Now I will go on about my overjacket. While I was looking for it I heard a queer noise in the rabbit-house. So I jumped over. Then a boy popped out of the rabbit-house and ran. I knew him in a minute, for all he ran so fast,—Tom Cush.
Now when he started to run, something dropped out of his hand. I went up to it, and ’t was a rabbit, a dead one, just killed; for when I stooped down and felt of it, it was warm. And while I was stooping down, there came a great heavy hand down on my shoulder. It was a man’s great heavy hand.
Gapper had set a man there to watch. He hollered into my ears, “Now I’ve got you!” I hollered, too, for he came sudden, without my hearing.
“You little thief!” says he.
“I didn’t kill it,” says I.
“You little liar!” says he.
“I’m not a liar,” says I.
“I’ll take you to the master,” says he.
“Take me where you want to,” says I.