            ,,*APT] ,,XXXIV4
  ,,WE /OPP$ TALK+1 & GOT 6?9K+4 ,BY &
BY ,TOM SAYS3
  8,LOOKY "H1 ,HUCK1 :AT FOOLS WE >E 6N
?9K ( X 2F6 ,I BET ,I "K ": ,JIM IS40
  8,NO6 ,":80
  8,IN T HUT D[N 0! A%-HOPP]4 ,:Y1 LOOKY
"H4 ,:5 WE 0 AT D9N]1 DIDN'T Y SEE A
NI7] MAN G 9 "! ) "S VITTLES80
  8,YES40
  8,:AT DID Y ?9K ! VITTLES 0 =80
  8,=A DOG40
  8,S 'D ,I4 ,WELL1 X WASN'T =A DOG40
  8,:Y80
  8,2C "P ( X 0 WAT]MELON40
  8,S X WAS--,I NOTIC$ X4 ,WELL1 X DOES
B1T ALL T ,I N"E ?"\ AB A DOG N EAT+
WAT]MELON4 ,X %[S H[ A BODY C SEE &
DON'T SEE AT ! SAME "T40
  8,WELL1 ! NI7] UNLOCK$ ! PADLOCK :5 HE
W5T IN1 & HE LOCK$ X AG :5 HE CAME \4
,HE FET*$ UNCLE A KEY AB ! "T WE GOT UP
F TA#--SAME KEY1 ,I BET4 ,WAT]MELON %[S
MAN1 LOCK %[S PRISON]2 & X A9'T LIKELY
"!'S TWO PRISON]S ON S* A LL PLANT,N1 &
": ! P'S ALL S K9D & GD4 ,JIM'S !
PRISON]4 ,ALL "R--,I'M GLAD WE F.D X \
DETECTIVE FA%ION2 ,I WDN'T GIVE %UCKS =
ANY O!R WAY4 ,N[ Y "W YR M9D1 & /UDY \ A
PLAN 6/1L ,JIM1 & ,I W /UDY \ "O1 TOO2 &
WE'LL TAKE ! "O WE L ! BE/40
  ,:AT A H1D = J A BOY 6H6 ,IF ,I _H
,TOM ,SAWY]'S H1D ,I WDN'T TRADE X (F
6BE A DUKE1 NOR MATE (A /1MBOAT1 NOR
CL[N 9 A CIRCUS1 NOR NO?+ ,I C ?9K (4 ,I
W5T 6?9K+ \ A PLAN1 B ONLY J 6BE DO+
"S?+2 ,I "K$ V WELL ": ! "R PLAN 0 GO+
6-E F4 ,PRETTY SOON ,TOM SAYS3
  8,R1DY80
  8,YES10 ,I SAYS4
  8,ALL "R--BR+ X \40
  8,MY PLAN IS ?10 ,I SAYS4 8,WE C EASY
F9D \ IF X'S ,JIM 9 "!4 ,!N GET UP MY
CANOE TO-MORR[ NI<T1 & FET* MY RAFT OV]
F ! ISL&4 ,!N ! F/ D>K NI<T T -ES /1L !
KEY \ (! OLD MAN'S BRIT*ES AF HE GOES
6B$1 & %OVE (F D[N ! RIV] ON ! RAFT )
,JIM1 HID+ "D"TS & RUNN+ NI<TS1 ! WAY ME
& ,JIM US$ 6D 2F4 ,WDN'T T PLAN "W80
  8,,"W8 ,:Y1 C]T'NLY X WD "W1 L RATS A-
FI<T+4 ,B X'S TOO BLAME0' SIMPLE2 "!
