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went along, and heaving in new bullinesses wherever he got a chance. And that

is what he done. ssssssssss

Well, one thing was dead sure; and that was, that Tom Sawyer was in earnest

and was actuly going to help steal that nigger out of slavery. That was the thing

that was too many for me. Here was a boy that was respectable, and well brung

up; and had a character to lose; and folks at home that had characters; and he

was bright and not leather-headed; and knowing and not ignorant; and not

mean, but kind; and yet here he was, without any more pride, or rightness, or

feeling, than to stoop to this business, and make himself a shame, and his family

a shame, before everybody. I couldn't understand it, no way at all. It was out-

rageous, and I knowed I ought to just up and tell him so; and so be his true

friend, and let him quit the thing right where he was, and save himself. And I

did start to tell him; but he shut me up, and says:

"Don't you reckon I know what I'm about? Don't I generly know what I'm

about?"

"Yes." ssssssssss

"Didn't I say I was going to help steal the nigger?"

"Yes." ssssssssss

"Well then." ssssssssss

That's all he said, and that's all I said. It warn't no use to say any more;

because when he said he'd do a thing, he always done it. But I couldn't

make out how he was willing to go into this thing; so I just let it go, and

never bothered no more about it. If he was bound to have it so, I couldn't

help it. ssssssssss

When we got home, the house was all dark and still; so we went on down to

the hut by the ash- hopper, for to examine it. We went through the yard, so as

to see what the hounds would do. They knowed us, and didn't make no more

noise than country dogs is always doing when anything comes by in the night.

When we got to the cabin, we took a look at the front and the two sides; and on

the side I warn't acquainted with -- which was the north side -- we found a square

window-hole, up tolerable high, with just one stout board nailed across it. I

says:

ssssssssss

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