN+-ROD1 B HE CDN'T -E X1 8 H&S 0 S
SORE4 ,AT LA/ HE SAYS3
  8,X A9'T NO USE1 X C'T 2 D"O4 ,:AT Y
RECKON ,I BETT] D8 ,C'T Y ?9K ( NO WAY80
  8,YES10 ,I SAYS1 8B ,I RECKON X A9'T
REGUL>4 ,-E UP ! /AIRS1 & LET ON X'S A
LI<TN+-ROD40
  ,S HE D"O X4
  ,NEXT "D ,TOM /OLE A PEWT] SPOON &A
BRASS C&LE/ICK 9 ! H\SE1 = 6MAKE "S P5S
= ,JIM \ (1 & SIX TALL[ C&LES2 & ,I HUNG
>.D ! NI7] CAB9S & LAID =A *.E1 & /OLE
?REE T9 PLATES4 ,TOM SAYS X WASN'T 5\<2
B ,I SD NOBODY WDN'T "E SEE ! PLATES T
,JIM ?R[$ \1 2C !Y'D FALL 9 ! DOG-F5NEL
& JIMPSON WE$S "U ! W9D[-HOLE--!N WE CD
TOTE !M BACK & HE CD USE !M OV] AG4 ,S
,TOM 0 SATISFI$4 ,!N HE SAYS3
  8,N[1 ! ?+ 6/UDY \ IS1 H[ 6GET ! ?+S
6,JIM40
  8,TAKE !M 9 "? ! HOLE10 ,I SAYS1 8:5
WE GET X D"O40
  ,HE ONLY J LOOK$ SCORN;L1 & SD "S?+ AB
NOBODY "E HE>D ( S* AN IDIOTIC IDEA1 &
!N HE W5T 6/UDY+4 ,BY & BY HE SD HE _H
CIPH]$ \ TWO OR ?REE WAYS1 B "! W>N'T NO
NE$ 6DECIDE ON ANY ( !M YET4 ,SD WE'D
GOT 6PO/ ,JIM F/4
  ,T NI<T WE W5T D[N ! LI<TN+-ROD A LL
AF T51 & TOOK "O (! C&LES AL;G1 & LI/5$
"U ! W9D[-HOLE1 & HE>D ,JIM SNOR+2 S WE
PIT*$ X IN1 & X DIDN'T WAKE HM4 ,!N WE
:IRL$ 9 )! PICK & %OVEL1 & 9 AB TWO H\RS
&A HALF ! JOB 0 D"O4 ,WE CREPT 9 "U
,JIM'S B$ & 96! CAB91 & PAW$ >.D & F.D !
C&LE & LIT X1 & /OOD OV] ,JIM A:ILE1 &
F.D HM LOOK+ HE>TY & H1L?Y1 & !N WE WOKE
HM UP G5TLE & GRADUAL4 ,HE 0 S GLAD 6SEE
U HE MO/ CRI$2 & CALL$ U H"OY1 & ALL !
PET "NS HE CD ?9K (2 & 0 = HAV+ U HUNT
UP A COLD-*ISEL 6CUT ! *A9 (F ( 8 LEG )
"R AWAY1 & CLE>+ \ )\T LOS+ ANY "T4 ,B
,TOM HE %[$ HM H[ UNREGUL> X WD BE1 &
SET D[N & TOLD HM ALL AB \R PLANS1 & H[
WE CD ALT] !M 9 A M9UTE ANY "T "! 0 AN
AL>M2 & N 6BE ! L1/ AFRAID1 2C WE WD SEE
HE GOT AWAY1 ,,SURE4 ,S ,JIM HE SD X 0
ALL "R1 & WE SET "! & TALK$ OV] OLD "TS
A:ILE1 & !N ,TOM ASK$ A LOT ( "QS1 & :5
,JIM TOLD HM ,UNCLE ,SILAS -E 9 E "D OR
TWO 6PRAY ) HM1 & ,AUNT ,S,Y -E 9 6SEE
IF HE 0 -=TA# & _H PL5TY 6EAT1 & BO? (
!M 0 K9D Z !Y CD BE1 ,TOM SAYS3
  8,,N[ ,I "K H[ 6FIX X4 ,WE'LL S5D Y "S
?+S 0!M40
  ,I SD1 8,DON'T D NO?+ (! K9D2 X'S "O (
! MO/ JACKASS ID1S ,I "E /RUCK20 B HE
N"E PD NO ATT5;N 6ME2 W5T "R ON4 ,X 0 8
WAY :5 HE'D GOT 8 PLANS SET4
  ,S HE TOLD ,JIM H[ WE'D H 6SMU7LE 9 !
