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back door. I never see a family in such a sweat. They couldn't a been worse

scared if the place had a been full of ghosts laying for them behind everything

and under the beds and shivering through the air. If a door banged, Aunt Sally

she jumped, and said "ouch!" if anything fell, she jumped and said "ouch!"

if you happened to touch her, when she warn't noticing, she done the same; she

couldn't face noway and be satisfied, because she allowed there was something

behind her every time -- so she was always a whirling around, sudden, and saying

"ouch," and before sha'd get two-thirds around, she'd whirl back again, and

say it again; and she was afraid to go to bed, but she dasn't set up. So the

thing was working very well, Tom said; he said he never see a thing work more

satisfactory. He said it showed it was done right.

So he said, now for the grand bulge! So the very next morning at the

streak of dawn we got another letter ready, and was wondering what we better

do with it, because we heard them say at supper they was going to have a nigger

on watch at both doors all night. Tom he went down the lightning-rod to spy

around; and the nigger at the back door was asleep, and he stuck it in the back

of his neck and come back. This letter said:

> Don't betray me, I wish to be your friend. There is a desprate gang of cutthroats from over

> in the Ingean Territory going to steal your runaway nigger to-night, and they have been trying to

> scare you so as you will stay in the house and not bother them. I am one of the gang, but have

> got religgion and wish to quit it and lead a honest life again, and will betray the helish design.

> They will sneak down from northards, along the fence, at midnight exact, with a false key, and go

> in the nigger's cabin to get him. I am to be off a piece and blow a tin horn if I see any danger;

> but stead of that, I will BA like a sheep soon as they get in and not blow at all; then whilst they are

> getting his chains loose, you slip there and lock them in, and can kill them at your leasure. Don't

> do anything but just the way I am telling you, if you do they will suspicion something and raise

> whoopjamboreehoo. I do not wish any reward but to know I have done the right thing.

>

> Unknown Friend

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