A9'T NO?+ ,,6X4 ,:AT'S ! GD (A PLAN T
A9'T NO M TR\# ?AN T8 ,X'S Z MILD Z
GOOSE-MILK4 ,:Y1 ,HUCK1 X WDN'T MAKE NO
M TALK ?AN BR1K+ 96A SOAP FACTORY40
  ,I N"E SD NO?+1 2C ,I W>N'T EXPECT+
NO?+ DI6]5T2 B ,I "K$ MI<TY WELL T :5"E
HE GOT ,,HIS PLAN R1DY X WDN'T H N"O (
!M OBJEC;NS 6X4
  ,& X DIDN'T4 ,HE TOLD ME :AT X WAS1 &
,I SEE 9 A M9UTE X 0 WOR? FIFTE5 ( M9E =
/YLE1 & WD MAKE ,JIM J Z FREE A MAN Z
M9E WD1 & MAYBE GET U ALL KILL$ 2SS4 ,S
,I 0 SATISFI$1 & SD WE WD WALTZ 9 ON X4
,I NE$N'T TELL :AT X 0 "H1 2C ,I "K$ X
WDN'T /AY ! WAY1 X WAS4 ,I "K$ HE WD 2
*ANG+ X >.D E : WAY Z WE W5T AL;G1 &
H1V+ 9 NEW BULL- 9ESSES :]"E HE GOT A
*.E4 ,& T IS :AT HE D"O4
  ,WELL1 "O ?+ 0 D1D SURE1 & T 0 T ,TOM
,SAWY] 0 9 E>NE/1 & 0 ACTULY GO+ 6HELP
/1L T NI7] \ ( SLAV]Y4 ,T 0 ! ?+ T 0 TOO
_M = ME4 ,"H 0 A BOY T 0 RESPECTA# &
WELL BRUNG UP2 & _H A "* 6LOSE2 & FOLKS
AT HOME T _H "*S2 & HE 0 B"R & N L1!R-
H1D$2 & "K+ & N IGNORANT2 & N M1N1 B
K9D2 & YET "H HE WAS1 )\T ANY M PRIDE1
OR "R;S1 OR FEEL+1 ?AN 6/OOP 6? BUSI;S1
& MAKE HMF A %AME1 & 8 FAMILY A %AME1 2F
"EYBODY4 ,I ,,CDN'T "U/& X NO WAY AT
ALL4 ,X 0 \TRAGE\S1 & ,I "K$ ,I "\ 6J UP
& TELL HM S2 & S 2 8 TRUE FR1 & LET HM
QUIT ! ?+ "R ": HE 0 & SAVE HMF4 ,& ,I
,,DID />T 6TELL HM2 B HE %UT ME UP1 &
SAYS3
  8,DON'T Y RECKON ,I "K :AT ,I'M AB8
,DON'T ,I G5]LY "K :AT ,I'M AB80
  8,YES40
  8,DIDN'T ,I ,,SAY ,I 0 GO+ 6HELP /1L !
NI7]80
  8,YES40
  8,,WELL1 !N40
  ,T'S ALL HE SD1 & T'S ALL ,I SD4 ,X
W>N'T NO USE 6SAY ANY M2 2C :5 HE SD
HE'D D A ?+1 HE ALW D"O X4 ,B ,I CDN'T
MAKE \ H[ HE 0 WILL+ 6G 96? ?+2 S ,I J
LET X G1 & N"E BO!R$ NO M AB X4 ,IF HE 0
B.D 6H X S1 ,I CDN'T HELP X4
  ,:5 WE GOT HOME ! H\SE 0 ALL D>K & /2
S WE W5T ON D[N 6! HUT 0! A%-HOPP] =
6EXAM9E X4 ,WE W5T "? ! Y>D S Z 6SEE :AT
! H.DS WD D4 ,!Y "K$ U1 & DIDN'T MAKE NO
M NOISE ?AN C.TRY DOGS IS ALW DO+ :5
ANY?+ -ES 0IN ! NI<T4 ,:5 WE GOT 6! CAB9
WE TOOK A LOOK AT ! FRONT &! TWO SIDES2
& ON ! SIDE ,I W>N'T ACQUA9T$ )--: 0 !
NOR? SIDE--WE F.D A SQU>E W9D[- HOLE1 UP
TOL]A# HI<1 ) J "O /\T BO>D NAIL$ ACR X4
,I SAYS3
  8,"H'S ! TICKET4 ,? HOLE'S BIG 5 =
,JIM 6GET "? IF WE WR5* (F ! BO>D40
  ,TOM SAYS3
  8,X'S Z SIMPLE Z TIT-TAT-TOE1 ?REE-IN-
A-R[1 & Z EASY Z PLAY+ HOOKY4 ,I %D
,,HOPE WE C F9D A WAY T'S A LL M
-PLICAT$ ?AN ,,T1 ,HUCK ,F9N40
  8,WELL1 !N10 ,I SAYS1 8H[ 'LL X D 6SAW
HM \1 ! WAY ,I D"O 2F ,I 0 MURD]$ T "T80
  8,T'S M ,,L10 HE SAYS4 8,X'S R1L
MY/]I\S1 & TR\#"S1 & GD10 HE SAYS2 8B ,I
BET WE C F9D A WAY T'S TWICE Z L;G4 ,"!