ROPE-LA4] PIE & O!R L>GE ?+S 0,NAT1 !
NI7] T F$ HM1 & HE M/ 2 ON ! LOOK\T1 & N
2 SURPRIS$1 & N LET ,NAT SEE HM OP5 !M2
& WE WD PUT SMALL ?+S 9 UNCLE'S COAT-
POCKETS & HE M/ /1L !M \2 & WE WD TIE
?+S 6AUNT'S APRON-/R+S OR PUT !M 9 H]
APRON-POCKET1 IF WE GOT A *.E2 & TOLD HM
:AT !Y WD 2 & :AT !Y 0 =4 ,& TOLD HM H[
6KEEP A J\RNAL ON ! %IRT ) 8 BLOOD1 &
ALL T4 ,HE TOLD HM "EY?+4 ,JIM HE CDN'T
SEE NO S5SE 9 ! MO/ ( X1 B HE ALL[$ WE 0
:ITE FOLKS & "K$ BETT] ?AN HM2 S HE 0
SATISFI$1 & SD HE WD D X ALL J Z ,TOM
SD4
  ,JIM _H PL5TY CORN-COB PIPES & TOBA3O2
S WE _H A "R D[N GD SOCIA# "T2 !N WE
CRAWL$ \ "? ! HOLE1 & S HOME 6B$1 ) H&S
T LOOK$ L !Y'D BE5 *AW$4 ,TOM 0 9 HI<
_SS4 ,HE SD X 0 ! BE/ FUN HE "E _H 9 8
LIFE1 &! MO/ 9TELLECTURAL2 & SD IF HE
ONLY CD SEE 8 WAY 6X WE WD KEEP X UP ALL
! RE/ ( \R LIVES & L1VE ,JIM 6\R *N 6GET
\2 = HE 2LIEV$ ,JIM WD -E 6L X BETT] &
BETT] ! M HE GOT US$ 6X4 ,HE SD T 9 T
WAY X CD 2 /RUNG \ 6Z M* Z EI<TY YE>1 &
WD 2 ! BE/ "T ON RECORD4 ,& HE SD X WD
MAKE U ALL CELEBRAT$ T _H A H& 9 X4
  ,9 ! MORN+ WE W5T \ 6! WOODPILE &
*OPP$ UP ! BRASS C&LE/ICK 96H&Y SIZES1 &
,TOM PUT !M &! PEWT] SPOON 9 8 POCKET4
,!N WE W5T 6! NI7] CAB9S1 & :ILE ,I GOT
,NAT'S NOTICE (F1 ,TOM %OV$ A PIECE (
C&LE/ICK 96! MI4LE (A CORN-P"O T 0 9
,JIM'S PAN1 & WE W5T AL;G ) ,NAT 6SEE H[
X WD "W1 & X J "W$ NO#2 :5 ,JIM BIT 96X
X MO/ MA%$ ALL 8 TEE? \2 & "! W>N'T "E
ANY?+ CD A "W$ BETT]4 ,TOM SD S HMF4
,JIM HE N"E LET ON B :AT X 0 ONLY J A
PIECE ( ROCK OR "S?+ L T T'S ALW GETT+
96BR1D1 Y "K2 B AF T HE N"E BIT 96NO?+ B
:AT HE JA2$ 8 =K 96X 9 ?REE OR F\R
PLACES F/4
  ,& :IL/ WE 0 A-/&+ "! 9 ! DIMMI% LI<T1
"H -ES A C\PLE (! H.DS BULG+ 9 F "U
,JIM'S B$2 & !Y KEPT ON PIL+ 9 TILL "! 0
ELEV5 ( !M1 & "! W>N'T H>DLY ROOM 9 "!
