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He only just looked scornful, and said something about nobody ever heard of

such an idiotic idea, and then he went to studying. By-and-by he said he had

ciphered out two or three ways, but there warn't no need to decide on any of

them yet. Said we'd got to post Jim first.

That night we went down the lightning-rod a little after ten, and took one of

the candles along, and listened under the window-hole, and heard Jim snoring;

so we pitched it in, and it didn't wake him. Then we whirled in with the pick

and shovel, and in about two hours and a half the job was done. We crept in

under Jim's bed and into the cabin, and pawed around and found the candle and

lit it, and stood over Jim a while, and found him looking hearty and healthy, and

then we woke him up gentle and gradual. He was so glad to see us he most

cried; and called us honey, and all the pet names he could think of; and was for

having us hunt up a cold chisel to cut the chain off of his leg with, right away,

and clearing out without losing any time. But Tom he showed him how un-

regular it would be, and set down and told him all about our plans, and how we

could alter them in a minute any time there was an alarm; and not to be the least

afraid, because we would see he got away, sure. So Jim he said it was all right,

and we set there and talked over old times a while, and then Tom asked a lot of

questions, and when Jim told him Uncle Silas come in every day or two to pray

with him, and Aunt Sally come in to see if he was comfortable and had plenty to

eat, and both of them was kind as they could be, Tom says:

"Now I know how to fix it. We'll send you some things by them."

I said, "Don't do nothing of the kind; it's one of the most jackass ideas I

ever struck;" but he never paid no attention to me; went right on. It was his

way when he'd got his plans set. ssssssssss

So he told Jim how we'd have to smuggle in the rope-ladder pie, and other largo

things, by Nat, the nigger that fed him, and he must be on the lookout, and not

be surprised, and not let Nat see him open them; and we would put small things

m uncle's coat pockets and he must steal them out; and we would tie things to

aunt's apron strings or put them in her apron pocket, if we got a chance; and

told him what they would be and what they was for. And told him how to keep

a journal on the shirt with his blood, and all that. He told him everything.

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