A9'T NO HURRY2 LE'S KEEP ON LOOK+ >.D40
  ,2TWIXT ! HUT &! F;E1 ON ! BACK SIDE1
0 A L1N-TO T JO9$ ! HUT AT ! EAVES1 & 0
MADE \ ( PLANK4 ,X 0 Z L;G Z ! HUT1 B
N>R[--ONLY AB SIX FOOT WIDE4 ,! DOOR 6X
0 AT ! S\? 5D1 & 0 PADLOCK$4 ,TOM HE W5T
6! SOAP-KETTLE & SE>*$ >.D1 & FET*$ BACK
! IRON ?+ !Y LIFT ! LID )2 S HE TOOK X &
PRIZ$ \ "O (! /APLES4 ,! *A9 FELL D[N1 &
WE OP5$ ! DOOR & W5T IN1 & %UT X1 &
/RUCK A MAT*1 & SEE ! %$ 0 ONLY BUILT
AG/ A CAB9 & _HN'T NO 3NEC;N ) X2 & "!
W>N'T NO FLOOR 6! %$1 NOR NO?+ 9 X B "S
OLD RU/Y PLAY$-\ HOES & SPADES & PICKS &
A CRIPPL$ PL[4 ,! MAT* W5T \1 & S DID
WE1 & %OV$ 9 ! /APLE AG1 &! DOOR 0 LOCK$
Z GD Z "E4 ,TOM 0 JOY;L4 ,HE SAYS2
  8,N[ WE'RE ALL "R4 ,WE'LL ,,DIG HM \4
,X 'LL TAKE AB A WEEK60
  ,!N WE />T$ =! H\SE1 & ,I W5T 9 ! BACK
DOOR--Y ONLY H 6PULL A BUCKSK9 LAT*/R+1
!Y DON'T FA/5 ! DOORS--B T W>N'T
ROMANTICAL 5 = ,TOM ,SAWY]2 NO WAY WD D
HM B HE M/ CLIMB UP ! LI<TN+-ROD4 ,B AF
HE GOT UP HALF WAY AB ?REE "TS1 & MISS$
FIRE & FELL E "T1 &! LA/ "T MO/ BU/$ 8
BRA9S \1 HE ?"\ HE'D GOT 6GIVE X UP2 B
AF HE 0 RE/$ HE ALL[$ HE WD GIVE H] "O M
TURN = LUCK1 & ? "T HE MADE ! TRIP4
  ,9 ! MORN+ WE 0 UP AT BR1K ( "D1 & D[N
6! NI7] CAB9S 6PET ! DOGS & MAKE FRS )!
NI7] T F$ ,JIM--IF X ,,0 ,JIM T 0 2+ F$4
,! NI7]S 0 J GETT+ "? BR1KFA/ & />T+ =!
FIELDS2 & ,JIM'S NI7] 0 PIL+ UP A T9 PAN
) BR1D & M1T & ?+S2 & :IL/ ! O!RS 0
L1V+1 ! KEY -E F ! H\SE4
  ,? NI7] _H A GD-NATUR$1 *UCKLE-H1D$
FACE1 & 8 WOOL 0 ALL TI$ UP 9 LL BUN*ES
) ?R1D4 ,T 0 6KEEP WIT*ES (F4 ,HE SD !
WIT*ES 0 PE/]+ HM AW;L ^! NI<TS1 & MAK+
HM SEE ALL K9DS ( /RANGE ?+S1 & HE> ALL
K9DS ( /RANGE ^WS & NOISES1 & HE DIDN'T
2LIEVE HE 0 "E WIT*$ S L;G 2F 9 8 LIFE4
,HE GOT S "W$ UP1 & GOT 6RUNN+ ON S AB 8
TR\#S1 HE =GOT ALL AB :AT HE'D BE5 A-GO+
6D4 ,S ,TOM SAYS3
  8,:AT'S ! VITTLES =8 ,GO+ 6FE$ !
DOGS80
  ,! NI7] K9D ( SMIL$ >.D GRADULY OV] 8
FACE1 L :5 Y H1VE A BRICKBAT 9 A MUD-
PU4LE1 & HE SAYS3
  8,YES1 ,M>S ,SID1 ,A DOG4 ,CUR'US DOG1
TOO4 ,DOES Y WANT 6G EN LOOK AT 'IM80
  8,YES40
  ,I HUN*$ ,TOM1 & :ISP]S3
  8,Y GO+1 "R "H 9 ! "DBR1K8 ,,T W>N'T !
