we was passing by the kitchen I fell over a root and made a noise. We scrouched down and laid still. Miss Watson's big nigger, named Jim, was setting in the k

o d

on my ankle that got to itching, but I dasn't scratch it; and then my ear begun to itch; and next my back, right between my shoulders. Seemed like I'd die if I couldn't scratch. Well, I've noticed that thing plenty times since. If y

hear sumf'n. Well, I know what I's gwyne to do: I's gw

ratch. Then it begun to itch on the inside. Next I got to itching underneath. I didn't know how I was going to set still. This miserableness went on as much as six or seven minutes; but it seemed a sight longer than that. I was itching in

they'd find out I warn't in. Then Tom said he hadn't got candles enough, and he would slip in the kitchen and get some more. I didn't want him to try. I said Jim might wake up and come. But Tom wanted to resk it; so we slid in there and got three candles, and Tom laid f

rode him all over the world, and tired him most to death, and his back was all over saddle-boils. Jim was monstrous proud about it, and he got so he wouldn't hardly notice the other niggers. Niggers would come miles to hear Jim tell about it, and he was more looked up to than any nigger in that country. Strange niggers would stand with their mouths open and look him all over, same as if he was a wonder. Niggers is always talking about witches in the dark by the kitchen fire; but whenever one was talking and letting on to know all about such things, Jim would happen in and say, "Hm! What you know 'bout witches?" and that nigger was

ars over us was sparkling ever so fine; and down by the village was the river, a whole mile broad, and awful still and grand. We went down the hill and found Jo Harper and Ben Roger

candles, and crawled in on our hands and knees. We went about two hundred yards, and then the cave opened up. Tom poked about amongst the passages, and pretty soon ducked under a

Tom Sawyer's Gang. Everybody that wants to join has

must do it, and he mustn't eat and he mustn't sleep till he had killed them and hacked a cross in their breasts, which was the sign of the band. And nobody that didn't belong to the band could use that mark, and if he did he must be sued; and if he done it again he must be killed. And if

t out of his own head. He said, some of it, but the rest was out of pi

ys that told the secrets. Tom said it was a good idea, s

n't got no family; what y

got a father?"

days. He used to lay drunk with the hogs in the tanyard, b

it wouldn't be fair and square for the others. Well, nobody could think of anything to do -- everybody was stumped, and set still. I

hat's all right.

fingers to get blood to sign with

, "what's the line of

obbery and murd

ng to rob? -- house

We ain't burglars. That ain't no sort of style. We are highwaymen. We stop stages and car

ways kill t

mostly it's considered best to kill them -- except some that yo

d? What'

do. I've seen it in books; and so of

o it if we don't

it's in the books? Do you want to go to doing different f

these fellows going to be ransomed if we don't know how to do it to them

eep them till they're ransomed, it means

fore? We'll keep them till they're ransomed to death; and a bothersome lot

t loose when there's a guard over them, re

ever get any sleep, just so as to watch them. I think that's foolishness.

that's the idea. Don't you reckon that the people that made the books knows what's the correct thing to do? Do you

say it's a fool way, anyhow. S

er saw anything in the books like that. You fetch them to the cave, and you're always as polite

ll have the cave so cluttered up with women, and fellows waiting to be ransomed, that

im up he was scared, and cried, and said he wanted to go

e would go straight and tell all the secrets. But Tom give him five cents to keep quiet,

would be wicked to do it on Sunday, and that settled the thing. They agreed to get together and fix a day as soon as t

st before day was breaking. My new clothes was