6GET YR BR1?4 ,0J+S1 WE =GOT 6FA/5 T
L1N-6DOOR6 ,! NI7] ,NAT HE ONLY J HOLL]$
8,WIT*ES0 ONCE1 & KEEL$ OV] ON 6! FLOOR
AM;G/ ! DOGS1 & 2GUN 6GROAN L HE 0 DY+4
,TOM J]K$ ! DOOR OP5 & FLUNG \ A SLAB (
,JIM'S M1T1 &! DOGS W5T = X1 & 9 TWO
SECONDS HE 0 \ HMF & BACK AG & %UT !
DOOR1 & ,I "K$ HE'D FIX$ ! O!R DOOR TOO4
,!N HE W5T 6"W ON ! NI7]1 COAX+ HM &
PETT+ HM1 & ASK+ HM IF HE'D BE5 IMAG9+
HE SAW "S?+ AG4 ,HE RAIS$ UP1 & BL9K$ 8
EYES >.D1 & SAYS3
  8,M>S ,SID1 Y'LL SAY ;,I'S A FOOL1 B
IF ,I DIDN'T B'LIEVE ,I SEE MO/ A
MILLION DOGS1 ] DEVILS1 ] "S'N1 ,I WI%T
,I MAY DIE "R H1H 9 DESE TRACKS4 ,I DID1
MOS' %OLY4 ,M>S ,SID1 ,I ,,FELT UM--,I
,,FELT UM1 SAH2 DEY 0 ALL OV] ME4 ,DAD
FET* X1 ,I JIS' WI%T ,I CD GIT MY HAN'S
ON "O ] DEM WIT*ES JIS' WUN/--ON'Y JIS'
WUN/--X'S ALL ,I'D A/4 ,B MOS'LY ,I WI%T
DEY'D LEMME ,8L"O1 ,I DOES40
  ,TOM SAYS3
  8,WELL1 ,I TELL Y :AT ,I ?9K4 ,:AT
MAKES !M -E "H J AT ? RUNAWAY NI7]'S
BR1KFA/-"T8 ,X'S 2C !Y'RE HUNGRY2 T'S !
R1SON4 ,Y MAKE !M A WIT* PIE2 T'S ! ?+ =
,,Y 6D40
  8,B MY LAN0'1 ,M>S ,SID1 H['S ,I GWYNE
6MAKE 'M A WIT* PIE8 ,I DOAN0' "K H[
6MAKE X4 ,I HA9'T "E HE>N ] SI* A ?+
B'FO0'40
  8,WELL1 !N1 ,I'LL H 6MAKE X MYF40
  8,W Y D X1 H"OY8--,QWILL Y8 ,I'LL
WUSSHUP DE GR\N0' UND0' YO0' FOOT1 ,I
W60
  8,ALL "R1 ,I'LL D X1 SEE+ X'S Y1 &
Y'VE BE5 GD 6U & %[$ U ! RUNAWAY NI7]4
,B Y GOT 6BE MI<TY C>E;L4 ,:5 WE -E >.D1
Y TURN YR BACK2 & !N :AT"E WE'VE PUT 9 !
PAN1 DON'T Y LET ON Y SEE X AT ALL4 ,&
DON'T Y LOOK :5 ,JIM UNLOADS ! PAN--"S?+
MI<T HAPP51 ,I DON'T "K :AT4 ,& ABV ALL1
DON'T Y ,,H&LE ! WIT*-?+S40
  8,,HANNEL 'M1 ,M>S ,SID8 ,:AT ,,IS Y
A-TALK9' ,8B\T8 ,I WDN0' LAY DE WEI<T ]
MY F+] ON UM1 N F'R T5 HUND'D ?\S'N
BILLION DOLL>S1 ,I WDN'T40