PLAN40
  8,NO1 X W>N'T2 B X'S ! PLAN ,,N[40
  ,S1 DRAT HM1 WE W5T AL;G1 B ,I DIDN'T
L X M*4 ,:5 WE GOT 9 WE CDN'T H>DLY SEE
ANY?+1 X 0 S D>K2 B ,JIM 0 "!1 SURE 5\<1
& CD SEE U2 & HE S+S \3
  8,:Y1 ,,HUCK6 ,EN GD ,,LAN0'6 A9' DAT
,MI/O ,TOM80
  ,I J "K$ H[ X WD BE2 ,I J EXPECT$ X4
,I DIDN'T "K NO?+ 6D2 & IF ,I _H ,I
CDN'T A D"O X1 2C T NI7] BU/$ 9 & SAYS3
  8,:Y1 DE GRACI\S SAKES6 D HE "K Y G5L-
M580
  ,WE CD SEE PRETTY WELL N[4 ,TOM HE
LOOK$ AT ! NI7]1 /1DY & K9D ( WOND]+1 &
SAYS3
  8,DOES ,,WHO "K U80
  8,:Y1 DIS-Y] RUNAWAY NI7]40
  8,I DON'T RECKON HE DOES2 B :AT PUT T
96YR H1D80
  8,:AT ,,PUT X D>8 ,DIDN0' HE JIS' DIS
M9UTE S+ \ L HE "K$ Y80
  ,TOM SAYS1 9 A PUZZL$-UP K9D ( WAY3
  8,WELL1 T'S MI<TY CURI\S4 ,,WHO SUNG
\8
  ,,:5 DID HE S+ \8 ,,:AT DID HE S+ \80
,& TURNS 6ME1 P]FECTLY CA'M1 & SAYS1
8,DID ,,Y HE> ANYBODY S+ \80
  ,( C\RSE "! W>N'T NO?+ 6BE SD B ! "O
?+2 S ,I SAYS3
  8,NO2 ,I A9'T HE>D NOBODY SAY NO?+40
  ,!N HE TURNS 6,JIM1 & LOOKS HM OV] L
HE N"E SEE HM 2F1 & SAYS3
  8,DID Y S+ \80
  8,NO1 SAH10 SAYS ,JIM2 "1 ,I HA9'T SD
NO?+1 SAH40
  8,N A ^W80
  8,NO1 SAH1 ,I HA9'T SD A ^W40
  8,DID Y "E SEE U 2F80
  8,NO1 SAH2 N Z ,I "KS ON40
  ,S ,TOM TURNS 6! NI7]1 : 0 LOOK+ WILD
& 4TRESS$1 & SAYS1 K9D ( SEV]E3
  8,:AT D Y RECKON'S ! MATT] ) Y1
ANYWAY8 ,:AT MADE Y ?9K "SBODY SUNG \80
  8,OH1 X'S DE DAD-BLAME0' WIT*ES1 SAH1
EN ,I WI%T ,I 0 D1D1 ,I D4 ,DEY'S AWLUZ
AT X1 SAH1 EN DEY D MOS' KILL ME1 DEY
SK'Y]S ME S4 ,PL1SE 6DON'T TELL NOBODY
,8B\T X SAH1 ] OLE ,M>S ,SILAS HE'LL
SCOLE ME2 ,8KASE HE SAY DEY ,,A9'T NO
WIT*ES4 ,I JIS' WI% 6GD;S HE 0 H1H N[--
,,D5 :AT WD HE SAY6 ,I JIS' BET HE CDN0'
F9E NO WAY 6GIT >\N0' X ,,DIS "T4 ,B X'S
AWLUZ JIS' S2 P DAT'S ,,SOT1 /AYS SOT2
DEY WON'T LOOK 96NO?'N'5 F9E X \ F'R
DEYSELVES1 EN :5 ,,Y F9E X \ EN TELL UM
,8B\T X1 DEY DOAN0' B'LIEVE Y40
  ,TOM GIVE HM A DIME1 & SD WE WDN'T
TELL NOBODY2 & TOLD HM 6BUY "S M ?R1D
6TIE UP 8 WOOL )2 & !N LOOKS AT ,JIM1 &
SAYS3
  8,I WOND] IF ,UNCLE ,SILAS IS GO+
6HANG ? NI7]4 ,IF ,I 0 6CAT* A NI7] T 0
UNGRATE;L 5 6RUN AWAY1 ,I WDN'T GIVE HM
UP1 ,I'D HANG HM40 ,& :IL/ ! NI7] /EPP$
6! DOOR 6LOOK AT ! DIME & BITE X 6SEE IF
X 0 GD1 HE :ISP]S 6,JIM & SAYS3
  8,DON'T "E LET ON 6"K U4 ,& IF Y HE>
ANY DI7+ GO+ ON NI<TS1 X'S U2 WE'RE GO+
6SET Y FREE40
  ,JIM ONLY _H "T 6GRAB U 0! H& &
SQUEEZE X2 !N ! NI7] -E BACK1 & WE SD
WE'D -E AG "S "T IF ! NI7] WANT$ U TO2 &
HE SD HE WD1 M "PICUL> IF X 0 D>K1 2C !
WIT*ES W5T = HM MO/LY 9 ! D>K1 & X 0 GD
6H FOLKS >.D !N4
